though a man of great Valour and Conduct yet sent a Galley with Letters to the Grand Seignior desiring his Assistance and Protection against the Christians very readily did the Turk consent to his Request sending thither two thousand Native Turks Thus fell this City and Kingdom to the Grand Seignior to whom it is yet subject Govern'd by a Vice-Roy who is entituled a Bassa to whom the Christians give the Stile of Highness ¶ THeir Marabouts carry so high a reputation among them that whatever they say is look'd upon as an Oracle and their Commands obey'd even to the hazzard of life They cut not the Hair of their Heads or Beards their Habit a long Coat to their Heels over which a short Cloak reaching but to the middle of their Back as in the foregoing PRINT doth more plainly appear Their Religion and Worship is the same with other Mahumetans or at least very little differing each having an equal Reverence for the Alcorna and using both the same Times and Method of Devotion BUGIE BUgie formerly a Kingdom by the Moors call'd Bigeya or Bugeya The Borders from the chief City belonging to the Dominion lying towards the Sea borders on the West with Algier on the East with Gigel or Gigery before the Bounds were alter'd by the Turks this Countrey was the most Easterly Part according to Davity of the Caesarian Mauritania bordering then on the West as we said with Algier on the East with the City of Tenez and Africa the Less having the Midland-Sea and the City Collo on the North and on the South Biledulgerid and Numidia This Countrey stretching almost Fifty Dutch Miles towards the South over the Mountains to the Wilderness of Numidia contained formerly according to Marmol Bugie their chief City from whence the whole Territory is so nam'd with the Garrison and Village of Gogere Micila Migana Tezteza Lamora Nekauz the Mountains of Benijubar Auraz and Abez but Gramay reckons thus Gigeri Mesile or Misile Stefe or Distefe Nekaus Kollo and Sukayda But now Gigeri is a peculiar of it self and Sukayda and Rollo are incorporated to Constantine So that at this day Bugie contains onely Micili Distefe and Nekaus with the Mountains of Bugie The City Bugie by the Arabians and Moors says Marmol call'd Bigeya The City Bugie or Bugeya and held by some to be the antient Metropolis Thabraka by others taken for Igilgilis or Vrikerh and by Ptolomy for Salde lieth near the Mediterrane on the side of a great Mountain about seventeen miles East from Algier and the like Westward from Gigery The Romans they say first Founded this City being invested with high strong and antient Walls in Fifteen hundred and twenty well Peopled boasting of Eight thousand fair Houses It hath also a commodious large Bay or Road antiently call'd The Numidian Sea The Streets are handsome and well-order'd but being upon a continual ascent or descent they are wearisom to those whose occasions call them to walk much therein Here are several Mosques many Colledges and also Cloysters publick Inns and Houses of common Reception for Strangers built after their own manner They have a fair and spacious Market-place near which on a rising Hill stands a strong Fortress invironed with thick and high Walls curiously adorned within with several seeming Characteral Mouldings upon Plaisters and Carved in Wood besides exquisite Paintings according to their manner which as they say cost more than the whole Fabrick Eastward of this the River Hued-el-Quibir that is the great River falleth into the Sea Micile or Mesile lies within thirty miles of the Border of Numidia surrounded with the Mountain La Abez Stefe or according to Gramay Distefe or rather Distese or more rightly as Marmol calls it Tezteze supposed to be that which Ptolomy call'd Apfar being fifteen miles to the In-land Southerly of Bugie scituated upon a delightful Plain near Mount La Abez formerly destroy'd by the Arabians but soon after re-inhabited by Three hundred Families Nekaus Nekaus formerly call'd Vaga one of the delightfullest Cities of Barbary stands on a River side seventeen miles from the Sea and twelve from Testese on the Borders of Numidia It hath strong Walls and boasted formerly of stately Baths Houses of Entertainment wherein Strangers and Foreigners were Lodged and well accommodated besides many Palaces and Churches Every House though but a Story high had a Garden Planted with Vines Damask Roses Myrrhe and Jasmine Bugie lieth almost quite hemm'd in with the Mountains of Zarara but the most remarkable they call Bene-quibar being five miles from the City Bugie six miles long and three miles broad This Ridge of Mountains taken together reach along the Sea-Coast thirty miles and are in some places six or seven miles broad ¶ THe Land about Bugie is barren and unfit for Tillage yet it brings forth excellent Garden-Fruit Near the City Nekaus are large Plains abounding with Corn and on the River stand an incredible number of Hazel and Fig-Trees accounted the best of that Countrey ¶ THe Mountains afford little Wheat but abundance of Barley besides Nuts and Figs Flax and Hemp whereof much but course Linnen is made Iron-Mines also and good Wood The Inhabitants also keep a great number of Horses Oxen and Goats ¶ THe Women of Nekaus are handsome body'd The Constitutions and Customs of the Inhabitants and fair with black and shining Hair which makes them take a pride to frequent the Baths The Inhabitants of Micile are Clownish and exceeding Rustical sturdy and revengeful so also the Mountaineers Some of them are kind in their Conversation and very much inclin'd to Pastime and more than any use Musical Instruments Those of Nekaus have a good Mien and comely Deportment milde sure Friends and always neat in their Apparel And though every Mountain is possest with a several Family yet their Customs and manner of life are all one Those of Bugie and Nekaus have their Colledges where their Youth are instructed in the Mahumetan Laws and Philosophical Studies the Students Cloathes and Diet born at the Cities Charge The Inhabitants of Micile are all Artificers and Husbandmen The Inhabitants of the Mountains mark themselves according to an Antient Custom with a black Cross on their Cheeks and on the Palms of their Hands which first they us'd when they were subdu'd by the Turks who then requir'd no Tribute of the Christians Whereupon many of them took up the Badge of Christians so escaping the Tax that was laid on other Perswasions which though now useless they continue as a fashion neither knowing the Cause nor Original The Riches of the Inhabitants consisteth in their Cattel Their Riches Corn Plants Linnen and Hempen Cloth The Mountaineers use for their Coyn small Gads of Iron of half a pound weight yet they Coyn also small Pieces of Silver ¶ IN the Declension of the Roman Empire the Goths expell'd their Legions Their Government and made themselves Masters of Bugie and there settled the
and hath fifteen and sixteen Foot Water so that the great Ships may come before it About the North Point of Katon-belle lieth the Good Bay Good Bay so call'd by reason of its ground of Anchoring The Countreys upon the Sea-Coast are fruitful and low but the In-lands high and overgrown with Woods A mile and a half from Katon-belle you discover a fresh River that falls into the Sea but in the times of Rain The Bay of Benguella having good Ground for Ships to ride at an Anchor reaches from one Point to the other a mile and a half in breadth On the North-side stands the Foot of Benguelle built four-square with Pallizado's and Trenches and surrounded with Houses which stand in the shadow of Bananos Orange Lemon Granate-Trees and Bakovens Behind this Fort is a Pit with fresh Water Here lie seven Villages that pay to those of Bengala the tenth part of all they have for Tribute The first Melonde the second Peringe both about a League from the Fort Under Benguelle are seven Villages and a mile one from another the other five are Maniken Somba Maninomma Manikimsomba Pikem and Manikilonde of all which Manikisomba is the biggest and can bring three thousand Men into the Field Here formerly lived some Portuguese which afterwards out of fear of the Blacks fled to Massingan but were most of them kill'd in the way On the West Point of the Bay of Benguelle is a flat Mountain call'd in Portuguese Sombriero from its shape representing afar off a three-corner'd Cap and by it an excellent Bay having at the South-east-side a sandy Shore with a pleasant Valley and a few Trees but no Water fit to drink Four miles from thence they have a Salt-Pan which produces of gray Salt like French Salt as much as the adjacent Countreys can spend In Bengala is a great Beast The Beast Abada call'd Abada as big as a lusty Horse having two Horns one sticking out in his Forehead and another behind in his Neck that in the Forehead is crooked but smooth rises sloaping before and very sharp but at the Root as thick as an ordinary Man's Leg being many times one two three or four Foot long but that in the Neck shorter and flatter of colour black or a sad gray but being fil'd appears white the Head not so long as the Head of a well-shaped Horse but shorter and flatter with a Skin Hair'd like a Cow and a Tail like an Ox but short a Mayn like a Horse but not so long and cloven Feet like a Deers but bigger Before this Beast hath attained the full growth the Horn stands right forward in the midst of the Forehead but afterwards grows crooked like the Elephant's-Teeth When he drinks he puts his Horn first in the Water for prevention as they say against Poyson The Horn they report to be an excellent Medicine against Poyson The Horn is good against Poyson as hath oftentimes been proved but they find more efficacy in one than another occasioned by the timely and untimely killing of the Creature The trial of their goodness the Portuguese make in this manner They set up the Horn with the sharp end downwards on a Floor and hang over it a Sword with the Point downwards so as the Point of the one may touch the end of the other If the Horn be good and in its due season or age then the Sword turns round of it self but moves not over untimely and bad Horns The Bones of this Beast ground small and with Water made into Pap they prescribe as a Cure against inward Pains and Distempers being applied outwardly Plaister-wise The Kingdom of MATAMAN or rather CLIMBEBE THe Kingdom of Mataman Name commonly so call'd took that Denomination from its King the proper and right Name according to Pigafet being Climbebe or Zembebas Its Borders Borders as the same Author Linschot Peter Davitius and other Geographers hold in the North upon Angola Eastwards on the Westerly Shore of the River Bagamadiri to the South it touches upon the River Bravagul by the Foot of the Mountains of the Moon near the Tropick of Capricorn which the chiefest Geographers make a Boundary between this Kingdom and those Mountains and the Countrey of the Kaffers to the West along the Ethiopick-Sea that is from Angola or Cabo Negro in sixteen Degrees South Latitude to the River Bravagul a Tract of five Degrees and fifteen Minutes every Degree being reckon'd fifteen great Dutch Leagues or threescore English Miles Two Rivers chiefly water this Kingdom Rivers viz. Bravagul and Magnice the first takes its original out of the Mountains of the Moon Linschot or the River Zair and unites its Waters with those of Magnice springing out of a Lake by the Portuguese call'd Dambea Zocche and falling in the South-east into the Indian-Sea The Places of this Kingdom coasting the Sea are these Next the Black Cape right Eastward you may see the beginning of the Cold Mountains Mountains of the Moon on some Places for the abundance of Snow with which they lie cover'd are call'd The Snowy Mountains Then you come to the Crystal Mountains Crystal Mountains that shoot Northerly to the Silver Mountains and to Molembo by which the River Coari hath its course and makes a Border to the Kingdom of Angola At the Southerly Coast of Cymbebas near the Sea Calo Negro in sixteen Degrees and sixty Minutes South Latitude appeareth Cabo Negro or The Black Point so denominated because of its blackness whereas no other black Land can be seen from the one and twentieth Degree South Latitude On the top of this Point stands an Alabaster Pillar with an Inscription but so defaced by the injuries of Time and Weather that it is hardly legible and formerly upon the Head of it a Cross raised but at present fall'n off and lying upon the Ground The Coast from hence spreads a little North-east and East-North-east The spreading of the Coast The Countrey round about shews nothing but barren and sandy Hills without green and high sandy Mountains without any Trees More Southerly in the heighth of eighteen Degrees you come to a Point by the Portuguese call'd Cabo de Ruy piz das Nivez or Cabo de Ruy Pirez having to the Northward a great Inlet with sandy Hills and the Shore to the Black Point but Southward a High-land altogether sandy and reacheth to nineteen Degrees Farther to the South in nineteen Degrees and thirty Minutes lies a Bay call'd Golfo Prio and Prias das Nevas with double Land and full of Trees afterwards you come to the open Haven of Ambros in the one and twentieth Degree then going lower to the Southward the Sea-Coast resembles what we mention'd in the North shewing high white sandy Hills barren Land and a bad Shore A good way to the Westward of Cabo Negro lies a great Sand in the Sea in Portuguese call'd Baixo de Antonia de Viava or The
Cazado dangerous to Sailers being sometimes cover'd with Water The Air bears a good temper and the Earth though sandy towards the Sea yet affords all things necessary for the use of Man The Mountains rich not onely in Crystal but other Minerals Northerly it becomes more full of Trees to the heighth of two and twenty Degrees South Latitude from whence there drives into the Sea a hundred and fifty Miles from the Shore certain green Weeds call'd Saigossa and seems as a Mark to Sea-men whereby they know how near they are to the Main Land of Africa At a great distance also are seen many Mews or Sea-Pies with black Feathers at the end of their Wings which assure the Mariners by their appearance two or three together that they are infallibly near the African Continent The Government of this Jurisdiction rests in the hands of a King Government who as an absolute Monarch Commands all at his pleasure yet some Lords whose Commands lie by the Sea-shore pride themselves with the empty Title of Kings while they neither possess Wealth or Countreys whose Products are sufficient to make them known to Foreigners of the least esteem Kaffrarie or the Countrey of Kaffers otherwise call'd Hottentots KAffrarie The Countrey of the Kaffers or according to Marmol Quefrerie took Denomination from the Kaffers the Natives thereof which others name Hottentots by reason of their lameness and corruption of Speech without either Law or Religion Maginus spreads this Countrey along the Sea-Coast from the West-side of Cabo Negro lying in sixteen Degrees and fourteen Minutes to Cape of Good Hope or Cabo de bona Esperansa and from thence up Northward to the River Magnice otherwise call'd St. Esprit but with what ground of reason we must leave to de determin'd Sanutus begins Kaffrarie at the Mountains of the Moon near the Tropick of Capricorn in three and twenty Degrees and a half South Latitude so along the Western Coast to the Cape of Good Hope This beginning of Kaffrarie according to most Authors Davitii Lahasse Ethiopie p. 475. from that remarkable Boundary the Tropick of Capricorn hath been indisputably setled but they spread the end of it as we said to the Cape of Good Hope and Zanguebar Between which Northward along the Sea-Coast are none or very few distinct Kingdoms and therefore this being the outermost Southern Borders may not inconveniently be extended to Zanguebar so that the whole Tract lying Southward of Zanguebar and the Kingdom of Monomotapa are to be understood in the general Name of Kaffrarie So then according to this last limiting it hath on the East and South the Indian and in the West the Ethiopick-Sea which meet together to the Southward of the Cape of Good Hope and on the North at Mataman and Monopotapa This Countrey so Bounded lieth encompassed in the North with those high cold bushy and sharp Mountains of the Moon always cover'd with Snow nevertheless it hath about the Cape in some places several large and pleasant Valleys into which flow divers Rivulets from the Hills It is not divided into any particular or known Kingdoms yet inhabited by several People some Govern'd by Kings others by Generals and some are without any Government at all We will give you a glimpse of them in their Customs and Natures as far as any Discovery hath hitherto given us any information and that from the hands of such as for some time lived on the Spot The chiefest People hitherto discover'd in this Southerly part of Africa are the Gorachouqua's Goringhaiqua's Goringhaikona's Kochoqua's Great and Little Kariguriqua's Hosaa's Chaniouqua's Kobona's Sonqu's Namaqua's Heusaqua's Brigoudins and Hankumqua's the eight first neighbor the Cape and the farthest not above threescore miles from it The three first viz. Gorachouqua's and Goringhaiqua's have their Dwellings within four or five hours Journey of the Great Cape but the Gorinhaikona's or Water-men are within a quarter of an hours walk from thence GORINGHAICONAS THe Goringhaicona's or Water-men have a Governor call'd Demtaa who was once taken Prisoner by the Hollanders but was afterwards by carrying himself with Civility released and setled in his old Dominion Their best Seat contains scarce five Houses and not above fifty People with Women and Children living in a condition of Poverty below all the rest of the Hottentots GORACHOUQUAS THe Gorachouqua's are about three or four hundred fighting Men besides Women and Children and maintain themselves by Pasturage and Profit of good Cattel as Sheep and Cows Their Governor call'd Chora hath a Brother call'd Jakin both going in tallow'd Skins but they have great store of Cattel GORINHAIQUAS THe Goringhaiqua's or Cape-mans by reason that they always lived nearest to it are more than equal in People to those last mention'd for they can between both raise about a thousand fighting Men yet all their Towns and Villages make up but ninety five poor Huts cover'd with Mats These People obey a Governor whom they call Gogosoa who was in the Year Sixteen hundred sixty two according to the averment of such as had been there a hundred years of age and had two Sons the eldest nam'd Osinghiakanna and the other Otegnoa both which alway sought to over-Rule their Father but chiefly the eldest by inventing all means to make him away In the Year Sixteen hundred fifty nine The original of the War between the Gorinbaiqua's and the Notherlanders there grew between these People and the Hollanders a Dissention for the possession of the Countrey about the Cape where the Natives endeavor'd to turn them out alledging they had possessed it beyond all remembrance and with such malice did they manage it that they slew many of the Dutch when they saw opportunity at the same time robbing them also of Cattel which they drove away so swift that they could not be shot always chusing to Fight in stormy and rainy Weather as well knowing that then they could do but little Execution with their Arms. These upon information received by advice of one of their own People by them call'd Nomoa and by the Netherlanders Doman who went from thence to Battavie in one of the Companies Ships and stay'd there five or six years observing their actions with such inquisitive diligence that he remembred no small part thereof Doman being come again to the Cape in those Ships which were order'd for Holland kept a great while amongst them in Dutch Habit but at last betook himself to his old Companions informing and instructing them in all the actions and intentions of the Netherlanders as also the manner and use of their Arms. He together with another stout Soldier by the Hottentots call'd Garabinga were always their Captains and with great skill and conduct led on and brought off their followers always with success After the War had continued three Moneths A Skirmish between five Hottentots and five Netherlanders in August Sixteen hundred fifty and nine on a Morning went out five Hottentots one of
Complainant be a great Lord then being come at the Palace he winds his Horn to acquaint the Servants of his coming before the King If upon examination he finds both have offended then the least Offender is sent to the Lords of the Justice who punish him corporally by beating with Cudgels but the greatest he condemns in a pecuniary mulct But if onely one great Lord hath committed any offence being brought before the King in his Chamber he is stripped stark naked and laid upon the Ground where upon his humble submission and begging of pardon he receives some blows with a Wand from the King 's own Hand more or less according to the bigness of the Crime After which he takes up his Clothes kisseth the King's Feet and in all humility thanks him for the favor receiv'd then he attends the King into his Hall who forgives him in the presence of all the Court with a Command to do Justice and afterwards goes out of the City in publick with honorable attendance and returns into his Countrey with as great satisfaction as if he had received some great Present When the King travels abroad to view his Concerns he rides upon a Horse richly furnished and going out of the Palace treads over a new-kill'd Deer whereupon all the People give a loud shout and at the same time the Priests inspect the Intrails to know whether his Progress will be prosperous or not When he makes his entrance into any City then all the handsomest Ladies and Maids meet him some singing his praise others carrying and burning Perfumes before him others playing with small Sticks on a Bason and every one striving to recreate and please him When any Native Prince sends an Agent to Treat about some weighty Matters they also kill a Deer which the King steps over thrice the Soothsayer in the interim viewing the Inwards to enquire of the effect that may be produced thereby Some report the Inhabitants of the City Melinde for Heathens Religion others for Mahumetans but Linschot says they are of both sorts among which are many Christians The Mahumetans incline to the Sect of the Emoraydes which disesteeming the Alcaron follow the Doctrine of Zayd the Son of Hoiem The Christians have a strong Congregation as a proof whereof they have erected a great Gilded Marble Cross and have seventeen Churches or Chappels there The Kingdom of Lamo. MOre Northerly lieth the Kingdoms of Lamo or Lamen and Pate but that of Lamo spreads more to the West as bordering upon the River Quilmanzi having in the North Melinde and in the East Pate The chief City Lamo lying a little Northward of the Line hath a good defensive Wall against the Invasion of the In-land People with whom though in War yet as occasion offers Trade together Both King and People are all Mahumetans but pay Tribute to the Portuguese Government to whose Power they submit in all things The Kingdoms of Pate Sian Chelicie and Ampaza THe Kingdom of Pate extends all along the Sea-Coast on both sides the Bay in Portuguese call'd Baya Formosa and the City is handsom and large and hath a good Haven The Jurisdictions of Sian Chelicie and Ampaza neighbor it on all sides having indeed peculiar Lords of their own but so inconsiderable that their whole Strength cannot defend them from being miserable Slaves to the Portuguese they Lording over them nor can the greatness of the Turks to whose Protection they sometimes flye give them either a Relief or Relaxation The Portuguese have a Castle at Pate and another between that and Sian call'd Mondra But because the Mahumetans shewed themselves unwilling to pay Tribute and began to raise some Mutinies and Disturbances the Portuguese Admiral Thomas Sousa in the Year Fifteen hundred eighty nine pull'd it down to the Ground And Alphonso de Mello laid waste the City of Ampaza in Fifteen hundred eighty seven for the like Rebellion yet the King after he had made Peace with the Portuguese remain'd in the ruin'd City The Countrey of Ajan THe Countrey of Ajan or Axam as the Arabians call it according to the testimony of Marmol or rather Habaxa or Habex some take for the antient Trogloditica extending along the Shore of the Arabian and Avalitian Gulf to the Mountain Elefas Fellos This Countrey hath for Borders in the South the great Arm of the River Quilmanzi and the last described Kingdoms in the North Abyssynie or Prester-Johns Countrey and the Straights of Mecha in the West the Mountains out of which the River Quilmanzi shoots and also the same River with part of Abyssinie and in the East the Ocean It concludes within its compass from the South to the North the Republick of Brava the Kingdoms of Madagaxo Adea or Adel and some other more unknown Places This Countrey affords plenty of all Necessaries for the preservation of Man's life but most famous for a Breed of good Horses From the River Quilmanzi they extract Gold The People living at the Sea-shore are most of them Whites but those in the Countrey Cole-black with whom the Beduines a white People commixing produce Mulatto-Children neither perfectly white nor absolutely black These Beduines live a toylsom and beastial life ranging along the Shore of the River lodging under the open Canopy of Heaven and maintaining themselves by Robbing and Stealing The Inhabitants of this Countrey maintain a continual War against the People of Abyssinie and sell all those they take Prisoners to the Arabians living beyond the Red-Sea in Asia The Merchants of Kambaye Aden and all the Arabians come into the Haven of Ajan to Traffick carrying thither all sorts of colour'd Stuffs and Cloth with Glass-Beads and other Commodities From Ormus they bring Raisins and Dates which they exchange in the Havens of Zoila and Barbore for Gold Ivory and Slaves The People inhabiting this Coast are all Mussulines but those farther into the Countrey are Emoraides otherwise call'd Beduinen a sort of Mahumetan Sectaries The City and Republick of Brava BEyond Quilmanzi at the Coast of Ajan not far from the Sea-shore in ten Degrees and thirty Minutes North-Latitude lieth the City Brava surrounded with strong Walls and full of stately Houses built after the Moorish fashion It is a Place of great Trade and hath abundance of Gold and Silver The Inhabitants pay yearly a Tribute of five hundred Metigals of Gold to the Portuguese every Metigal reckon'd worth a Ducket and a third part of one We may read in Texcira that on the Coast of Zanguebar near Brava was a piece of Ambergreece found so big that one standing at one side of it could not see a Camel on the other side This is the onely Republick of Africa being Govern'd by twelve Xeques Government chosen by the antientest People out of the Family of the Brothers aforemention'd who to escape the Persecution and Tyranny of the Kings of Lakah Religion fled out of Arabia Felix hither where they still retain the Mahumetanism which
from Makua Southwardly Fremone or Framone otherwise Maegoga in fifteen degrees and a half South-Latitude the usual Habitation of the European Christians and Jesuites The rest of the most remarkable places are Caxumo or Chaxumo or Accum perhaps the Auxum of Ptolomy or Axomites of Anian by some taken for the Courtly residence of the Queen of Sheba to whom Solomon as they say gave a visit in Egypt where are seventeen stately Pyramides and three famous Churches one of St. Michael one of Abba Likanos and one of Abba Pantaleon Northward of Caxuma lies the Lordship of Tarrete wherein stands two Cloysters one great one call'd Alleluja and the other Abbagarima famous for the abode of the Jesuites together with Angeba beautifi'd with a Royal Palace wherein none may have their abode but the King's Lieutenant Somewhat more Westerly appears the Kingdom of Dambea or Dembea The Kingdom of Dambea bordering in the West upon Goyan in the North upon Fungie and in the East on Bagameder Several Arms of the Nile cut it almost in the midst and in the very Center lies the great Lake Bar-dambea The head-City according to Jarrik hath the same name with the Kingdom yet others call it Zambia or Zamba where Prester-John keeps his Court from October to Easter Pigafet calls the principal City Belmachu and sets other Towns by the Shore of this Lake as Atsana Goga Fogora Anfras Ganetas Jesessus Old-Gorgora New-Gorgora and many others Bagameder or Begamedry a peculiar Kingdom according to Sanutus The Kingdom of Bagameder and Tellez though others would make it a part of Tigre or Tigremahon borders Eastwardly at Angote and from thence running South touches upon Amahara near the River Baxila that hastens there to contribute his Streams to the increase of the Nile The length from the City Sart the utmost limit of Tigre amounts to Sixty Portuguese miles and in breadth to near twenty Sanutus esteems Bagameder one of the greatest Dominions of Abyssine beginning it in the South by Goyame and so ending upon Amara Angote Tigre and Barnagas a Tract of a hundred and twenty Miles to the Island Moroe The Head-City Bagamedry Davity scituate on a delightful Plain at the River Suama by some call'd The Imperial City because the substitute King of Tigre after the receipt of the first Crown on the place where chosen takes the second there as the third out of the hands of the Emperor himself which Ceremony hath been used ever since Abibliakane or Dabba Likanos who liv'd in this City in a Cave with so great repute of sanctity that the King which then Raign'd would receive his Crown by the hands of this Saint and all the Kings of Tigre come there to receive the second Crown Southward of Damben The Kingdom of Goiam you arrive at Goiam or Goyame in eleven degrees North-Latitude being in length if Tellez and Sanutus miss not their reckoning fifty Portugal or six and thirty Dutch miles that is from one Shore of the Nile to the other For this famous River encompasses the same and thereby becomes a Fence to it against the Invasion of Enemies This Kingdom hath a mixture of Inhabitants but the Natives are the Agoa's in the North-West about the Nile and in the South-East the Gafates The Agoa's possess about forty eminent Towns besides Zalabaka Ambaxa or Ankassa Croia Cavera Angula Anchaka Sakahala and their chief City call'd Tavia The Jesuites have their abode as in Collella Surka Adase Tempa Tassala Fangala Duniel Tankon and Embeste In the last of which may be seen the remaining Ruines of several stately Churches built by a certain Abyssine Queen of Stone hewn like Roses On the North-side lie many Hills and Woods near which Sanutus reports some Jews have their abode Amara The Kingdom of Amara or Amaara or Amahara lying between the eleventh and twelfth degree of North-Latitude borders in the North at Bagameder and Angote in the East upon Dankali and in the South upon Oleka from which separated by the River Ruezar a branch of the Nile and in the West at Dambea Sanutus limits it in the North with a Lake on the borders of Angote in which lieth the Island St. Stephen with the Mountain Amara wherein the Princes the Heirs of the Crown are kept in the East with the Kingdom of Xaoa in the South with the Valleys and Baquen-Mountains and in the West by the places about and near the Nile It comprizeth saith Sanutus a great number of Towns Villages and Castles of which one more remarkable call'd Azzoll lying on a Hill between two Rivers two days journey from the Lake St. Stephen Narea The Kingdom of Narea by Godignus Nerea and by the Abyssines according to Davity Innari hath in the North-West Damut in the East Guraque and in the South Gingiro and contains three times as much ground as Bigameder Xaoa Xaoa divided into the upper and lower borders in the East at Oifet in the South at Ganz in the West at Gojam and in the North at Oleka Thus much of the Kingdoms at present possess'd by the Abyssmes The other taken from them by the Gala's and Turks are Dankali Angote Damut Dahali Ario Fatigar Zengero Rozanegus Roxa Zith Concho and Mataola After the Kingdom of Tigre follows that of Dankali The Kingdom of Dankali conterminated on the North and the East by the Red-Sea and the Countrey of Adel in the West Balgada in the South with Dobas and Angote Here are some eminent places the first Vella or rather Leila according to Davity a Haven at the Red-Sea lying in thirty degrees North-Latitude Corcora a fine place adorn'd with a Palace a stately Church with a great and rich Cloyster Afterwards you come to Manadely a populous Town containing about a thousand houses Formerly the King of Dankali by the report of Sanutus maintain'd a War with the Abyssines but became afterwards as Godignus and Jarrik relate his Tributary though since torn from them by the great Turk After Dankali follows Westward that of Angote Angote which Godignus borders in the East at Tigre in the North at the same by the River Sabalete and in the South at Amara The best places of this Kingdom are according to Sanutus Dofacso inrich'd with a thousand houses Corcora of Angote to distinguish it from Corcora Dankali The Countrey of Ambugana thirty days journey from Barna with a famous Church nam'd Imbra Christus besides others Damut or Damout borders in the North upon Bizami or Goiame The Kingdom of Damout in the South-West at Narea in the South at Guraque and in the East with Ganz and Xaoa This Kingdom the Abyssines saith Davity divided into two the one call'd Damout Dari and the other Damout Adari where stands The Dead-Mountain being the highest and coldest of all Ethiopia and therefore Prester-John sent such great ones thither as he desir'd to have out of the way because they quickly dy'd there of hunger and
so effeminate that they Spin and Weave yet live very poorly in Mountainous Holes and Caves Tributary to the Arabians Others are War-like and laborious enjoying liberty and not acknowledging any Superior They claim as their chief Seat the Provinces of Temesne and Fez But those who inhabit that part of the Kingdom of Tunis adjacent to the Date-Countrey are the most mighty and stout having dared to engage in a War with the King of Tunis Anno 1509. and gave Battel unto Mules Nacer Son of Mahomet King thereof endeavoring to subject them who at this day bear Rule over the Kingdoms of Cauco and Labez The Zenegans or Zanagans the Guanesers Tergers Lempters and Berdoans all very poor and despicable living without Order or Laws in Tents and rove about with their Horses like the Arabs through the Lybian Wildernesses Some of the Arabians in Africa are more Savage wandring over the Mountains and through the Woods Others dwell in Cities and are called Hadares that is Courtiers being indeed Merchants for the most part the rest apply themselves to Study or follow Princes Courts and are counted less noble because they mix their blood with others Those which inhabit Fez are intituled Garbes that is West-countrey-men such as dwell Eastward Xarquies that is Diego de Torres Easterlings which made Diego de Torres divide the Countrey into Xarquia and Garbia The Lybian Arabs are Savages but stout and war-like Trading with Merchandize upon Camels to the Negroes Countrey and keeping many Barbary Horses oft-times recreating themselves with hunting of Wilde Asses Ostriches and other Beasts The Numidians are great friends of the Muses The Numidians are Poets and highly pleas'd with Poetry Poets naturally being much addicted thereunto having so rich fancy that on all occasions they set forth their Passions and Love-fits in a smooth and elegant stile They are also jealous especially in bestowing their favours lest they discover their wealth and abilities The Men go apparelled as the Numidians but the Women differ Those between Mount Atlas and the Mid-land Sea are much wealthier than these of Numidia both in sumptuousness of Apparel richness of Tents and abundance of Horse which are handsomer and more full and brawny than the former but want much of their speed Tillage and Cattel are their chief livelyhood the later of which are so numerous that they are often compell'd to remove and seek new Pastures They are Savage like those of the Wilderness some living as Subjects to the King of Fez but others in Marocco and Ducale formerly free from Tolls and Taxes till the King of Portugal began to conquer Asafi Aza and Azamor when after a civil War and the miseries of its common Attendant Famine they freely submitted to the Portugueses They of the Wilderness about Telesin and Tunis are rich and stately their Rulers drawing great Sums of Money yearly from the Neighbour Kings which is equally distributed among the people who pride themselves in comely habits being ingenious in making Tents and Breaking or Riding Horses In Summer they come to the very borders of Tunis to gather Contributions and in Harvest furnish themselves from other mens labours with all Necessaries as Victuals Clothing and Arms wherewith fully supplyed they return to their old Winter Quarters but the Spring they spend in Hunting Their Tents abound with greater plenty of Cloth Copper Iron and other Mettals than the richest Ware-houses of some Cities and no marvel for under the pretext of courtesie and civility Good Poets rewardes they steal all they can lay hold on They are also ingenious Poets and the best of them get not only praise but according to their excellency have rich rewards and high honours from their Governours The Women according to the custom of the Countrey The Women wear black Gowns with wide Sleeves cover'd somtimes with a mantle of the same colour or blew fastned about their Necks with Silver Clasps their Ears Fingers Legs and Ancles are adorn'd with Silver Rings If any man except their Kindred and intimate Acquaintance meet them abroad they cover their Faces with Vizard Masks and pass by in silence In all their Journeyings which are frequent the Women ride on Tin Saddles fastned to the Camels backs big enough only for one yea and going to war their Wives accompany them the more to encourage them to fight for them and their Children The Maids Paint their Faces Breasts Arms and Hands but the more noble Women content themselves with their own natural Colours and Complexions only somtimes out of Hens Dung and Saffron they mix a Colour wherewith they make a little round Beauty-spot in the Center of their Cheeks a Triangle between their Brows and an Olive-leaf or long Oval upon their knees Their Poets and Amours so highly commend the painting of the Eye-brows that it is not used above two or three dayes together in which time none but her Husband and Children may see her because they account this painting a great incitation to Venus as thereby supposing themselves much more beautiful and handsom ¶ LEo writes that the Arabians of Barka between Barbary and Egypt Lib. 6. Hist Afr. live very miserably and poorly which happens by reason of their want of Corn Want of Corn in Barka for there is not in all that Countrey a place fit for Tillage or that produces ought save Dates and those too but in a few Villages wherefore though sometimes they Barter Camels and Cattel for Corn yet cannot they purchase sufficient for so many people whereupon the Parents are constrained to leave their Children to the Scicilian Merchants for a pawn or security of payment And if according to the agreement they break their day the Sellers keep their Children for Slaves whom if the fathers will redeem they must render treble of the former debt This misery makes them such barbarous and inhumane Robbers and Murtherers that no Merchants dare approach their Coasts but rather choose to travel some hundreds of Miles about ¶ PEter Dan in his Journey to Barbary in the year 1633. Lib. 2. Hist Barb. hath very exactly described the manners and life of these Arabians Arabian Manners They utterly saith he abhor labour glorying in a supine carelessness and esteem no other people so happy though themselves be the most despicable and wretched in the whole world so priding in their poverty that they will scarce change their Hutts and Rags for the Palaces and Robes of the greatest Monarchs They have no secure or setled place of abode but rove up and down where they stay for any short time they pitch their Tents or rather Huts close together but divided into several quarters and this great Troop or Company they call Dovar each single Tent they stile Barraque Here they lye upon the ground intermixed with their Cattel the Barraques seem like Pavilions underprop'd with two great Poles the Door made of branches of Trees and a place in the middle like a
unplanted grows the fertile ground With beds of Aromatike Roses crown'd There Youth and Virgins drawn Love-battels fight And never fainting keep up full delight These amorous encounters being the top of his Paradise Mahomet by the help of Sergius an Apostate Monk imping the Poets fancies introduced as the greatest of all allurements setting forth Beauties most admir'd by the Asiaticks with full and black Eyes who shall alone regard their particular Lovers not such as have lived in this world but created of purpose which daily shall have their lost Virginities restored ever young and Feasting with all variety of Delicacies They have three sorts of Marabouts or Saints The first affirming that a man by good works and fasting and abstinence from Meat may attain the nature of an Angel the heart by these Duties say they being so cleansed from all infection of evil that although it would it can sin no more and that to attain happiness they must ascend by the steps of fifty Sciences They live very strictly at first and torment themselves with fasting keeping a long Lent after which the Scene changing their abstinence and mourning turns to all Feast and Merriment and their whole life is a continual * Parallel to those Bacchanalian Revels mentioned by Virgil. Carneval which they spend in Maskings and Serenaids and all manner of dissolute and intoxicated pleasures whereof four Books are written by Eseb-ravardi Schravarden Sein a Learned man born in the City of Corasan Ibnul Farid another Author hath described their whole Religion in a Poetick stile upon which one Elfargari made an Exposition collecting the Rules of the Sect and discovering the steps to attain happiness These Verses are made in so sweet and elegant a stile that they will sing no other at their publick Feasts and Merry-meetings Some of their Tenets are as follow viz. That the Heavens Planets and fixt Stars are holy that no Law or Religion is erroneous every one being at liberty to pray to what his mind is most enclined to That all knowledge of God was infused into the first man whom they name Elchot and that man elected by God is made like him in knowledge After this Elchot's death forty men called Elanted that is the Heads or Chief choose another out of their own number and when any of these forty happen'd to dye then they choose another out of the number of seven hundred sixty five These Vagabond Sectaries are by certain rules of their order to go alwayes unknown in poor and despicable rayment so that whoever sees them would judge them to be Mad-men and void of all honesty and humanity rather than Marabouts or Saints for they run naked and wilde all over Africa and force Women publickly as beasts without modesty or shame Leo saith that many of them are in Tunis but more in Egypt at Alcair where I saith he upon the Market-place Bain Elkasraim saw a Matron-like Woman coming out of a Bath Ravish'd by one of these Fanaticks in the presence of many people who thereupon ran in great numbers to touch her Garment as a Holy thing and the Womans Husband with silence manifested his thankfulness towards the Ravisher by a great Feast and liberal Gifts The second sort called Cabalists fast very severely eat not the flesh of any living creature but have a peculiar Dyet and Clothing They have Set-Prayers for every hour of the day and night according to the diversity of the Days and Moneths and wear small square Tablets Engraven with Characters and Figures They feign daily to converse and discourse with Angels who as they say teach them the knowledge of all things Their chiefest Teacher was one Boni who set them Rules and invented those Prayers and Tablets Their Rule is divided into eight parts the first whereof is call'd Elumha Ennonaritae that is the Demonstration of Light containing their Prayers and Fast-dayes The second Semsul Meharif the Sun of Sciences wherein are the aforesaid square Tablets with their use and advantages The third Lesme Elchufne and in it a Table of the Ninety nine Vertues which as they conceive are comprehended in the name of God each other part of the eight having a particular name and matter whereof it treateth The third sort termed Sunachites reside in the Wildernesses like Hermits living onely upon Herbage and Leaves They have a little smatch of Idolatry and Gentilism using no Circumcision till the thirtieth year yet they Baptize in the Name of the living God so that they have a smack both of Christianity Judaism and Gentilism Thus far of Africa in general we will now descend to particulars beginning first with Egypt having obtain'd the pre-eminence and place both from Antient and Modern Writers and also being so often mentioned in Sacred Scripture Egypt is divided into Erriff containing the Cities and Towns of Plintina or the Arabian Tower Monestor Busiris now Bosiri Heliopolis or Rameses Alexandria the Island Pharos Bocchir or Canopus Casar and Athacon Rosetta now Rassit Natumbes Fuoa or Foa Gezerat Eldekab or the Golden Island Mechella Derota Michellat Cays besides many Villages Elheatrye or Beheyra comprehends The Cape Brule Damiata Tenez or Tenex and the Lake Stagnone Arris or Ostracine Pharamide Seru and Rascaellis Masura or Masur Demanora Fustatio or Fustat Meny Cambri Caracania Bulbaite Abessus and Souta besides many other Villages and inconsiderables Places not worth the naming Sahyd Grand-Cair or Memphis and therein Bulach Charaffa Old Cair and Grand-Cair Mattaria or El-Mattharia The Ruines of Heliopolis The famous Pyramids The Island Michias Niffralhetick Geza Nukullaca The Lake Mani The City Changa Suez Bethsames Mukaisira Benesuait Munia Fyum Manfloth or Menf-loth Azuth formerly Bubastis Ichrim Anthinoe Barnaball Thebes Munsia or Munza with a Cloyster of St. George El-chiam now waste Barbana Cana Cessir a Port-Town by the Red-Sea Conza and Asna Assuan Suaquen Thura Sachila Phogono Narmita Nitriota Elmena Libetezait Saguan Dakat Pharaoh's-Angle The Seven-Wells Menviae and Cosera Veneria and Ansena Cynopolis or Monphalus Heracleopolis besides 24000 Villages The Nyle-River EGYPT EGYPT as we said before Antient Geographers who parted Asia and Africk with the Nile established amongst the Asiatick Territories but the Modern who since disterminated these two Quarters of the World with the Arabian Gulph have totally reduc'd and carried over into Africa as no small Region thereof ¶ EGypt according to Diodorus Strabo and others had that Appellation from their first King Egyptus the Son of Belus the Assyrian Monarch who secluding his Brother Danaus setled the Government of that Realm upon himself and then Reigned sixty eight years the Countrey before call'd Nilea Aeria and Osserina though others assert this Denomination sprung from Nilus whose antient name was Egyptus And as this Countrey hath confounded Chronologers with the strange Vicissitudes and main Alterations of its Government The Antient names so hath it puzel'd them with the numerous variety of its Denominations Berosus calls it Oceania from * A
third in Italy and a fourth in Crete built after the ananner of the Egyptian to whose former Description take this addition It was all of square polish'd Stone every side three hundred foot broad fifty foot high upon a square base It had five Pyramids one at each Corner and one in the Middle of a hundred and fifty foot with such a top as hath a Brazen Orbe upon it and one covering lay'd over them all from which hung down Bells in Chams which stir'd by the winds made a sound afar off upon which Orbes there were four other Pyramids a hundrod scot high and other things this is delivered from Varro by Pliny lib. 36. cap. 13. Mysterious Temple or Labyrinth of theirs which had so many Rooms and with-drawing Apartments in it But later Writers say that since the Mahumetans conquer'd Egypt they made but three divisions the first call'd in Arabick Nahar Alleriffe or Erriffe extending from Grand Cair to Rosetta The second Sahaid or Assahaid signifying firm land and reaches from Cair to the borders of Bugiha The third Bechria or according to Marmol Beheira-Allards that is * Or Zealand Sea-land stretching along that arm of the Nile that extends to Damiata and Tenez The first of these is very fertile and luxuriant in the production of Rice and all sorts of delicious Fruits The second yields plenty of Corn prickle Fruits store of Cattel Fowl and Flax. And the third abounds with Sugar-canes Cotton and other such Commodities The whole thus divided into three each three is sub-divided into ten as follows in Delta or Nether Egypt were Rakotites Phtenuti Phtemphuti Mendefites Omisis Saities Attribis Tavites Tarbethites Busirites which order and names were first constituted by Sesostris of whom it is recorded that he would by cutting the Isthmus between the Mid-land and Red-Sea have joyn'd them had he not been diverted from the attempt by their Priests asseverations That all Egypt would of necessity be drown'd by the irruption of the Red Sea which lay higher than that Countrey did though afterwards Ptolomy and others his Successors made great alterations therein Middle Egypt held Memphites Heliopolites Bubastites Heracleopolites Crocodilopolites Oxyringites Kynopolites Hermopolites Antinopolites and Latinopolites And Upper Egypt Thebetes Apollopolites Panopolites Koptites Tentyrites Lycopolites Aphroditopolites Latopolites Abydene and Anteopolites The reason of this division may be two-fold the first in regard of their diversities of Gods and various Ceremonies in their Services which Sesostris their Prince observing to prevent tumultuous Seditions alotted the Countrey into * Rather thirty seven for the reason in the Description of the Labyrinth thirty shares according to the number of their Gods and Goddesses and by this means made Egypt as it were one Universal Temple wherein were as many Numens as Plato hath divided the whole earth between The second cause was the Litigiousness of the people concerning their bounds or limits occasioned as Strabo observeth by the Nile's yearly inundations whereby boundaries were not onely obscured but even all Land-marks and distinctions of propriety utterly washed away which necessitated an infinite trouble in Annual Surveys this was setled by the afore-mentioned division each particular Governour apportioning to himself even by inches the Compass of what was committed to his charge This division of Sesostris totally differed from that made afterwards by Ptolomy and by his Successors established after the decay of that State by the Persians under the conduct of their King Cambises which was into forty Dynasties But this with the remains of all the rest were at last by the Mahumetans who trampled all down utterly subverted yielding to the Laws and Establishments of the insulting Conqueror ¶ THe Extent of Egypt is from the 21 degree of Northern Latitude Extent of Egypt to the 31 degree of the same and therefore some have judged it to contain in length fifteen days journey and in bredth but three Others strangely over-reckon and will have it four thousand Italian Miles though * Maginus Marmol Maginus will allow but five hundred and sixty common ones which Marmol shortens much reducing it to a hundred and fifty French leagues therein somewhat agreeing with Cluverius who from the Pelusian mouth of Nile to the Town of Catabathmus count no more than a hundred and fifty Miles In bredth as Marmol reckons it hath but twenty six Spanish Miles an inconsiderable tract of Land between the shore of Nile and the two great Desart Mountains from whence the River with wonderful swiftness issueth and thence descending to Asne and so to Alcayro having scarcely run a course of twenty Miles beyond it divides it self into two Arms which afterwards re-unite till having run sixty Miles beyond Alcayro it branches again into two streams the one call'd the Canopean passeth to Rosetta and the other to Damiata where by a new division causing a great Lake through a narrow Streight it falleth into the Mid-land Sea near the place where of old Tenesse was scituated These two Armsdraw or delineate the sides and the Sea-shore the basis of a Triangle giving the name of Delta Δ to that most Northerly part of the Countrey call'd also Nether-Egypt but by the Natives themselves as Guilliam de Tyr maintains Mahetek To this part Strabo assigns about three thousand Stadiums which make three hundred seventy five Italian Miles but this is lessen'd by Maginus to three hundred whereas on the other hand Villamont will have its Circumference to be seven hundred Miles setting down a great Lake at the Coast of Garbia Eastward from the River for one part of its Limits and another Channel of the Nile called Katoz that goes to Alexandria for a second And this might cause Ptolomy to stile it Great and sub-divide it into the lesser and third Delta The Antients as Kircher observes named this part Fium which in the old Egyptian Tongue signifyed the Sea not from its resembling the Sea in the time of its being over-flow'd but because it is generally believed that heretofore the whole surface of that part was totally covered by the Sea until by a long Series of time the Slime and Mud of the Nile came to settle and at length with great labour became firm Land The same Kircher in his Itinerary from a certain Rabbi affirms that from the Patriarch Joseph's time many Hebrew Monuments and old great Buildings were found there and that after many dayes toyle and labour by him directed the same was made fit to be and was actually inhabited according to which example succeeding Princes continually drayning the Marshy parts made the whole Countrey useful which thereupon became so populous and wonderfully fertile in all things that it was named The Gift of the Immortal Gods as Diodorus relates And the Poets tell us of a great Serpent bred hereabouts which did much mischief to the people till slain by * Or Apello Ovid. Met. Hercules Egyptius and the memory of his Atcheivement preserv'd by naming
The Encrease whereas the Moderns say that time onely is the Encrease which is between the least and greatest depth of Water and the other wherein the Water returns into his own Channel The Decrease The Nile then flows by degrees from the later end of June How long the Nile increases in Egypt At the first very little scarce rising up two or three fingers in twenty four hours nor much more any day after while the Sun remains in Cancer but when the Sun passes into Leo it rises first half a foot afterwards half a foot and a palm immediately a foot and lastly a whole cubit almost every day so continuing till the full height Thus the Grounds lying near the River are first moistened afterwards those afar off and at last all Egypt over Then the Earth which a little before was dry Land becomes Navigable and the River whose Channel in many places was scarce broader than a Furlong enlarges to * Above thirty English miles three hundred Furlongs nor would it stay there if the Hills on both sides did not curb and hinder it The Nile in this expansion at his height which ordinarily happens the Sun in the middle of Leo though sometimes when in the fifth or sixth degree of Libra doth not presently decrease but continues many times at the same depth twenty days and more till the Sun enters Virgo then by degrees lessening and running away before which time all the Dikes Ditches and Damms are opened to receive and detain the water Then may it easily be perceived how the Waters retire gradatim first from the Grounds of Upper Egypt that border upon Ethiopia afterwards from the High-grounds of Lower Egppt which naturally comes to pass for the Water glides through the High-grounds not running off indeed but kept up in Ditches that the Mud which improves the Land may be ready to be spread so much the nearer At length after the Autumnal Equinox the Water returns into its natural Channel and that which was thus long by Dikes kept up in the Upper-grounds let out by Sluices first in Upper and after in Lower Egypt And although sometimes there is a difference in the rising of the Nile according to the little or much rain falling in Ethiopia yet the whole Countrey is clear'd and the Water return'd to its Channel before our eight and twentieth of September whereupon immediately the Grounds are ploughed with small Coulters and made fit for Sowing and the Countrey-man when the Sun enters Scorpio The Nile almost always either increasing or decreasing puts his Seed into the Earth however though in its own Channel the River ceases not lessening till the end of May the next year It remains now that from this Overflowing of the Nile The Current of Nile sometimes swift and sometimes flow we shew the swiftness or slowness of his Current and how it varies at several times for the making which appear you are to know that in Ethiopia it flows up at least twenty days and sometimes a whole moneth ere it begins to rise in Egypt at the beginning scarce running a league in an hour whereas when the Water is come to the highest it passes so swiftly forward that if the Channel of the Nile be above four hundred and fifty leagues and more in length as by reason of its windings and reaches some running almost point-blank backwards it may well be upon an equal calculation it will appear that it may run three leagues in one hour we must confess it is not so swift in Egypt because the Channel is like a Sea about ten leagues broad which causes it necessarily to flow slower whereas it 's circumscribed and confined in narrow limits in Ethiopia and so consequently goes there more swift But now to return to our quest of the Head Sources or Fountains of this famous River The Head-Springs of Nile where as supposed Vossius Vossius gives us this account Although the Head-springs of other Rivers are not onely in places far distant from their mouths It receives all its water out of Ethiopia in regard where Rain falls Brooks and small Channels are usually found which by their confluence make the great ones full it is clear otherwise with the Nile being onely indebted to Egypt for a passage not receiving any addition of Waters there for all Egypt except where bordering on the Sea is altogether void of Rain but comes out of that part of Ethiopia that now is call'd Abyssine so that with reason there must we look for the Head-veins of Nile Among the many Heads ascribed thereto the farthest and most Southerly making the rivers Maleg and Anguet which joyn in the Countrey of Damut and make the West Channel retaining the name Maleg till after a course of fourscore leagues it falls into the middle Channel accounted the chief beginning in the Hilly Countrey of Sakala The Sea Bar-Dambea wherein also lies the large Sea Dambea eighty and eight leagues long and about two hundred over call'd Bar-Dambea by the Inhabitants first falling in the Countrey of Bagameder thence gliding forward through the Regions of Amaharam Olekam Gauz Bizamo and Gongos and increased by the addition of other Rivers turns towards the North visiting the Fields of Fasculo at last intermingling with the River Malegt where it borders upon Nubia The third Channel is the rich River Takaze rising from three Springs on the borders of the Kingdom of Angola whence after a Western course between Daganam and Haogam it winds towards the North by the Kingdom of Tygre and dividing the Region of Syre turns Eastward Afterwards falling into the River Mareb or Marabo which begins near Baroa they joyntly water the Countrey of Dengiri call'd by the Moors who enjoy it Ballai and unites at last with the Nile by the City Jalak There are the three Rivers which principally make up the Nile and enrich his Bosome with such plentiful Streams Thus far have we traced the opinions of Kircher and Vossius Now we proceed to declare what the Cataracts thereof be divers having written strange things thereof But first as to the name It is call'd by Pliny and other Latine Authors and by the people also who live thereabouts Catadupae and by the present Inhabitants Katadhi which in their Tongue signifies A Rushing Noise This happens at the Hill Gianadel where his even Current is broken by the sharp rocks through or over which it makes passage The place of this Fall according to the Antients contains * Above six miles fifty Furlongs filled up with huge and inaccessible rocks over which the Nile making his way falls with such an impetuous force and prodigious noise that as the Antients write the people who dwell thereabouts were all deaf by reason thereof But Experience now adays hath taught us that this Noise hath no such effect whilst the River keeps his usual stream but when he begins to rise the Noise encreases but yet is never so
from Putrifaction of the Air Seldom does the Pestilence in Egypt arise from the Putrifaction of the Air. unless the Nile overflowing the Countrey too high leaves his Water a long while upon the Ground whereby the whole Land becomes as a corrupt and standing Lake that by the Southerly Winds and Summer Heat are ripened and made fit to send up infectious Vapours There being then no Natural Cause to breed this Contagion within Egypt The Pestilence is always brought over from other Places into Egypt it follows that it is brought thither from other Neighbouring and Bordering Places and especially out of Greece Syria and Barbary That which is brought thither out of Greece and Syria and falls upon Caire is very milde kills few and holds but a short time But when it comes from Barbary thither it is most pernicious and of longest continuance Such was that in the Year Fifteen hundred and eighty that raged so furiously that in a short time it clearly swept away above five hundred thousand men By the continual rising of the Dust Why the Baths are in great use among the Egyptians and extraordinary Sweating the Bodies of the People become foul nasty and verminious and therefore Baths are of very great use to cleanse and keep them sweet and free from breeding Cattel But the Women with most frequency and care use Bathing as intending or at least imagining that such Lotions make them more pleasing to their Husbands and to have a gracious and pleasant Scent in their Nostrils when they come together to recreate themselves They take little care of their Hair Alpin de mâ—de Egypt ordering it slightly according to the manner of the Countrey in a Silken Caul but are very curious elsewhere using the Razor where necessary Afterwards they anoint themselves with several rich Perfumes such as Musk Amber Civet and the like which there are bought in great abundance for a small matter as aforesaid This frequent Bathing and Anointing they use not onely for Ornament Fat Women are pleasing to the Egyptians Cleanliness and Coolness but especially to make them if lean to become plump and fat because such Women be highly esteemed of in those Parts by which means some grow Bona-Roba's and others out of all measure with fathomless Wastes like foul Sows chiefly the Jews whose Women are more liable to that undecent Extream All in general when they are Bathing the sooner to facilitate their Design What they do to be fat take nourishing cool Broaths and Cordial Jellies on purpose made of Pinguefying Ingredients to wit Bammia Melochia and Colocasia The poorer sort in the Bannias drink the Settling of the Oyl of Sesamus Seed which they call Thaine or the decoction of China Roots or the Oyl pressed out of the Indian Nuts or the Fruit of the Turpentine-Tree Sweet Almonds Hasle-nuts and Pistaches eating besides much food and Flesh of fatted Fowls with the Broath boiled to a Jelly and mixed therewith Nor do these Lotions and Unctions suffice The chasing of the Body unless attended with a threefold Frication The first is done with the naked palm of the hand anointed with the Oyl of Sesamus the second with a rough linnen cloth and the third with a course cloth of Goats-hair After which they are rubbed all over with Sope which they wash off in a Bath of warm sweet-Water And lastly they lay upon their Feet a mixture of the Powder of Archanda mixed with ordinary water and is very serviceable for moist and stinking Feet drying them speedily by its great astringency At Cairo and Alexandria great multitudes of Houses are appointed for the use of Baths which have many Caves Cellars or Chambers The Superfluity of Baths at Cairo wherein people sweat are chafed and washed containing at all times hot warm and cold Baths but usually moderately warm because principally in use among them The Egyptians keep a slender and sparing Table eating little but often The Egyptians feed sparingly but often They are not pleased with Variety but content themselves with one Dish of Meat at a meal And if Flesh eat sparingly of it as having no great appetite thereto but when they do they chuse Mutton simply cook'd without either addition or Sauce to it But of late some Merchants have begun to learn to eat Chickens They chiefly delight in moist Food Their Food and therefore commonly use Rice boiled in preserved Juices of Linse Erwetes white Cives Melochia Beets Melda Coale Bammia Cucumers or Chate the Roots of Colocasia Melons Dates Musae Fruit Figs Apricocks Peaches Oranges Lemons Citrons Granates The poor people eat Beef and Camels flesh and some Fish as Pikes or Pickerels and many other and among the rest the flesh of the Crocodile In places near the Sea Fish may be had in great abundance which they eat without distinction for the most part salted and sometime half rotten Milk and all that come of it or are made with it is with them in very great use And as they are best pleased in simple Diet of one kinde of Food They eat not many sorts of Food so a little of it contents them For many make their Dinner and Supper onely of Melons or Wheaten Bread some of such simple Broth as we mentioned before and others chew upon a green Sugar-Cane or onely with Figs or Grapes or Cucumers or some such trifling Diet. All their Pot-herbs and Fruits are moister than the European and therefore more unsavoury The Fishes are unwholesom In like manner the Fishes taken in the Nile are fat enough and pleasant in Taste but accounted unwholesom because that River hath no stony or gravelly but a sedimented bottom and the Water unsetled with a flying Lee which must of necessity make the Fishes that breed in it unwholesom The common Drink of the Countrey is the Nile Their Drink which is very sweet but the Christians and Jews drink Wine also as also some Turks and especially the Soldiers that often at Cairo take the Creature in such abundance that they return home laid athwart on Asses Backs in those mad and inebriating Frolicks no more minding their Prophets Wine-forbidding Laws The best Wine for in Egypt there grows none is brought from the Island of Candy Rhodes and Cyprus the Wine of Italy Corcyre and Zacynthe turning sowre presently This Water of Nilus The Water of Nilus very wholesom to drink which by the length of his Current and the Heat of the Sun must needs be sufficiently concocted and made thin is very wholesom for as to the dregs or muddy part thereof the Egyptians have a way to make it clear which they do in this manner As soon as the Water is brought home in Leathern Flasks or Bottles they put it in long-neck'd great earthen Jugs or Jarres with broad round Bellies anointing the edge a little with stamp'd sweet Almonds then taking a handful of the same they thrust their Arm into
the Water up to their Elbow with all their strength stirring the Water about then leaving the Almonds in it the Water will be clear in the space of three Hours Lastly pouring out the clear Water into other small Vessels they use it either for their Drink or Food Others let this Water stand only and setle till it become clear of it self The Vertues of this Water are very many and great The Vertue of the Water of Nilus for in some it fetches out an inward Infirmity by insensible transpiration others it causes to Urine freely some to go to Seige to none is it hurtful though drunk Day and Night even to excess Moreover it is to hot Bodies as a cooling Julep to allay the heat and burning of the Bowels There also our New Drink call'd Coffee hath no small Estimation Coffee-Drink gotten by long Experience of the Benefits which they suppose they receive by it using upon the matter little or no other Physick or Doctors they eating much Fruits and drinking only the Nile which is it self their grand Physitian The infusion of the Powder of this Berry in that so excellent Water decocted and taken Hot composeth not only the Crudities arising from bad Digestion but suppressing all Fumes so setleth in quiet both Head and Stomach which may be well asserted by those that use it moderately here who after they have taken their Dose two or three Cups in the Morning find themselves more apt to Business or Study It certain and suddenly cures Inebriation and in many allays the fits of the Gout * Namral History Sir Francis Bacon who took it long before in use with us says It comforts the Heart and Brain by Condensation of the Spirits The Arabians call it Caova and the Tree whereon it grows Bon where it grows in such abundance that from thence the whole Eastern and now part of our Western World is furnished yet with them so valued as not to be purchased by any Barter as they say but Gold and Silver The Turks and Moors have also a very wholesom Drink call'd Sorbet A Turkish Drink call'd Sorbet made of Sugar and Lemmon and drank by them with great Delight They use also another kind of Drink made of Plumbs Corants and Water set together in the Sun ¶ MEn in Egypt live longer than in other Places for they say The Egyptians live long 't is usual to find People above an hundred Years old the Reason of which Longevity Physitians much differ about yet in General they assign'd as one chief Cause their spare Life in Eating and Drinking whereas on the contrary Alpinus de Medicina Aegypt all Europeans which drink abundance of Wine and eat much Flesh By what means this is so are for the most part short Liv'd for as the moderate use of Flesh generates good Blood and quickens the natural Heat so the immoderate use incrassates the natural moisture making it become tough and viscous so stopping the activity of Circulation with the Load of gross repletions just as the Flame in a Lamp by the exuberancy of the Oyl extinguisheth therefore the Egyptians living Sparingly and not Distempering themselves with high Fare their Blood being thus attenuated spins out a longer thread of Life to them than our guzling and debaucht Nations ¶ THe Habits of the Men are neat but not gorgeous Mens Habits for in the Summer time they wear Vests of the finest and lightest Cotton but in the Winter of their own Countrey Cloth quilted with Cotton Their Vests are shaped narrow above and wide below with small Sleeves close at the Hand over which Princes Officers of State and other Great Men wear a rich Tunick of Sattin Damask and other costly European-stuff every one according to his State and Dignity They wear great Turbans made of long striped Camelet Tulhandes or Turbants wound or folded up round together The Colour of which denotes of what Religion they are The Colour of the Turbant denote the Religion for the Jews wear one Yellow the Christians Red or Blew and the Mahumetans only a White one but those that boast themselves lineally descended from their Great Prophet wear Green Turbans Their Hose or Stockings are short like the Buskins of the Antients but in a manner all strangers to Shoes for what they use on their Feet are rather Slippers or Sandals having no Upper-leather behind and the Soals according to the Turkish Fashion shod with Iron Ladies and Persons of Honor The Habit of Women are there for the most part cloathed in White with Masks of the same Colour The Countrey-Women have in stead of a Mask a Cotton Cloth before their Face Black or some other Colour at the Chin pointed with two holes only that they may see their Way and where they tread But in many Places their Vizors follow the Turkish Mode being a very thin Cloth made of Horse-Hair before their Faces or else among the better Sort a fine Linnen or Tiffany They go mounted on Choppines which have no Upper-leather but only to fasten them over to the foot Their Head-attires are various according to the divers Customs of the Countrey the Turkish keeping their own Fashion of being close covered but the Egyptians wear a costly Silk Cap half a Foot high and running to a Point like one of our Womens high-crown'd Hats without a Brim on the fore-part of which they fix a Branch or Sprig neatly compos'd of several Gems with various Lustres and a Frontlet of Oriental Pearls with Chains of Gold about their Neck The Egyptian Women wear Smocks and Peticoats lac'd at the bottom like the Gallants of our Time and Golden Bracelets on their Wrists and Garters all of Gold Next their Skin they wear a fine Silk Smock bordered with curious Needle-work and over this a Coat or Gown of a different Length made of changeable colour'd Silk trim'd with Gold Silver and Silk Knots and the Skirt richly embroider'd No People are more dextrous in Swimming as compelled thereto by necescesity for at the overflowing of Nilus they swim from place to place to dispatch their Affairs and to that end are very lightly Clad only with a Coat and Shirt intending to Travel which they tye upon their Heads in form of a Turbant when they swim cross any deep Rivers but if their Transnatation extend to a farther Distance they have bundles of Flaggs or Bull-rushes which as either necessity or conveniency requires they use to Buoy themselves upon both for their Ease and Safety When they ride in Cavalcade through Cities in State or through the Countrey for private Business their Horses are unshod cover'd after the Moorish Fashion with Foot-clothes or Caparisons usually made of Tapistry wrought after the manner of the Moors but the Women mask'd upon Mules Mean People and Strangers use Asses which always stand upon the parting of cross Ways ready to Hire ¶ THe Houses of the plain Countrey
Funeral-Cloaths of Mummies made either of Paper Wood or burnt Brick or the like Matter as is declared in the Description of the Mummies But generally the whole Body of this Learning was cut upon Stone and set up in several Places in Egypt as upon Temple-doors Obelisks or Images of the Gods that they might remain Remarks to all Posterity They make * Mercurius Trismegistus Hermes the first Inventer of these consecrated Figures whom the Arabians called Adris He was a Priest and the greatest Wise-Man in all Egypt and flourished in the time of Abraham under the Government of the first Egyptian King Mizraim This Hieroglyphical Learning was so highly Esteemed by the Egpptians ever since its first Beginning Was in high Esteem that the Priests who only understood it might teach it to none but those of their own Order Moses himself according to the Scriptures was indued with all the Wisdom and Learning of the Egyptians which according to the Exposition of Philo Judaeus chiefly consisted in this Divine Philosophy When it was destroyed which since the Conquest of Egypt by Cambyses is so wholly lost that there is scarce any Remainders to be found ¶ A At present the Native Egyptians speak Arabick or the Morisk Language so do the Coptists only their Church-Service or Liturgies are celebrated in the Coptick with an Arabick Explanation The Jews at Cairo for the most part speak a mixt Language a meer Gally-maufry hasht together of all usual Tongues now call'd Lingua Franca ¶ THe Number of Souldiers in Pay The Soldiery which the Grand Signieur maintains to keep under the Countrey they variously Report formerly they were no more than twelve Thousand but at this day as well Horse as Foot 15100. ten Thousand seven hundred Horsemen Jaques Albert. which they call Mottaferagas Chiauses Arabgis Geoumelli and Tuffegis and four Thousand four hundred Footmen that is Janizaries Topigi and Azapi besides the San-jaks and Cherkes which last watch the Banks of Nilus to prevent the Arabians from cutting off or stopping the Water at the time of the overflowing besides these there are to garrison Castles and Forts two Thousand two hundred as also trained Soldiers raised in the several Cassiffes at the pleasure of the Divan of Cairo and maintained at their own Charge ¶ OUr Purchas says Egypt is guarded by an hundred Thousand Soldiers call'd Timariotts who are bound to serve the Turk in all Places where he pleaseth to use them Villamont accounts twenty Thousand Spahies and Breves and five and twenty or thirty Thousand Janizaries and Natives all bravely appointed in Habit and Arms. The Baron of Beauvan reckons five Thousand Spahies who do nothing but Ride through Cairo two Thousand Mottafaragaes or Mattaferagaes two Thousand Chiaous or Chiaus fifteen Thousand Janizaries all Foot-Soldiers Prince Radzovill relates That there lye in Cairo usually six Thousand Horse and as many Foot to prevent the Robberies of the Arabians and that the Cavalry consists partly of Turks partly of Mammelucks and Circassians but all the Infantry wholly of Janizaries ¶ THe Mottaferagaes are at this day three Thousand three hundred Jaques Albert. having no other Commander but the Bashaw who is of their own choosing the Chiaus three Thousand five hundred commanded in chief by the Aga but secondarily by one chosen out of themselves whom they call Chiaussi Tihaiassi The Seraquegies Gioumelli and Tuffegies are each of them twelve Hundred under their proper Leaders which they call Boullouk the Seraquegies bear Yellow Colours the Geoumelli Red and the Tuffegies Green and White If at any time a Boullouk offend he receives both Tryal and Punishment of the Aga. The Janizaries are above three Thousand with a peculiar Aga who only may punish them but no otherwise than in secret They guard the uppermost side of the Castle of Cairo The Arabgies and Topigies each five or six Hundred all Cannoneers under the Aga of the Janizaries though they have also a distinct Commander their Post is the Gate of the Castle of Cairo on the side of the Way from Romeilla Out of this Soldiery by the Command of the Divan residing at Cairo a certain number is drawn according as the danger of any Place requires but for Defence of the Countrey against the Incursion of the Arabs two Thousand two hundred twenty and three are always in readiness as a flying Army to assist the Soldiers quarter'd in and maintained by the Countrey and always lying in the Field under rich and curious Tents The Cassiff of Sahid or Girgio The Soldiery of every Province hath by the Command of the Divan of Grand Caire an Hundred Mottaferagaes an Hundred Chiauses an Hundred Janizaries and two Hundred Spahies at the publick Charge keeping as many in Pay upon their own Account These continually scout Abroad laying hold of all opportunities to fight with and cut off the Arabians that lurk in the Mountains for Spoyl Manfelut maintains six and twenty Soldiers Mottaferaga's and Spahies and as many Natives in Arms which as the other lye always in the Field Benesuef hath a Hundred and forty Fium a Hundred Spahies and fifty Janizaries Gize hath a Hundred Spahies all which constantly keep the Field to free the Countrey from the Plundring Arabians Baera hath two Hundred Mottaferagaes and Spahies Along the Channel that runs from the Nile to Alexandria the Provincial Governor keeps some Soldiers to hinder the Arabians letting out of the Water In Gaobia are fifty Soldiers to preserve the small Channel call'd Tessos from being cut off by that Wilde Nation Into Menousia the Divan sends a Hundred Spahies and the like into Mansoura whose Provincial Governor is bound to keep the like number at his own Cost and Charges In Callioubieh a Hundred in Minio seventy five together with thirty of the Provincials providing in Cherkeffi five and forty all at the Cost of the Countrey Besides all which Alexandria Rosetta Damiata and Suhez each receive sixty Soldiers ¶ EGypt besides these Military Guards hath several Castles and Fortifications Castles and Forts partly on the Sea-Coast and partly more In-Land There are four Castles in Alexandria one Great call'd Pharaillon and another smaller standing close by it at the Mouth of the New Haven and the two other lye on the other Side of the Old Bridge one Great call'd Rouch and the other smaller a Member as it were of the first Next these four stands another call'd Boukier In Rosetta are two one at Broules the other on the Sea-Point towards Damiata There are two or three also in the Dominion of Cattia by the Side of Gaza And in the Way towards Mecha two small days Journey from Cairo stands the Castle Aseroust through which the Caravans pass also a small Church of the Greeks The next is that of Lacaba Magazines in the Road to Mecha and further about half Way between Cairo and Mecha the Castle of Hazalem Over and above these Castles there are three
Stones as the Cornalines or Cornelians the Sardis or Sardonicks ¶ THe Antient Egyptians observed onely a Lunar Year But seeing this manner of Reckoning did not agree with their Affairs but was discommodious they brought it according to Censorinus from one to three Moneths and after that to four But here we must observe all the Egyptians did not compute their Year according to the Course of the Moon for a great part observed the Solar Year but yet not the same that is now in use for it contained no more than three hundred and sixty Days which they divided into twelve Moneths giving each Moneth thirty Days This Computation was a long while used then at length growing skilfuller by experience in the Course of the Heavens and the Suns Annual Motion they added to the said three hundred and sixty five more which they call'd Nisi which year afterward was generally received for the true Civil Year and according to Horapolla call'd Gods Year Plutarch For the Egyptians call'd the Sun God and therefore it is not strange that the Sun's Year by them should be call'd The Year of God Every four years with them consisted barely of fourteen hundred and sixty Days But Gods Year fourteen hundred and sixty one Days Then at length among the Egyptians the Civil Year was brought to the Solar or Sun's Year that is every Year was lengthened a quarter of a Day that is to three hundred sixty five Days and six Hours for in so much time the Sun finisht his Course round the Zodiack and the fourth Year with the lengthening of one Day by the putting together of the four-times six hours made it a Leap-year Now that the making a Leap-year in this manner was in use among the old Egyptians among others Diodorus Siculus gives us to understand in these words Diodorus Siculus where he says That the days among the Egyptians were not reckoned by the Moon but according to the course of the Sun so that they gave every Moneth thirty days and to the twelfth Moneth they added five days with a quarter of a day that in this manner they might have a perfect course or circuit of the Year And this among the Egyptians was so antient that they had it long before Alexander the Great 's coming thither not learning it from but rather teaching it to the Romans as Eudoxus Plato's Disciple testifies who having by Services and by great Study dived into this knowledge taught it the Grecians in his own Countrey as Strabo affirms As the Year so settled was generally call'd Gods Gods year so was also every year of the four call'd by the name of one of the chiefest of their Gods The first they call'd Sothis or Thoth that is Dog from the Dog-Star for that they began their year at the rising of that Star The second bore the name of Isis or Serapis The third of Osiris and the fourth of Horus which the Egyptians also call'd Kemin Wherefore when they would represent the four years they made the Figure of Hermes or Mercury with a Dogs Face standing upon a Crocodile with a Bowl in his hand At his right side Jupiter Ammon at the left Serapis with a Figure of Nilus upon his head and an Image of a Star representing according to Manilius Isis The Coptists and Abyssines keep the same reckoning onely changing the names of the Heathenish Gods into those of the Four Evangelists calling the first year Matthew the second year Mark the third Luke and the fourth John Besides this forementioned Civil and large year for Civil affairs there was by the Priests and Astronomers another current year in use which they term'd The Mystical Year and consisted of three hundred sixty and five days bare By which means in four years they lost one full day and in forty years ten Wherefore the time of their Festivals instituted for the Honor of their Gods every year came so many days earlier For Geminus affirms That the Feast of the Goddess Isis which in the time of Eudoxus fell in the Winter Solstice in his time came a whole moneth sooner This moveable Course of the Festivals was done by the Contrivance of the Priests that they might not Celebrate them always upon one and the same time of the year resolving that they should run through all the Seasons For the Gods according to their opinion in fourteen hundred and sixty years make Progress over all Countreys and Places of the World and pass through all the Degrees of the Zodiack and the days of the Moneth in process of time that no place of the World nor part of year should be debarr'd of their necessary presence Thus far of the Computation of the Year among the Old Egyptians The Modern Christian Copticks observe a threefold Accompt The Modern Accompt of the Year among the Copticks The first from the Creation of the World and with them observed by most of the Eastern People and in Arabick call'd Abrahams Epocha The second accounts from the beginning of the Grecian Monarchy The third from Nabonassar King of the Caldees But this used by the Astronomers onely was little known There is a fourth Accompt used by the Abyssines and that is the Emperour Dioclesian's introduced by him in the nineteenth year of his Reign being the year of Christ Three hundred and two It begins the twenty eighth of August Old or the Eighth of September New Stile in the first Moneth Thoth They call it in the Arabick from the City Captos Tarich Elkupti that is The Coptick Calendar and by the Copticks The holy Martyrs Calendar or The Year of Grace and by the Abyssines in that Countrey Language Amath Mahareth that is The Year of Grace and Mercy because of the great Persecution which the Christians at that time suffered under the same Dioclesian when about Coptos onely were Martyr'd an hundred and forty four thousand The reason of introducing which Accompt we will in short set down When Dioclesian reign'd seiz'd with a raging Fury he not only insulted with strange arrogance over the Christians casting them to wilde Beasts and exercising against them all other kinds of savage Cruelty but endeavoured by all means to extirpate their Name and to that purpose he put in practise and commanded to destroy and burn up all their Religious Books supposing when that was done they would easily be brought to the practise of their Heathen Rites and accordingly upon the twenty fifth day of March being then Easter-day the said Dioclesian and his Colleque Maximian commanded and published Edicts to that end that all the Churches of the Christians in Egypt especially and about Thebes should be thrown to the Ground and the Books of their Religion destroyed And in the second place the antient manner of the Years used by the Egyptians he made to be fitted to the Roman Stile and that Account he named from himself Dioclesian in which last he so far prevailed that it took place even
Teacher of all Christians I confess that Power is given to him from our Lord Christ through St. Peter to keep and govern the Universal Church as also that none can be Saved out of that Universal Church This was the Confession which they stand to at this day The Pope is by these Patriarchs in their Letters to Him commonly thus Entituled To the Greatly Esteemed Pope Father of the Priesthood Successor in the Universal Apostolick truly Believing Church Father and Prince of Princes Christs Vicegerent on Earth Sitting upon the Seat of St. Peter Prince of the Apostles Lord Urban the Eighth After the Death of one Patriarch another is chosen out of the number of Monks residing in the Cloisters And here observe That ever since the Beginning of Christianity there were three Patriarchs by the Apostle Peter Erected in the most Famous Cities of the Roman Empire The Roman the Alexandrian and the Antiochian whereto afterwards was added the Constantinopolitan by the Councils of Constantinople and Chalcedon And lastly the Jerusalemitan by the same Council of Chalcedon The Sixth Canon of the Council of Nice held in the Year after the Birth of Christ Three hundred twenty and five annexed to the Patriarch of Alexandria Egypt Lybia or Pentapolis Arcadia and Augustanica to which afterward were added Upper and lower Egypt both Thebes and other so that at last Egypt contain'd ten Arch-Bishopricks For so many Metropolitans it pleased the Emperor Theodosius and Valentinius to call together out of this Patriarchat in a Letter to Dioscorus And indeed so far hath this of Alexandria extended it self of late that now it includes the utmost Bounds of the Abyssines There are in Egypt likewise many Calogers that is shaved Monks which follow the Greek Religion and possess many Churches and Cloisters All which live poorly sleep upon the Ground and drink no Wine but meerly so much as is necessary for the Mass  The Years of their Government The beginning of their Government after the Birth of Christ THe Archbishop or  45 Evangelist S. Mark 19 64 Anianus 22  Miliut alias Abilius 13 87 Cerdi 11 110 Ephrim otherwise the First 12 112 Justus 11 124 Eumenius 11 133 Marcianus 6 144 Claudianus 15 150 Agripini 17 165 Demetrius an Opposer of Origen 44 190 Hieroclas Follower of Origen 12 234 Dionysius a Scholar of Origens 18 248 Maximus 19 266 Theonas a Pillar of the Church 15 285 Peter the first Martyr 10 300 Here began the Accompt of the Martyrs under Dioclesian   Archillas and Achillas 1 310 Alexander 15 311 Athanasius great Dr. of the Church 42 326 Peter 12 368 Timothy 5 380 Theophilus 27 385 Cyril the Great 33 412 Dioscorus under whom began the first Rent from the Alexandrian Church 7 445 Timothy a Scholar of Eutiches 25 452 Peter alias the Heretick Gnapheus 9 477 Athanasius a false Heretical Bishop 20 486 John of which there were three viz. 10 506 Mela   Tabida   Machiota   Dioscorus the young  516 Timothy   Theodatius an Arch-Heretick   Peter alias Mogus a false Bishop   Dimanus   Anastatius  622 Andronicus  639 Benjamin  645 Agathus 19 664 John this built the Church of St. Mark in Alexandria 8 672 Isack 3 675 Simon the Syrian   Alexander 20  Cosmas 13 718 Theodorus 11 703 Choel 23 763 Mena 9 772 John 13 791 Mark 10 817 Jacob this is said to have raised the Dead to Life 10 890 Simeon 1 822 Joseph 18 845 Chael 1 864 Cosmas 7 866 Sanodius otherwise Sanitius  875 Chael otherwise Michael 25 885 Gabriel 11 923 Macarius 12 931 Theophanius killed 4 967 Mena 11 972 Abraham died poison'd by his Amanuensis or Secretary 3 976 Philotheus 24 919 Zacharias 28 1015 Senodius 25 1043 Serius Christus 30 1068 Cyrillus 14 1098 Michael 8 1112 Maccearius alter'd the Church Ceremonies 26 1246 Gabriel   John   Mark here the Years of Government are wanting   John   Benjamin   Peter   Mark   John   Gabriel   Mathew   Gabriel   John   Mathew   Gabriel   Michael   John   Gabriel   John   Gabriel this sent a Messenger to Pope Vrban the Eight  1593 Mark   John   Mathew  1635 BARBARY THis Countrey was not unknown to the Antient Romans by the Name it bears at present of Barbary since their Writings signifie they had settled therein several Colonies The Original of the Name Barbary The Arabians according to the Testimony of Ibnu Alraquiq have given to this Countrey by Marmol call'd Berbery the name of Ber that is Desart or Wilderness from whence the Inhabitants themselves were afterwards stiled Bereberes But others will have it so nam'd by the Romans who having subdued some parts of Africa this part lying opposite to them they call'd Barbary because they found the Inhabitants altogether Beastial and Barbarous Nor is it at all improbable Herodotus considering that among us it is usual to call such as lead a wilde and ungovern'd life and not civiliz'd by Education Barbarians so of old the Grecians call'd all people 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 barbarous that agreed not with them in Manners and Customs But Jan de Leu saith the White Africans were call'd by the Arabs Barbarians from the word Barbara in the Arabick Tongue signifying Murmuring because their Language in this Region did seem to them a kinde of confused murmur or noise The Bounds of it like that of Beasts Barbary lieth inclosed between Mount Atlas the Atlantick and Midland Seas the Desart of Lybia and Egypt For it begins at the Mountain Aidvacal the first Point of the Great Mount Atlas containing the City Messe and the Territory of Sus and reacheth from thence Westward along the Sea-Coast of the Great Ocean on the North by the Straits of Gibraltar and the Mediterranean to the Borders of Alexandria Eastward by the Wilderness of Barcha near Egypt and on the South The Contents of it passing from thence to the Mountain of the Great Atlas The Length taken from the Great Atlantick Ocean to the Borders of Egypt is by some accounted six hundred Dutch Miles and the Breadth from Mount Atlas to the Midland-Sea about eighty two Dutch Miles which Breadth is not every where alike in it self but according to the Cantles and Indentings of the Sea-Coast and the going out and in of the Borders on the Land-side which are very unequal Other Contents of it Marmol makes Barbary much bigger accounting from the City Messe lying on the Western part of Barbary to Tripolis under which the Kingdom of Morocco Fez Tremesin and Tunis lye above twelve hundred and that part of the Sea-Coast extending to the Sandy Desart of Lybia broader than an hundred and eighty Spanish Miles To which
other parts of the Body sometimes only by the Skin and hanging many days they so languishing in great torture die or else ty'd with a Rope about the Middle and with four Nails fasten'd to a Cross against the City Wall they are flead alive or bray'd to pieces in a Mortar Those that have committed any crime at Sea Sea-Justice are ty'd to the Mast or Steerage and shot to death with Arrows or else his hands and Feet cut off and set before the Mouth of a Cannon Usual Punishments and so shot all to pieces To drag them in pieces with four Ships to which they are ty'd and then cast the Quarters into the Sea is a usual Punishment so it is to cut off limb by limb or joint by joint but to tye them up in a Sack Light Punishments and draw them is held a gentle and milde Sentence 'T is capital to lift up the Hand against a Janizary or to commit Adultery with a Mahumetan Woman But this later is connived at because they believe that all sins by washing in the Bath or by once plunging into the Sea are washed away Their Lodging is very mean Their Houshold-stuff being only a Mattress in stead of a Bed which they lay upon a floor of Boards They sleep in their Drawers or Calsoons they have neither Chairs Stools or Tables but hang their Cloaths upon Pins in the Wall Those of Quality sit at Meals and all other times upon pieces of Tapistry cross-legg'd on the Ground but poor People have a great Matt made of the leaves of a Date or Palm-tree The Men wear next their Skin a large Linnen Frock and Drawers The Habit of the Men. and over that a loose Coat of Cloth or Silk buttoned before with great Gold or Silver Buttons and hangs down almost to the knee Their Sleeves reach but to their Elbows so that turning up their Shirt upon them their Arms are for the most part half way bare or naked and instead of Stockins the great men of the Court and other People of quality sometime wear small Turky-Leather Buskins They wear Turbants made of red Wooll wound up in a piece of Cotton five or six Ells long Their Slippers are piked at the Toe of yellow or red Leather shod under the Heel with Iron having no Lappets which they slip off at the door of any house whereto they enter as a great point of Civility They wear at their Girdles three very fine Knives that is two great and one small in a silver Scabbard a foot long adorned with Turkoyses and Smarag'd or Emeral'd Stones so rich sometime that they stand them in above a hundred Escues When they make water they stoop down to the ground How they make water for it is held a shameless thing to urine standing as the Christians do And the reason may be because if the least drop of their water fall upon them they are polluted and must forthwith wash themselves The Women are Habited almost like the Men The Habit of the Women onely having a fine Linnen Cloth on their Heads in stead of a Turbant Their Semaires come but to half their Thighs the rest naked Rich Women wear commonly five or six Pendants in each Ear with Bracelets of Jewels on their Arms and Silk Garments They paint the ends of their Fingers blue with an Herb call'd by them Gueva perhaps our common Woad When they go along the City in the Streets they cast over all a Cotton Cloak which hangs down to their Feet and tie a string of Pearls upon their Foreheads and a fine Kerchiff before their Eyes so that they cannot be known as they go up and down the Streets All their occasions lie within the house where they have a several apartment by themselves wherein none but Women may visit each other the Master of the House himself being at such times excluded to prevent all occasions of jealousie They are curious in the beautifying themselves according to the Fashion of their Countrey painting their Eye-brows and Eye-lids and colouring their Hair black with burned Antimony The usual Food of the Countrey is commonly Rice Their Food Cuscous Mutton Veal some Beef and Fowl When ever they slaughter any Beast they say over each I kill thee in the Name of God then turning themselves to the South they cut the Throat quite through like the Jews that it may bleed the more else they count it unclean and dare not eat of it Their Drink at Meals is either clear Water or Sorbet for Wine is forbidden them by the Alcoran And in the mornings when Tradesmen and Merchants meet about business they go to the Publick Coffee-Houses which Liquor they drink having a great opinion of it smoaking abundance of Tobacco spending much of their time there In stead of Table-Cloths they use red Turky-Leather Carpets and wipe their fingers on their Handkerchiffs in stead of Napkins Onely at Solemn Festivals the great ones wipe upon a blue Cloth fixed to the Carpet Their Cups and Dishes are of Tin or Earth Their Cups or Vessels for none may use Silver onely the Sultans they are all of Massy-Gold Liquid things they eat with wooden Spoons a Foot long Gaming is unlawful among them so that they neither play at Dice Cards Balls Bowls nor any other Sport usual with us Sometime they will play a Game at Chess but not for money Bathes are much used Great use of Baths besides their frequent Washings enjoyned before Devotion so that every place almost is filled with Bannia's Every City hath also many Free-Schools or Mesquites for the instructing of Youth to Read Write and cast Accompts but no further The principal Book they learn is the Alcoran which when a Scholar can read well his School-fellows lead him in his best Habit along the Streets and set forth his Commendation through the City for beyond this none learn Thus having shewed you the Manners and Customs of the People we shall now in short give an account of the nature of the Soyl and what Beasts and Plants it produces ¶ THere are in Barbary very many Springs and Rivers The Rivers the chiefest of which take their Rise in and Fall down from the greater Atlas though some others claim distinct Originals all which disembogue either into the Great Atlantick or Midland-Sea The Waters springing from Atlas relish of that Earth whence they arise and are for the most part thick and sedimenty especially on the Borders of Mauritania The whole Coast of Barbary lying on the Ocean The Scituation of it Atlas and the utmost Southerly Parts of the Territory of Sus as far as the Streights of Gibraltar is very fruitful in the Production of Wheat and Barley full of Meadow-Ground and luxurious in Herbage to feed up Cattel The other on the Midland-Sea How the Soil of Barbary is at the Mediterranean Sea from the Streights to the Eastern Borders of Tripolis is
to Salee the fourth of September The sixteenth of June in the Year Sixteen hundred sixty and six Gailand Lord of Alkazir drew into the Field against Muly Resis King of Tafilet Brother to the King of Fez but three Days after came back again to Alkazir About two Days after he drew into the Field again was met by the King of Tafilet routed and put to Flight with the loss of many and revolt of more Soldiers to the Kings side Gailand himself wounded with a Semiter escaping to Alkazir but not daring to trust himself there within an hour fled to Arzile The King without any opposition took in Alkazir whereupon Tituan and Old and New Salee fell to him so that now the City and Castle was once more reduced under the Power of the King of Fez. Once before the Portugues took it but were not able to hold it long ere it returned to the right Owner When Sydan the third Son of Hamet after the Death of his Father and Brothers had possest himself of the Kingdom of Fez though afterwards stripped both of that and Morocco for a time by the several opposite Factions in those Kingdoms commanded by Hamet Ben Abdela a Religious but hypocritical Heremite who hoping to get all for himself was opposed by Sid Hean that took part with Sydan by which assistance the Tumults at last were pacified in some measure yet nevertheless a rabble of Pyrates invested themselves in this chief Port of Fez inabling themselves thereby to do him infinite mischief both by Sea and Land and not to him only but all others whose business of Trade drew them into those infested Seas Many fruitless Attempts he made upon them so that considering his own weakness at Sea for want of Shipping he sent an Embassador unto King Charles the First of England to desire his Assistance Nor did that Pious Prince need much Importuning to put his hand to so good a Work for he soon dispatched thither the requested Aids by whose Assistance Sydan became Master of the Town unroosted and punished the Pyrates and sent Three hundred Christian-Slaves freed for a Present to his Majesty Nor staid he there but raising his thoughts to a higher Pitch of General Good he sent another Embassador with a Letter to His Majesty to give him the like Assistance against Algiers who Roved with as much Cruelty through the Mediterrane as the Salee-Men before had done over the Atlantick The which Letter savouring of more than Mahumetan Piety and much conducing to the King of Great Britains Honour we will Insert for Satisfaction THE King of Moroccos Letter TO KING CHARLES The FIRST of ENGLAND WHEN these our Letters shall be so happy as to come to Your Majesties Sight I wish the Spirit of the Righteous God may so direct your Mind that you may joyfully embrace the Message I send The Regal Power allotted to Us makes Us common Servants to our Creator then of those People whom we Govern So that observing the Duties We owe to God We deliver Blessings to the World in providing for the publick good of Our Estates We magnifie the Honour of God like the Celestial Bodies which though they have much Veneration yet serve only to the Benefit of the World It is the excellency of Our Office to be Instruments whereby Happiness is delivered unto the Nations Pardon me Sir This is not to Instruct for I know I speak to one of a more clear and quick sight than my self but I speak this because God hath pleased to grant Me a happy Victory over some part of those Rebellious Pyrates that so long have molested the peaceable Trade of Europe and hath presented further occasion to root out the Generation of those who have been so pernitious to the good of Our Nations I mean since it hath pleased God to be so cuspicious to Our beginnings in the Conquest of Sale that We might joyn and proceed in hope of like Success in the War of Tunis Algiers and other Places Dens and Receptacles for the inhumane Villanies of those who abhor Rule and Government Herein whilst We interrupt the corruption of Malignant spirits of the World We shall glorifie the great God and perform a Duty that will shine as glorious as the Sun and Moon which all the Earth may see and reverence a Work that shall ascend as sweet as the Perfume of the most precious Odours in the Nostrils of the Lord a Work grateful and happy to Men a Work whose Memory shall be reverenced so long as there shall be any remaining amongst Men that love and honour the Piety and Vertue of Noble Minds This Action I here willingly present to You whose Piety and Vertues equal the Greatness of Your Power that We who are Vicegerents to the Great and Mighty God may hand in hand triumph in the Glory which the Action presents unto us Now because the Islands which You Govern have been ever Famous for the unconquered Strength of their Shipping I have sent this my trusty Servant and Ambassador to know whether in Your Princely Wisdom You shall think fit to assist Me with such Forces by Sea as shall be answerable to those I provide by Land which if You please to grant I doubt not but The Lord of Hosts will protect and assist those that Fight in so glorious a Cause Nor ought You to think this strange that I who so much reverence the Peace and Accord of Nations should exhort to a War Your Great Prophet CHRIST JESUS was the Lion of the Tribe of JUDAH as well as the Lord and Giver of Peace which may signifie unto You That he which is a Lover and Maintainer of Peace must always appear with the Terror of his Sword and wading through Seas of Blood must arrive to Tranquility This made JAMES Your Father of glorious Memory so happily Renowned among all Nations It was the Noble Fame of Your Princely Vertues which resounds to the utmost corners of the Earth that perswaded me to invite You to partake of that Blessing wherein I boast my self most Happy I wish God may heap the Riches of his Blessings on You increase Your Happiness with Your Days and hereafter perpetuate the Greatness of Your Name in all Ages But now to return to the Course of our History Two large Miles from Salee Tefensare there lyeth another antient City call'd Tefensare or according to Sanutus Fansare and by Marmol suppos'd to be Ptolomy's Banasse In the same Place Mahmore at the Mouth of the River Subu stood formerly the City Maamore or Mahmore destroyed in the Moorish Civil Wars Emmanuel King of Portugal sailing into that Countrey pleased with the situation erected a Fort there Anno Fifteen hundred and fifteen which e're made well defensive the King of Fez his Brother came with an Army of Fifteen thousand strong with which defeating the Portugues he utterly raised King Emmanuels new erected Work But the King of Spain in the Year Sixteen
that it touches upon Biledulgerid formerly held in Compass two small miles as still some of the Ruines do declare but in the Year Nine hundred fifty nine destroy'd by the Kalifs of Cairavan but afterwards by a great Marabout restor'd and Peopl'd So that at present it contains above thirteen hundred Families The Inhabitants are most of them Weavers and Turners who though Skilful in their Trades yet seldom arrive thereby to any more than one degree above the meanest poverty KOUKO THe Kingdom of Kouko by the Marsiâ—â—n Merchants call'd Kouque or Kouke by the Italians and Spaniards Kuko suppos'd to be the Cinnaba of Ptolomy now subject to the Turks and paying Tribute to Algier The Mountain Kouko On the Borders of the Fields of Metiia towards the South and East appear many Mountains among which is Mount Kuko giving Name to the whole Kingdom Gramay says it is a very high and craggy Mountain eleven or twelve Dutch miles from Algier nine Westward of Bugia and three from Mount Labes But Peter Dan in his History of Barbary averres that Kouko is a place lying thirty French miles from Algier environ'd with almost inaccessible Mountains possessed by Arabians and Moors ¶ THe City of this Name contains more than sixteen hundred Houses The City strong in Scituation as being surrounded with high and steep Rocks Here the King of Kouko hath his chiefest Palaces And not far-distant in former times was the Haven Tamagus belonging to the same King but now in Possession of the Algerians This Countrey hath many Springs and Gardens Planted with all sorts of Fruits The Haven of Tamagus especially Olives The plain Grounds yield plenty of Figs Raisins Honey and Flax of which is made excellent Linnen Salt-Peter is there digged The Inhabitants are warlike necessitated thereto by their Neighboring Enemies yet their Fields stockt with Cattel their Woods with Monkeys and the whole Region with Horses fit for Service in the Wars ¶ THe yearly Revenue of the King The Revenue is reckon'd to seven hundred thousand Crowns which he raises by the Barter of Native Commodities nor can he easily be deprived thereof the Mountain serving as a Bulwark to keep out whom they are not willing to admit there being but onely one way to ascend them and that so narrow and uneasie that a small number with stones may keep back a strong Army ¶ THe Inhabitants are all Mahumetans Their Religions here and there mingled with Christian Merchants But such is their enmity to Jews that they will on no terms have any Converse with them ¶ GRamaye and Peter Davity Government give the Title of King to the Lord of these Countreys but Ananie ascribes to him onely the Name of Xeque though we may believe him mistaken because within this hundred years or thereabout one Benel Kadi of the Stock of Celmi Beni Tumi King of Algier by Aruch Barberossa murther'd relying upon the strength of his People call'd himself King of Kouko for whose Death all the people became deadly Enemies to the Turks which continued till Hassen or Asan Bassa Son of Hayredin Barberoussa inter-married the Daughter of this King by which means he gain'd the Assistance of his Armies against the King of Labez The King keeps no Court nor State but onely a Guard for Safeguard of his Person The continual Enmity of those of Algier against Kauke Nor makes Ostentation of his Strength for his Countrey lying inclosed with the Provinces of Algier they have always had an evil eye upon him endeavoring utterly to extirpate the King and bring the State under their absolute Obedience This being not unknown to him makes him Side with the Spaniard as he did openly in the Year Fifteen hundred forty and two when he sent the Emperour Charles the Fifth lying before Algier two thousand Moors for his assistance Which upon the News of the miscarriage of his Fleet he withdrew but this was so highly resented that shortly after in revenge came Asan Bassa King of Algier with an Army of three thousand Turks and Moors upon him and he durst not strike one stroke against him but made a Peace upon a promise of a yearly Tribute and gave his Son Sid-Amet Benalkadi for a Hostage This begun a tie of Friendship between Kouko and Algier which yet were more strongly united in a League in the Year Fifteen hundred sixty one by the Marriage of Asan Bassa with Kouko's Daughter whereby his People got liberty to buy Arms and other Necessaries at Algier But this brought no small suspicion into the Janizaries whose Aga having in October publish'd a Prohibition upon pain of Death that no Arms should be sold to the Koukians within two hours drew the Janizaries out of the City seized upon Asan Bassa together with his Sisters Son Ochali the General of the Army whom he sent bound in six Galleys to Constantinople This raised new fears in Couko and encreased their hatred to Algier so that in Sixteen hundred and nine they sold the Haven of Tamagut to the Spaniards but before delivery the Algerians took it by force Afterwards in Sixteen hundred and eighteen after the death of Hamaert the Kings Brother who usurped the Kingdom the old League of Friendship was renewed with Spain and Hostages given for performance this made the hatred between them and Algier break out afresh but his death the year after quite altered the Case for his Nephew Murtherer and Successor made Peace with Algier and sent thither Hostages who in a short time there ended their lives Of this Enmity between the King of Kouko and Algier the Spaniards made great advantage contriving thereby to get Algier into their hands and according to their Design in the Year Sixteen hundred and three thus attempted it There was a Franciscan Monck named Matthias well skill'd in the Language of the Countrey by his long Slavery there when he was ready to return for Spain he held secret intelligence with the King of Kouko between whom 't was agreed that Matthias should furnish him with some Spanish Souldiers for whose reception and safeguard the Koukian was to deliver up a small Fort lying in the Entrance of the Mountain and so with Joynt-Forces fall upon Algier The Enterprise thus concluded a day was appointed to effect it but the Council and Souldiery of Algier having privately some intelligence thereof at the very hour sent a great number of Janizaries to the place which at first approach summoned was by Abdala Nephew to the King of Kouko yielded together with a discovery of the whole design to the Bashaw of Algier Solyman of Katagne a Venetian Renegado who promised him for every Head of a Spaniard concerned in the Plot and by him either taken or kill'd fifty Sultanies and for the Head of Matthias two hundred A fruitless Enterprise of the Spaniards to take Algier At last four Spanish Galleys appeared under the Vice-Roy of Majorca on the appointed day close by the
Tapestry entertaining one another with Discourses or else in Visits of their Friends going to the Bannia's Recreating themselves in the Gardens without the City or at Feasts ¶ THe Habits here are several for Christians and free People as English Their Habits French Netherlanders and others go Clothed according to the Fashions of their several Countreys but the Slaves wear commonly a Gray Suit with a Coat or Cap like a Sea-mans The Common People wear in the Winter over their Shirts a Linen or Woollen pair of Drawers a white Woollen Coat with a white Cap fastened behind call'd Galela others have a Garment on hanging down to their Knees which they throw over their Shoulders and under their Arms like a Cloak call'd Golela commonly Dy'd Black In the Summer they have two large Frocks or Coats on which they call Adorta upon their Head is a Turban of slight Linnen or Cotton-Cloth The Apparel of the Women differs little from that of the Men onely they are much statelier and thinner their Shifts come down to their Ankles their Hair braided and ty'd up with Necklaces of Gold Bracelets of the same rich Pendants and Jewels in their Ears and square Caps on their Heads When they go abroad they have a Vail or Mantle of fine Linnen hanging over their Heads and clasp'd on their Breasts so that nothing can be seen but their eyes but in the House they wear a Silk Frock over their Linnen Shift ¶ THe Antient Inhabitants of Algier us'd the Punick Tongue Their Language and when subject to the Roman Emperors the Latine as may be observ'd from divers Inscriptions yet to be seen But when the Arabs over-ran the Countrey they brought in use the Arabick in which all publick Writings and Letters are still written more frequently than in the Turkish The Morisk also is much us'd but the common and vulgar Speech as well here as in the Levant and other Eastern Countreys as well by Mahumetans as Christians is Lingua Franca being a Medley compos'd out of the French Italian and Spanish Tongues ¶ HEre is a Custom deviating a little from the Alcoran Their Marriage the restraining Men to four Wives whiles this gives liberty for as many as one pleases but the Algerines are oblig'd by their Custom and keep within the compass of four Wives but their wanton lusts towards Concubines and Catamites are unbridl'd and without limitation Others assume the liberty of seven among whom they divide the nights and allow every one a several Chamber but this produces heart-burnings and jealousies which many times prove fatal to either or both When a Man lies upon his Death-bed he is tended by Men A Funeral Pomp. as Women are by those of their own Sex when Dead the Corps is washed with warm Water and Sope then wrapt up in white Linnen and a Turban laid upon it Thus prepared it is set upon the Bier and with the Alcaid's Licence convey'd to the Grave in the Fields without the City Gates Clothed and with the Head forward where it is Interr'd and cover'd with Earth Some few days after if it were a rich Person at his Head and Feet are Stones set up with Inscriptions and Epitaphs to the honour of the Deceased and some select Sentences out of the Alcoran laid upon him They make no shew of Sorrow by their Clothing Sorrow onely the Women wear for some days over their Faces a black Cloth and the Men for a Moneth never Shave themselves both Men and Women visit the Grave for the space of three Days bestowing on the Poor as a Benevolence Bread and Figs and continually saying over the Tomb with hideous out-cries Celam Ala that is Gods Light bless thee In the same manner almost are the Grandees and the Commanders in the Wars buried but with greater Pomp and State that is the Corpse is laid into a Coffin adorn'd with carv'd Work and other costly Ornaments and so carried to the Burying-place the Marabout going before and his Family and Servants bearing his Launce and Scimiter after him follow'd by Horses and Camels in great number of which the PRINT affords a sight Most people in Algier walk on foot few ride a Horse-back except Alkadies Governors of Provinces or other great Lords others of meaner Quality using Asses The Women seldom or never go afoot but are carri'd upon Asses cover'd with a kinde of Canopy as we have declar'd before and sitting in a four-square Box drawn round with Curtains In such like broad Frames set upon Camels many are carried in their Journeys to Mecha to visit Mahomet's Tomb partly to shrowd them from the heat of the Sun and to keep the Sand from flying into their Eyes as they go through the Sandy Desart Two Men may conveniently sit in these but with their Legs across which is not troublesom being the fashion of the Turks The general Coyn and Money current here The Coyn. both amongst the Turks Moors Jews Diegâ— de Haedo Typograph de Alg. eu Gram. lib. 1. and Christian Merchants is Outlandish being partly Turkish Gold as Sultanies of the value of a Ducat Mortikals of Fez a fifth part more in value then a Ducat partly Europaean as Spanish Pistols French Crowns Italian Zequiens somewhat more then a Venetian Ducat Ungarian Ducats and Spanish Ryals But the Moors and Arabs up in the Countrey know no other than Escues or Spanish Pistols and Ryals 't is true there is some Money Coyned there viz. Pieces of Copper call'd Burba's but thick stamped with the Arms of the King on both sides formerly six of these Burba's made an Asper but now six make but half an Asper An Asper the best Silver Coyn is four-square Printed with Arabick Letters Fourteen Aspers and a half make a Spanish Ryal and Four and twenty Doubles that is worth about Nine Shillings English Their Gold which has an allay of a little Copper is for the most part Coyned at Tremecen being round and of three sorts viz. Rubies which make Twenty five Aspers Dians or Zians each worth a hundred Aspers each of those have for their Stamps the Name of the Reigning King in Moorish Letters The Jews have the most Profit and Command of all this Money being indeed the onely Exchangers for which they pay an Annual Rent to the Bassa Every year the Algerines send into the Field three Bands or Flying-Troops of Janizaries each containing two or three hundred How the Tribute of the Level Countrey is brought in by the Arabians and Mâ—â—rs one of these marches to the West of Tremicen the second Eastward to the Coast of Bona and Constantine and the third South to the Negroes Countrey and Wilderness This last hath the greatest trouble because for the most part they continue out six or seven Moneths Every Troop is commanded by an Aga who is as much as a Collonel under whose Command and Conduct they forceably Collect those Tributes among the Moors wilde Arabs Advares and
Royal Seat of their new Government under their Prince King Abni These in the Year Seven hundred sixty and two were driven out by the Saracens and about a hundred years after that Joseph the first King of Morocco gave the Kingdom and Castle of Bugie then subdu'd by him to one Hucha-Urmeni though a Saracen without paying or doing Homage And though his Successor was disturb'd by the Arabians yet afterwards they held a fair Correspondence with Tunis But two hundred and sixty years since the Sovereign Power falling it became Tributary to the King of Telensin under which it continu'd till the Reign of Abuferiz King of Tunis who subdu'd Bugie giving it to one of his Sons call'd Habdidi Haziz with the Title of King whose Race Govern'd by Succession till Don Pedro de Navarre by Command of King Ferdinand in the Year Fifteen hundred and ten with a strong Army Conquer'd it for the Spaniard who slighted the old Castle and cast up two other new Forts on the Shore by the Haven This City and Forts Barbarossa supposing to stand in his way as opposing the Designs he had upon several parts of Barbary and at the invitation of the expell'd King came in the Year Fifteen hundred and twelve with twelve Galleys well man'd and an Assistance of three thousand Moors drawn by their King from the Mountains and pitched before the City yet after so fair a shew of his great Power eight days continually battering the Castle being discourag'd by a small Shot receiv'd in his left Arm he faintly withdrew and broke up the Siege returning to Tunis and the King to the Mountain This much troubling Barbarossa that he had so dishonourably forsaken such an Enterprise having recover'd his Wound in the Year Fifteen hundred and fourteen he renew'd the former Siege in which plying the Castle so hot and shaking it with his great Cannon it fell but the Garrison'd Souldiers retir'd into the City Then instantly he apply'd himself to the Storming of the other Castle and without doubt would have carried it though in the first Assault there remain'd an hundred Turks and as many Moors dead upon the Spot had not Martin de Reuteria with five Ships and a competent number of Souldiers came opportunely to their Assistance into the Haven whereupon Barbarossa was once more compell'd to depart to Gigeri Charles the Fifth Emperour seeing of what great consequence it was to keep this place for the more easie Conquest of Algier for the better Security thereof built a Fort upon the Hill which commanded the Castle At length those of Algier after many fruitless Attempts became Masters thereof in the Year Fifteen hundred fifty and five by the Conduct of the Bassa Sala who with three thousand Turks and thirty thousand Moors beleaguer'd in two places both the Castles as well by Land as Water First he gain'd the Castle lying on the Sea cutting off most of the Defendants then slighting it and pursuing his Success fell upon the other Fort with such fury that the Lieutenant Alonso de Peralta was forc'd to desert it and seek Refuge in the City but considering the weakness of the Town as not able to endure an Attaque surrendred the City Shipping thence according to Articles for Spain four hundred old Souldiers for which Service he was rewarded by cutting off his Head and ever since Bugie hath been under the Government of Algier GIGERI Or GIGEL THis Countrey bordering with the Sea Marmol so calls from a Village of that Name In the way between Algier and Bugie being fifteen miles from the later consisting of about five hundred mean Houses near which stands an old Castle upon a Hill almost inaccessible This Territory reacheth Southward to the Borders of the Numidian Desart containing Mount Haran being about twenty miles from Bugie and fifteen from Constantine and running Northward to the pleasant Valleys of Mesile Stefe Nekaus and Constantine ¶ THe Soil is generally barren and fit onely for Lime and Hemp which there groweth in great abundance Mount Auraz hath many Springs which so water the Plains that they are Plains that they are all Morass but dried up in the Season of the Year by the Heat of the Sun All this high Land is inhabited by Arabs a fierce and jealous people not permitting any Intercourse or the least Commerce with the Low-Landers lest they should dispossess them of their Habitations The Village Gigeri is very rich especially by the Trade they had in former times with the French who us'd to put in there for Hides and Wax The Inhabitants Traffick in small Vessels laden with Nuts and Figs to Tunis giving to the Bashaw of Algier the Tenth of all their Cargo's ¶ IN the Year Fifteen hundred and fourteen Barbarossa subdu'd this Territory The French are driven out of Gigeri and gave himself the Title of King of Gigeri And by that means when Cheridin Barbarossa his Brother and Successor in his Conquest submitted to the Grand Seignior this with the rest became subject to the Turks who disturb'd by the French that had won something upon it there were still Endeavors by the one to keep what they had got and by the others to regain what they had lost So the French in November 1664. designing to Fortifie themselves had an Assistance sent to them under the French Admiral Duke de Beaufort who arriving with a Naval Army sent a Spy to finde out the Strength of the Moors and to prevent his Discovery attir'd him in Turkish Habit promising him for a Reward of his Fidelity and care fifteen Pistols determining upon his return to fall upon the Moors with eight hundred men fifty of which he intended for an Ambuscade The Citÿ GEGERY DE STADT GIGERI◠CONSTANTINE COnstantine a Maritime Province so call'd from its Metropolis includes Its Borders according to Marmol that space of Land which the Antients named Nero Numidia containing formerly Constantine Mele Tefas Urbs Ham Samit and Beldelhuneb the Rivers Magier and Guadilbarbar dividing it from Tunis The Head City Constantine formerly according to Strabo and Mela The Head City call'd Constantine did bear the Name of Cirta Numidia and Cirta Julia having for the Founder Micipsa King of Numidia but Gramay thinks it a Roman Work by the stateliness and form of the Buildings Marmol averrs that this City was of old call'd Kulkua a Plantation of Numidia and that the Moors still entitle it Kucuntina It lieth on the South side of a very high Mountain surrounded with steep Cliffs from among which the River Sugefmart floweth so that the Cliffs on both sides serve in stead of a Rampart on the other side strengthened with high Walls of black Stone exquisitely hewen through which are but two ways into the City the one on the East the other on the West It containeth about ten thousand Houses many well Paved Streets furnished with all kind of Tradesmens Shops On the North side stands a Castle and without the
the Summer to eat in the Winter There grow also Figs Apples Pears and very much other Fruit but above all yielding great store of good Cattel as Oxen Calves and Sheep call'd by the Arabians Nedez sufficient to give Supplies of Butter and Milk not onely to the City Bona but also to Tunis and the Island Zerbes ¶ THe Mountains for the most part lie destitute of People yet full of pleasant Springs having Water enough to give a Current to several Rivers which afterwards take their course through the Plains between the Hills and the Midland Sea The Coast hereabouts yields much Coral both white red and black being a kind of Plant or Shrub growing in the Water between the Rocks ¶ THis City and Province were-Governed by Xeques and peculiar Lords of their own It s Government till the King of Tunis having subdued them built a strong Castle on the East side of the City to keep it in awe but afterwards Aruch Barbarossa in the Year Fifteen hundred and twenty coming with two and twenty Galleys and Ships into the Haven forced the Citizens to acknowledge him by which means they became Subjects to the Kings of Algier and so have ever since continued excepting for a short space that the Emperor Charles the Fifth in the Year Fifteen hundred thirty five made himself Master of it THE FORT OF FRANCE SIx Miles to the East of Bona between the Kingdoms of Algier and Tunis Peter Davity Estat Ture on Affique and between the Black and Rosie Cape you may see a Fort Commanded by the French and call'd Bastion de France that is French-Fort Formerly near this Cape of Roses stood another Building erected in the Year Fifteen hundred sixty one by two Merchants of Marseiles with the Grand Seignior's consent call'd a Fort but indeed was onely a Flat-rooft Ware-house for a residence of the French who come thither and employ the Natives Diving for Coral and under that pretence Exported all sorts of Merchandise as Grain Hides Wax and Horses which they bought there with more liberty and for less Price than in the Island Tabarka because no Turks lay there to hinder them But many years since this Structure whose Ruines yet appear was beaten down by the Algerines oppressed with a great scarcity of Provisions which the Moors reported was occasioned by the French Exporting their Corn. Afterwards in the Year Sixteen hundred twenty eight by order of Lewis the Thirteenth French King Mounsieur d'Argen Lieutenant of Narbone and chief Engineer of France was sent thither to re-build the razed Fort who took with him all Materials necessary for the Work from Marseiles and with great speed and diligence erected this Bastion But the Work was scarce begun when the Moors and Arabians came down Armed in great numbers and forced the Mounsieur to a Retreat and at present to Fortifie himself in a Half-Moon newly cast up from whence with the first opportunity he took Shipping At length the same King employed one Samson to re-attempt the same design who brought it to some perfection and was Governour of it Since which another was formed upon the Island Tabarka in the Year Sixteen hundred thirty and three This Bastion de France hath two great Courts the one to the North where the Store-Houses for Corn and other Merchandise are with many convenient Ground-Rooms for the Officers and Chief Commanders The other being more large and spacious than the former stands on a Sandy Beach where the Ships usually come to trade for Corall as we mention'd before To this adjoyns a fair and great Vaulted Chappel call'd St. Catharina in which they Celebrate their Mass and Preach having convenient Lodgings above for the Chaplains and Priests Before it there is a Church-yard and a little on one side a Garden-house set apart and us'd onely for sick and wounded Souldiers Between these two Courts towards the South standeth a great Quadrangle built all of Stone which is the Fort or Strength with a flat Roof wherein stand mounted two Mortar-Pieces and three other Brass-Pieces supply'd with a sufficient Garrison TUNIS THe Kingdom of Tunis The antient Borders at this day subject to the Great Turk compris'd formerly the Countreys of Constantine Bugie Tunis Tripolis in Barbary and Essab and by consequence the greater part of Africa the Less together with Carthage Old Numidia and other Countreys extending above a hundred and twenty miles along the Sea-Coast But now the greatest part of Bugie Constantine and Essab are wrested from it by Arms and annexed to Algier The Kingdom of Tunis then It s present Borders taken within these narrow Borders begins at the River Guadelbarbar formerly call'd Tuska dividing it on the West from Constantine as on the East the River of Caps or Capes by the Lake of Melaetses separates it from Tripolis and on the Southern Limit is the Modern Numidia Peter Dan in his Description of Barbary joyns it on the West to Algier to Barka Bona and Tripolis on the East So that by his account the Southern Part of Tunis lies Westward of Negro-Land containing but few places of note ¶ THe Rivers which run thorow and water this Countrey Its Rivers are chiefly four Guadelbarbar Magrida Megerada and Caps or Capes Guadelbarbar Guadelbarbar which Sanutus and Marmol call Hued d' Ylbarbar takes its Original out of a Hill lying a quarter of a mile from the City Urbs or Jorbus being serviceable onely to the Citizens in driving their Mills for the Current runs in so many crooked Meanders that such as travel from Tunis to Bona are necessitated with great trouble there being no Boats nor Bridges to help them to wade over five and twenty times Lastly it disembogues into the Sea by the forsaken Haven Tabarka seven miles from Bugie Magrida Magrida formerly call'd Catadt seems to be a Branch of the former flowing thorow Choros and then entring the Mediterrane near to a place call'd Marsa Megerada Megerada or rather Maggiordekka formerly Bagradag on whose Shore Pliny Gellius and Strabo say that when Attilius Zegulus was Consul for the Romans in these parts during the Punick Wars was found a Serpent of a hundred and twenty Foot long kill'd by Attilius and his Army with Arrows It rises according to Sanutus out of a Mountain bordering on the Countrey of Seb call'd by others Ursala whence giving a friendly Visit to the City Tebesse it runs Northward till discharging its Water into the Mediterrane-Sea about ten miles from Tunis This River swells up an unusual heighth when any great Rains fall so that the Travellers sometimes are compell'd to stay three days till that the Water abates that they may wade over for there are neither Bridges nor Boats for Ferry Tâ—UNIS ¶ MOuntains in this Kingdom are Zogoan Guislet Benitefren The Mountains and Nefuse besides some others on the South Zogoan lies six miles Southward of Tunis upon whose Side and Foot may be seen the
wherein to Sow Barley and Rye to preserve it from their Pillage ¶ ORanges Lemmons Dates and such like Fruit grow here plentifully The Plants or Vegetables so also Olives for a mile round about the City which afford Oyl not onely for the Natives but Foreigners and their Wood they burn in stead of other Fewel Borbo produces Roses and other sweet-smelling Flowers The high Mountain Zagoan Barley and Honey Genslet yields Apples and St. Johns-Bread but Benitefren and Naifuse onely Barley and but little of that ¶ THe whole Countrey especially the Mountainous Parts Beasts are full of Lyons wild Bulls and Cows Ostriches Apes Camelions Neat allow-Deer Hares Phesants besides such abundance of Horses and Camels that they bear little or no price ¶ THe People of Tunis are Moors Turks Jews The Inhabitants and Slaves of several Nations taken by their Pyrates in the Mediterrane and brought thither Here are also a sort of Men that Laze up and down the Streets bare-headed and bare-footed with Stones in their Hands like Mad or Distracted Folks whose careless Madness hath won such a reputation upon the folly of the Vulgar that they not onely account them Saints but allow them a settled Maintenance at the Publick Charge ¶ THeir Cloathing is according to the best Fashion of their Countrey Their Cloathing each in his several Degree but all wear Turbans made and covered with Linnen or other Stuff after the Turkish manner Womens Habits especially of the better sort are very neat and richly adorn'd with Jewels when they go into the Street they cover their Faces with a great Cloth over which they cast another which they call Setfari these multifarious Coverings at a distance make them appear of a much larger Size than ordinary When they remain at home they spend the greatest part of their Time and Means in making Perfumes and other like Trifles not minding Huswifery or any other profitable Employments ¶ THeir Bread is for the most part made of Wheat Their Food though the vulgar use Barley which in stead of kneading with Hands they beat with Battoons The common Diet of Merchants Artificers and the like is but a course Food call'd Besis made of Barley-meal and Water like Pap or Pudding to which they give a Haut-goust with Oyl-Olive and Juice of Lemmons and Oranges which they buy in the Market appointed for the Sale thereof and nothing else Besides this they eat also Flesh especially that of Lambs but more than these another kind of Dish they have in the eating whereof they take great pleasure the common known Name is Lasis of which whoever eats two Ounces is so far from satisfying his Stomach therewith that it rather augments it to a kind of Caninus appetitus or unsatisfied voraciousness attended with a continual Laughing and other antick Gestures till at length they fall into the extravagancies of a lustful Passion ¶ IN this City are all manner of Handicrafts Their Employment but chiefly Linnen-Weavers whose skill in their Trade was such as made their Cloth of great repute both for strength and fineness The Mountaineers deal onely in Cattel living in Hutts which they draw together to the number of a hundred or two hundred wherewith they continually range about and change Places as their Cattel want fresh Pasture Those Hutt-Villages stand in order with ways and passages between all leading to a great Field in the midst where the Cattel feed On the out-sides they stand so close that they are like a Wall passable onely at two Entrances the one for the Cattel and the other for the Men and these in the Nights so secured with Trees Thorns and the like that they neither fear Lyons nor other wild Beasts ¶ THe King or Bashaw of Tunis receives Annually two hundred thousand Ducats Their Reverue besides the Custom upon Olives and Linnen Exported Wheat heretofore amounted to forty thousand Ducats more Others reckon that the Bashaw Letts the Lands and Customs for five hundred thousand Escues or French Crowns The whole Revenue seems to arise to more than two hundred thousand Ducats yearly Peter Dan says Peter Dan. that the Revenue of this Kingdom is but accidental and uncertain accrewing chiefly not from any standing In-come but onely from the Fishery which yields a Rent yearly of thirty thousand Ryalls of Eight and the Jews Poll-money all the rest raised out of the Prizes of the Ships taken by the Corsaires of Tunis in the Mediterrane from the Christians which yield Ten in the Hundred as also from the Tributes and Taxes which with Flying Parties they fetch from the Land of the Arabians and Moors ¶ THe Inhabitants are not Rich either in Banks or Stocks Their Riches because of the Dearness of all things especially Corn which they fetch from Urbs and Beggie ¶ THeir principal Merchandise is Their Merchandise as we said before Linnen-Cloth which is there made in great quantities and carried all over Africa so Oyl Olives Sheep Ostritches and Horses from which they raise great Gain ¶ THe Native Moorish Kings of the Countreys first stamped here Gold Sultanies or Ducats greater by a third part than our European Ducats Their Coyn. and worth four and twenty Carraks They have also a square silver Coyn call'd Nosara as also Aspers and Duble's and another call'd Borbas of Copper of the like value with those of Algier ¶ THe Government heretofore was Monarchical Their Government and long continued in the Line of Moorish Kings which were not by Election but an Hereditary Succession of the eldest Son of the deceased Kings or for want of Sons the next of Blood to the King took the Dominion But since their Expulsion by the Turks the State is wholly altered being at present Commanded by a Bashaw or Vice-Roy sent thither from Constantinople who Ruled with greater and more unlimited Authority than any other Bashaw of the Great Turk in Africa He is assisted with the Council or Divan of the Janizaries the Aga some chief Officers call'd Beniloukbassen and four Counsellors who wear upon their Heads a Hood with a Silver Horn. ¶ PEter Dan says this Bashaw is changed every three year Peter Dan. and another sent into his Place whose present Authority is much eclipsed in that he meddles with nothing but the Receipts of the Revenue that those of Tunis elect a chief Officer of their own with the Title of Dey to whose care the Government of the City is committed during his life unless which sometimes happens for miscarriages therein displaced and put to death Other inferior Officers for the better Administration of Justice are an upper Cadle that is a Marshal or rather a Sheriff who appoints under him many Substitutes who hear and determine all criminal Causes and such as relate to Life and Death but not without apparent testimony The occasions of these alterations and new settlements have proceeded from several grounds whereof we will give you
call'd The Ornament of the World But soon after the Vandals under their King Genserick in the Year after Christ's Nativity Four hundred forty two reduced it to great misery which yet once more it recovered and remained a City of good estimation till suffering under the Gothish Devastations but at length finally destroy'd by the Arabians and made a heap of Ruines as it still continues The chief and greatest remaining Antiquity of this once so famous Place is a Water-course Vaulted over with high Arches through which it runs into the City although many remainders of the old Fortifications may yet be seen and some ruined Structures The Village Marsa which we mention'd before is the onely place that keeps up the memory of Carthage being built in part of its Ruines and a poor piece of the Skeleton of that once so glorious Body so true is that of the antient Poet Sic patet exemplis Oppida posse mori ¶ THe Valleys lying round about have a very sweet Air The Condition of the Countrey because continually cleared by fresh Breezes that come from the Sea and are full of Orchards Planted with great variety of Fruit of a pleasant taste and very large especially Peaches Pomegranates Olives Figs Citrons Lemmons and Oranges wherewith the Markets of Tunis are plentifully furnisht the rest of the Ground also being exceeding Fertile though circumscribed in narrow Limits for on the North lieth the Mountain Thesea and the Lake of Goletta and on the East and South the Plain of Byserta the rest between Carthage and Tunis for almost three miles dry and barren Land ¶ THe Ground about Arriane produceth some Wheat and St. Johns Bread Plants or Vegetables but about Naples nothing but Flax and about Kammart many Sugar-Canes ¶ SOme wild Beasts are found hereabouts as also a sort of Gray Partridges Beasts and others with black Feathers on their Breasts and Wings the remaining part Ash-coloured with the Bill and Feet much shorter than the Partridges here with us In the Lake of Goletta are Birds by the Moors call'd Louze and by the Turks Kalckavensi having Legs two Foot and a half long and all their Feathers Milk white THE DOMINION and CITY OF BYSERTA or BESERTA SOme take Byserta now a small Village for that Ituqua of Ptolomy or Utica of Caesar and Titus Livius famous by the Death of Cato who having in behalf of the Pompeyan Faction undertaken the Defence of this City when he could no longer hold it chose rather to lay violent hands on himself than fall into the Power of Caesar Marmol takes it for Porto Farnia which he says the people of Barbary call Garelmetha although some stick not to say that it hath been and is known by the Name of Mazacharus or Kallefort as being a Member of the French Garrisons in Africa However it is the Moors give it the Name of Bensart or Benserth that is Son of the Lake for Ben signifies Son and Serte A Lake from whence it is easily corrupted to Byserta It stands on the Mediterranean-Sea between Razamuza by the Antients call'd The Point of Apollo and The Mouth of the River Bagrada ten French miles from Tunis where there is a great Lake much frequented by Fishermen formerly containing within the Walls six thousand Families but now Garrison'd by the Turks who keep there two great Prisons for Slaves besides Store-Houses for Merchandise and two strong Fortifications or Sconces for the Security of the Haven Westward of the Lake lies a great Plain call'd Mater Plains of Water belonging to Byserta but bordering on Goletta Not far distant is Choros formerly call'd Clypea or rather according to Davity Kurobis because Clypea is the true Quippia and the modern Kalibbie seated on the River Magride about two miles from Tunis formerly in the Civil Wars of the Countrey laid waste but re-built and peopled by a sort of Alarbes call'd Benicheli intermixt with others so that at present it shews the face of a well-inhabited Town The Haven of Farine is famous onely by the fatal Wreck of St. The Haven of Farine Lewis King of France in his return back from the Holy Land and two great Rocks lying at its Mouth ¶ THis Countrey hath abundance of fresh Water in all Quarters The Constitution of the Countrey which afford great variety of Fish in the Lake are usually taken Dorads or Dolphins of five or six pound weight and from the end of October to the beginning of May great quantities of a Fish call'd by the Natives Elft by the Spaniards Jachas and by the Moors of Barbary Giarrafas The great Plain of Mater is a fat and marly Soyl which would yield a good Return to the painful Husbandman if he might reap the Profits free from the Incursions and Thieveries of the Arabs Choros also is not backward in a Fertile Return according to the quality of its Soyl which yields vast and lofty Groves of Olive-Trees for the great benefit of the Inhabitants ¶ THe People go almost naked Their Cloathing wearing onely a Barrakan or short Apron a half Turban a Cloth about their Necks but bare-footed and bare-legg'd ¶ THeir Food is a kind of Couscous made of Meal Their Food Eggs Salt and Water which they dry and can keep a whole year Their Bread is a sort of Cakes call'd Obs Baked on the Hearth and their Drink made of Raisins and Wine Lees boyl'd together The poorer sort have no Beds but sleep upon Mattresses of Sedge laid on the Ground The more noble have in their Chambers long and narrow Divisions higher than a Man made fast to the Walls with very fine Wicker-work which they climb up to by a Ladder when they go to sleep ¶ THe Houses and Churches are whited once a year on the out-sides Their Houses but the in-sides are slovenly enough In their Kitchins if so we may call them Fire is a stranger all their Victuals being drest and boyl'd in a sort of moveable Ovens They are much inclined to Sorcery wearing Papers Written with small Characters Sticht in Leather on their Necks and on the Heads of their Horses when they draw into the Field to Fight believing that they will free them from all Diseases and Mishap URBS and BEGGIE URbs and Beggie two several Territories comprehend these Cities Urbs Beggie Hain-Sammin and Kasba with some great Plains The City Urbs formerly Turridis The City Vrbs founded by the Romans on a delightful Plain eight and thirty miles on the South of Tunis shews yet many Remainders of Antiquity as Marble Images Borders upon the Gates with Latine Inscriptions and Walls of thick Square-hew'd Stone together with a Castle betwixt which and two adjacent Villages runs a River of fresh Water convey'd in a Trench of pure white Stone to the City Beggie also built by the Romans about six miles from the Mediterrane Beggie and twenty to the Westward of Tunis by a High-way leading from
harrasing he erected this onely for a convenient Retreat for the Army and a Repository for his Booty for the security whereof he environ'd it with impregnable Walls Within he erected a stately Mosque supported with Marble Pillars two of which were of an unvaluable worth being of a red Colour and glistering intermixt with small white Spots like Porphiry but notwithstanding this Strength and Beauty yet is it destitute of water being scituate on a dry and sandy Plain Tobulte or Tabulta Tobulte according to Bertius and by some taken for Adrimentum boasts it self a Roman Foundation standing on the edge of the Midland-Sea three miles Eastward of Monaster One Elugleb being chief Magistrate there by the consent of the Inhabitants erected another goodly Pile of Buildings which they nam'd Recheda adjoyning to it for a Palace for the Prince and his Retinue both which in the Civil Wars of Barbary were greatly defac'd and never since recover'd their former Lustre Arfachus Arfachus otherwise Esfakos or according to Marmol Elfachus thought by some to be Rhuspe of Ptolomy and by others Tafrute built by the Moors at the Mediterranean-Sea heretofore handsomely Wall'd and very Populous but now can shew not above four hundred mean Houses ¶ THe Sandy-Plain about Kayravan bears neither Trees The Constitution of the Countrey Corn nor Fruit so that all Necessaries are fetcht by them from other places They have no Wells nor any Springs onely Rain-water which with great diligence they preserve Nor is that of sufficiency for that also after the going out of June fails them so that they are reduc'd to great extremity About Arfachus and Tobulte there grows some Barley and Olives but the greatest part of the Land lies waste because of the Arabians pillaging ¶ THe Inhabitants of Kayravan are generally Skinners and Tanners The Nature of the Inhabitants which send their Leather to Biledulgerid and there barter and exchange it for European Cloth ¶ KAyravan is eminent for the Residence of a Mahumetan Pope Their Religion or Worship or High Priest of great esteem among them for his Sanctity and strict Observance of the Alcoran The Arabians ascribe to this place extraordinary Veneration for that their Kasiz or Priests continually here exercise their Priestly Functions maintaining that the Dead there buried cannot be damn'd because they participate so constantly of the Prayers of the Kasiz and Pope and this Belief has so far prevail'd that many great persons coming thither out of Reverence pull off their Shoes when they enter into the City as if it were a Mosque and build there Mesquites which they endow with great Revenues believing by such meritorious Works they shall go directly to their Paradice THE ISLAND OF TABARKA AND GALITA ABout six Miles from the Cape of Maskarez lieth the Island Tabarka Peter Davity Estats du Turkin Africa severed from the main Land by a Foordable Passage a Musquet Shot broad Now possessed by the French who have built there a Fort furnished with all Necessaries of War and a Garrison of Two hundred Souldiers as a Conveniency for defence and support of the Trade which they drive there with great advantage Transporting thence Hides Grain Wax and other Merchandise yet are obliged or rather compelled for that Licence to pay to the Bashaw of Tunis Four thousand Crowns and to the Bashaw of Algier Two thousand and yet for all this there is a Band of Janizaries always thereabouts to supervise their Actions and give a Check to them if they suspect any incroachment Here the French get Coral as we mentioned before Opposite to this but two Miles distant you may see the Island Galita or Galata TRIPOLIS TRipolis a Member of the Turkish Empire bears at this day the Title of a Kingdom not so much for the Largeness of its Extent or that it had peculiar Lords as that having a Bashaw from Constantinople it is nam'd out of ostentation to encrease the swelling bulk of those Titles which makes that Empire seem so Gigantick But be it one or other now it is so reckoned and containeth the Territories of Tripolis Essab Mezellata Mesrata The Partition or Cyrenaica and Barka with some Islands extending The Borders according to Peter Dan's Account Eastward along the Sea-Coast of the Island Zerby or Gerby to Egypt and Southerly to the Negroes Countrey ¶ THis City and State hath from the beginning had Lords of greatest eminency Tripoli under the Romans as first the Romans to whom it did Homage and Fealty when they were Masters of Africa but as their Strength and Glory declined shrowded themselves under the Protection of the Kings of Morocco Fez and Tunis which have possessed it by right of Birth But when the Inhabitants saw themselves oppressed by the Tyranny of Mukamur Under the Moors Son of Hesen King of Tunis they threw this yoke off their Necks first by a general Revolt then expelling the King's Lieutenant and all other his Officers and at last electing from among themselves one whom they made their Ruler or Magistrate putting all the Revenue and Support of the State into his hands In the beginning this new Lord rul'd with all gentleness but afterwards degenerating into all kinds of Tyranny his Brother in Law revenged the Cause of the City by killing him Freed from this Viper of their own breeding they impowered a Courtier of Prince Abubacer who had been a Recluse or Hermit who held the Command a few moneths till Ferdinand Vanquished by Ferdinand King of Arragon and Castile sent Don Pedro de Navarre thither with an Army who surprizing the City made all the Inhabitants Slaves and brought them away together with their Governor and his Son whom he sent first to Messina from thence to Palermo where the Emperor Charles the Fifth set him at liberty dismissing him home to Tripoli which the Christians as we said had dismantled and made untenable in all parts except the Castle which they fortifi'd with a brave Wall whereon they Planted divers great Cannon The young Prince being come to Tripoli re-peopled it in the name and on the behalf of the Emperor Charles but in the Year Fifteen hundred thirty and three together with Tunis Byserta Susa Monaster and the Island of Zerby was re-gained by Barberossa Re-gained by Barberossa who was scarcely warm in it before the Emperor Charles re-assaulted and took it By the Empetor Charles forthwith making a Present of it to the Knights of Malta who possessed it till the Year 1551. when under the Reign of Solyman the Magnificent Sinan Bashaw came and Besieged Tripoli to whom after a short time it was delivered upon honourable Articles It was brought under the Turks among which one was That the Garrison should march out with Bag and Baggage and be provided of convenient Shipping to Malta by Sinan but contrary to the Conditions most of them were plundered of their Goods two hundred of the Moors
great Katabathmus by Ruscelius named Carto a great Valley reaching to Egypt Opposite to this but more deep into the Countrey was the Oracle and Temple of Jupiter Hammon four hundred thousand Paces from Cyrene say both Pliny and Solinus in the midst of a Sandy Desart three miles in length Gramay by mistake sets it in the Desart of Lybia and Leo Africanus in Numidia between Jasliten and Teorreque but where-ever it stood they call it now in Arabick Hesachbir that is A Heap of Stone Afterwards followeth the Haven formerly call'd Selin now Soudan having but a narrow Entrance but spacious and convenient within Next appears Laguixi formerly Trifachi of late time Raxa taken for the Paresonium of Ptolomy and Strabo although Mercator rejects that opinion and maintains Paresonium to have been Alberton Farther to the In-land stands the chief City Barka from whence the Countrey taketh its Name All the whole Countrey is almost nothing but a barren Wilderness Their Soyl. that hath neither Water for refreshment or use or Soyl fit for Tillage which makes them live very poorly A few Dates they have indeed but of little consequence to supply so great a Tract of Land Some Sheep and Camels they are Masters of but make little Profit of them the scarcity of Pasturage and Fodder making them so Lean that they are unfit for use or service Nay such is the unhappy necessity of the People that Parents often send their Children over to Sicily to become Servants and undertake all sorts of Drudgery onely for their sustenance The Arabians that possess Barka are ill-favour'd and crooked of Body and Conditions driven by want continually to Rob so that no Carravan dare pass along the Sea-Coast opposite to the Desart but take their way sixty miles about to the In-land When these Arabians go to steal in Biledulgerid The Arabian's Robbery and ransack Pilgrims and Travellers they give them hot Milk to drink then lift them up by their Legs with their Heads down so that of necessity all must break forth that is in their Body which Excrements these Villainous Thieves search in hope therein to find some Ducats supposing Travellers coming that way out of fear have swallowed their Money But the places on the Sea-Coast are better ordered Their Government being subject to the Turks and under the immediate Command of the Bashaw of Tripoli who usually sends to Barka the principal City a Kadiz to administer Justice All the People are Mahumetans excepting the wild Arabs in the Desarts Their Religion who live by Rapine and Villany without any sence of Religion Honesty or Goodness Biledulgerid or Numidia 283. comprehends Sus and Ydausquerit Sus proper Cities or Towns Idrunadayf Iduguneus Argon the three chief besides Idjauson Merit Deusdisdud Deusenez Indeuzell Arrahala Ayhakeli and Tizitit Rivers Darha Ziz and Ghir Extuka Towns Targuez the Metropolis with 40 Townships and Castles subject to it Nun Towns Nun the chief City Idaguazinguel Idanbaquil Deurseumugt and Hilela Tesset Towns Tesset the head-City Ufran or Ufaran Towns It hath four Fortifi'd but not nam'd Rivers One and that but small Aka Towns None onely three Villages Dara Dara containing Towns Banesbick Quiteva Sizeri Tagumadert Tenzeda Tragadell Tenzulin Tameguerut Temerguit Tabernast and Assa Rivers Dara Mountains Atlas in part Tafilet Itata Towns Itata Tafilet prop. Towns Tafilet Sugulmesse Sugelmesse Towns Segelmesse Teneghet Tebubassan Manuun Mazalig Abuhinam and Kasayr besides 350 Cities more great and small not nam'd Rivers Ziz. Monutains Mezetazu Telde Queneg Matgara Retil Tebelhelt Togda Forkala Tezerin Berrigumi Benibesseri Guachde Fighie Terebit Tegorarin Messab Tekort Guargula Zeb Towns Zebbell Gastir and Tamarakrost besides 12 small Forts and 26 Villages Helet and some Forts on the River Fez. None nam'd but Forts Essuoihila Humeledegi and Ummelhesen Three very populous and 12 Villages Four Villages 10. Three small ones and 4 Villages Six small ones and 15 Villages Eight of considerable strength besides 15 Hamlets Three Fortifi'd places Three fair ones The River Ghir Three strong ones Four Villages eight Three and fifty Fortresses and 100 Villages Six Strong-Holds besides Villages Tekurt the Turaffilum of Ptolomy Guargala Zeb Peskare Nefta Teolocha and Deusca Biledulgerid proper Biledulgerid Cities Teusar Kafza Nefzara Teoreque Three good Forts 26 Villages Jasliten Towns Jasliten Gademez Towns Sixteen Wall'd and ninety two Villages Fassen Towns Augele besides 58 Wall'd Cities and a hundred open Villages NUMIDIA OR BILEDULGERID ANtient Numidia by Ptolomy call'd New Numidia Antient Numidia and by the Grecians according to Pliny Metagonites takes its beginning as the same Pliny at the River Ampiaga now named Sufegnia and endeth at the River Tuska now call'd Guadel Barbar which Region some now comprise under the Kingdom of Telensin or Tremecen But some observe that Ptolomy hath not set forth in particular the proper Bounds of Numidia though they may well say that he hath conterminated this Countrey with the Rivers Sufegmar and Jadogh by the Moderns call'd Ampsiaga and Rubrikat near Bona which Territory containeth part of Constantine and a part of Bugie But Maginus settles Numidia otherwise that is between the River Magior formerly known by Audus where Ptolomy fixeth his Numidian-Bay and the River Megerada or Magrada call'd Bagrada near Carthage under which also a part of the Kingdom of Tunis may be comprised The Numidia which now we know is that part of Africa Modern Numidia which by some is placed between Lybia and the Mountain Atlas Leo Africanus and likely takes in no little share of Ptolomy's antient Description for some endeavour to make out that its Borders extend farther taking in most part of Bugie and the Kingdom of Tunis and a good share of the Caesarian Mauritania in the Territory of Dara ¶ THe spacious Dominions of this vast Countrey Numidia Name the Arabians call Biledulgerid from the chief Province thereof or according to Anani Guaten-Tamar both signifying Date-land so named from the abundance of that Fruit which that Countrey produceth more than any other part of Africa ¶ NUmidia takes its beginning Eastwards at the City of Elokar Borders five and twenty Spanish miles from Egypt stretching Westward to Nun whose utmost Confines Border the Atlantick Ocean its Northern Boundaries are the Skirts of Mount Atlas the South the Desarts of Lybia ¶ THe most eminent Regions which this World of Ground contains Territories are Tesset Dara Tafilet Segelmesse Zeb and Biledulgerid This last as we said gives the Denomination to all Numidia But there are other Countreys within this its spreading Circuit especially Westward as shall appear hereafter ¶ BIledulgerid Bigness or Numidia reckons in length six hundred miles in breadth where at widest three and fifty The chief People which now Plant this large Countrey on the West are according to Marmol the Musamades Hilels Zaragans and Quicimas and the meaner sort are call'd Gemis signifying a Masseline of several Nations ¶
upon it yet they keep some Goats onely for the Milk But all these Wants are amply supply'd with that which answers all things Gold found by the Inhabitants of Tivar though others say that they are thus richly supply'd from Negro-Land ¶ THeir usual Food is Milk and Camels Flesh Their Food brought by the Arabians to their Markets with Salt-Suit with which they dress and relish their Dishes It is brought thither out of Fez and Telensin ¶ THere dwelt amongst them formerly very rich Jews Riches but the people being stirr'd up by the instigations of the Mahumetan Priests they were banish'd from thence and most of them in their departure slain by the Vulgar in a tumultuous Riot which happen'd about the same time when they were driven out of Spain and Sicily by King Ferdinand Meszab MEszab a Countrey in the Numidian Desart Messab about sixty miles Eastward from Tegorarin and a like distance from the Midland-Sea in two and thirty Degrees Longitude and eight and twenty Northern Elevation containing six strong Holds and many Villages The Inhabitants are Rich they drive a great and subtle Trade with the Blacks and are Tributaries to the Arabs THE KINGDOM OF TEKORT OR TEKURT THe Kingdom of Tekort or Tekurt according to Gramay The Kingdom of Tekort is that which they call Tikarte accounted by the Turks for an In-land Territory of the Kingdom of Algier as also that of Guerguela for another because they both pay Tribute This Province derives its Name also as others from its Head City which they say lieth fifty or sixty miles from Tegorarin and ninety from Algier in two and thirty Degrees and fifty Minutes Longitude and in seven and twenty and ten Minutes Latitude This City held by some to be Ptolomy's antient Turafylum The City Tekort was built by the Numidians near a Hill at whose Foot runs a River with a Draw-bridge over The Town is well Fortifi'd with Lome-Walls mixt with Stone except on that side where the Cliffy Rocks and steep Declivings of the Hill make it inaccessible Their Houses which are above two thousand are all of Sun-baked Brick except the Mosque which is built more stately About this City are reckon'd up forty Strong-holds and an hundred and fifty Villages some of them at least four days Journey off so that this Site seems to be the Centre to the Circumference of what is under its Jurisdiction ¶ THis populous Territory wanting Corn is suppli'd sufficiently by the Arabians from Constantine The Condition of the Countrey which they Barter for Dates that grow here in abundance ¶ THe People are very Civil The Condition of the Inhabitants Affable and exceeding Hospitable to all rather bestowing their Daughters on them than the Natives Nay they are so good-natured and generous that they many times present their new Acquaintance with costly Gifts at their departing though they never expect to see them any more or receive a Return from them They are a mixt People of which the chief live like Gentlemen on their Estates the others follow Trades and are Artificers THE DOMINION OF GUARGALA OR GUERGULA THe Countrey of Guargala The Kingdom of Guargala by Gramay call'd Huergula by Marmol Guerquelen and Guergula and by the Africans Verquelen lies in the Desart of Numidia on the Borders of the Kingdom of Agadez This also hath denomination from its chief City The chief City by some taken for the antient Tamarka of Ptolomy The Centre of this Province lieth in thirty seven Degrees and a half Longitude and in twenty five and fifty Minutes Latitude This City hath no other near but surrounded with store of Villages as Gramay reckons a hundred and twenty ¶ THis Countrey The Constitution of the Countrey like the others abounds with Dates but hath scarcity of Flesh and Grain Most of the Inhabitants are black not from the temper of the Climate but their intermixing with the Negro's that are their Slaves They are also mild and of affable Conversation always kind to Strangers because most of their Necessaries and Sustenance they are supplied with from them as Corn Salted-Flesh Fat or Suet Cloth Linnen Arms and Knives In the City Guargala are both Merchants and Artificers Their Food They have their Bread Camels Flesh and Ostriches from other parts The Revenue of the Lord of this Countrey is accounted to amount to a hundred and fifty thousand Ducats yearly Revenue To this their Governour they give Supream Honor like a King Government yet he pays some Tribute to the Arabians and also acknowledges the Bashaw of Algier yearly with a Present of thirty Negro's THE TERRITORY OF ZEB THe Territory of Zeb formerly call'd The Countrey of Zebe The Territory of Zeb lying by the Mountain Auran according to Procopius runs through the midst of Numidian Wilds It s Eastern Borders are Biledulgerid Borders opposite against the Kingdom of Tunis and Tripoli on the West Messile on the North the Foot of the Mountain Bugie on the South a Desart where a Way runs along from Tekort to Guargala Here are five eminent Towns viz. Zeb Peskare Nefta Teolacha and Deusca Lee Afrie 6. Decl. besides many Villages The City Zeb from whom the Countrey hath its Name is in four and thirty Degrees Longitude and in thirty Degrees and ten Minutes Latitude it is accounted very antient being according to Africanus erected by the Romans and also destroy'd by them but after in process of time it rose to its former splendour and now also well Peopled Nefta or Neota is a City or rather a Countrey Nefta containing three great Cities especially where a Fort was built by the Romans Leo p. 6. All these three as Gramay affirms was destroy'd in the Year Fifteen hundred and fifteen but since they have returned leisurely to their former Lustre Teolacha is the antientest surrounded with sleight Walls Teolacha by which glides a River of warm Water Deusen another old City built by the Romans on the Borders of Bugie Deusen and the Desart of Numidia Not far from this last City many Antique Tombs and Monuments present themselves in which several Antique Coyns and Medals Engraven with Emblems and on the Reverse Characterized with various Hieroglyphicks are found ¶ THis Soyl is dry and sandy the Air fiery hot The Constitution of the Countrey wanting the two special Ingredients Water and Corn most of their Ground being unfit for Tillage but their store of Dates supplies all Peskare is much pestered with Scorpions in the Summer whose least bite is immediate death therefore in Summer the Citizens desert their Houses and dwell in the Countrey not returning till October ¶ THe Inhabitants of this place The Condition of the Inhabitants though poor are Civil but those of Nefta are Rough and Surly but those of Teolacha are a proud and high-minded People looking down on all Strangers as too mean for their Conversations but
the Densans are Stout and Warlike Borgia feeds many Artificers but more Husbandmen ¶ ONe part of this Territory stands under the Jurisdiction of the Arabians Their Government another under the Kings of Kouko and Labez the third the Turk lays his claim to But Paskare Anno Fifteen hundred sixty two was rent from the King of Tunis by the practises of one Tachea a Marabout who making himself Master they could never be reduced to the former Government THE TERRITORY OF BILEDULGERID BIledulgerid The Territory of Biledulgerid or Beledulgerid which is a single Province yet gives Denomination to all Numidia as we said before signifying Date-Land extendeth to the Realm of Tunis beginning at Teskare so reaching to the Coasts belonging to the Isles of Zerbes bordering on the East at Cyrene one Point shoots far from the Mediterrane for Tousar and Cafta two stretched-out Arms of the Province reckon seventy five Miles from the Midland-Sea This Countrey hath onely three Cities Teusar The first Teusar antiently erected by the Romans near a Desart and water'd by a small River replenished from the Southern Mountains is divided in two Divisions one stands possest by the Natives and the other by the Arabians since the Mahumetans deserted it having destroy'd the place The second Kafsa Kafsa also a Colony of the Romans stands in Longitude forty and in Latitude twenty seven Degrees and ten Minutes and hath a strong Fort with Walls of Touch or Black-Stone being five and twenty Cubits high and five broad There are also stately Mosques and spacious Streets pav'd with Black-Stone The middle of the City is adorn'd with several Fountains standing within a Quadrangular Wall The City Nefzara in Longitude forty two Degrees and fifteen Minutes and in Latitude thirty Degrees consisting of three inclos'd or wall'd Villages close together is very populous ¶ THe Air of this Province is generally hot and that of Kafza is so bad The Air. that the Inhabitants are always troubled with Agues and Feavers The whole Tract of Land of Tousart is befriended with a handsome River and that of Kafza onely by a warm Stream not potable unless it stands an hour or two cooling This Countrey also dry bares no Corn but abounds in Dates But the Kassan Countrey hath not onely the best but the greatest quantity of Dates and also Olives of all the adjacent Territories Neither want they store of Flax and are well provided with Potters Earth of which they make very fine Earthen War This Countrey as far as Tripoli is under the Government of Tunis Teorregu TEorregu borders on Tripoli nearest to the Desarts of Barka having three good Forts and six and twenty Villages The Inhabitants distanced far from other well-peopl'd places are very poor Jasliten or Jassitin JAsliten or Jassitin is a small Canton near the Mediterrane-Sea between Kafza and Trioply in Longitude two and forty Degrees and fifty Minutes and in Latitude eight and twenty This Countrey hath also store of Dates and is under the Jurisdiction of Tripoli Gademez GAdemez a Countrey Southward from the Midland-Sea sixty miles containing sixteen wall'd Cities and ninety two Villages Zieglerus the chiefest Seat is Gademez by Zieglerus taken for the Oasis of Ptolomy This Territory also rich in Dates is slenderly accommodated with Grain and Flesh The Inhabitants deal much in Negro-Land They were under the Kingdom of Tunis but now forsooth boast themselves a Free-State Fassen or Ferssen FAssen a great Countrey borders Agadez and the Lybick Desarts There is no other inhabited place in those Wilds but onely Augele but the whole Countrey contains eight and fifty Wall'd Towns and a hundred open Villages the chief Seat being in Longitude forty four and in the Latitude twenty six These want no Dates though Corn and Flesh which other places supply except Camels which there they make their usual Food They obey a Supream Authority who receives and pays all that belongs to the Publick Lybia or Zaara 305. Lybick Nun Towns Nun the Metropolis besides a Cape of the same Name Zenega Towns Zenega Anterobe Arquin Port Cavallero Rivers Rio de Oro or Golden-Stream Mountains Mountain of the Sun or Bojador Tagaza Towns Tegaza the chief with many Salt-Pits and divers Villages Zuenziga Towns Zuenziga Gogden Hayr or Terga Towns Terga Agadez Lempta Towns Iguidi Berdoa Towns Three fortifi'd and six Villages Augele Towns Three inclos'd with Walls besides many Villages Syrte Towns One onely nam'd Syrte and that in effect a heap of Ruines Algequet Towns Three inclos'd for defence besides many Villages LYBIA OR ZAARA THe Antient Grecians as Herodotus Diodorus and others Several meanings of the Name Lybia call'd all Africa Lybia but afterwards this general Name was contracted into a narrower Circuit and Signification Ptolem. Geogr. lib. 4. and appropriated onely to a small part of this vast Region and this also divided into the proper or Exterior and Interior-Lybia whereas some call onely the Exterior Lybia The peculiar Lybia was properly that part of Africa which reaches from Alexandria to Cyrene Procop. de Edit Just lib. 6. compassing the Countrey of Barka This is that part of the Countrey which Ptolomy expresseth under that Name whereas some as Philippus and also Cluverius call this proper antient Lybia Exterior Lybia taking in the Desart of Delphocat and Gaoga and place it on the West side of the Nyle and spread it to the Negro's Countrey ¶ LYbia Interior or Inward Lybia according to Ptolomy hath in the North The Borders of Inward Lybia the two Mauritania's that is the Caesarian Mauritania and the Tingitana Tangâ—ian-Moors Countrey the East a part of Marmarica and Ethiopia below Egypt in the South Inward Ethiopia and in the West the Atlantick Ocean But the Modern Lybia which contains a part of Interior Lybia agrees not with the Antient Lybia Bounds but is by the late Geographers included within other Borders as hereafter ¶ THe New Lybia hath for North Confines the Desart of Numidia The Borders of the Modern Lybia or Biledulgerid with a part of their Nun Eastward Egypt the City Elockat and the Kingdom of Gaoga conterminate to the South Negro-Land the West washed with the Atlantick Ocean along whose Coast it reacheth from that part of Nun which belongeth to Biledulgerid or Numidia to the River of Zenega or Niger which divides the Whites and Blacks A Partition between the Whites and Black But to set forth the Bounds thereof more accurately its Northern Confines range all along with that Negro-Land that hath the River Zenega which passeth on by these Countreys in the form of a long narrow Towel almost to the Nyle it is a Tract of sixty Spanish Miles ¶ THe original of the Name Lybia the Grecians derive from a Woman The original of the Name of Lybia Herodotus Aldrete Antigued lib. 3. cap. 6. a Native of that Countrey call'd Lybia some from a greater Lady Lybia the Daughter
of Epaphus Son of Jupiter others would force the Name Lybia from the Arabick word Lebib which signifies Excessive Heat Now the Arabs call this Land Zaahara Zaara or Sarn that is The Desarts ¶ THe migrating Arabs The Arabian division of Lybia that so often in great companies shift their eaten up Stations for fresh Pasturage roving through this Lybia divide it now into three parts according to the diversity of the Soyl and varieties of Places to which they progress for the Sandy bearing neither Shrub nor Grass they call Tehel the Stony or Gravel Countrey Zaara and all that which is Morass or Boggy being always green Azgar And lately it hath been divided into ten Cantons Other Partitions into ten Territories or Desarts or Desarts in which there are some populous places the first that which belongs to the Lybick Nun to the Desart of Zenega or Zanaga Tagaza Zuenziga Hayr or Terga Lempta Berdoa Augele Serte and Alguechet every one so call'd from their Metropolis Cluverius on the other side brings the Desarts Lempta Hayr Zuenziga Zanhaga and the Kingdom of Targa and Berdoa under Biledulgerid and extends Sarra all the length of the Kingdom of Gaoga quite to Gualata ¶ MOst of the People of Lybia have their Dwelling-places about the River Zenega Where the People of Lybia have their chiefest dwelling-places a branch of the River Niger that they may the better drive their Trade and hold Commerce with the Negro's ¶ THis Lybia The Air. or Sarra hath so excellent and wholsom Air that it not onely excludes all Diseases from the Inhabitants but makes a Cure on all others that have long despaired of their recoveries of health so that from Barbary and other adjacent Countreys they thither repair and suddenly shaking off their weakness and Malady they return sound and able ¶ THe Soyl is very hot and dry The Water and hath great scarcity of Water none to be found but here and there in Pits or Wells and them for the most part brackish for in some places they travel six or seven days finding no Water so that the Merchants Trading from Fez to Tombut or from Telensin to the Kingdom of Agadez Bottle it up in Goat-skins and carry their provision of Liquor on Camels Backs But though the Way be much more troublesome which goeth from Fez to Gran-Cayre through the Wilderness of Lybia they have the benefit of a great Lake in their passage where the People of Ceu and Gorhan dwell Ieo Eerst Decl. Marmel lib. 1. cap. 14. and lib. 8. cap. 1. But in the other Road from Fez to Tombut they find some Springs covered over with Camels Hides out of which they draw their Water as in little Buckets with the Shank-bones of the same Creature The Merchants adventure more by Land than ours at Sea putting themselves oft in greater dangers especially if they set forth in Summer for then usually arise in those Countreys Southern Winds which raise abundance of Sand that new congealed drifts cover those Pits so deep that all Marks are lost whereby they may recover them again scarce guessing where they were they often fainting with thirst perish there as may appear by many of their dead Bodies found in the Way by following Travellers To prevent which misery in this necessitous exigent no other means being left they kill their Camels and squeeze the Water out of their Bowels and Maws which when they set forth they Tun up in their Bellies in such a quantity as would suffice them ten or twelve days this they refresh themselves withall and oft save their lives till they find some formerly known Pit yet in many places Camels Milk may be had ¶ THis Countrey is scatteringly inhabited and but thinly peopled The Soyl of the Countrey In the Rainy Season when wet Weather begins which commonly happens in mid August and continues to the end of November but sometimes stretching out a Moneth or two nay almost three Moneths longer then the Countrey flourishes with Grass and Herbage and the Temperature makes Travelling very pleasant and well accommodated for then there is neither scarcity of Water nor Milk the necessity of which at other times makes the whole Countrey a Map of misery But if those that observe their times to Travel set forth upon the advantage of the expected Season if then it happens as sometimes it falls out a general or second Drought then not onely Travellers are put to run the risque but the Inhabitants lose the Product of the whole year ¶ THere are some barren Mountains which bear nothing but inconsierable Shrubs Briers and Thorns The Vegetables The most fertile Soyl of all Lybia Manured produces onely Barley and but a few Dates by which we may judge the sterility of that Countrey Their chief support are Camels which there they have in abundance whose Flesh and Milk supplies sufficiently what their barren Earth and droughty Air denies them ¶ THey have also Adimmain Beasts not unlike Sheep The Animals See p. 24 which we have before mentioned and Ostriches But the People have also added to their other suffering viz. sudden incursions of wild Beasts and deadly biting Serpents preying both on Men and Cattel but most of all they are miserably infested with Locusts which in vast Armies clouding the Skie in their speedy March from Arabia and other Eastern parts take up their Quarters in those Desarts which what-ever they yield though little they utterly destroy enabling them for greater expeditions and their second flights to the Fare and Plunder of richer Countreys Barbary and Spain But a worse mischief when they are gone they leave behind them viz. their Spawn which produceth a more ravenous and greedy generation who heavy and unweildy not fit for flight sit down on the Trees and Plants and eat not onely the Leaves but the Bark and Rinds making all over a Famine which the Arabs call Jarat Yet the Inhabitants of the Arabian Wilds are hard enough for them though they spoyl theirs as other Countreys making them quit scores by eating the Eaters which they esteem savoury balances of the accounts of their losses ¶ HEre are five sorts of People Sects or Tribes as Zanaga's Guenazeries Several sorts of People in Lybia or Zerenziga's Terga's Lempta's and Bardoa's some of which are call'd Habexes others Breberians Natives of the Countrey one part reaching in Villages amongst Morass and Fenny Grounds and the others flitting from place to place for fresh Pasture for their Cattel like the wandring Arabs ¶ MAny of the Inhabitants are Meagre The Constitution of the Inhabitants Lean and more or less Deformed yet their so seemingly weak Constitution gives them strength and good health to the sixtieth year of their age The Women are something gross but their Arms and Legs their supporters are slender like Sticks or Tabletressles they are rather Brown than Fair their Speech and Behaviour Comely ¶ Both Sexes are naturally
Kingdom abounds in Rice Barley Cotton Cattel and Fish but their scarcity of Dates are supply'd them from Gualata and Numidia ¶ THe Inhabitants according to their manner go handsomely clad in black and blue Cotton of which they also wear Head-Shashes Their Clothing but their Priests and Doctors are habited onely in white Cotton ¶ THese People make great advantage of their Cotton-Clothes Their Trade which they barter with the Merchants of Barbary for Linnen Copper Arms Dates and other Commodities This Kingdom was formerly under the Luntiins a people of Lybia whose King was afterwards made Tributary to Soni-Ali King of Tombut his Successor Ischia obtaining a Signal Victory on a great Battel against the King of Guinee took him Prisoner and sent him to Gago where in miserable Captivity he died close Prisoner Thus the King of Tombut now grown Master of all Guinee reduc'd it into a Province setting his Lieutenant over them and then caus'd a great Market to be proclaim'd in the Metropolis of the whole Countrey THE KINGDOM OF MELLI THe Kingdom of Melli The Kingdom of Melli. likewise so nam'd from their prime Village the Residence of their King hath for its Northern Confines Gheneoa or Guinee Southward Desarts and barren Mountains in the East the Jurisdiction of Gago Westerly bounded with a mighty Forrest which runs sixty miles along the Banks of Niger to the Verges of the Ocean The Village Melli is very large The Village Melli. and contains above six thousand Families standing thirty days journey from Tombut The Countrey abounds in Corn Flesh and Cotton and hath a King but Tributary to those of Tombut ¶ HEre they are all Mahumetans Their Religion and have Mosques in which wanting Colledges they not onely perform their daily Devotions but in the Temples instruct their people and Disciples in their Laws and Doctrine These were the first Apostates from Christianity to Mahumetanism These People formerly were govern'd by a great Prince of Royal Extract descended from a Prince of Lybia Uncle to the King of Morocco the Renowned Josephus The Sovereignty continued in his Progeny until Uzchea King of Tombut Anno 1520. made the then King of Melli Tributary and so reduc'd all these Countreys under his Subjection THE MONARCHY OF TOMBUT OR TONGUBUT THe Kingdom of Tombat hath its Denomination from a City founded The Kingdom of Tombat as they say by King Mense Suleyman Anno 1221. about three miles from an Arm of Niger lying a hundred and eighty miles from the Countrey of Dara or Sugulmesse ¶ THis City gloried formerly in great Fabricks The City Tombat and sumptuous Buildings but now condemn'd to simple Huts and Hovels and onely boasting one stately Mosque and a magnificent Palace for the King built by a famous Architect of Granada Three miles from Tombut Kabra on the Banks of Niger stands another great Town call'd Kabra or Kambre being a convenient Port for the Merchants to travel from thence to the Kingdom of Melli in Guinea ¶ THis Countrey abounds with fresh-Water-Springs Corn Cattel The Disposition of the Countrey Milk and Butter but what savors all Salt is very scarce for a Camels Load goes often there at fourscore Ducats being brought over Land from Tegaza about a hundred miles distant from Tombut They use small Horses with which they ride up and down the City and the Merchants travel with them but their best Horses they have from Barbary whose numbers when they arrive are Registred which at any time is above twelve the King makes choice of the primest of them paying the Price they would go at ¶ THe Inhabitants especially those of the City Tombut The Manners of the Inhabitants are a People usually merry and of a chearful Disposition and spending most part of the Night in Singing Dancing and Revelling up and down through all the Streets They keep a great many Slaves both Men and Women Students which are highly esteem'd amongst them are there frequent and bred up at the Kings proper Charge Here are store of Arabick Books and Manuscripts brought from Barbary and not to be purchas'd but at a great Value Here are also many Tradesmen and Artificers especially Cotton-Weavers Their common Diet is a Dish made of Flesh Fish Butter and Milk hasht and stew'd together ¶ ALl the Women Their Clothing except the Slavesses go with their Heads and Faces cover'd They have no stamp'd Coyn but plain Pieces yet bigger and lesser all of pure Gold This King or Emperor of Tombut ruling vaste Dominions that yield him inexhaustible Treasure which he piles up in Bars or Billets of pure Gold some of them weighing if the report be true Thirteen hundred pound Weight ¶ MAny Merchants of Fez Their Trade Morocco and Gran-Cayre resort to Tombut for the Trade of Gold which was brought thither by the People of Mandinga in so great abundance that oftentimes the Merchants having disposed of all their Commodities which they barter with them for that Mettal it becomes a Drug and either left there till the next Return or else they carry it home again ¶ THis Countrey Their Government according to Marmol a Prince governs stil'd Emperor of Melli who dwelling in a magnificent Palace takes such state upon him that no Ambassadors or Envoys from Forreign Countreys making their Addresses are admitted to Audience but in posture of humble Suppliants kneeling with dejected Countenances throwing dust upon their heads In the City Kabra the King hath a Commissary who Hears Judges and Determines all Causes and Differences either concerning the Crown or other private Arbitrations betwixt the Subjects THE KINGDOM OF GAOGA THe Kingdom of Gaoga The Kingdom of Gagao or Goagao as Marmol calleth it lying by the unanimous consent of the chiefest Geographers in the same Elevation where Ptolomy placeth the Lake or Pool Chelidones bordering Westward on the Kingdom of Borno East on Nubia and South near the Nylean Desart which conterminates the North with the Wild of Seth. It passeth by the South of Egypt spreading from the West to the East a hundred and twenty five miles in length reckoning as much in breadth This Countrey abounds with Cattel and Goats but the People are in a manner savage and ignorant of all Civility and Literature nor under any form of Government especially the Mountaineers or Highlanders which go stark naked in the Summer onely retaining so much modesty that they wear a Lappet before them concealing their Privities They dwell in Huts or rather Arbors their whole defence against Sun Wind and Rain are Boughs of Trees set up and plac'd together Their chief Employment is onely in Cattel the whole Nation being onely Herdsmen yet they are a kinde of Christians after the Egyptian manner THE KINGDOM OF GUBER THe Kingdom of Guber inclos'd between very high Mountains The Kingdom of Guber is about seventy five miles Eastward from Gago with a barren Desart between them
many Cities Hamlets and Villages Leo p. 7. on that Plain where the King hath his Residence with his Army the chief City is Borno lying in eight and forty and a half Longitude and in seventeen Degrees and ten Minutes North Latittude ¶ THe Countrey is partly plain and partly rough and Hilly but fruitful The Condition of the Countrey the Highlands also producing Mille Corn Wheat and Tares and feed also many Beeves and Goats ¶ THose of the Plains are civilized understanding Order and Honesty The Constitution of the Inhabitants amongst whom reside Forreign Merchants both Blacks and Whites and there also the King keeps his Court and Camp but the Mountains are possessed with rough Herdsmen which go almost stark naked they are hard to be distinguished from their own Cattel going in Beasts skins with Hair in which they also sleep Their course of life seems void of all humanity for their Women and Children are not appropriated but in common none acknowledging either as his peculiar but pick where they please out of the Herd according to the manner of the antient Garamantes and like those of Mount Atlas have no proper Names to be distinguished by one from the other but every one hath his Nick-name or Denomination derived from the shape of his person whether deformed or comely for Tall they sur-name Long the Short Kort the Bunch-shoulder'd Crook-backs c. This King of Borno is said to be very rich for his Utensils both for Quirry Vessels of massie Gold Kitchen and Table are all of massie Gold These Natives are not superstitious neither Quarrel nor Dispute about Religion for having none at all Jews Christians and Mahumetans seeming to them all one stand alike in their esteem THE KINGDOM OF GAGO THe Kingdom of Gago The Kingdom of Gago thus call'd from its Metropolitan Gago hath in the East the Kingdom of Guber but is divided by a Desart The chief City Gago The chief City Gago standing by the River Zenega about a hundred miles from Tombut South-East in thirty five Longitude and eight and a half Latitude hath for the most part mean and ordinary Houses yet some of them shew well as among others the Kings Palace and Seraglio The rest of the inhabited places consist in Villages and Hamlets in which the Countreymen and People of meaner state have their abode The Countrey abounds in Corn Rice and Cattel but they have no Grapes nor other Fruits except Mellons Cucumbers and Citrons which are much used having more than an ordinary relish This City like others is not without an inconvenience being destitute of fresh Water which they are forced to fetch out of Pits forty or fifty miles from the Town yet this want is plentifully suppli'd by the abundance of Gold that is in this Kingdom which according to Meguet is fetch'd from thence by the Moroccoans The Countrey people are not Bookish taking no delight in Literature for not one in three days Journey is to be found that scarce knows one Letter of the Book yet the Citizens are much civiller and better taught than these Rusticks ¶ THe Barbary Merchants drive a successful Trade here in this City Their Trade vending all sorts of European Wares as Cloth and the like but that which goes off best and yields most profit is Salt These Morocco Merchants travelling thither go never less than two or three hundred in company and are six Moneths in their Journey of which they spend two in desolate and sandy Desarts directed in their course onely by the Sun Moon and Stars which if not well observed they are utterly lost perishing with Hunger especially Thirst Those that suffer there casually their Bodies decay not being dri'd by the parching heat of the Sand but become a kind of Mummy and sold in many places of Europe for the right ¶ THis Countrey is Governed by a King Their Government who pays Tribute to the King of Morocco since Muley Hanef in his Wars against the Negro's over-powering him with a great Army under the Command of Juder Bassa took by force the chief City Gago THE KINGDOM OF NUBIA THis Countrey Ptolomy calls Nubes or Nubiers and Strabo Nubea The Kingdom of Nubea which Stephanus places as a Neighbor to the Nyle which perhaps might cause Ptolomy to denominate the people Arabick Egyptians and Mela hath plac'd other Nubiers by the Bay of Aralites At this day all Geographers call it Nubie after the Moors who as Marmol says gave it the Name Neuba and some stile it Little Egypt It borders on the West on the Desart of Gaoga extending to the Nile The Borders which takes a long Course through this Kingdom dividing it in the middle On the East bounded partly by some people of Bagamedri call'd Belloes and partly by the Countreys of Dafila and Kanfila being Members of Barnagas a Territory in Abyssine in the South by the Desart of Gorhan and on the North by Egypt The Length is by the Inhabitants accounted two * That is 1800 English miles Moneths Journey The Length and somewhat more Pliny says the Chief City of Nubia was Tenupsus Antient chief City but the latter and more modern Writers give the Priority to Kondari Leo Africanus makes Dangala the Metropolis which he says containeth near ten thousand Houses but very meanly built and that all the rest are poor Villages and Hamlets scattered about the Nyle The Natives of this Countrey Nubian Geographers who have left us some Descriptions thereof affirm Nubia the Principal and the others pretending to any Eminency Nubie Kusa Ghalva Dankala Jalak and Sala Kusa lies under the Equinoctial six days Journey from the City Nubia Kusa Ghalva seated on the Nile below Dankala five days journey Jalak is ten days journey from Ghalva hither Shipping comes up the Nile Ghalva but they that will go from hence into Egypt must hard by unlade their Goods and carry them on Camels over Land by reason of the Cataracts of Nile ¶ THis Countrey like Egypt in many places once a year participates of the Benefits accrewing by the Overflux of that River The Nature of the Soyl. whereby it becomes exceeding fertile producing besides great store of Cattel and Sugar-Canes which the unskilfulness of the Inhabitants make little advantage of because in the boiling it becomes black and unpleasant in taste Here is found a very strong and deadly Poyson Mortal Poyson of which one Grain is enough to kill ten persons in a Quarter of an hour which they sell for fifty Ducats an Ounce and to Strangers onely whom upon delivery they oblige by Oath not to use in their Countrey Marmol says here is much fine Gold Speckled-Wood Civet and Ivory especially the last by reason of the great number of Elephants which breed in all parts of it ¶ THe Townsmen for the most part deal as Merchants Their Maintenance but the Countrey People live by Tillage
who is buried with the greatest quantity so that notwithstanding all their pretensions to zeal both living and dying Gold is their onely Deity THE KINGDOM Of the BARBESINS NExt to Zenega on the Sea-Coasts lies the Barbesins Barbesins or according to Sanutus Berbesins to whom Jarrik gives the two Kingdoms of Ale and Brokallo The Head City and Court of the King is call'd Jongo Jongo whose Inhabitants have many Horses and the neighboring Woods breed many Elephants but their Teeth want much of the bigness and beauty of those in other places Upon the utmost Border of the Countrey stands the Town Embamma and at the distance of three miles a Village call'd Bangasia The aforemention'd Jarrik places on the Sea-Coast below Cape Verde The Barbesin-Islands three Islands which from the neighboring people he calls the Barbesin-Islands being altogether uninhabited and producing onely large Trees and unknown Fowls the bordering Sea breeding many great Fishes one sort especially by the Spaniards call'd Dorades frequently weighing five pounds ¶ THe Women of this place says the same Jarrik Their Customs or Manners cut on their Skins divers Shapes of Beasts afterwards anointing the gashes with a certain Herb that makes the Marks never wear out This manner of Ornament they highly esteem Another sort of Trimming the elder people use boaring holes in their Under-lips wherein to keep the Orifice open they stick Thorns and round pieces of Wood. THE PEOPLE OF ARRIAREOS AND FALUPPOS BEtween Cape Saint Mary and the River of Saint Domingo Arriareos and Faluppos live two sorts of People call'd Arriareos and Faluppos The Countrey is low but full of Cattel and Fowl of divers sorts which are easily purchased at low Rates and for mean Commodities for you may buy a Cow for a Copper Bason of three or four pound weight or for an Ell and a half of sleight Linnen a Buck for less and a Hen for three strings of little Beads of Palmeto Wine they sell willingly two Gallons for two or three strings of the like Beads Nor indeed do they set a high rate upon the best of their Commodities ¶ THey are as the other people The kinde of the Inhabitants black of Colour but better shap'd and of a more pleasing aspect than those of Angola but so jealous and distrustful that they will never come aboard Merchant-ships unless some go first on shore out of them and being askt the reason of this their wariness they answer that the Whites under pretence of friendship have many times seized them and carried some of them out of their Countrey against their wills as Slaves ¶ BOth Men and Women go naked Cloathing below their Wastes from their Navels to their Knees they cover with a Cloth but young men and boyes wear a Girdle whereto they fasten a Cloth which drawn before their Privy-Parts they wind between their Legs They have as the rest of their Neighbors two They have many Wives three four or more Wives every one according to his ability and estate each valuing anothers wealth by the multiplicity of their Wives The Rivers Countreys and Kingdoms lying near the Sea from the River de Rha to the Kingdom of Serre-Lions IN this Description we shall begin from the River of Gambea about thirteen miles beyond which lies in twelve Degrees and seven and twenty Minutes on the Sea Coast the Mouth of the River De Rha so nam'd by the Natives but by Jarrik and other Geographers call'd Cassamanka the Banks whereof are Limits to the Kingdom of Casamge The next place call'd by the Portuguese Cabo Roxo lying in twelve Degrees and fifteen Minutes North Latitude which by the falling a way off the Coast a small Wood shews it self very remarkable to Mariners at Sea Five miles from Cabo Roxo to the South-East is a place by Seamen call'd The Great Rough Bay adjacent to which stands the Town Besu and two miles and a half farther the small rough Point Next in order follows Sante Domingo's River otherwise Jarem which seems to be a Branch of the Niger There are divers other Points and Banks in the Sea-Coast between Cabo Roxo and this River as The Red Point The North Bank The South Bank or Sea-gull The Point of Easter Even and The Black Point In the Latitude of eleven Degrees and eight Minutes North Latitude flows the River Katcheo a Branch of Sante Domingo two miles East from the Rough Point at the entrance of it lies some dry Sand although the whole Current glides through a muddy ground to the Village Cassio By Katcheo it meets with another Branch call'd Sargedogon Eastward of Gambea but runs to Katcheo The Blacks of Katcheo when any Ships come out of Europe thither come with their Canoos to Traffique Beyond Domingo the River of the three Islands call'd in Spanish Rio de las Iletas taketh its course through the Countrey of the Papais which Jarrik names Buramos To the South of which opposite to Guinala and Besegui lie seventeen other Islands entituled The Bigiohos or Bisegos Next the Buramos or Papais the Kingdoms of Guinala and Biguba are embraced between two Arms of Rio Grande the one call'd Guinala and the other Biguba from the Countreys they conterminate being in eleven Degrees North Latitude about four and forty miles from Cape Verde between the Islands of Jagos or Byagos More Southerly appears the River Danalvy passing through the Countreys of the Malucen by the Inhabitants call'd Kokolis then you come to Nunno Tristan and a mile and a half farther to Tabito or Vegas which loses both Name and Current in the Sea near the Territory of the same Name Having left Vegas you arrive in the Countrey of Cape watered by the two great Rivers Kaluz and Karceres More to the In-land on the River Gambea the Kingdoms of Mandinga and Beni are seated A little farther to the South lieth the River Marine and on the Sea-Coast the Mountain and Kingdom of Serre-Lions Between the Bisegos and Serre-Lions in the River Sorres lie the Islands of Tamara or Veu Usvitay commonly call'd by the Portuguese De los Idolos and Southward of Serre-Lions the Bannannes Islands Thus much as to the general Description we will now proceed to each particular and therein for method sake begin with the Kingdom of Kassamanse THE KINGDOM OF KASANGAS OR KASSAMANSE THis Kingdom lies encompassed as it were by the River De Rha The Kingdom of Kassamanse on all sides but the East where the Benhuers give it Limits It is a large Tract of Ground and by the moistening of the afore-mentioned Rivers very fertile so that it produces not onely great store and variety of Fruit but also pleasant Vales and luxuriant Meadows for the Pasturing of Cattel The Portugals have in this place by the River side a Fort call'd St. Philips of a convenient strength well Mann'd and Planted with several Pieces of Ordnance to withstand any sudden and treacherous On-slaught of the
poisonous Beasts which dy'd through the extraordinary burning of the Sun and rotting on the Earth seems to leave some of their venom on the superficies of the ground which is wash'd off by the Rain and carried into the Water The Netherland East India Ships put sometimes in here to refresh themselves and to take in fresh Water but to the great prejudice of the Sea-men if it happen at the beginning of the Rain and while the afore-mention'd poison is in the Water moreover their greedy eating of raw Fruit there found in great plenty brings upon them many dangerous and mortal Sicknesses The Countrey is by some reputed very fruitful The Fruitfulness of the Countrey for it yields abundance of white Mille Rice and two or three sorts of Cardamoms or Grains of Paradice About the River of Serre-Lions it yields several sorts of Fruits especially Lemons a great refreshing to Seamen many wild Vines bearing good Grapes a few Oranges and some Indian Figs by the Inhabitants call'd Banamas The Islands of Sombreras produce many Oranges Lemons Citrons Palmito-Trees of several sorts which afford the Inhabitants Wine Palm-Oyl and other things but above all an excellent sort of Sope made of the Oyl and Ashes of the Palmito-Trees so much exceeding the European Sope that it is prohibited to be brought into Portugal because it should not bring down the Price of their own Here and in the neighboring Islands grow many Sugar-Canes naturally whence might be raised great Profit from the conveniency of the many adjacent Rivers where Mills might be set up to Grind them without the charge of Slaves They have also great store of Cotton red-coloured Wood vulgarly call'd Brasil better than that which comes from Brasile for it will give a tincture in Dying seven several times Besides there is a sort of Wood named Angelin fit to build Ships with and the Barque affords Materials to Caulk the Seams of Vessels and make Match for Guns The other Commodities are Wax Ivory and Long-Pepper by the Portugals call'd Pimenta del Kola and Tail-Pepper or Pimenta del Rab. Both these sorts are taken to be much better than the East-India Pepper but the King of Spain hath prohibited the Importing it into his Countrey that the Trade of East-India Pepper may not be spoiled which brings them such great Profit However the English Hollanders French and other People that Trade in this Countrey bring it over but the Portugals barter it on the Coast of Guinee in exchange for Gold Slaves Provision and other things according as the Places wherein they Trade differ or vary In Mount Makamala which we mention'd before appears Chrystal Rocks from the Skirts of whose over-shooting Edges which hang like Bases or Penthouses several Christalline Radii shoot in a Pyramidal Form with the Points pendent towards the ground within four or five foot like Isicles from the Eaves of a house which when struck yield a pleasant twang like the strings of an Instrument both to the delight and admiration of the beholders Among other Beasts found in this place there are three sorts of Monkeys Aper one call'd Baris they are strong and active and withall so sensible that being taken up young and tutor'd they are serviceable on many occasions for they go commonly on their hinder-feet and beat Mille in a Mortar fetch Water out of the River in small Cans on their heads which if they chance to let fall they squeak and cry out as afraid they also turn the Spits and do several Jugling-tricks to the great pleasure and pastime of their Masters In the Village of Serborakasa the Ships are furnish'd with all sorts of Provisions for the Land yields abundance of Cattel and Fowl The Rivers have infinite variety of good Fish and also the Sea-Coast than which Europe can boast none better ¶ THe People of Serre-Lions and the Cape of Sagre or Tagrin The Custom and Habit of the Inhabitants are rather brown than black they mark their Bodies in several places with hot Irons and in their Faces Ears and Noses having many holes wherein they place several Jewels which they call Mazubas and Gold Rings They go always naked onely upon their Pudenda they wear a Flap made of the Barks of Trees Two sorts of Negroes inhabit about Serre-Lions that is Capez Inhabitants are two sorts Capez a People of more clear spirit and judgement than those of Guinee Jaric lib. 5. cap. 4. for they easily learn what is taught them but withall are effeminate and luxurious yet of late are much improv'd in Valour and Manhood by the continual Wars they are forc'd to wage with the Kumba's their Neighbors The other are these Kumba's call'd also Manes being Anthropophagi and by consequence of nature cruel and barbarous These in the Year Fifteen hundred and fifteen invaded the Capez for Pillage but inticed by the great Fertility of the place determin'd to remain there and dispossess the other whereupon they furiously persecuted the Capez eating up whomsoever they took of them till at length as if satiated with humane bloud they sold some to the Portuguese for Slaves This their savage Tyranny so consternated the rest that to escape that Barbarity they almost totally deserted the Countrey but since by the Converse with Merchants and something softened with the pleasure of the Countrey they have left those abominable Customs and are become treatable eating Rice Mille Beans Oxen and Goats flesh In every City or Village stands a great House sever'd from the other where the young Maids have their aboad and for the space of a year are instructed by a very honourable and well accomplish'd old man sprung from a noble Stock At the end of the year they go forth all together drest up according to the best mode of the Countrey to a place where having Musick they dance in the sight of their Parents and many young men who from among them chuse one they best like to marry but before they are permitted to carry their Brides away they purchase them of their Fathers and also give a satisfactory recompence to their old and grave Instructor Their Kings are buried without the Towns in a large place erected of purpose The Funerals of the dead and cover'd over with Straw alleadging it is not fit that such should be buried in the open air who have in their life time born the publick Office of a Judge Others are buried in their Houses attired with Gold Bracelets Pendants in the Ears and Nose-Jewels Their Lamentations and Mourning are perform'd in open places according to the Rank and Quality of the Deceased The Wealth of the Inhabitants consists in Ambergreece Riches Chrystal Pearles Ivory Wax excellent Brasil-Wood long Pepper and unrefin'd Gold The Wares which the Merchants receive chiefly in Exchange of their European Commodities are Elephants-Teeth Gold and Red-Wood which last is generally bought up by the English The Countreys on the North-side of Serre-Lions have a peculiar
Language call'd The Bolmish Tongue being hard to learn and difficult to pronounce whereas that of the people of Timna dwelling to the South is easie The Capez and Kumba's are subject to their particular Princes who sit in publick to administer Justice and decide their Differences and to that end have near their Palaces several terrassed Walks call'd Funko's in every of which is rais'd a Throne cover'd over with fine Mats where the King sits and on each side plac'd long Forms for the Noblemen call'd Solatequies that is Councellors with whose advice he determines the Causes The Method this first appears the Party Complainant with his Proctors and Advocates call'd by them Troens attir'd with several sorts of Feathers having Bells at their heels and Staves in their hands to lean on when they Plead they put a Mask before their Faces that they may not be afraid but speak freely before the King what they have to say after the Cause is pleaded on both sides and the Councellors have given their opinion upon it the King pronounces the definitive Sentence with present Execution against the party cast When the King Creates one of these Councellers How the King's Lords of his Council are made he causes him to come into the Funko where being set upon a wooden Stool curiously wrought and carv'd and appointed onely for this Solemnity he girts him with a bloudy Fillet of a Goats-skin about the Temples afterwards Rice-meal is strowed over it and presently a red Cap put upon his Head And that the people may take notice of this new-conferr'd Honour he is carried about in Triumph upon the shoulders of certain Officers to that purpose appointed These Ceremonies perform'd the new-made Lord makes an Entertainment wherein they spend three days in all kind of Mirth and divertising Pastimes setting forth divers Skirmishes and other jocose Exercises according to the fashion of the Countrey At last they kill an Oxe and divide the flesh among the common people ¶ WHen the King dies his youngest Son inherits the Dominion The antient manner of chusing of a King or if there be no Male-Issue then the Brother or nearest Relation succeeds But before they proclaim him they fetch him out of his House and carry him bound to the Palace where he receives an appointed number of strokes with a Rod. Then unbound and Habited in his Royal Robes he is conducted very ceremoniously to the Funko where the chiefest Nobles of the Kingdom have assembled and seated on the Throne when one of the gravest Olatequi declares in a large Speech the Right and Priviledge of the new King which ended delivers into the new King's hand the Insignia Regalia that is an Axe with which the Heads of Offenders are cut off and thenceforth he remains an absolute Soveraign peaceably and receives all Services and Tributes These were the antient Customs while the Kingdom was free but since by the Conquest of one Flansire Grandfather of the present King of Quoia or Cabo Monte it was subjected to Quoia Bolmberre is Governed by a Vice-Roy Bolmberre is become a Province and Governed by a Vice-Roy who receives the Dignity and Title of Dondagh that is King from the Quoia's as themselves took it from the Folgia's but they have thrown off that Yoke and at this day the Quoian King as Supream not onely gives Laws to Bolmberre but also to the Principalities of Boluma and Timna having also left his old Title Flamboere and from the Portugals by whom converted to Christianity received the Name of Don Philip. The King has four Brothers The Residence of the King and his Brothers who separately hold their Residence in distinct places in the South Countreys the eldest five or six miles beyond the Town Bugos the second call'd Don Andreas at the second Watering-place before-mentioned the third Don Jeronimo at the third Point of the South River the fourth Don Thomas in a Town call'd Thomby All that Tract of Land lying by the Sea The Dominion of King Fatuma from the North-side of the River Serre-Lions to Rio das Pedras together with the Isle De los Idolos are under the Jurisdiction of Fatuma a Potent Prince commanding far up into the In-lands and holding as his Tributaries the Kings Temfila Teemsertam and Don Michaell a converted Christian The People before the coming of the Jesuit Barreira Their Religion lay wholly drencht in Idolatry but he converted many to the Christian Faith and in the Year Sixteen hundred and seven Baptized the King his Children and many others giving to the King at his Baptism the Name of Philip as we said before to which the Portugals flatteringly added Don and because he was King of Serre-Lions call'd him Don Philip the Lyon But they little practice the good Instructions taught them but still retain with the generality of the People their old heathenish Customs as shall be declared afterwards in the Description of the Kingdom of Quoia The English Trade Hollanders and other people that come into these Parts to traffick carry out of Europe several sorts of Commodities which they barter and exchange with great advantage the principal are these Iron Bars Linnen Basons Earthen Cans All sorts of speckled Glass-Buttons Counterfeit Pearles of several sorts Copper Meddals Bracelets and Armlets Pendants and such like Small Cutlasses Seamens Knives Fine Bands Ordinary Lace Chrystal Ordinary Painted Indian Cloathes Spanish Wine Oyl of Olives Brandy Wine All sorts of great Bands Waste-bands wrought with Silk which the Women buy to wear about their middles On the Island in the River of Serre-Lions The English Fort subdued by the Netherlanders the English possessed a small Fort erected for the more secure managing of their Trade which in the Year Sixteen hundred sixty and four the tenth of December the Dutch under the Conduct of the Admiral De Rutter with a Fleet without reason surpriz'd and took wherein they found four or five hundred Elephants-Teeth a good number of Copper-Kettles Iron Bars and about sixty or seventy Lasts of Salt the later parcels with some other inconsiderable Merchandises they left there but the Teeth and other Wares of consequence they brought over in the returning Ships GUINE WE are to observe Several acceptations of the Name Guine that the English Portuguese and Dutch greatly differ in their Descriptions of this Countrey though in the general Name they seem to agree for the Portugals divide Guine into the Upper and Lower comprising under the Name of the Upper the whole Tract of Land lying by the Sea inclos'd between the River of Zenega and the Borders of the Kingdom of Congo and under the Lower the Kingdoms of Congo and Angola whereas others bring Congo and Angola together with Monomotapa Zanzibar and Ajan under the Exterior as they include Abyssine or Prester-Johns Countrey wholly in the Interior Ethiopia But by the English and Netherlanders Guine is circumscribed in much narrower Limits allowing it no more
and his people might have design'd to them some places of the Countrey upon promise to pay Tribute To answer this Request several things fell under consideration at length Cabo Monte was propos'd whereupon there was several long Debates between the King and his Nobility but the King remembring his Generals honest Performances for himself against those of Rio Cestos and in Gala for the Service of his Son-in-law resolving to content him in it said I shall do the desire of his heart The King appoints to go against the Countrey of Cape de Monte. and gave him leave to go thither with the Karou's sending a considerable Force with him for his help that he might not be repulsed The Commanders of the Army that went out of Folgia to the Cape de Monte with Flonikerry were these Jelliva Syala Juba Selboela Mamnos Syfre of the Cape of Mesurado and Fesiach Flonikerry's Brothers-Son As soon as the Field-Officers with their Souldiers came to Cape de Monte on the South side about Tomby they invaded the Vey-Monou who being numerous The Karou's come with their Army near the Vey-Monou's and withal of a haughty courage were not quickly master'd but the continual Onsets of the Karou's at length tired them out for they shot poysoned Arrows whose wounds proved irremediably mortal whereas the Vey's They overcome them by shooting of poyson'd Arrows not being accustomed to such Fights used onely Darts and Assagayes or Lances having no skill in preparing Poyson so that finding they could not any longer defend themselves they went with their Hoods upon their heads to Quolm a Fort of the Karou's erected at the River Plizoge a little Eastward of Tomby to ask favour which Flonikerry naturally inclined to pity easily granted bidding them go lie down with their Faces to the ground according to the manner of the Countrey in such case then coming out he trode upon them with his Feet He made an Agreement with them as followeth First Their way of making an Agreement some Hens were kill'd in the presence of them all of whose bloud the conquered swallowed a little as a token of Agreement Afterwards the dead Hens were boyl'd and the flesh eaten among them onely the legs were kept for a perpetual remembrance for if any man after that time transgressed or broke his promise to him were the legs shown who upon sight thereof soon recanted for fear of the punishment that after would assuredly follow In the consideration of this success Flonikerry overjoy'd let loose his thoughts The former successful Victory of Flonikerry made him insolent giving them free scope to range further but first for assuring his new conquer'd Dominion he sought by all means to win the minds of the vanquish'd to him and to contract a firm League of friendship and correspodency with the Karou's of his own Countrey But wavering fortune that minds nothing less than the continuance of friendship will blemish his new gotten glory with a dire and unexpected mishap for scarce were the minds of the Vey's or Karou's united but there came out of Gala Miminique Son of the aforesaid named Manimassah with a great Army of Gala's and others to make War upon the Karou's and Vey's to whose design his Father was not unwitting having voluntarily forgotten the kindnesses received from Flonikerry's Arms in the Conquest of his now acquired Dominion Wherefore Flonikerry upon the first intelligence drew together his Forces to which joyning the Veys he formed a considerable Army wherewith marching towards the Enemy they soon met and came to a Battel wherein the Gala's at first by their multitude put the Karou's to a disorderly Retreat which Flonikerry a valiant and undaunted person seeing and not used to shrink before his Enemies digged with his hand a hole in the ground and put his knees in it with a resolution either to die there or remain Conqueror over his Enemies And indeed he had his desire in the one for after a long and sharp Contest at length as it were covered with Assagayes and Arrows he was slain on the spot However his men gathering fresh courage to revenge their Princes death Rally'd and gave a fresh Charge upon their Enemies with such fury that they turn'd the fortune of the day and became solely masters of the Field But the death of Flonikerry whose body they buried in the Fort Quillone was sometime kept secret till they sent for his Brother Zyllymanque to take his Charge who immediately accepting the same pursued the Victory and drew near to the Camp where he soon brought under the Puymonow giving their Spoil as a Booty to his Souldiers After this Victory he marched with his Army to Quoia-Monou lying along the River Magwibba or Rio Nova but the people would not endure to run the risque of War but yielded themselves up to Subjection without blow And in this manner the Kanou's by the aid of the Folgia's became masters of the whole Countrey and gain'd the reputation of a mighty people Soon after he went to the River Maquelbary or Rio Galinhas where he subdu'd the Quilliga-Monou after a little resistance and with them he ended his Wars and retir'd with his Forces to Tomby his old habitation but was at length poyson'd as was thought leaving behind him several sons which were but little and not capable to manage their Fathers Dominion However the eldest call'd Flansire was admitted Successor during whose Minority his Uncle Jemmah his Fathers Sisters Son as Guardian took care of the Government for some time but Flansire growing in years took the Royal Authority into his own hand and to shew that he inherited as well his Fathers Valor as Countreys resolves to enlarge his Bounds yet farther and to that end went with his Forces over the River Maquelbary or Galinhas taking all the adjacent places as far as Serre-Lyons which he also by force of Arms brought under his Subjection and in all the chief places before his departure set Garrisons and appointed Governors over them viz. over Serre-Lyons he made Kandaqualle Commander in chief over the Countreys at the River de Palm he set as his Deputy one Selboele from whom the River took name and to command the people about Rio Galinhas he appointed one Sytre Having thus setled his new Conquests he return'd into his own native Principality where he spent a good part of his life in peace and quietness till inconstant Fortune which seem'd to have serv'd him too long began to create him new troubles For there came news from Serre-Lyons Serre-Lions is taken by Dego Falmah that Kandaqualle was driven out thence and forced to flie with all his people to the Islands Bananneo not being able to withstand Dogo Falma a native of the Countrey of Dogo a Territory in Hondo who with a mighty force had invaded him Flansire startled at this news and very well knowing that a matter of such concern required expedition sent to the Bolmian Lords his
Substitutes to gather their people together and to meet him at an appointed Rendezvouz but they had made a private confederacy with Gammina their Masters brother by whose instigation they neglected and slighted his Commands Flansire knowing nothing of this Combination between his Brother and his Provincial Governours Flansire draws towards Serre-Lions after he had committed the Lieutenantship of his Kingdom and the care of his Wives and Children to the Protection of his Brother marched forth with his eldest Son Flamboere the present King of Quoia not doubting but that his Provincials durst not have a thought to leave him First therefore he went by Land to the River Galinhas and from thence with Canoos over the Islands Banannes to take with him the People that were driven from Serre-Lions as we lately mention'd and so passed directly to Serre-Lions where Landing with his Forces He comes with his Forces to Land he began a sharp War with Dogo Falma This Dogo Falma had been heretofore a great Man in favour with the King of Dogo or Hondo but had attempted and lay with one of the King's Wives Dogo Falmab punish'd by the King of Hondo whereat the King was so enraged that not contented the offence according to custom should be bought off with Gifts or Slaves he caused his Ears to be cut off and banished him his Presence but length of time so wore out the King's fury that Dogo Falma was admitted again to the Court where he had not long been but he began to shew his insolence His Speech to the King upon his having punishment and at length accosted the King in these terms Sir King considering the wickedness committed against you my Lord and Master I am obliged to thank you for your gracious Sentence by which I am punished that every one that looks upon me derides and scorns me and the rather because the punishment is unusual and the like offence customarily bought off with Goods and Slaves Now as you were pleased to punish me so I desire the like offence in others may be punished in the same manner It may happen that some of the King's Servants or Subjects may fall into the same Lapse but if it be either deni'd or not performed I shall complain against my Lord the King in the Ways and in the Woods to the Jannanen and Belli that is to all the Spirits and Daemons The King having heard this audacious Speech took council upon it and notwithstanding his implicite menace determin'd that the punishment inflicted on him should not follow upon all But nevertheless to pacifie him in some measure and take off his complaint he made him General of an Army He is made General of Serre-Lions to recover Serre-Lyons out of the hands of Kandaqualla who presided there for Flamboere To repel this Invader Flansire as we said was come to Serre-Lyons with an Army and made sharp War at length by the help of some Whites he fell upon the Town Falmaha and with axes cutting down the Tree-wall at last they forc'd an Entrance and set the Houses on fire The Town of Falmah is taken and burnt whose fury soon increased to an impossibility of being quenched Whereupon Dogo Falmah finding himself unable to resist fled whom King Flamboere with the Karou's pursu'd though to no purpose however Flamboere won great reputation at this time for his valour the people crying him up in these terms Dogo Falmah Jondo Moo that is Pursuer of Dogo Falmah Thus Flansire reconquer'd Bolmberre Gammanah stands up against Flansire and settl'd Kandaqualla again in his Lieutenantship and then Retreated with his Company intending to return to his Wife and Children But on the way he receiv'd notice that his Brother Gammanah whom he had given Commission to manage the State and supervise his Family in his absence had usurp'd his Dominion and kill'd all his Sons he could come at and taken his Wives to himself and set up his Residence by Rio de Galinhas as a convenient place to intercept or impede his Brothers return And as commonly fluctus fluctum sequitur one trouble falls in the neck of another so here this Rebellion of his Brother was attended with an Invasion of the Gebbe-Monou who dwell about Cabo Mesurado who fell into Dowala and Cape de Monte The Gebbe-Monou's fall upon Dowala where they burnt the Town and lead away Prisoners all persons they could meet with intending to make them Slaves Flansire understanding these mischiefs marched towards the River Maqualbary with all speed but complaining to the Kanon and Jananie's that is to God and the Angels of his distress in these words To you onely it is known that my Father left me rightful Heir in his Kingdom which falls to me by the Laws of the Land seeing I was the Eldest Son and that my Brother hath rebelled against me and hath set himself up to be Lord be you Judges between him and me in this intended Fight and let it if the Cause be unjust that he manages against me come upon his own head Thereupon he passed with all his Souldiers over the River where the Armies suddenly met and his Brother with great number of his men slain he got a compleat Victory but still kept the Field although no further opposition appeared against him In this time while the King remain'd encamp'd in the Field to be the more ready against any other appearing Rebels his Son Flamboere went with a Squadron of Souldiers into the Woods to hunt Civet-Cats and by his Sports trained far into them they discover'd some of the Rebels busie in burying the dead body of the Usurper but as they perceiv'd Flamboere and his followers immediately they betook themselves to flight imagining he had purposely come with that Force to find them out and left the Corps behind them with three Shackell'd Slaves intended to have been dispatch'd at his Grave according to custom By this means ascertain'd of Gammanah's death when they least expected it they took and brought the three Slaves to Flansire who having understood out of their mouthes all circums tances of what had happen'd and how all things stood in the Countrey he sent them to their fellow-Rebels to admonish them to come to him to ask him pardon and to assure them that he would not think of their misdeeds Which goodness of the Kings though presented by the mouth of these Slaves wrought the desir'd effect for the Rebels immediately submitted and receiv'd their pardon This Rebellion thus quash'd Flansire subdues the People of Gebbe-Monou King Flansire with all his Power march'd to Cape Mesurado to reduce the Gebbe-Monou which he did with great slaughter and the Spoil of the Countrey and then retir'd with his Forces home again taking his habitation in his old City Tomby till the Dogo Monou made a new Insurrection to revenge the losses of Dogo Falmah at first he left the Town and retir'd to Massagh an Island
these Clothes which the Inhabitants barter for Salt which they according to their own report send abroad by Slaves or otherwise who with it travel so far into the Countrey till they come to white People that Ride on Mules and Asses and use Lances for Arms but they are not altogether white as the Europeans By this Description we cannot but imagine these Mungrel Whites they mention must without peradventure be Moors of Barbary The Blacks of other Places exchange these Cloathes for yellow Arm-Rings and sometimes but seldom for Beads Heretofore some Gold was to be had but now that Trade is lost here and carried to Akara The Government here is Monarchical Government the present Regnant King call'd Sakkoo of whom all the neighboring Territories stand in great fear because he is a Conjurer firmly believing that if he pleased to put his Arts in practise he could bewitch all his Enemies to death In the beginning of December this Sakkoo sends a Canoo to Atzyn and Little Kommany and all places on the Gold-Coast with Negro's where they throw some compounded Conjuring-stuff into the Sea using some formal words in doing it which is done onely to free it from Hericanes or Whirlwinds and tempestuous Storms So soon as this Canoo returns the Merchants come with their Cloathes to the Gold-Coast but in such order that no more may come off till the first come back for the prevention of the hinderances of one another The five Band Villages have the priority in coming off and after those of the six Band this continues till April or the beginning of May when the Sea begins to run high then the King 's Canoo comes as before using the same formality and returning the Gold-Coast Trade ends for that Year The Quaqua-Blacks have a well-govern'd State according to their Mode As for example those that are Fishers must all so remain without daring to alter their Employment As likewise all Merchants are so preferred there that no other may deal in fair Laces and Garments of Akori but they insomuch that all others who have those Commodities are necessitated to put them into the Merchants hands The method of their Worship Religion if any is Diabolical sacrificing Men to their Idols and thereto so addicted that they will not be won to alter it yet courteous enough to Strangers from whom they endeavour to conceal those abhorr'd Oblations Gold-Coast THe Gold-Coast receiv'd its Name from the abundance of Gold there to be had It spreads to the length of fifty miles from the Village Assine Gold-Coast twelve miles Eastward of Korbi Lahou to the Golden Village of Akara lying at the Sea And although some Gold may be had on the Grain-Coast and Eastward of Akara yet that Tract is not reckon'd under the Gold-Coast because the quantity is but small This although known by this single Name to the European Merchants consists in many rich Villages Kingdoms and Territories yet but small in Circumference the particular Places we will onely name here in brief being these viz. Atzyn Little Inkassan Ygwira Great Inkassan Inkassan Iggina Anten Tabeu Atty Adom Mompa Wassa Wanqui Guaffo Sabou Abramboe Kuyfora Akanien Dohoe Junta Ahim or Great Akany Akan Fantyn Aqua Sanquay Ayhwana Aquamboe Abonce Tafoe Akara Labbede Ningo Abora Quanhoe Bonoe Kammanah Equea Lataby Akaradii Insoka Gaui Aquambou or Aquimena The Kingdoms lying at the Sea are Azin or Atchin Little Inkassan Ante Guaffo Fetu Sabou Fantyn Aghwana Akara Labbede and Mingo all which are commonly visited by the English and Netherlanders chiefly and sometimes by the French which several people have in divers places particular Store-houses and Forts for the keeping of their Wares and for the Conveniency of the Trade which they have built by the permission of the Inhabitants The chiefest Villages lying at the Sea are Atzyn in the Kingdom of Atzyn the Village at Cabo tres-Puntas in Little Inkassan Takorary Botrow Poyera Pando Maque Jakquim Sakonde Sama in the Kingdom of Anten Agitaki or Little Komendo Terra Pequerime or Pekine Dana or De Myn Ampea Kotabry Aborby and two Salt-Villages in that of Guaffo Moure Sabou in the Dominion of Sabou Anemabo Adja Kormantin in that of Fantyn the Rough Poynt Soldiers-Bay Devils Mountain New Biamba Great Berku Inka Koks-bred Little Berku in that of Aywana Akara in Great Akara Labede in Labede The Territory of ATSYN or ATCHIN THe Territory of Atsyn or Atchyn or Aksem The Territory of Atsyn as the Blacks call it hath on the East little Incassan and on the North Igwira the Sea-Coast on the South with Cliffs of Stone Near the Sea three Villages are erected inhabited by Fishers Achombene the one Achorbene three miles from Cape de Tres-Puntas The second Achombene near which the Portugals in the time of King Emanuel built a small Fort but afterwards by agreement with the Blacks they rais'd another greater Castle on the main Land nam'd from the neighbouring Village The Castle of Asyn The Fort Atsyn or Atchin at present possess'd by the Netherlanders who in the Year Sixteen hundred forty two the Ninth of January before the Peace made between them and the Crown of Portugal had dispossess'd the Portugals of what strength they had there Coming at Sea out of the West this Castle in a clear Sun-shiny day yields a pleasant Prospect but coming right against it the sight is hinder'd by an Island lying before it Westward thereof runs a Rivulet which though very poor in Water yet visits several Dominions being supposed to take the original far off in the Golden-Land of Igwira Half a mile from the aforemention'd Fort The River a River passes by some thought to run through the Jurisdiction of Akana but of this no certainty nor any likely to be by reason of its many and strong Water-falls Those of the Myne used to go thither with Canoos which they laded thence with Shells for the burning of Lime but since the like Shells have been found in the Ditches of the Myne that labour is left off The next River bears the name of the Province among Merchant-strangers The Atsyn River but the Inhabitants denominate it Manku whose first sight invited the Traders to search its Channel but they soon had enough of it for they met with so many Shelves and absconded Rocks besides high and precipitious falls that it was impossible to pass them however 't is not altogether waste for the Natives dig out from under the Cliff good store of Gold and fetch it up from under the Water in Trays mixt with Earth Stones and other Rubbish The Territory of Little-Inkassan LIttle-Inkassan hath on the West Atsin The Territory of Inkassan on the North Igwira on the East Ante and in the South spreads with three Points into the Sea and therefore the Portugals have nam'd it Cabo das tres Puntas It lies in four degrees and ten minutes South-Latitude three miles Westward of Atzin Castle and fifteen miles
Eastward of Albine The Principality of Anten ANten lying about seven miles from Cape de Tres Puntas The Kingdom of Anten and ten from Atsin hath neighboring on the West Little-Inkassan towards the North-West Igwira on the North North-West Mompa in the North Adom in the North-East Tabu and in the East Guaffo the whole River full of Villages inhabited by Fishermen as amongst others Botrow Pogera Pando Takorari or Anten Maque Jaque Sakonde Sama whereof Takorari is the chief behind which lies a remarkable Promontory with a convenient Road or Haven for Ships At Botrow the Netherlands have a considerable Fort. The King of Anten keeps his Court about three or four miles up in the Countrey commanding all the Countrey as well the In-land Villages as those that lie at the Sea A mile Eastward of Anten Rio St. George falls into the Sea close by whose Banks the Village Jabbe is seated Near Tekorari the Hollanders some years since built a Fort from the neighboring Village call'd The Fort of Tekorari The Fort of Witsen or Tekorari but to themselves known by the Name of Witsen originally belonging to the Dutch West-India Company but before the great War between the Crown of England and the States of Holland by them remitted to the States-General In the Year Sixteen hundred sixty and four in the Moneth of April Sublued by Captain Holmes this Fort was attacqu'd by Captain Holms and one Joseph Cubits in behalf of the Royal African English Company with two of the Kings Men of War six Frigats and some other Ships and by them with no great difficulty won but regained again the next Year on the fifteenth of January Recover'd by De Ruyter by Admiral De Ruyter being at that time onely mann'd by four or five in health and about as many more sick English-men and leaving in it seven Iron-Guns six or eight Pounders Immediately upon the retaking the Guns being drawn off to the Ship De Ruyter caus'd it as not to be maintain'd without many people and great Charges with Twelve hundred pound of Powder to be blown up into the Air and totally dismantl'd The Negro's of the Myne in the mean time Plunder'd Takorari The Negets of the Myne are sent to assist De Ruyter and laid it waste by Fire and Sword out of malice which they had against the Blacks of Takorari there came down thither about nine hundred in three hundred Canoos who having as it were by surprize won the Victory exercis'd great cruelty upon such Prisoners as they took cutting off their heads with which they went Dancing and Leaping up and down and at last carri'd them home in token of Victory These Negro's of the Myne were well Arm'd according to their Countrey fashion some of them having Caps made like Helmets adorn'd with Feathers and Horns of Beasts and Swords hanging before upon their Belly whereon instead of Handles they put Bones of Tygers Lions and other Beasts Their Faces generally Painted with Red and Yellow so also on their Bodies which made a very strange and terrible sight Three miles lower stands a large Town call'd Sama containing about two hundred Houses under the Government of one Braffo nevertheless both he and his men own as their Superior Lord the King of Gavi whom they serve in his Wars in time of need and pay him Tribute The Portugeuese had in this Village a Stone Bulwark with a Store-house but now decay'd and deserted by them but by reason of the great conveniency of the River for fresh water and the adjacent Grounds for Fire-wood the Netherlanders have Rebuilt and possess it and have rais'd the middle foursquare Battery fourteen Foot high and a Store-house whither those of Adom and Wassen come to Traffick with them Close under the Town runs a handsome River whose Water is fresh and pleasant Two three or four miles upwards but higher up is full of Cliffs and Rocks so that it is not passable although for a while it was conceited otherwise till experience manifested the contrary for several of the Traders there hoping to have got some advantage by it in their Gold-trade sent six persons in a Ketch with three weeks Provision to search who turn'd back the thirteenth day relating that they had Row'd up eleven or twelve days but were not able to get any further because of the forcible fall of the Water six or seven Foot higher and that above they discover'd so many Cliffs and Rocks that it was impossible to get through them Anten is a plentiful Countrey producing great store of Fowl The Condition of the Countrey and Poultry of several sorts besides great variety of Fruits and Vegetables especially Injame's Ananasse's and Palmitor's from which so much Palm-wine is extracted that the Blacks come ten or twenty miles to fetch it thence in Canoo's and carry it up the whole Gold-Coast The people along the Shore maintain themselves by Fishing Their Maintenance and in the Countrey by Handy-labor and Husbandry They have always held themselves in an indifferent neutrality towards all people Trade and formerly were sought to sometimes by the English sometimes by the Dutch to Trade with them but they finding the Gold they had was brought to them from Igwira and Mempa in small quantities signifying little neither of them prosecuted it any further The best Conveniences to be had among them are Water Wood and Ballast for Ships The Government is mixt being constituted of a Braffo or Captain and Cabosero's or Chiefs of the People The Jurisdiction of GUAFFO or GREAT-COMMENDO GUaffo or Great-Commendo The Kingdom of Guaffo or Commany borders in the West on Anten and Tabeu having a small River for a Boundary between both in the North-West on Adom in the North on Abramboe in the East on Fetu and in the South on the Sea Formerly Commendo Fetu and Sabou were united under one Prince and the Inhabitants then as now by strangers call'd Adossenie's as those of Fantijn Fantenie's but at present divided into three several Kingdoms On the Shore lie several Towns as Aitako or Agitaki otherwise Little-Commendo but by the Portugal's call'd Aldea de Torres being the head Town on the Shore scituate on the Borders of Fetu two miles and an half Eastward of Sama then Ampea or Apene Cotabry Aborby Terra Pekine and half a mile Eastward another Commendo Within the Countrey stands a great City upon a Mountain by the Inhabitants stil'd Guaffo and by the Europeans Great-Commendo for a distinction from Little-Commendo before-mention'd lying near the Sea Most of those Towns have suffered terrible devastations by those of the Myne who use on a sudden to invade them by Water burning and spoiling all before them being not able to cope with the Guaffin's at Land but they of Abramboe once made War against this Countrey by Land got the Victory and kill'd their King All sorts of Fruit and Provision are daily brought to Market in
a Trench over against the Town Myne by the Inhabitants call'd Dana cut out of the Rocks being enough to contain a thousand Pipes or more whereinto all the waste water falling from the two beforemention'd places and from the Souldiers Courts of Guard gathereth together This Trench without doubt cost the Portugals a very tedious and heavy labour By this water drawn from hence the Inhabitants are furnish'd as also the King of Fetu with his Army when in War supply'd and now accommodates the Dutch with marvellous plenty The conveniencies for Merchandise Provision of Food necessary Ammunition for Wars and other Commodities are in great abundance within this Fort for that the Ships coming out of the Countrey readily unload and go back again there being a Key for Landing or Shipping of all sorts of Commodities at a Water-Gate made for that purpose The Dutch suffer'd great prejudice so long as the Portugal's possess'd this Fort because they endeavour'd by all means to hinder their Trade with the Blacks whereupon they consulted and design'd to get it from them yet always were frustrated in their attempts till the year Sixteen hundred thirty and seven at which time the Castle was in a mean condition by reason of great disagreement among the Portugal's Then the General of Guinea and Angola being acquainted by the Kaboseroe's or Chief people of the Myne that the time was to undertake somewhat about it This Intelligence he communicated by Letter to the Commissioners of the West-India Company who provided nine Ships well Man'd Arm'd and Victual'd which in the Year Sixteen hundred thirty seven the Five and twentieth of July under Collonel Hans Koin went forth from Farnambuck to the African Coast and soon arriv'd there in safety whereof he sent notice to General Yperen who resided in the Town Moure two miles lower by Letter to this effect That he was there by Command of Grave Maurice and the Council furnish'd with Souldiers to undertake the Enterprise He desir'd therefore to know where was a fit place to Land upon the Enemies Quarters and to advise with him in what manner the Enterprise might be prudently accomplish'd That he would endeavour to win the Blacks with all possible Perswasions great Promises and Rewards to assist the Company and withal would watch the English who lay upon the Road and labour to prevent all other Impediments That they must keep all secret that the Enterprise might not be disappointed and in the interim he would be upon the Road before Albine or Assine to expect an Answer While thus Koyn ply'd upon the Coast the Negroes come with eighteen Canoo's to his Fleet and ask for Netherlandish Merchandise to barter for Elephants-Teeth But when 't was answer'd they had no Wares the Blacks began greatly to doubt but the Dutch to assure them friendship according to the custom of the Countrey let some drops of Sea-water fall into their eyes wherewith for the present satisfi'd they departed At length the Fleet appearing before Albine and Assine the Blacks came again with their Canoo's to Trade but our men put them off with delays for three or four days whereupon the Blacks said that these of Fetisson had understood by their Guardian God that seven bigger Ships were at hand at whose coming their Wares would fall in Price Koin who little regarded that and had somewhat else in his mind wrote Letters again almost of the same Contents whereto for answer he receiv'd Orders to remove with his Fleet before Commendo which was speedily perform'd and immediately inquiry made for the fittest place to Land to this purpose they sent out a Scout who returning brought intelligence that there was no Landing between the Myne and Cape de Kors but onely a Musquet-shot from the Myne where the Salt-River at low Water was not knee deep that the Mountain of St. Jago might be easily attempted with small Shot and that the Line was unfit to be long defended That the fresh River which lay about half a mile from the Myne had excellent Water and that the way from Cape de Kors to the Myne was very fit to March on in good order with the Souldiers After much courting at length and opening to them their whole design they gat the Youths of Commendo with Gifts and promises to furnish them with Water and other Provision whereupon on the Four and twentieth of August they went off to Cape de Kors They land at Cape de Kors and there Landed with great Canoo's and on the Twenty fifth day being Tuesday drew in good order to the Myne being about eight hundred Land-Souldiers and Five hundred Mariners drawn up in three Companies Coming about Noon to the fresh River the Souldiers rested and refresh'd themselves some Scouts were sent for discovery who brought intelligence that they discern'd about a thousand Blacks lye at the hanging of a Hill who having discover'd pursu'd them with a great cry upon this were sent out four Musquetteers who venturing too far were lost and their heads by the Blacks according to the manner of the Countrey cut off and carried in triumph But a greater force falling in soon put them to flight and possess'd the Hill whence the other were driven On Wednesday the six and twentieth those of Commendo drew our Mariners to the Town of Myne which they assaulted and took all their Cattel The Commander in Chief bending his whole thoughts to take the Castle caus'd in this interval two Passages to be made by cutting up the Bushes on the Mountain St. Jago the one leading towards the Shore by which to bring the Ammunition for the Souldiers and the other upon the top of the Mountain near the Fort. On Thursday were brought two Pieces of Ordnance with a Mortar-Piece to Mount St. Jago with which they made eight or ten Shot besides as many Granadoes but they fell short whereas by the shooting of the Enemy from the Castle two Centinels were kill'd Then the Negroes of Commendo approached towards the Town of Myne but driven back by the Enemies great Shot The Castle Summon'd quickly retreated Hereupon the Commander sent a Drummer to summon the besieg'd to surrender to which the Governor return'd That it was not in his power to consent without conferring with the Commanders of the Army and the Citizens and requir'd three days time but that was deni'd granting onely to the next day however nothing was then done for the Governor of the Fort the day being spent held the Gates shut and would not admit the Drummer Then the Forces from Mount St. Jago making a fierce Attacque though with little Success and battering with their Cannon a Messenger came forth requiring the Letter sent before by the Drummer but that was deni'd Whereupon after a short Consultation Messengers were sent to treat of an Agreement during which Treaty the Blacks of Commendo were requir'd to lay down Arms and to use no force to the Husbandmen of the Myne The Articles offer'd by the
and Sonquay in the North by the Kingdom of Aquumboe and the Countrey of Abonce in the East at Great-Akara and in the South spreads along the Sea-shore Agwana hath divers Villages and Mountains near the Sea as the Rough-Point a Village of Fisher-men Souldiers-Bay and The Devils-Hill New-Abrembee Old-Abrembee Great-Berku scituate on a Mountain four Miles from Akara Jako-Kox-broot and Little-Berku where Water'd by a small River All these places have Stony Cliffs before their Havens From Cormantin the Coast reacheth East and by South The spreading of the Coast to The Devils-Mountain about six Miles from thence to Berku a Tract of five Miles East and by North from Berku one Mile Westward to Akara a Tract of five Miles East North-East Beyond Kox-broot lieth low Land replenish'd with small Trees but the Countrey within is high and Mountainous In Berku breed many Hens sufficient to eat among themselves and to sell cheap to strangers and their Drink call'd Pitouw is like our small Beer The Inhabitants have the repute of Stout and Warlike People The Nature and Maintenance of the Inhabitants but in Peaceable times maintain themselves by Husbandry and Fishing Yet some of them are good Artists both in Iron and Gold of the first making good Arms and of the second curious Gold-Chains and other neat Pieces of Workmanship In this Territory is but a small Trade for European Wares There is little Trade and therefore little frequented the best dealing is for Slaves of Berku with the Akerasche Merchants which come thither who exchange them for Serges viz. a Piece of Serge for a Slave or else two ounces of Gold THE KINGDOM OF AKARA THis Kingdom contains in Circuit The Borders of the Kingdom of Akara ten or twelve miles having on the West Aguana and the Countrey of Abonce on the North the Dominion of Aboura and Bonoe on the East that of Labbeda and Ningo and on the South the Sea Near whose Shore are three Villages viz. Soko Little Akara fifteen miles Eastward of Kormantyn and Orsaky Having gone four miles into the Countrey you come to Great Akara where the King keeps his Residence Provision here is very scarce especially Fruits and Bread-Corn so that whatever Whites put into this Place to Trade must upon necessity provide themselves well with all necessary Provision The King hath and not without cause the repute of a Potent Prince The Kings Power being able in time of War to bring fifteen or sixteen thousand Men into the Field He hath a more absolute Soveraignty over his Subjects than any of his Neighbors so that he is an unlimited Monarch and for the more sure confirming his Jurisdiction keeps good Correspondency with all Whites without shewing more favour to one than another The Little Akara has been many years the chiefest place of Trade upon the Gold-Coast next Moure and Kormantyn Trade where Foreign Merchants carry Iron and Linnen which they exchange in Barter for Gold with much greater gain than on the other places of the Gold-Coast but the Linnen must be finer than ordinary otherwise the Blacks will not meddle with it While Trading here was free to all that is till the Hollanders West India Company had ingross'd it to themselves the Haven of Akara produced a third part of the Gold that was to be had on all the Gold-Coast which was brought thither to sell from the Countreys of Abonce and Akamen All the Wares which the Inhabitants buy they sell again at the Market of Abonce two hours Journey beyond Great Akara which they hold three times a Week with great resort of People out of all the neighboring Territories The King of Akara suffers none out of Aquemhoe and Aquimera to come through his Countrey and Trade with the Whites but reserves that freedom to his own Subjects onely who carry the Wares brought from the Europeans to Abonce and exchange them there with great profit Neither would this King suffer the Whites to set up a Store-house on Shore for Trade but forc'd to ride with their Ships Ketches and Sloops before the Haven yet some few years since he sold to the Dutch a piece of Ground whereon he hath permitted them to build a Store-house Adjoining to this they have so far incroached The Store-house of Akara as to raise a little Fort of Stones sixty two Foot long four and twenty broad and flat above overlay'd with thick Planks strongly mortis'd together and strengthned round about with high Breast-works Port-holes and defensive Points for keeping off an Enemy At Great Akara the King hath appointed a Captain over the Merchants Overseer of the Trade with full power to set a Tax or Price for Selling to prevent all Quarrels Differences and Controversies which might otherwise arise of whom the Merchants stand in greater awe than of the King himself for he not onely punishes Offenders according to his pleasure but in case that any Dissentions happen he stops up all the Ways if they do not pay him according to his Amercement THE KINGDOM OF LABBEDE LAbbede a small Territory hath on the West Great Akara The Borders of the Countrey Labbede on the North and the East the Kingdom of Ningo on the Sea-Coast two miles Easterly from Little Akara lies one and the onely Village call'd Labbede a delightful place Wall'd and fortifi'd with Cliffs by the Sea-shore The Countrey hereabouts has plain and many well-water'd Meadows convenient for Pasturage of Cattel The Trade of the Inhabitants consists chiefly in Cows Maintenance whereof they breed some up themselves and others they fetch over-Land from Ley a Place eight or ten miles lower which they then sometimes sell again to the Akraman Blacks and to those of the uppermost Places The Government of this Countrey belongs to a petty Government yet absolute Prince THE TERRITORY OF NINGO OR NIMGO THe Countrey Ningo hath on the West Borders of the Kingdom of Ningo Great Akara on the North Equea and Little Akara On the Sea-Coast in this Territory are four places Ningo three or four miles from Akora and two from Labbede Temina one mile from Ningo Sinko a mile from Temina and Pissy all with Cliffs before the Walls in the Sea Ningo abounds with Cattel which the Akarians buy and carry to sell with Canoos to Moure Within the Countrey stands another fair City call'd Spicei where grow many good Oranges The Inhabitants generally support themselves by Fishing Maintenance which they do in a strange manner and with as uncouth Implements being like Baskets or Coops such as they put Chickens under with which going along the Shore in the Night with Lights they throw them over those Fishes which they get sight of Ningo Sinko Pissy some years since Places of good Trade but having now for a long time given out no Gold they are not visited by the Merchants who for that cause go no lower than Akara where as it is before
the Sea-shore to Trade with the Whites Trade but wholly deal in the Countrey with their Neighbours giving Gold for Clothes and other Wares which most frequently they have from the Countrey of Abonce or else from the Akanists their next Neighbours Akam AKam touches in the West upon Into as the South on Ahim in the North Akam an unknown Land and in the East on Kuahoe and Taffo little known and as little taken notice of because they have nothing fit for Commerce Aqua AQua hath on the West Atty and Dahoe Aqua in the South the Territory of Fantyn lying at the Sea and on the North Ahim. A place of little consequence belonging to Fantyn The TERRITORY of SANQUAY SAnquay lieth in the South on Fantyn in the North on Akim Sanquay and in the East on Agwana The People live hardly being forc'd for supply of Provision to come to the Rough Point to buy Fish which by reason of their remote distance seldom comes home other than stinking It yields obedience to the King of Agwana The TERRITORY of AQUUMBOE AQuumboe hath in the West Aquumboe Ahim in the North Quahoe in the South Agwana in East the Countrey Abonce and Aboera of little farther note or value than onely to be named Abonce THis small Countrey borders on the West Abonce at Aquumboe on the South at Agwana on the North at Amboera on the East upon Great Akara and part of Aboera Here is held the Market of Great Akara though about two hours Journey behind it whither resort out of divers Countreys several sorts of People Kuahoe KUahoe hath on the West Kuahoe Akam on the South Aquumboe and Ahim on the North Tafoe on the East Aboera and Kamana The Inhabitants are deceitful and false and therefore little esteemed by their Neighbors Tafoe THe Countrey of Tafoe lies bounded on the West Tafoe by Aka on the South by Kuahoe on the East by Kammana and Kuahoe 'T is reported to yield great store of Gold which the Natives bring chiefly to Abonce but some small quantities to Moure Aboera THe Territory of Aboera hath on the West Aboera Aquumboe on the North Kuahoe and Kammana on the South Abonce and Great Akara on the East Bonce It possesses much Gold which the Inhabitants of Abonce bring to the Market of Great Akara and there Truck for foreign Commodities Quahoe QUahoe hath on the South Kammana and Small Akara and on the West Quahoe Tafoe From hence also they bring Gold to accommodate and enrich the Market of Great Akara Kammana KAmmana hath on the West Kuahoe on the North Quahoe on the South Kammana Aboera and Bonoe on the East Equea Lataby and Small Akara The Inhabitants follow Husbandry and not onely get their own Living thereby but furnish and feed many of their Neighbors Bonoe BOnoe touches on the West upon Aboera on the North upon Kammana Bonoe on the South hath Great Akara and on the East the Territory of Equea and Ningo The People drive a Trade and carry their Merchandise to sell onely among their Neighbors Equea THe Territory of Equea hath on the West Bonoe on the North Equea Kammana on the South Ningo and Lataby on the North. The Inhabitants maintain themselves by Traffick Lataby LAtaby borders on the West upon Equea and Kammana Lataby on the North and East on Small Akara on the South upon Ningo and Latibo The Natives hold here also a great Fair or Market whither all sorts of Wares are brought but much exceeded by that at Abonce Akarady AKarady hath for Limits in the West Akarady Kammana on the North Quahoe on the South Lataby and Ningo This Countrey abounds with Gold which as likewise all that which comes to Akara is as well cleared of Dross as that brought by the Akarists which the Inhabitants bring for Vent to all the adjoining Markets and Factories The Land hereabouts hath few Trees and those also yielding little profit whereas Kormantyn and other places lying upward have many to be admired for their fertility and usefulness Insoko INsoko lieth Insoko according to the report of the Akarists four or five days Journey from the Sea-shore but that the Countreys between are for the most part unknown to them because they very seldom go to Insoko by reason of the great numbers of Thieves that haunt the Ways The Inhabitants make very fine Cloathes Their Cloathes whereby those which making a safe Voyage return from thence home again may gain vast Riches they are bought for Royals of Eight or other Pieces of Silver and sometimes for fine Linnen but as the same Akanists say know nothing either of Gold or Copper neither have they any Concern in it Thus much as to the Countrey in general we will now proceed to declare a more particular Relation of its Nature Air Plants Beasts Customs and Religions and what else obviously we meet with concerning the same ¶ THe whole Gold-Coast The Nature of the Countrey especially about Myna appears Wild Desolate Mountainous and full of Woods having such narrow Ways that two cannot go together and those so incumbred and over-grown with Brambles and Trees that the Sun can hardly through their density be discern'd in short they are fit hiding-places for Thieves and yet few such found there From Cape de Tres Puntas to Akara it lies high and higher up into the Land the Soil is fruitful intermingled with good Pasturage very convenient for the Feeding of Cattel in as also for Planting of Mille and other Corn the Shore extending East North-East The People here know not what a Frost means There is no Prest so that indeed we may justly say they have no Winter but one continual Summer covered by the continual Heats of the Air and Sun yet notwithstanding this certain warm temperature of the Clime hath distinguish'd the Seasons of the Year attributing some Moneths to Summer others to Winter by peculiar observing the difference of the Weather and accordingly they reckon it Winter when the Sun shines in a Perpendicular Line from the Vertical Point of the Heavens upon their Heads which happens in April and June and they judge it Summer when the Sun is farthest from them which is in October November December and February the reasons whereof we will endeavour briefly to give you In January blow along this Coast out of the South-West hard Sea-Storms but harder in February which sometimes bring with them a Hericane and sometimes Rain In the latter end of March and beginning of April great Tempests a rise both at Sea and Land by the Portuguese call'd Ternados and by the Inhabitants Agombrettou attended with great Rains mixt with Thunder Lightning and Earthquakes which continue to the end of May They foresee the coming of this strange Weather by the clouding of the Skie in the South-East yet then is the Sowing-time for Mille. The Ternados past the
Woods The Buildings not contemptible especially the Houses of the Gentry yet cover'd with Palm-Leaves and made up of gray Earth The King's Palace is built after the method of that in Benyn but much less The Air proves very unhealthful Unwholsom Air. not onely by reason of the great Heat but also from bad and unwholsom Mists whereof Strangers Trading in the River being ignorant and carelesly lying and sleeping in the Evening or in Moon-shine oftentimes die suddenly The Soyl is so barren Plants that Grass and Corn are strangers to it but it yields many fruitful Trees as those bearing Coco-Nuts sowre and sweet Grapes with divers others also a little Pepper Baranasses in great numbers and Mandihoka of which they make Farinha or Bread By reason of the barrenness of the Fields there are neither Horses nor Cows but Poultrey they have in abundance and very large being roasted eat well Fish also and Sea-Calves whose Flesh dress'd yields a pleasing relish Both Men and Women are of comely Stature and fair Countenances according to the account of Beauty in that Countrey and all marked with three Cuts each something more than an Inch long that is one in the Forehead above the Nose and one on each side of their Head by the Temples and may wear their Hair long or short as they please Their Habit resembles those of Benyn Habit. as to Fashion but commonly made of Silk which the other may not wear fastned under their Arm-pits with a curious Girdle Every one here Marriage as in other parts of Africa may take as many Wives as he will or as he can get and sometimes the King bestows some Widows as a mark of his Favor The Whites come and Trade in the River Forkado Trade with the same sort of Wares as in Benyn which they exchange for Slaves Jasper-Stone and Akori but they hold them in great esteem and will not sell them but above the value They are no quick nor expert Dealers but cheapen a Commodity a whole Moneth onely to beat down the Price but to little purpose because the Merchant rates his Goods according to the value set by the Natives upon their Commodities which he never recedes from The Portuguese us'd in former times to trust them always which the present Traders never do so that they now bring the Slaves when they fetch their Goods The King of Owerre Government though Tributary to Benyn Governs notwithstanding his People with full Power as an absolute Prince and hath a Council consisting of three great Noble-men whose Power and Command none dare oppose The King which Govern'd in the Year Sixteen hundred forty four was a Mulato by the Portuguese and other Europeans call'd Don Anthonio de Mingo whose Father by Name De Mingo was Married to a Portuguese Maid which he brought with him out of Portugal where he had been himself in Person and had this Son born by her He goes like a Portuguese wearing always a Sword or Ponyard by his Side Their Religion comes near that of Benyn Religion onely they do not sacrifice so many Men but esteem it a great abomination and delusion of the Devil so that by a little instruction they might be brought to the Christian Faith They alllow neither Conjurers nor Witches among them In brief both the Inhabitants and the King himself maintain in some measure the Roman Religion There is a Church with an Altar in the City Owerre and on it stands a Crucisix with the Pictures of the Virgin Mary and the Apostles and two Candlesticks besides them into which the Blacks come with Beads like the Portuguese and Read their Prayers They are in general very zealous and can Write and Read and are desirous of Books Pens Ink and Paper The Coast of the Cape of Formosa to the Highland of Amboises AT the East-end of the Kingdom of Owerre Cape of Formosa shoots a prominent Point into the Sea by the Whites call'd Cabo Formosa that is The Fair Cape perhaps for its fair and pleasant appearance at Sea It lieth in the heigth of four Degrees and eight Minutes North Latitude so low and plain that they can discern no Land at five and twenty Fathom Water The Countrey between the River Benyn and Cape Formosa appears a very low Land but full of Trees About a Mile to the Westward a small River takes its course and upon the Banks of the Sea stands a Village call'd Sangma and a sandy Bank Sangma dry at Low-water Between this Cape and Rio Reael or Calabare lie seven small Rivers with broken Land The first little and narrow call'd Rio Non Rio Non. about half a Mile Eastward of Cabo Formosa The second Rio Odo in the heighth of four Degrees and ten Minutes Rio Odo four miles from Formosa and three and a half from Rio Non. The third and fourth of a like bigness and not far distant from each other The fifth Rio St. Nicholas Rio St. Nicholas The sixth Rio de tres Jermaus Rio de tret Jermaus The seventh Sambreiro the next to Calabare and spreads North-West Rio Sambreiro All these Rivers are passable onely with Boats and that in the Good Time Are not Navigable as they call it viz. from October to June yet enter the Sea such force that they discernably penetrate it above half a mile In divers Maps and Sea-Cards some others are named as Rio di Tilana Rio de St. Barbara and Rio de St. Bartholomew The Territories of Calabare Krike Moko Bani c. THe Countrey of Calabare lieth near the River of the same Name The Countrey of Calabare and the next Westward to Sambreiro or Sombreiro being about sixteen miles from Cape Formosa This River in some places very shoal The River of Calabare and therefore onely Navigable for small Ketches spreading Northerly and hath within its second Point at the Western-shore a Hamlet Wine-Village call'd by the Whites The Wine-Village from the abundance of Wine there but by the Inhabitants Fokke Then dividing into two Branches one at the Westerly-end the other at the Easterly-shore In the Eastern you find a Road or Haven for Ketches which put into this River for Trade of about two miles and a half in bigness At the North-side of the aforemention'd Branch appears the Village Calabare The Village Calabare the chiefest Place of Trade surrounded after the Countrey manner for Defence with Pallisado's and on the North having a Moorish Ground Southward of this you discover a long low Island full of Trees separated from the Continent onely by a small Pool Eight miles Westward hereof lieth a Hamlet named Belli Govern'd by a Captain Fourteen miles Westward runs the Easterly Branch whose Banks are garnish'd with divers Villages Northward of Calabare Krike a Territory call'd Krike shews it self bordering upon another named Moko Moko Southward of which last Bani at
lie three small Islanâ—â— the Sea call'd also Amboises of which the Eastermost is the biggest almost as Towring as the High Land of Amboises being very populouâ— Within these great abundance of Provision good Palm-Wine and 〈◊〉 may be had but little Trade and for that reason as little frequented 〈◊〉 before it the Ships Ride at Anchor to buy Slaves and Elephants Teeth brought thither from Kamerones The Inhabitants Inhabitants which for the most part speak Portuguese live on the middlemost Island of the three from whence they go often to the main Land 〈◊〉 get Provision and Fruit. About five miles from Amboises River of Kamarones the River Jamoce glides in a narrow Current In the middle of which Buffels Island towards the South Wall a small Island call'd Buffels Island discovers it self from which spreads a Bank of Rocks South Easterly so steep that one side of a Ship touching it on the other side may find six Fathom water Two miles within the third Point Yeeth Hole or Monoka you arrive at a place by the Whites call'd The Teeth Hole but by the Natives Monoka and opposite to that another nam'd The Monombas Hole whereto adjoyns a Village the usual Trading place At the North live the Kalbangas whose Governor nam'd Moneba hath the repute of one of the powerfullest of the adjacent Princes The Town where he keeps his Seat Royal stands scituate on a Hill very neatly Hedg'd about with Trees so that they account it the pleasantest place in all that Tract and not onely so but exceedingly stor'd with abundance of Provision as Injames Bananassen Palm Wine and Bordon Wine both of the same species but the latter the worst as growing in Fenny places The Houses are built in Quadrangular form Little Ivory can be gotten here and less Akori but many Slaves Trade which makes them cheap The Commodities desir'd there and carry'd thither by the Netherlanders are Thin beaten Bosses which they use in stead of Money Bars of Iron Copper Bars Copper Pots Hammer'd Kettles Violet Beads Paste of Oranges and Lemmons Cows Horns And such like The People which live by the River Kamerones are strong fat and lively smooth Skin'd from the top to Toe and generally of as large a stature as the lustiest Englishman Next Kamerones on the Sea Coast follow the Rivers Monoka Borba or Bourn Rio de Campo Rio Sante Benito and Rio Danger Rio Sante Benito lieth in two degrees Northern Latitude Rio Santo Benito and the Coast spreads South and North. Seven miles Southward in one degree and five and thirty minutes you come to another River and four miles farther a third abounding in Water Five miles from the last opens a Bay bearing eight Fatnom Water Six miles below which a prominant Point stil'd Cape St. John Cape of St. John fronted with a ridge of Rocks None of these Rivers are much frequented for Trade except that of Danger in one degree North Latitude The People prove ill Neighbours to each other being never free from Animosities Feuds and Quarrels upon every trifle The Island KORISKO THree or four miles Southward of Cape St. John appears an Island The Island Korisko to which the Portuguese have given the name of Ilhas des Korisko that is The Island of Lightning from the more than usually frequent Lightnings happening there when they first discover'd the place The Land towards the Sea Coast is generally Sandy Nature of the Countrey except on the North West where Stony But more within overgrown with high Trees whose Wood is Redder if Sanutus say true than that of Brasile perhaps it may be the Red Wood which the Inhabitants call Takoel The Road for Ships lieth in five and forty minutes Northward of the Line The Road or Harber and convenient for Shipping According to Sanute the Island not inhabited being indeed not above half a mile in compass but the propriety of the Benyan King The Countries lying about the River Gabon and the Cape of Lope Gonzalvez THe River Gabon The River Gabon by Linschot call'd Gaba and in some Maps Gabam lyeth under the Line The North Point of which the Seamen call the Cape of St. The Cape St. Clare Clare much resembling that of St. John and in a manner differenc'd onely in this that coming out of the Sea and approaching near the Shore they see a white Spot against it as if it were a Sayl which is not to be seen at the Cape of St. John In the Mouth this River is four miles wide but grows afterwards smaller and narrower The Island Pongo so that it is not above two miles over at the Island Pongo It s South Point is low and overgrown with Trees but the North Point almost choak'd up with Flats and Sands At the South Shore about three or four miles inwards another Point discovers it self known by the name of the Sandy Point many Crocodiles and Sea-Horses breed herein to the great damage and hazard both of the Natives and Strangers Five miles more inward you come to two little Islands the one the Inhabitants call Pongo and the Whites Parret Island The King's Isle because he keeps his Court there and the other Parrets Isle from the great abundance of Parrets breeding within it which last yields also great plenty of Bananasses Injames Oranges and other Fruits The King of Pongo hath the report of a powerful Prince they entitle him Manipongo that is Lord of Pongo as the King of Kongo Mani-Kongo 'T is true two other Princes claim a great Jurisdiction near him viz. one at Majombo and another at Gabon yet neither dare resist he Pongian and his Palaces nam'd Goliparta exceed in magnificence and extent all the rest of the Buildings which pretend to Beauty or State The Men naturally incline to Cheating and Thieving The nature of the Inhabitants but not so much among themselves as towards strangers to whom also bloudy barbarous and unnatural but the Women shew great courtesie and affability accounting it an honor to make acquaintance with them In Marriage they have no respect to neerness of Relation Marriages for the Mother may Marry her Son and the Father his Daughter The Houses have no other Walls or Partitions than Reeds Houses very neatly order'd and fastned together and cover'd with Leaves of the Bannana-Tree They lie all along on the ground when they eat Food the common People using Earthen Vessels but more eminent persons Dishes of Tin Their Food chiefly Potatoes and Injames Roasted or Boil'd and many other Roots Also Fish and Flesh mixt together but first either smoak'd or dry'd in the Sun During the Meal they never Drink but having done Eating swallow great Cups full of Water or Palm-Wine or a sort of Mead which they call Melaffo For Apparel they wear Cloth made of Mats Habit. and the Shell of the Matombe-Tree over which some hang the Skins of Apes or Sea-Cats
Kymaye and consists of old Potsheards rotten Blocks whereupon they set Caps and worn Rags so that the appearance of this Ganga seems a Frippery of old Patches and Tatters The Ganga plays with the Jugling-Box painted white knocks with a new Cap full of Stones blows in his Hands strikes his Arms and Navel sits upon a Skin and is a rare Physician for those that are well He makes it rain surely a strange thing in December January February March April nay till May. He takes care of the Sea Fishery Canoos and for other things accompting himself a Kykokas Fellow The Moquisie Injami stands about six Miles Southerly from Lovango Injamy and is also a great Image standing in a Hut Hither they Journey from East to West passing by the way over a round Hill which none must ride or be carried over but must go on foot for otherwise they pollute it Kitouba is a great wooden Rattle upon which they take an Oath Kitouba not to make any sick to bewitch them or use other wickedness Panza is a Stick like a Halberd with a carved Head Panza and daub'd with Red Colouring Pongo is a Basket covered all over with Simbos and conceited Carvings Pongo and full or Trifles It serves also for Witchcraft Moanzy is a Pot buried in the Ground between some spreading Trees Meanzy with an Arrow stuck in it and a Rope strethed over it on which some Leaves hang. They which go about with this Pot wear a Copper Armlet may eat Kola but with no Company and the like Fopperies These and a multitude of other more Moquisies they have which every one in particular observe exactly so that none may drink out of anothers Cup in the Market-place being kept in a common Inn or Toping-house where both Men and Women in great Companies tipple Palm-wine Every Male they Circumcise more out of Custom than Injunction Circumcision for they are not able to give any Reason why they do it more than That it is an ancient Use and hath been derived to them from hand to hand by their Parents for many Ages The Kingdom of ANSIKO THe Kingdom of Ansiko whose Inhabitants are of two sorts Ansikos Borders of the Kingdom of Ansiko by Marmol call'd Anzinguis and Jages hath according to Pigafet on the East side a Lake out of which the River Umbre floweth afterwards intermingling Streams with that of Zaire and the Dominion of Wangou in the West the Countrey of Amboe or the People Amboes in the North divers Wildernesses of Nubia in the South the Territories of Sunde Songo and Kongo In a word Philippus Pigafet dilates it from the River Zaire to Nubia But Janik gives it for Borders the Kingdom of Kongo without naming any other Countreys that touch upon it either East or West Here grow two sorts of Sandal-wood Two sorts of Sandal-wood viz. Red call'd Tawilla and White Zikengo with which last being the best beaten to Powder and mixt with Palm-oyl the Inhabitants anoint their Bodies for the preservation of Health The People boast of rich Copper Mines whose Metal they furnish the Kingdom of Kongo with Beasts The Woods breed Lions and many other Beasts common with Lovango The Natives in general are a nimble Constitution of the Inhabitants active and well-shap'd People climbing the craggy Mountains with notable agility They take little care for their Living and dare undertake any thing without apprehension or fear of Danger among themselves unanimous to Strangers with whom conversing upright and true-hearted but they have by reason of their Beastial Nature little Trade with the Whites Their common Food is Mens Flesh Food insomuch that their Markets are provided with that as ours in Europe with Beef or Mutton All Prisoners of Wars unless they can sell them alive with greater advantage otherwise as we said they fatten them for Slaughter and at last sell them to Butchers to accommodate the Markets To this Savage Barbarity they are so naturaliz'd that some Slaves whether as weary of their Lives or to shew their Love to their Masters will proffer themselves freely to be kill'd and eaten But that which is most inhumane and beyond the ferity of Beasts is that the Father matters not to eat his Son nor the Son his Father nor one Brother the other but take them by force devouring their Flesh the Blood yet reeking hot between their Teeth Lastly Whosoever dies be the Disease never so contagious yet they eat the Flesh immediately as a Festival Dish The Habit of the common sort of Men differs not much from what before described Apparel for they go with the upper part of their Bodies naked and without any thing on their heads but People of Quality have Clothes of Silk or Cloth and on their Heads red or black Caps of their own making or else Portuguese Flannel Bonnets The Noble and other Women of Quality cover themselves from Head to Foot with Mantles but the common Women wear only a Cloth hanging down girt about their Middle and without Shooes The Men may keep as many Wives and Concubines as they please Marriage but the Teeming Women after their Delivery take no care to breed up their Children but kill them and eat them up immediately They have neither Houses Goods Towns or settled Dwelling-places but rove like the wild Arabs or barbarous Scythians from place to place neither Sowing nor Mowing but living wholly by Rapine and Pillage eating the Fruits of other Mens Labors where-ever they come devouring and spoiling all before them Their Language differs wholly from the Congish Language which they endeavor to learn and become very expert in though they make little use thereof in regard of their Savage and unconversible Natures In stead of Money Money they use Simbos or little Horns as those of Lovando with whom they drive a great Trade carrying thither Slaves and Ivory which they exchange for these Horns Salt Silk Glass-Dishes and such like Their Arms for they love War are short Wooden Bowes Arms. cover'd with divers colour'd Snake-skins that they seem to be made of one piece which they do to strengthen and that they may hold it the faster in their Hands They make these Weapons of a kind of tough black Canes which prove very lasting and serviceable The Arrows are short light and thin made of hard Wood which they commonly hold together with the Bowe in their Hands In the use whereof for Shooting they have so great dexterity that they can discharge eight and twenty Arrows before the first falls to the Ground and can kill a Bird flying Besides these they use also a sort of Pole-axes whose Handle having a Knob at the end is cover'd with Snakes-skins The Head shines very bright being fastned in the Wood with Copper Pins and like those in use sometimes among us hath at one end a sharp Edge like a Hatchet and at the other a Hammer In
him good success the Blacks do him a kind of Homage lying down upon both Knees clapping their hands and kissing the King's Hand the Portuguese sit kneeling upon one Knee and so the Priests and Clergy by that humble posture acknowledging his Soveraignty After the eight days past the King appears in the Market and makes a Speech to the People expressing his readiness for the performing of that which was propounded to him with assurance to them that he will seek nothing more than the quiet and welfare of his Kingdoms and Subjects and the propagating of the Christian Faith The People of Congo take the Oath of Fidelity to their King like other Christians but forget it quickly Murdering him upon any sleight occasion either by Insurrections or Treason so that within these forty or fifty years they have had many Kings for if all things go not to their minds or if it Rains too much or too little or if any other accident happens the King bears the blame The Earl of Songo the most Potent in all Congo was subject to this King but considering the Woods of Findemguolla which surrounds his Countrey like a Bulwark he fortifi'd it and made it almost impregnable so casting off the Yoke he will not acknowledge the King of Congo for his Soveraign but onely as a Friend of Songo Formerly this Earl before the taking of the City Lovando St. Paulo by the Netherlanders in the Year Fifteen hundred forty and three by instigation of the Portuguese would have burnt their Ware-houses but that he was afterwards prevented and his anger aswaged This Province of Songo yields Copper There is Copper in Sougo much better than that of Congo and some Cotton but they Vend little of it In the Year sixteen hundred thirty six Wars between the King of Songo and the Earl of Souho the King of Congo Don Alvares the second of that Name for some cause given by the foremention'd Earl with a great Company of Men and the assistance of a Company of eighty Portuguese Soldiers of Lovando St. Paulo drew into the Field But the Songo's by a sudden Sallying out of the Wood The Overthrow of the King of Congo routed the King's Army and took him Prisoner so that for his release and restoration to his Kingdom he was forced to give to the Earl two Territories the one a Principality call'd Mokata a great Land of Tillage lying where the River Zair bordereth nearest to Songo Yet afterwards the Quarrel was renew'd and Forces on both sides drawn into the Field A second Overthrow and the Controversie coming to be decided by the Sword the King lost the Day and together with it many Slaves These two Victories exceedingly puffed up the Earl It was imputed to the King as a great miscarriage that this last he drew into the Field with a small Force whereas he hath innumerable People under his Command but this oversight he quickly amended and hath taken severe revenge of the Songo's for the Losses formerly received But this kept them not long quiet A new War for the old Earl being dead in the Year Sixteen hundred forty and one there arose a new and bloody War between the King and the Earl Don Daniel du Silva arising upon this ground When after the Decease of Don Michael who Rul'd about the Year Sixteen hundred and six his Son the foremention'd Don Daniel du Silva could not come to succeed because a Faction rais'd against him was too strong he fled to the Duke of Bamba in whose Court he remain'd a long time but at last by the help of his Confederates got the possession of his Inheritance and burning with revenge for his sufferings and disgrace he gave occasion of Quarrel by refusing to request of the King of Congo according to the old Custom the confirmation of his Possessions first accusing him as one that had a hand in his long Expulsion and therewithall adding that the Election of his Subjects did enough confirm him in his Government and therefore he needed no other The King of Congo enraged hereat and accounting it a great dis-reputation and diminution to his Royal Authority to be so Bearded as a manifestation of his high displeasure placed his Son the Prince Don Alphonso in the Principality of Makata formerly given as we have said to the Earl of Songo for releasing of the King Don Alvarez giving him in charge not onely to keep it but from thence to make War upon the Earl Hereupon Discontents daily growing on the King of Congo raised a great Army which he gave to Don Alphonso who therewith invaded Songo and using all the extremities of War both against his Countrey and Subjects But the Songo's a very Warlike People in the Year Sixteen hundred forty and five the nine and twentiteth of April in a Pitch'd Battel defeated and put to flight the King's Army and took the fore-mention'd Prince of Mokata together with many Grandees Prisoners and according to the Custom of the Countrey chopt off all their Heads onely he kept Alphonso Prisoner being his Cousin and would not suffer him to depart from him The King by this overthrow provoked more than ever to take revenge raised in the following Year so great a Force that he doubted not therewith to over-run the whole Earldom at once Of this Army consisting of almost all the Nobility together with three or four hundred Moulatto's the Duke of Bamba was made General and therewith drew near to the Borders of Songo but was unawares fall'n upon by an Ambuscade out of the Wood Emtinda Guola on the last of July and his Army not onely totally defeated A third Overthrow but the Duke himself necessitated to yield to the Earl some Places and Countreys The Duke of Bamba taken Prisoner before wrested from him for the release of Prince Alphonso his Son Who was no sooner come home in safety but the Congo's inclin'd to the old revenge and not being able to digest the disgrace began new Quarrels which quickly broke forth into a great flame During this War the King sent Ambassadors with Letters to Brazile to Grave Maurice Ambassadors sent both from Congo and Songo to Brazile who had the Government of that Countrey for the States of Holland together with many Slaves for a Present to the Council and two hundred more with a Gold Chain to Grave Maurice himself Not long after their arrival came thither also three Ambassadors from the Earl one of which was Shipt from thence to Holland to the States the two other required of Grave Maurice that he would give no Assistance to the King of Congo which in some manner he hearkned to and to that end wrote Letters to their Governors in Congo and Angola not to intermeddle in the Wars of these two Princes for that they were both in League with the Hollanders Afterwards the King and the Duke of Bamba the second time sent Ambassadors to Grave
a little Meat a Slave was given at that time worth at least ten Crowns nay more thousands sold themselves for Slaves to the Portuguese of the Island of St. Thomas to preserve themselves from starving amongst which were some of the Royal Blood and many of the chief Lords The Congo's King finding himself too weak to withstand his Enemies by the Counsel of the Portuguese sent an Agent to Don Sebastian then King of Portugal praying his Aid who immediately sent him a Supply by Shipping of six hundred Soldiers In which Expedition many Nobles and Reformado's put themselves into the Service under the Command of Don Francis de Govea a Man who had often been in Asia and Africa who after a fortunate Voyage arriving at St. Thomas Isle where by Order they put in for Recruits of Ammunition and to Victual and refresh they went over to Congo and Landed at Horse-Island where the King of Congo then had his abode where the General having received new Supplies of Portuguese and Congo's went over to the Main Land and Fought the Jages beating them in divers Battels insomuch that Alvarez after a year and a halfs exile was restor'd to his Realm The King being thus re-setled in his Throne required for the establishing of the Christian Religion that Priests might be sent thither and as an acknowledgment of this Aid and Assistance he obliged himself by a Written Obligation to send yearly a Present of Slaves and withall to own him as his Lord The King of Portugal refused the same modestly returning That he acknowledged the King of Congo for his Brother at Arms but answer'd his Desire for establishing the Christian Religion At length after four years the General departed onely leaving behind many Portuguese as a Guard to secure the Peace of Congo for the future Thus far we have proceeded in the Affairs of Congo But Eastward of Lovango and North-east of Goy and Cakongo lie divers unknown Countreys as Bokke or Bukkemeale Ukango Sondy Pombo Fungeno Makoko Girituma Combo d' Okango Amboille of which we shall give you some particulars The TERRITORY of BOKKE or BUKKE-MEALE THis Territory whose Inhabitants are Jages lieth according to supposition about a hundred Leagues up in the Countrey to the North-East of Lovango for the Blacks which go thither to Trade are three moneths in their journey going and coming Out of this Countrey cometh most of the Elephants Teeth which the Mouirisen of Lovango buy of the Jages who go higher up in the Countrey to buy them of a sort of little people call'd Mimos who are under the great Makoko's Command and live in the Desarts The Jages report that these Dwarf-like Race can by Enchantment make themselves invisible and so kill or shoot the Elephants whose flesh they eat and sell their Teeth to the Jages which barter the same with the Mouirisen for Salt carry'd from Lovango by Slaves in Matteten or Bakets upon their heads But here we must take notice that all the Teeth which the Mimo's bring are not of Elephants which they Shoot but many are of those which die naturally and are found in the Woods and therefore look of a decay'd colour as if they were rotten The Inhabitants of Bokke-Meale are subject to the Command of the King of Lovango pay him Tribute and serve him in the Wars Government Between Lovango and Bokke-Meale lieth a desolate place full of great Woods six or seven days journey and without other Inhabitants than Elephants Tygers Wolves and such like wild Beasts The Countrey of OKANGO OKango a large and mighty Territory lieth to the East of Kongo Okongo The Inhabitants file their Teeth sharp and lead an idle and shirking life neither able to endure labour or hardship and therefore contemptible among their neighbors and strangers In this Countrey they make Clothes of the Bark of Trees some with Flowers and others without which they send to other Countreys in exchange for such things as they want and submit to the Commands of a Sovasen whom they entitle Mani The Territories of CONDE or POMBO de OKANGO ABout a hundred and fifty-miles North-East from the Dukedom of Batta you come to a Countrey call'd Congo or Pombo de Okango water'd by the swift and deep River Coango which looseth its course by running into the River Zaire The Natives aver that there are found Eastward of the River Coango a white People with long Hair though not so fair as the Europeans THE KINGDOM OF FUNGENO THis Jurisdiction of Fungeno is tributary and subject to the great Makoko The Kingdom of Fungeno and lies between the River Zaire and Coango Eastwards of Konde or Pombo d' Okango The Portuguese Trade here for few Slaves chiefly with a sort of small Pans or Clouts made of the Pith or Bark of the Matombe-Tree pull'd out long-ways These Clouts the Portuguese always us'd at Lovando in stead of Money and every thing may be had in the Markets for them nor do the Portuguese make a small gain out of them The Trade of the Portuguese limits not it self to these people onely but extends further to the Dominion of Nimeamay lying to the South-East of Makoko who travel from their own Countrey thither without any fear or hazard in regard the Kings of Nimeamay and Makoko hold a friendly correspondence and firm league of amity with each other THE KINGDOM OF MAKOKO MAkoko a potent and large Jurisdiction lieth Northward of Zaire behind Congo above two hundred or as others two hundred and fifty Spanish miles from Lovango or Congo The Inhabitants bear one general name of Monsoles or Metica's being also Anthropophagi or Men-eaters like the Jages or rather indeed the right Jages The eminentest place of this Kingdom known to the Whites is Monsol seated about two hundred miles from the Sea-shore This King hath the repute of greater puissance than he of Congo as having ten other Kings Tributary to him This King keeps constantly within appointed places in his Court two hundred Slaves of which part are given him yearly for Tribute and part condemn'd persons all fed by their keepers like stall'd Oxen or fatted Sheep and Hogs being the store to supply the King and his Courtiers with choice Provision for whose use slain and their flesh serv'd up as a delicate Morsel for they eat it rather out of a devilish wantonness than necessity for that almost all sorts of Cattel breed there in infinite multitudes neither is the Land wanting of any other product fit for humane Food In Monsol is kept a great Market of Slaves Trade whither the Portuguese of Lovango send their Pomberoes with Merchandizes which sometimes tarry out a year or two when at last having bought some Slaves Elephants Teeth and Copper they make the new-bought Slaves to carry all on their heads to Lovango so that they are at no charges to bring their biggest Teeth or Copper out of the Countrey The King according to his manner keeps in great State
call'd Barra de Korimba formerly bearing above five Fathom water but is at present almost fill'd up and choak'd with Sand on the other side of this Entrance heretofore the Portuguese had two Batteries but the force of the water hath almost wash'd them away About two miles from Barra de Korimba on the main Land Punto de Palmarinho appears a little Promontory in Portuguese call'd Punto del Palmarinho A mile and a half more Southerly lieth the Sleepers-Haven Sleepers-Haven and also the Clay-Ovens or Lime-Kilns where the Portuguese burn Lime and Oyster-shells Four miles and a half from Sleepers-Haven you come to the River Quansa where formerly stood a Fort of the Netherlanders which we mention'd before call'd Moll 's The Territory of Quisama or Quissamba THe Territory of Quisama or according to Pigafet Quissamba The Territory of Quisama lieth on the South-side of the River Quansa and spreads thence twenty miles upward and more This Countrey as the rest comprehends divers Dominions It is divided into diver Dominiens of all which Motchima claims the rule as chief Lord viz. Zourube Godgo Zautatsa Molunua Katakahajo and Zuino The Natives here need not complain of Nature as a Step-mother the Land without any great labour producing abundance of Mille for Bread besides other useful Plants and Trees as particularly The Alikonda eight or ten Fathom round but very porus and weak Trees Alikenda fit for no use but to make Trays to hold water their innermost Bark some convert into a kind of Thred whereof they make Aprons or Coats to wear about their bodies The Portugueses Quacumburez which the natives call Quisamo Trees Quacumburez never grows bigger than a mans Waste with few Leaves but thick and large the Wood so tender that a strong man with a Sword may cut it quite in two out of the rifts in the body flows a great deal of juyce like Milk but of so poysonous and destroying a quality that if any one should get the least drop thereof in their Eyes they would instantly grow blind The same juyce pour'd into the water will immediately cause the Fish to swim at the top as if they were dead The Blacks hold the shadow of this Tree poyson and will not be perswaded to rest under it for they say that the juyce is so great a corrosive as 't will gnaw their bowels in pieces without possibility of help or Antidote as hath been experienc'd by a Lord that was poyson'd with it by his Slaves The Beasts breeding in these Parts Beasts are Hogs Goats Bucks Sheep wild Cows Elephants Tygers and Leopards In short the same conveniences may be had here as in Ilamba and Enraka Fresh Water they have none Want of Water save such as is gather'd in the time of Rain and preserv'd in Troughs made of hollow Trees and the Places where they keep them are reserved by the Fetisies command with so strict a secrecy that if by misfortune any fall into the Enemies hand he will rather be cut in pieces than be brought to discover them In the Lordships of Zuina Salt-Mynes Gungo and Katta Kabajo great Mountains lift up their Heads whose open'd sides shew many Salt-pits which those Blacks subject to the Sovasen under whose power they are may freely fetch out by their Slaves paying the appointed Custom This they dig out in Pieces of a Dutch Ell long and a Hand broad every one weighing eighteen or twenty Pounds as clear as a piece of Ice or Crystal and as white as our best Salt and of so good a savor that a little Piece put in a Pot or Kettle give both the Liquor and Meat a pleasant seasoning From the bowels they dig Iron Iron-Mynes but enough onely to make Arms and Implements for Tillage or Husbandry The best Trade of these Quisamites consists in the fore-recited Salt and Mille Trade which they exchange for Slaves to be employ'd in the digging of it for they work not themselves out of an opinion of their noble Extract And not onely the Blacks but the Portuguese also buy great quantities of it for their People no other being to be got unless from Lovando The Blacks of Lovando appropriate to themselves the whole Countrey on the South-side of Quansa for twenty Leagues The Island of LIBOLO IN the next place follows The Territory of Libolo towards the South Libolo bordering with one Point to the East on the Empire of Monopotapa but in the South at Rio Longo near Benguelle 'T is parted into many Sub-divisions thirty of which the Portuguese brought under some years ago and keep them still in strict Command and obedience reaping great advantage from Cattel which are the same here as we mention'd before in other parts of Angola and exceeding them in nothing but plenty of Bees and Honey More we cannot inform you of from hence for that they lie as yet undiscover'd to our European Merchants The Countrey of BENGUELA or BEGALA THis Countrey Modern Geographers place at the Sea-Coast and make it spread from the River Quansa to Cabo Negro in the heighth of sixteen Degrees though others will have it go farther than Rio Longo in eleven Degrees and four Minutes South Latitude The Places Rivers Bays and Villages lying at the Sea-Coast within that compass may be these About three miles from the South Point of Quansa lieth Maysotte-Bay before which a small Rock hides it self Three miles and a half forward you arrive at Cabo Ledo And five from thence appears Cabo de tres Puntas Cabo Ledo And two miles yet Southerly Cabo Falso And five beyond that another Six miles and a half from Cabo St. Bras lieth Hens-Bay Hen-Bay so call'd from the abundance of Hens thereabouts and between both Benguella Viella that is Old Benguela a Champaign and very fruitful Countrey The Hen-Bay contains about a mile and a half in breadth holding ten or twelve Fathom Water with muddy Ground On the South-side stands a great Village on a Hill where large Cows Sheep Hens and Elephants-Teeth may be had yet they have no fresh Water Three miles and a half from this Bay lieth Rio Longo Rio Lengo otherwise call'd Rio Moreno in eleven Degrees and four Minutes South Latitude so shallow at the Mouth that a small Boat cannot go in or out without difficulty In former times the Portuguese attempted to enlarge the Entrance into this River but by reason of its shoalness the strong Water-falls and great numbers of Rocks they found it not feasible Five miles from Rio Longo appears a great Village nam'd Manikikongo upon the Ascent a high Mountain where the Portuguese once had a Store-house and bought Cows Hogs and Elephants-Teeth for Linnen and East-India pressed Clothes The Inhabitants here are very earnest for Musquets and Powder Eleven miles from Manikikongo runs the Salt River Katon-belle dividing it self in two or three Branches being free from all Winds
which was the aforemention'd Doman to forage and as they had robb'd a Countrey-man of two Beasts five Dutch Horsmen rid after them whom they resisted like brave Soldiers by reason they saw no means to flye yet scorn'd to desire Quarter insomuch that they wounded three of the Horsmen one through the Arm and the other under the short Ribs and the other in the Back but the Hollanders remain'd not in their debts but shot down three of the five one of which call'd Epkamma was shot through the Neck had one of his Legs broken in pieces Epkamma taken and a great Wound in his Head being thus wounded he was taken and brought on a Horse into the Fort but Doman with the other escaped swimming over a River The wounded Epkamma being brought into the Fort His Discourse concerning the beginning of the Wars with the Netherlanders and asked for what reason they did make War with the Netherlanders and sought to do mischief every where by robbing murdering and burning though excessively pained with his Wounds return'd this answer What was the reason that the Netherlanders Ploughed their Land and Sow'd Corn on their Ground where they should drive their Cattel to Pasture and by this means took the Bread out of their Mouthes That to revenge themselves of the injury and wrong that was done them they fought for they were not onely forbidden to keep away from those and other Pasturing places which they had possessed peaceably so long whereinto they had permitted the Netherlanders onely in the beginning to come as a refreshing-place but they saw also their Countreys divided and taken away without any recompence At last asking if the same had been done to the Netherlanders how they would carry themselves Moreover they understood that the Netherlanders did strengthen themselves daily with Forts which according to their opinion could be for no other end but to bring them and all what they had at length under subjection The Hollanders repli'd in short That they had now lost the Countrey about the Cape by the War and therefore they should never think to regain it either by Hostility or Peace The last Discourse of this Epkamma who died on the sixth day was That he was but a mean Person but he advised them to invite his Governor to the Fort and to discourse the business with him and to order every one his own again as it could best be found for the prevention of farther mischief and trouble This being held for good counsel two or three Netherlanders were sent abroad with Entreaties to the Governor Gogosoa to come to the Fort and to Treat concerning a Peace but all in vain for they went on furiously against such Places as they saw fit insomuch that the Hollanders scarce saw any means how to decide this matter for the best The placing and appointing of good Watches to secure the Planters which lived but two hours Journey from the Fort signifi'd but little for those Hottentots drove away all their Cattel and were so quick and nimble in the action that it was impossible to overtake or retrieve them Ten or eleven Moneths were spent by these Salvages in murdering robbing and stealing but at last the Quarrel was decided in this manner A certain Hottentot of Eminency by the Netherlanders call'd Herry In what manner the War was laid aside and by the Natives Kamcemoca being banished to Conney-Isle for a Crime committed after three Moneths abode there went in a dark Night with another Companion in a leaky Fisher-boat furnished with two Oars the Wind serving them fitly and came to the Main Land where they found their Friends the Gorachouqua's and Goringhaiqua's The Escape of these two being told to the Dutch Governors he sent six Dutchmen abroad to go and seek so far along the Shore till they found the Boat or some signs of them Whereupon they being provided with Victuals for four or five days went out and the next day found the Boat above thirty miles from the Fort in a fine small Sandy Bay with the Oars by it and some Grass in the same so that it seem'd as if they had taken their nights rest therein but they met no people in all their journey onely they saw some Rhinocerots Elephants and other wild Beasts So after four days they came again to the Fort. At length the aforemention'd Herry or Kamcemoca Herry comes to the Fort. in the Year Sixteen hundred and sixty in February came to the Fort with the Governor of the Negery call'd Chori accompani'd with a hundred other people but all without Arms and bringing with them thirteen fat Cattel desiring they would receive the Cattel as acknowledgment of Friendship and to permit them free egress and regress amongst them as formerly Which accepted it was further agreed The difference decided That the Hollanders might Sowe as much Ground with Corn and other Seed as was within the compass of three Hours Journey but with this Proviso That they should not Plow any more Ground than was already Plowed Upon the Ratifying this Agreement these Hottentots were treated in the Fort with Bread Tobacco and Brandy whereof the rest having notice both Men Women and Children came thither After a little time the General of the Goronghaiqua's or Caepmans Gogosoa made an Agreement and came with Chori to the Court The Gorinchaiqua's are treated in the Fort with Brandy and Tobacco for whose Entertainment there was upon the command of the Dutch Governor a whole Tub full of Brandy with a wooden Dish in it set amongst them all whereat every one began to make merry When the Men began to be intoxicated and their Heads fail them there were about two or three hundred little pieces of Tobacco thrown amongst them in the scrambling for which they made a horrible noise The noise and hurly-burly over they began to leap and dance Their strange Dance with several strange Gestures the Women in the mean while clapping their Hands and continually singing Ha ho ho ho with so great noise as might easily have been heard a Bowe-shot from the Fort. By such hideous outcries when either Lion or Tyger by night approaches they fright away the fierce and hungry Beast After these Exercises the chief of them were presented with Coral The Princes are presented with Gists Plates of Copper and a little Roll of Tobacco besides but the Commons contented themselves with the foresaid Entertainment and so having slept all night in the Fort they withdrew onely Herry remained there three or four days This Herry spake a little English which he learn'd by conversing with their Plantation and Fort at Bantam in the Indies whither he went in an English Ship but coming afterwards again to the Hope he went among his own People COCHOQUAS or SALDANHARS THe Cochoquas Cochoqua's or Saldanhars so call'd because they reside generally in and about the Valley of Saldanha-Bay about eighteen Miles North-westward of the Cape
are divided into fifteen or sixteen Clans each about a quarter of an hours Journey asunder yet all comprehended within the Walls of four hundred and fifty Houses Every Division or Clan consisting either of thirty six and thirty forty or fifty Houses more or less all set round together and a little distance one from another They possess Flocks of goodly Cattel well near an hundred thousand and above two hundred thousand Sheep which have no Wooll but long curl'd Hair They are all under one Prince or King They are under one King entituled Coehque who dwells about fifty Miles from the Cape and for his better ease appoints under him a Deputy or Viceroy The Coehque who Reign'd in the Year Sixteen hundred sixty one was nam'd Oldasoa his Viceroy Gonnomoa and the Third Person in the Kingdom Coucosoa Gonnomoa was exceedingly black beyond all others of his own People a gross and heavy-bodied Man having three Wives and by them many Children whereas the King himself who deceas'd in the Year Sixteen hundred sixty one of a languishing and painful Disease never had more than one This Prince was a Person handsom-bodied well-set very courteous and much bewail'd by his Subjects He left behind him his onely Daughter nam'd Mamis handsom and very comely of feature but Camoisie-nos'd as all the Blacks in general are Great and Little CARIGURIQUAS or HOSAAS THese lie most in the Valleys Great and Little Cariguriqua's boasting of nothing but very fair Cattel whereof exceeding choice and careful because they have nothing else in the dry time of Summer to live upon If you go farther up into the Countrey you come to the Chainouquas Cabonas Sanquas Namaquas Heusaquaes and Hancumquas CHAINOUQUA'S THe Chainouquas at present live three Moneths Journey into the Countrey Chainouqua's with their Families Retinue Wife Children and Cattel according to the report of the other wild Natives very near the Cobonas being not above four hundred Men but rich in Cattel Their Prince They are under a Prince call'd Sousoa an old Man had two Wives but both dead and hath a Son nam'd Goeboe whose right Leg broken in pieces by an Elephant is wholly useless to him Upon every Remove he rides upon an Ox and must be lift up and down His Clothing is a fine Leopards Skin with the spotted side turn'd inwards and the ill-favour'd fleshy side well liquor'd with Grease according to the manner of the Countrey outwards CABONA'S THe Cabona's are a very black People Cabona's with Hair that hangs down their Backs to the Ground These are such inhumane Cannibals that if they can get any Men Cannibals they broyl them alive and eat them up They have some Cattel and plant Calbasses with which they sustain themselves They have by report of the Hottentots rare Portraitures which they find in the Mountains and other Rarities But by reason of their distance and barbarous qualities the Whites have never had any converse with them In the Year Sixteen hundred fifty nine one of the Chainouquas call'd Chaihantimo went into the Cabonas Countrey and with the help of the People took and brought thence one of their Women whom he made his Wife The Netherlanders stirred up with a desire to see this strange sort of People desired Chaihantimo that he would order this Woman to come to the Fort of Good Hope whereto upon promise of a Requital he consented and sent some of his People to fetch and tell her That her new-married Husband would desire her to come to a People call'd Dutchmen who wore a great many Clothes such as neither she nor any of her Nation had ever seen This Woman partly out of obedience to her Husband and partly for Novelty to see Strangers after two days preparation drest in her best Apparel came thither under the Conduct of thirty or forty Chainouquas for an Aid and Guard against the Cockoquas with whom the Chainouquas were at that time in War But after some days travelling she was set upon in a great Wood and kill'd and her People put to flight who hasted to the Cape to Chaihantimo to carry him News of this sad misfortune whereupon he immediately withdrew to his own Countrey to revenge himself by force of Arms for this Injury SONQUA'S THe Sonqua's live in a very high Mountain and though little in Stature Sonquas yet defend themselves by their Numbers wherein they exceed their Neighbors They have no Cattel but live by their Bowes and Arrows Maintain themselves by Hunting which they handle very expertly in shooting Badgers that shelter under the Rocks and in the heat of the day come forth and play rowling in the Sand and also by hunting other Beasts especially wild Horses and Mules The Horses have very plump and round Buttocks all over striped with Yellow Black Red and Sky-colour but the Mules are only strip'd with White and Chesnut-colour The Sonqua's in the Year Sixteen hundred sixty two brought one of the Skins to the Cape of Good Hope which the Netherlanders bought for Tobacco and having stuffed it with Hay hung it up in the first Court of the Fort to be seen by all that came thither in the Ships as a Rarity The Badgers Flesh affords them an acceptable Food Food for upon that and Roots they chiefly live They are great Robbers and Thieves stealing from their Neighbors all the Cattel they can lay hands on and driving the same into the Mountains hide themselves and Prey about without possibility of discovery Their Houses are onely interwoven Boughs Houses cover'd with Broom and those numerous by reason they never pull them down but still build up new They wear onely Lappets made of the Skins of Wild Beasts sew'd together Clothes The Women have against the heat and burning of the Sun-beams a Quitazel or Fan of Ostrich-Feathers made fast round about their Heads NAMAQUAS THe Namaqua's live about eighty or ninety Dutch Miles East-North-East from the Cape of Good Hope Namaqua's to whom in the year Sixteen hundred sixty one the Governor of the Fort sent thirteen Netherlanders to inquire if no Gold Netherlanders sent to the Namaqua's to find out gold or any other Rarities were to be had amongst them who upon their arrival were entertain'd with signs of great Friendship and presented with Sheep and as a further manifestation of kindness they were welcomed with rare Musick of about an hundred Musitians in Consort which stood all in a Ring every one with a Reed in his hand but of an unequal length in the middle of whom stood a Man that kept Time which yielded a pleasant Sound like our Trumpets After the ending of this Musick which continu'd two or three hours upon the intreaty of the King they went into his House and were treated with Milk and Mutton On the other side the Netherlanders presented the King with some Copper Beads Brandy and Tobacco which they accepted kindly
manner of an Umbrella set with Precious Stones The King never gives Audience to any Man when he Travels or is ready to take a Journey neither goes he out of his Palace but upon some well-order'd Beast an Elephant or the before-mention'd Alsinge The King may not Clothe himself but according to the manner of his Ancestors The Kings Clothing in a long Cloak made in that Countrey for he weareth no Foreign Garment for fear of Poyson and upon that a long and great Cloth in form of a Coat or Womans Gown which comes to his Knees and from thence to his Middle button'd up with a costly Knot upon his Shoulder He wears usually at his Girdle a Spade with an Ivory Handle and in his Hand two Arrows intending by the Spade to give his Subjects to understand That in time of Peace they ought to be diligent in Tilling the Land by one of the Arrows That he hath power to punish Evil-doers and by the other that he must offend his Enemies The Inhabitants go naked from their Necks to their Girdle Apparel but from thence down to their Feet they have Garments of Cloth of divers Colours and of Wild Beasts Skins and their Privacies hidden in small Purses The Eminentest Persons wear a Skin with a Tail behind them hanging down to the Ground But Sanutus saith Their Apparel is made of Cotton Cloth or great Indian Stuffs wrought through with Gold Wyre The Women go naked as long as they are unmarried only wearing a small Cotton Cloth before but as soon as they are married and have Children they cover their Breasts and Bodies with Cotton Clothes Every one may have as many Women as he can maintain but the first is accounted the Head of the Family and all the rest are at her service and her Children after the Fathers death inherit all the Estate The Women are here in so much esteem that the Kings Sons if they meet a Woman on the way must step aside The Houses are built of Wood like Tents and cover'd with Straw for a Defence from the Rain but the Richer and Persons of Quality have them somewhat more handsom and convenient The Inhabitants so honor their Dead Honor shew'd to the dead that if one of their Friends or a Woman that leaves Children Jos Barros lib. 10. dies after the rotting of the Flesh they preserve the Bones and mark them for distinction from others in an open Court whither they come every seventh day cloth'd in white Apparel and set boyl'd Flesh and Bread on a Table cover'd with a Cloth then having pray'd to them for the Wellfare of their King they eat up the Meat The People are charged neither with Taxes or other Payments to the King Revenue of the King but when they desire to have Audience from him they carry a Present with them by reason it is contrary to the Custom of the Place that an Inferior should speak to a Superior without bringing a Present for a sign of Obedience and Honor And all the Persons of Quality are bound to serve the King seven days in thirty The Merchants that Trade there must also give some Presents to the King for the neglect whereof they incur his Displeasure The Wealth of this Countrey consists in Gold found in Mines and Rivers Riches Ja rik lib ca 42. Sanut lib. 1. which though little valu'd yet they narrowly search for because they find it necessary for the Purchase of Outlandish Merchandizes This thirst of Gold hath made the Portuguese so industrious in their Quests that they possess some Mines thereof in a Tract of Land above sixty Miles from Monomotapa Their Arms are Bowes Arrows Ponyards and Hangers or Scymitars Arms. The Emperor keeps continually a strong Army consisting all of Foot for they have no Horse besides a stout Party of Valiant Amazonian Women which March and Fight as well as the Men burning off their left Breasts that they may shoot with the more readiness and ease They carry the same Arms with the Men and shoot backwards or behind them when they fly but when they observe the following Enemy to Retreat and draw off they suddenly face about and fall upon them committing great Slaughter None washes their Hands or Face during the Wars Every one carries his own ordinary Provisions but the King provides Sheep and Oxen. They cut off the Members of those they take in Battel and drying the same present it to their Wives to wear for an Ornament about their Necks and she that wears most of them hath most respect because it testifies her Husbands Valour Before the Portuguese became Masters of this Coast Government Osor de Rebus Emanuel lib. 4. all the Kings acknowledg'd this of Monomotapa for their Emperor and still several of them own him and pay Tribute yearly The Emperor hath several Great Lords his Vassals and for the better holding of them in Obedience according to an ancient Custom keeps their next Successors upon pretence to be honorably brought up in his Court though in truth to be as Hostages for their Fidelity He sends also Agents every year to his Substitute Kings and Lords to give them new Fire with command to put out all the other When the Agent comes to the Court of one of these Lords every one must put out his Fire and not kindle it again before the Agent has made a new one from whence all the Subjects of this Lord must fetch and carry it into their Houses He that seems unwilling in this Work is taken and punish'd for a Mutineer The King keeps commonly a thousand Women or more being all Daughters of his inferior Lords but the first married commands the rest let her be never so mean The Chief Sovereign is call'd Benomotapa that is Emperor or Munnemotapa Title of Honor. Jos Barres lib. 10. ca. 1. according to the Relation of Texeira a great Traveller The King receives and expects extraordinary Honors from his Subjects by whom serv'd on the Knee as we have said onely the Portuguese Moors and his chiefest Favourites may speak to him standing when he drinks all the Spectators sing aloud in his praise all his Attendance and Retinue remain sitting in his presence in alto silentio without daring to utter one word The King and all his Justices are very strict in the prosecution of their Office and Duty to punish Offenders with great severity The Sentences of these Judges are establish'd by the Emperor and the Offender immediately punish'd As soon as any one hath committed an offence he is punish'd in the Field while the Fact is fresh in memory but if it require to keep the Offender some days they tie him under a Tree and set upon him a Watch by reason they have no Prisons so that the Offender seeing no way to escape poysons himself so by a sudden death to be freed from the cruelty of a lingering punishment When any injures another without a cause
they lay him naked upon the earth and cruelly beat him with a Rope full of knots which punishment the Judges themselves are subject to and the greatest Lords and Magistrates besides the Confiscation of their Estates and Offices If the Judges have any difficult business whereof they can find no proof they give the suspected person the Bark of a Tree cut small in Water and if he can keep that potion without Vomiting they clear him otherwise they condemn him to death These People are for the most part Pagans they call their chiefest God Maziry that is The Creator of all things They shew great reverence to a certain Maid call'd Peru in whose honor they shut up their Daughters in Cloysters as Recluses Moreover Religion they set apart as Sacred some days of the Moon and the Birth of their King but the innumerable number of Erroneous Opinions darkens all the Splendor of their Belief which they should have to God the Creator of Heaven and Earth But the earnest endeavour of the Portuguese Jesuites hath converted many to Christianity and brought them to receive Baptism In the Year Fifteen hundred and sixty the King himself with his Mother and above three hundred Nobles and chiefest Lords of the Realm were Baptiz'd by the hands of the Jesuit call'd Gonzales Sylveyra but afterwards at the instigation of some Mahumetans he was slain by the King's command with the imputation of a Sorcerer but a little time discovering their malice they made satisfaction for his undeserv'd death with the loss of their own Heads The Kingdom of AGAG and DORO with the Territory of TOROKA or BUTUA AMongst the substitute Dominions of Monomotapa are Agag and Doro bordering in the East on the New-Land and in the West at the Kingdom of Takua Toroka or Torea by some call'd Butua or Buttua takes beginning according to Linschot and Pigafet at the Fish-Cape and so to the River Magnice or Sante Esprit having in the South the foot of the Mountains of the Moon and the aforemention'd Cape in the North the River Magnice and in the West the Stream of Bravagull The chiefest Cities are Zenebra and Fatuka In this Countrey far to the In-land on a Plain The building Simbaoe in the middle of many Iron-Mills stands a famous Structure call'd Simbaoe built square like a Castle with hew'n Stone of a wonderful bigness the Walls are more than five and twenty Foot broad but the heighth not answerable above the Gate appears an Inscription which cannot be read or understood nor could any that have seen it know what people us'd such Letters Near this place are more such Buildings call'd by the same name signifying a Court or Palace and for that all the places where the Emperor at any time makes his abode are call'd Simbaoe this Building is guest to be one of the King's Houses The Inhabitants report it a work of the Devil themselves onely Building with Wood and aver that for strength it exceeds the Fort of the Portuguese at the Sea-shore about a hundred and fifty miles from thence The Emperor keeps a Garrison in it as well for the safeguard of the place as of several women he maintains there A little way from the Sea-shore are many beautiful places richly Verdur'd with Grass and stockt with Cattel but destitute of Wood so that the Inhabitants use the dry'd Dung of Beasts for Fuel They have many rich Gold-Mines whereof Boro Gold Mines and Quitici are the names of two lying about a mile and a half from Sofala The Habit of the People is but mean Clothes being onely the rough Skins of Beasts The Wealth of the Countrey besides the beforemention'd Mines Riches consists in Elephants-Teeth whereof they sell infinite numbers and Salt which they send abroad into most parts of Africa to their no small advantage The City Fatuka boasts great abundance of Gold Silver and Pretious-Stones beyond all her neighbors They have a Prince of their own but a Vassal to the Emperor Government his name Buro The Countrey of INHAMBANE and INHAMIOR THis Kingdom lies a little within the Countrey under the Torrid Zone Jarrik lib. 5. c. 9. having for its Metropolis a City call'd Tonge The heat is so great that the people of Europe residing there for Trade are not able to endure it but are discommoded by several strange and troublesome diseases The Inhabitants generally keep to their ancient Idolatry though many by the diligence of the Portugal Jesuites have embrac'd the Christian Religion and in particular as we told you Gonzalves Silveyra in the year Fifteen hundred and sixty Baptiz'd the King and his whole Court The place where the King keeps his Court lieth about half a mile from the Town Sema the residence of many Portuguese The Kingdom of MONOE-MUGI or NIMEAMAYE THe great Kingdom of Monoe-Mugi The borders of the Kingdom of Monoe-Mugi Pigafet lib. 2. c. 9. Conge Jarrik lib. 3. c. 3. or Mohememugi by others call'd Nimeamaye scituate over against Mombaza Quiloa and Melinde hath for Northern borders Abyssinies or Prester-John's Countrey and the Kingdom of the great Makoko in the South Monomotapa and Mosambique in the East Mombaza and Quiloa in the West on the River Nyle on the North-side between that and Prester-John's Countrey lie some small Kingdoms which being weak of Forces sometimes pay Tribute to the King of Monoe-Mugi and sometimes to the Abyssines These Countreys abound with Gold Silver Copper and Elephants The Inhabitants said to be white Skin'd and of bigger stature than the Europeans go naked on the upper part of their bodies Cloathing but over their nether parts wear Silk or Cotton They use also for Ornament Chains or Bracelets of Chymical Stones which glister like Glass and are brought from Cambaye These Beads serve them also in stead of Money Gold being of no value with them This King holds an amicable correspondence with Quiloa Melinde and Mombaza by which means Silks Cotton-Stuffs the aforesaid Beads of Cambaye and many other Commodities are brought into the Countrey and barter'd for Gold Silver Copper and Ivory He liveth also in a League of Peace with the great Makoko whereby from hence some Black Merchants have Converse and Trading with the Portuguese that keep their Markets in the Kingdom of Fungeno as also in Pombo d' Okango At the end of this Kingdom on the East by information of some Black Merchants of the Kingdom of Nimeamaye given to several Portuguese lieth a great Lake out of which many Rivers by them unknown take their Original adding moreover that in this Lake are abundance of Islands inhabited by Blacks and that on the East-side of these Lakes Land may be seen where sometimes they hear the sound of Bells perhaps brought thither by the Abyssines and discern some Buildings which they suppose Churches from this East-side sometime in Boats there came Tauney-Men and by chance Blacks yet the sides of the Lake are possess'd by persons
of death but there must continue ten days worshipping the Moon within which time if it doth not Rain they cut off his Hand Before the beginning of Lent all the most Eminent assemble and offer Sacrifice to the Moon of an hundred Goats and Kids Heads They observe Lent like the Christians but they begin it with the New Moon in April and keep the Solemnity sixty days during which time they eat no Milk Butter Flesh nor Fish but onely Herbs and Dates or Rice and Honey which they buy in the Cities of the Arabians They are so zealous Observers of this Fast that if they find any to have broken it for the first time they cut off two Fingers of his Right-hand the second time the whole Hand and the third time the Arm. Every Temple of which there are many hath a Caciz call'd by them Hodamo that is a Governor or Judge in Church-matters but holds the Office but one Year which he enters upon by receiving a Staff the Badge of his Authority and wearing always a Cross of a Span and half long about him which he may not part with upon pain of the loss of his Hand In the Temples whereinto at the Rising and Setting of the Moon they enter they use a Stick of two or three Spans long upon which with another Stick they give certain Strokes thrice in the Day and thrice in the Night held by them for a Work of great Holiness Afterwards they go in Procession three times round about the Church-yard turning thrice after every Circuit then they take an Iron Pan made in form of a plain deep Scale hanging upon three Chains into which they put Splinters of sweet Wood and hold the Bason over the Fire then they first perfume the Altar thrice afterwards the Temple Doors and say with a loud voice some Prayers in the Temple and in the Church-yard requesting of the Moon to do good to them onely and no other People At the performance of this Solemnity the Hodamo holdeth upon the Altar a lighted Candle made of Butter for they have none of Wax or Tallow and therefore they have in their Temples Dishes of Butter wherewith they also every day anoint the Cross and other Sticks lying upon the Altar They go upon a certain day of the year with the greatest Cross in Procession round about the Temple and cause it to be carry'd by one chosen out of the whole Assembly whose Fingers after the ending of the Procession they chop off and present him with a little Stick with certain marks upon it for a token that he should be prejudic'd by no body whereupon thenceforth he is held in much greater honor than others They follow in many Churches the Ceremonies and Customs of Nestorius because they were for a long time Govern'd by Ecclesiastical Rulers which came from Babylon They have no set-Day of the Week to go into their Temples but assemble on the Procession-days or when any new occasion calls them They are Circumcis'd like the Moors and if they know any one that is not Circumcis'd they cut off his Fingers for no Uncircumcis'd may enter into their Temples yea the very Women themselves clap their hands at their Husbands if they be not Circumcis'd They bear a great hatred against all Christians nevertheless some are of opinion that they have suck'd in much of the Heresie of the Jacobites and that formerly many were Converted by Francis Xavier According to the Observations of Sir Thomas Roe Ambassador from the King of England to Persia there were in the Year Sixteen hundred and fifteen upon this Island four sorts of People that is Arabians not Natives but Shipt over thither together with many others by order of the King of Kaxem when they subdu'd it These never appear before the Sultan without kissing his Hand The second sort are a kind of Slaves who labor continually in his service and prepare and dress the Aloes The third are Beduins the most antient Inhabitants against whom a long time the King of Socotora made War They live in great numbers upon the Mountains and are at this day left in Peace upon promise to shew their Obedience and let their Children be instructed in the Doctrine of Mahomet The fourth being indeed the right Proprietors of the Countrey are a gross Body'd and miserable People which have no constant abode in the night lying in the Woods and going always stark naked they live by Roots hold no converse with others and lead a life almost like Beasts Trogloditica or New Arabia THe Modern Geographers as Maginus and others name the Countrey or Space of Land lying between the Nile and the Red-Sea properly New Arabia but the Inhabitants according to Castaldus call it Sirfi The Antients nam'd it Trogloditica and Ptolomy The Countrey of the Arabians and Egyptians The Inhabitants were by the Grecians call'd Ichthiophagi that is Fish-eaters by Eustathius Erembers by Diodorus Molgers and Bolgers and in the holy Scripture according to the testimony of Arias Montanus they are call'd Ghanamim and by Pliny Therotho's that is to say Hunters for their swiftness and dexterity in Hunting In the bounding of this Countrey great diversity arises amongst Geographers Ptolomy extends Trogloditick Arabia from the City Suez by the Red-Sea three or according to Peter de la Valla scarce a days Journey and a half from Cairo to Mount Elephas at this day call'd Felte so that he compriseth under it the Sea-Coast of the Kingdoms of Barnagas and Adel. Some extend the Limits in the South to the Territory of Brava the Kingdom of Magadoxo and the River Quilanzi yet make it begin at the forenam'd Suez but a third sort narrow it to the Cape of Guardafuy and some to the Island Mazua in the Red-Sea The chiefest Places as you go from North to South near Suez according to Maginus are these though Belloon gives them to the Nether-Egypt The Haven and Point of Pharos where they say the Children of Israel went over the Red-Sea on dry ground the Seven Wells call'd Sette Pozzi in Italian the Haven of Alkosser or Chessir Sanutus on the other side compriseth a part of this New Arabia viz. all the aforesaid Places from Suez to Chessir under Egypt wherein we have follow'd those who have formerly described Egypt They call the Tract of Land from Chessir to the Sea lying over against the Haven of Suaquena Batrazan In eighteen Degrees and forty Minutes lieth the Haven of Suaquem in the Territory of Canphila in a Hollow of the Sea close by the People call'd Nubiers and Bello's The whole Coast of this Countrey lieth clogged with high rough and unpassable Mountains so set back to back that no access can be had to the Inland Countreys of Ethiopia and the Abyssines but through the Haven of Ercocco and Suachem and that so troublesom that Travellers can scarce go above three or four English miles in a day The Inhabitants at this day are made up of a mixture
hundred and eighty Dutch Miles and the breadth between the Mouth of the Arabian Sea and the River Niger to four hundred and fifty but in truth the length both of Old and New Abyssine from East to West that is from the Mouth of the Arabian Sea to the Kingdom of Goiame a hundred and sixty Miles and the greatest breadth from the Territory of Alaba to Magazan or to the United Stream of the Nyle and the River Takazu that is from the eighth to the sixteenth degree of North-Latitude about a hundred and twenty miles And in this Point Joannes Barros a Portuguese seems to come nearest the truth when he gives in circumference six hundred seventy two Portuguese miles or five hundred and four Dutch The antient borders of this Kingdom some have plac'd in the North at Bughia or Fungia where it touches also on Egypt and Nubia in the West Antient Borders upon the same Nubia the Countries of Canfila Danfila and the Island Meroe the Kingdom of Medra Part of Negroland Congo and according to Marmol the Countrey of the Jews within Negroland next that of the Amozones or Maoviste das Sugetes that is The Kingdom of Women bordering of Sanutus hit right upon the Kingdom of Damout in the South the Empire of Benomotapa and as Pigafet adds Monemugi in the East the Countrey of Zanguebar and Ajan the Kingdom of Adel and others with the Arabian Gulf where at this time Prester-John doth not possess so much as one Haven But here we must observe that in this great Roll of Kingdoms are many Countreys found which do not acknowledge the Emperor of Abyssine but are onely nam'd to shew the length and to distinguish the borders more plainly Philippus Cluverius sets down almost the same boundaries that is in the East the Red-Sea with the Kingdom of Ajan and Zanguebar in the South Monomotapa in the West the Kingdom of Congo and Medar and in the North Nubia and Egypt The antient state of the Abissines according to the relation of Jarrik and Godignus compriz'd six and twenty several Kingdoms and fourteen great Territories The Kingdoms were Tigre or Tigrai Dankali Angole Boa or Noa Amara or Ammara Dambeo or Bambia or Dembea Ankaguccele Adel Dabali Oecce Ario Fatigar Zengao Rozanegus Goyame Narca Feth Koncho Mahaola Goroam Danimt or Damut Dari Damut Adaro and Faskalon The fourteen Territories being not Kingdoms are Dubane a member of Tigre Xuncho in the same Realm bordering at that of Dankali Daraita by the Kingdom of Angote Bora between Tigre and Bagamedri Calara or Calaoa near Boga Aga Arim near the Kingdom of Dahali Arbo Xankala close by the Kingdom of Zingere Xacoxa or Xankora Ambyamo by Zanut according to Peter Davitu call'd Angona Bergamo near to the other Aris on the other side of the Nile and last follows Gara lying above Aris. Balthazar Tellez reckons the Kingdoms and Territories formerly subject to Abyssine and at this day cut off from it to be Angote Doaro Ogge Balli Adea Alemale Oxelo Ganz Betezamora Guraque Buzama Sugamo Balargamo Kambate Doxa Gumar Konch Damut Mota Aura Holeka Oifate Guedom Gangk Maralet Manz Bizamo But this Kingdom hath receiv'd such diminutions by the Turks and Gala's that Prester-John at this day enjoys onely six great and ten small Provinces The great are Tigre Dambea Bagamedce Gogamo Amahara Narea and a part of Xaoa The lesser are Magaza Salemt Ogara Abargele Holkait Sagueda Semen Salao Ozeka and Dobai Hereby it may plainly be observ'd into how narrow a compass the Dominions of Prester-John are circumscrib'd from what Antiquity relates which we may believe they did but guess at We will therefore first describe the aforemention'd six Kingdoms yet remaining entire to Prester-John and afterwards those of the antient Abyssine partly to agree with the Antients in the matter of Beasts Plants and Customs and partly to survey the whole Circumference both of the Old and New Dominion Tigre The Kingdom of Tigre then otherwise call'd Tigrai and Tigremahon and by Francis Alvarez call'd Azen lies the most Easterly being eminentest biggest and best part of the whole and takes beginning according to Balthazar Tellez by the Island Makua or Mazua at the Red-Sea close by the Haven Arquiko spreading ten or twelve miles to the Haven of Dafalo Alvares Sanutus or as others shooting Northward close by Egypt Bugu or Nubie and Westerly to Dankali containing in length ninety and in breadth fifty Spanish miles This Kingdom comprizeth seventeen several Provinces Davity the most Northern of which lying at Egypt they call Barnagas or Barbarnagas which Alvarez Sanutus and others make a peculiar Dominion because govern'd by a peculiar Lieutenant of the King 's though in truth Barnagas is a part of Tigre and signifies Lord of the Sea Bar denoting the Sea in that Countrey Language and Nagas Lord. Barnagas includes according to Tellez three small Lordships of which Debaroa or Doubaroa so call'd by the Abyssines and by Maffe and Sanutus Boroa or Barvan is the chief wherein is a small City but curiously built and populous seated by the River Mareb on a pleasant and fruitful Mountain Some have taken it for the Colove of Ptolomy and Colve of Arnian and by others for the great Primis or Premnis Alvarez and Sanutus give Barnagas in the North for borders the Countrey of Bugie and Nubie in the West the Nile in the South the River Mareb with some neighboring Mountains over-looking Tigremahon and in the East the Red-Sea The same Alvarez and Sanutus place in Barnagas the Regions of Canfila and Dafila and therein a place nam'd Emacen a day and a halfs journey from Dabaroa and thirty miles from Suaquen Formerly this Province comprehended Suaquen the Island Mazua the Haven Arquiko and Dalakka But the Turks and Moors have many years ago dispossess'd the Abyssines thereof The same Writers further adds to Barnagas Cire Ximeta and Arrazie a Dominion of great consequence St. Michael d' Joco a famous Cloyster four miles from Arquiko and the Cloyster of Bizan five Besides the chiefest Palaces of the Kings and two or three Churches one of St. Michael and the other of St. Peter and Paul about which Maffe assigns some Villages and Hamlets as Camarva and Barra c. Lastly Barnagas takes in the Jurisdiction of Bur or Burro formerly the Kingdom of the Queen Candace Next Barnagas Sanutus sets Tigremahon to which he assigns for borders in the North the River Marabo in the West the Nile in the South Angote in the East the Red-Sea Then follows the Dominion of Cire and by the Red-Sea Amasen or Agamea inhabiting by a people not under Prester-John's Jurisdiction Arxa formerly a great City where they say the Queen of Sheba kept her Court and indeed the remaining Ruines do manifest an Antique Grandeur The other places are the City Tigre or Auzen the Metropolis of the Realm the Garrison of Gileitor Amba Salalam Saet Cora forty or fifty Portuguese miles
Rock between two Valleys with very narrow Passages besides other middle Gates and Ports about two Miles from the Aquisagi and one from the River Anachete Afterwards follow the Gates or Ports of Badassa that is the New Countrey about four Miles from the Aquisagi and a Mile and half from the Middle-Gates Near which they have a Passage under Ground where in very deep Caverns the Treasure of Prester-John is kept At these Gates they receive the Toll for the way and they serve for Passes between the Kingdoms of Amara and Xoa But that which makes this Kingdom remarkable is the high Mountain of Amara by some call'd Amba Guexen by others Quirem and by Sanutus The Royal Mount because there as he says in a Castle nam'd Amba all the Children of Prester-John as in a convenient Shelter are kept from whence none but the Successor of the Empire can ever come out It is so high and strong a Mountain by Situation that Alvarez Godignus and Sanutus report it fifteen days Journey round at the Foot and aloft at the top some few Miles in compass being every where from beneath to above as it were cut streight up like a Wall having onely three or four troublesom Avenues to it Godignus makes this Rock circular and places on the top a Plain a mile long with one only Building and that not very stately and avers That they have no Water but the Reserves of Rain kept in Cisterns cut in the Rocks But Sanutus adds a Cloyster of St. Anthony's with eighty six Monks and stores it with Sheep Hens Geese and Fruit-Trees And further this we dare avouch contrary to the Fictions of Urrettes and others That the Emperor hath neither a Library nor Treasury for Gold or Precious Stones there neither doth any Penalty fall upon a Stranger or other entring into it Southerly from Bar-Dambea lie the Mountains of Gafale by some mistaken for the Mountains of the Moon There are no Cities in all Abyssine but onely Towns or Villages No Cities in Abyssine and those not over-plentifully inhabited for the King himself keeps almost continually in the Field and commonly in Tents or Pavilions The Chiefest and most Populous Places are these being sixty one Bizan Asmara Adegada Bebaroa Goberea Guele Auzen or Tigre Cera Sart Amba Salam Amba Canet Gama Assa Fremona Alello Accum Mascalo Maebezy Tres Igregias Lamalmon Oldeba Arbatanea Camby Dancaz The Court Ganete Jesessus Old Gorgorra New Gorgorra Patriarcha Anfras Goga Fogora Atsana Alata Adaxa Nebesse Debra Semona Debra Ore Saza Adisalen Enamora Ligenegus Debra Selalo Cobela Abola Serea Namina Alagoa Ondege Nesaca Tancoa Fonte de Nylo Mine Debra Libano Amba Guexen Amba Cel Tabah Marvam Amba Legat Labibela Necas Belza Serra Belza Bebra Marjan The Air in most Places by the Report of Godignus hath a most healthful Temperature being sweetly cooled and refreshed by gentle and fresh Briezes but in the lower and Southerly Places by the scorching heat of the Sun it grows more malignant In the Kingdom of Tigre Jarrik highly extols the goodness of the Air For saith he although it lie under the Torrid Zone yet the continual blowing of the North-winds there not cold so clears it that many exceeding old People very fresh and strong of Limbs are found there The Winter according to the same Godignus and Sanutus begins with the going out of May and continues till September during which time it Rains and Thunders moderately every day They begin their Lent in August and the other Seasons follow in course As this Countrey hath many great Mountains so it wants not some fruitful and large Plains for the most part well Manur'd and bearing all sorts of Grain and Fruits in the midst whereof sometimes rise huge aspiring Rocks which in the time of War they use for Strengths and Fortresses The Soil of Tigre is by the Shores of the River very fat The Condition of the Soil and fit with a little Labor to produce two Crops in one Year Every Hedge-row garnish'd with good Olive-Trees and every Field with Rye Barly Beans Pease and Tares Fatigar appears for the most part plain Sanutus lib. 2. onely here and there rising Summits bearing Rie and Barley The Precinct of Goroma boasts a Fertility capable of feeding Great Armies Dancali of small concern and unfruitful In some places grow Wheat Barley and Oats and the Ground unfit for them bears a Grain call'd Tafo de Guza or Tefet or Tef of great worth for its goodness daintiness and durableness subject to no Worms but will remain good a long time besides two others nam'd Agoussa and Mashella wherewith they make very good Drink and Bread Angote produces every where Rye and Barley but with small increase Turkish Wheat in abundance besides Beans Linseed and Tefet The Mountains of Abagana Barley The Kingdom of Amara especially the Fields of Azzel Barley Rye Oats and all sorts of Grain There grow many several Trees Godâ—gnuâ— but most bearing Fruit of an unpleasant taste onely one proves of excellent use in Physick for when the Abyssines many times eat raw Flesh which breeds Worms which would without doubt eat through the Bowels if they did not every Moneth purge with this Fruit which presently causeth the Worms to die and dischargeth the Body They have also Citrons contrary to the opinion of Boterus Oranges Pomegranates Indian-Figs Peaches very large and good and ripe in the Moneths of February and March Pruens Sebestens Jujubes Tamarinds and Grapes but no Wine made thereof except in the Kings Houses and by the Patriarch They make Oyl without smell and of a Gold-colour not of Olives but of a Fruit call'd Gecca whose Leaf resembles that of the small Vine They have neither Melons nor Radishes but Ginger in abundance and Sugar-Canes In Barnagas and the South part of Tigre are many Woods wherein grow Cypress and Date-Trees Willows Jessamine and Basilicon yielding an odoriferous Perfume to the circumambient Air. They have so much Honey that not onely in the Cloysters among the Clergy but all the Inhabitants in general burn Candles of Wax and not of Tallow All sorts of Cattel both for use pleasure and profit Beasts breed here in abundance as Cows Oxen Sheep and Goats Mules Asses Camels and Horses of which Sanutus and Boterus say the best are of Arabia and Egypt or rather of Nubia being very hardy Bay-colour'd and not low of stature Their Beasts of Game are Wild Boars Elephants Buffles Lions Leopards Tygres Rhinocerots and Giraffi of an extraordinary bigness Deer Civet-cats Wild Goats small Oxen and Cows so wild and salvage that they seem not tamable having little Horns standing so loose upon the Skin that they move them as their Ears Wolves Catamountains Harts Badgers and very great Apes They have innumerable Fowl and Poultrey as Hens and Cocks Partridges with yellow Feet and grey Bills tame and wild Storks tame and wild Ducks Pigeons Quails and
in the Tartarian Tongue A Kingdom full of Mountains and Desarts contains Tartary Scythia and the Countreys of Gog and Magog Now Cathay is divided into the greater and the less Great Cathay spreads through an unfrequented Tract of Land namely from the Mountain Caucasus between that side of the Icy Sea and the Mountains of China to the Indian Sea whereas some will have it joyn at the out-lying Point of America But Little Cathay is that Countrey which borders on North-China commonly call'd Thebes In all this far spreading Countrey of Cathay one may see that this supposed most mighty Emperor Prester-John had the Dominion over seventy two Kingdoms partly Christians and partly Heathens though by the great numbers of Kingdoms he hath gotten many Names to the great distraction both of Historians and Geographers For some make him to be one and the same with the great Cham others call him Ashid some with the Abyssines call him Juchanes Belul that is Precious John Some as Godignus with no improbable Reasons will have it that by his Subjects for their high esteem of the Prophet Jonas he is call'd Joanne a Name common to all those that ever did possess this Kingdom though in these Western Parts he is commonly call'd by the Latin Churches Joannes with the additional surname of Prester not that he ever was a Priest but because according to the Custom of the Arch-bishop in the time of Peace had a Cross carried before him at his going out but ontring upon the Wars two Cross-bearers went before him the one with a Cross of Gold and the other with a Cross beset with Precious Stones for a token of his defending the Worship of God for which reason Scaliger derives his Name from the Persian Word Prestigiani which signifieth Apostolick which the Europeans understanding amiss call'd him in stead of Prestigiani Prester-John Many years did this Kingdom of Prester-John flourish in Asia till it fell to one David who by one of his supreme Commanders call'd Cinge chosen Emperor by the Army and the Scythians who in stead of Prester styl'd him Uncam In the Year Eleven hundred seventy eight it was overcome in Battel whereby the glory of this Empire and the Name of Prester-John came in effect to an end to the great loss and prejudice of Christendom But by what mistake the Name of Prester-John came to the Emperor of Abyssine we will in brief declare When the Portuguese with their Fleets were busie in discovering strange Countreys there was a great noyse through all Europe of Prester-John and his Excellency reported a most powerful Emperor Lord of many Kings and of the Christian Religion but unknown in what place he had his abode For which cause when Pike Kovillan sent by John the second King of Portugal first over the Mediterranean Sea and afterwards by Land to seek out this Prince coming into India and hearing that in Abyssine or that Ethiopia which lieth below Egypt was a great and powerful Prince who professed the Christian Religion he went thither and finding many things in him which was reported of the true Prester-John he took him for the same Person and was the first that call'd him by that Name which others that went the ensuing year into Abyssine follow'd and so easily brought the mistake into Europe the Emperor of Abyssine being ever since call'd Prester-John Yet Damianus a Goez in his Book of the Nature and Customs of the Abyssines positively denies that the King of Abyssine was ever call'd Prester-John so that in truth that Name properly belongs to the foremention'd Prince of Asia But seeing that Custom hath almost made it a Law and the Kingdom of Prester-John in Asia already overwhelm'd the Name of Prester-John may conveniently be applied and fixed upon the Abyssine King of Africa professing the Christian Religion Every Substitute Kingdom as Tigre Gambea Goiame Amara Narea hath a Deputy to Rule it in the Name of the Emperor and the like hath every Territory Besides the Vice-Roy of Tigre bears the Title Tigra Mahon and must always be of the Royal Stock Him of the Countrey next to the Red Sea they stile Barnagas that is King of the Sea not that he properly Commands over the Countreys by the Sea for they are under the Turks but because the Countrey over which he Commands lieth nearer to Sea than any other part of Tigre He hath his abode most in the City Barva or Debaroa and winneth great Respect as well among his own People as Strangers The Government of the Kingdom is administred with Discretion and Justice which hath advanced the honor of the King both at home and abroad The Judges shew great severity in punishing Offenders according to the several qualities of their Crimes viz. such as shrink from the right and true Faith and change their Opinion the People stone to death but those which totally Apostatize or blaspeme God and the Ghost are publickly burn'd alive Murderers they deliver to the nearest Relations of the Murthered to revenge themselves on him according to their pleasure Thieves have their Eyes put out and afterwards by Judgment are appointed for Slaves of the Empire and given to the Guides with whom they may go all the Countrey over to earn their Living by Singing and Playing on Instruments but with this Proviso not to stay above one day in a place upon penalty of losing their lives Other small Offences they punish with Whipping In the Succession of the Crown the eldest takes place after the Father but for want of Issue-male the most worthy Person of the next in Blood is chosen Others affirm that Seniority creates no Claim but that the Crown falls to him whom the Father makes choice of on his Death-bed but that seems improbable because the intended Successor lives at large in the Courts whereas the rest are kept on the Mountain Amara and if he die another whom the greatest at the Court do judge fittest for the Crown is sent for out The great and famous Island Meroe lies divided between three Kings which oftentimes War with one another the first is a Mahumetan Moor the second an Idolater descended from the Blood of the right Ethiopians the third a Christian Abyssine and acknowledges that King for his Lord. The first King of Ethiopia or Abyssinie The Order or List of the Kings of Abyssine whereof we have certain knowledge by the information of holy Scripture was Chus the Son of Cham who took possession thereof immediately after the Flood six other Kings following him whose Names and the time of their Reign remains unknown But when the Royal Seat was planted in the City Axum where it remained till the coming in of Christ they began to keep a Chronological Register but was afterwards transplanted to Sceva or Saba The Kings that Reigned in Axum and Saba are set down to the number of a hundred fifty eight by the following order  Years Arue Reigned 400 Agabo his Father a Murtherer
they use odd Postures and all the by-standers keep time by clapping of hands which they call Manghovah that is Keeping as if they should say they would keep time Men and Women when they have any sickness in their Eyes or Head they anoint their Faces sometimes with white sometimes with black red or yellow Colours But old Women use that kind of Painting to make them seem the more lively and youthful The Women and Maids have an observant and strict eye held over them so that a man cannot without difficulty be permitted access to them They are very diligent in Husbandry In the morning before Sun-rise Employment going to the Rice-Fields from whence they return not till Sun-set The Men cut up Canes call'd by the Indians Bambu and here Voulou which being dry'd they set on fire and then lay the ashes as Compost upon the ground to inrich it after that the Women and Girles set the Rice Grain by Grain making a hole in the Earth with a Stick into which the Grain being cast they fill it up The Seed-time as we may call it being over they sever the Rice from the Weeds and carry the ripe Corn from the Field into the Barns In the mean time while the Women are busie at their labour the Men begin in other places to cut up and burn for as soon as they see the first Sown Rice come up they set another Crop immediately so that they continually labour and have the whole year through Rice in the Leaf in the Blossom and in the Ear. The same they do with all other Dressings and Plantings Here you must take notice that the Canes or Bambu beforemention'd in burning makes so great a noise that may be heard at a great distance as if a multitude of Ordnance Muskets and Pistols were shot off together The Merchandize which the French sell to the Galemboulle Riches serveth them not for Ornament or wearing but they keep it up as a Treasure and buy Cattel with it in the Countrey of Ansianackte and the Mountains of Ambohitsmene They find little Gold among those of Galemboulle but some quantities of Silver and that reddish course and unrefin'd or of a base allay These people Religion and all the Zaffehibrahims keep the Saturday holy as we hinted before They do not acknowledge Mahomet but call all the Mahumetans Caffers they reverence Noah Abraham Moses and David but take no notice of the other Prophets nor of Christ and hold Circumcision They observe no Fasts nor have any Law or Worship neither know what it is to pray to God though nevertheless they offer Sacrifices of Oxen Cows and Goats They have no Temples or other places of Worship or Assembly but Amounouques or Burying-places of their Fore-fathers to whose memory they shew great reverence by all which they seem to have some little Reliques of Judaism They are so greatly addicted to their own Customs that they will rather die of hunger than eat of a Beast or Fowl kill'd by any Christian or one of the Southern Coast All the Children born on a Tuesday Thursday or Fryday they bring into the Woods and lay down as untimely Fruits for to perish by cold or hunger or be devour'd by the wild Beasts although sometime by one or other of the Women out of tenderness and compassion taken up and suckled Every Village hath a peculiar Lord Government in the Countrey Language call'd Filoubei who administers Justice to the People and the eldest takes upon him as a Judge to decide all differences They assist and aid one another in the Wars but if any of the Filoubei quarrel all the rest interpose as Mediators who take up and moderate the Controversie but if they will not hearken they leave them to decide it by Arms sitting neutral Spectators These people use their Slaves more like Children than what they are insomuch that they esteem them as Sons admitting them to eat at their Tables and not seldom bestowing their Daughters upon them for Wives The Hollanders have formerly frequented this Bay to buy Rice and Slaves and some years ago began to grow numerous till the unwholesomness of the Air kill'd many and the Lords of the Countrey either by open force or clandestine practises weary'd out and destroy'd the rest This is all that hitherto could be known concerning this Island at the South East and East side for from the Bay of Antongil to the North end little discovery hath yet been made by the people of Europe onely we have heard of a Territory call'd Vohemaro and in the Portugal Sea-Cards set down by the name of Boamaro inhabited by White People According to the relation of a Goldsmith whose Ancestors were the off-springs of Vohemaro In this Territory much Gold hath been found On the East Coast of this Jurisdiction appears the Bay of Vohemaro or Boamaro lying in South-Latitude It remains yet that we describe the Coast and the adjacent Countreys lying at the Mouth of the River Franshere as you pass to the West and North to the Bay of Zonghelabe so call'd by the Inhabitants but by the Europeans St. Augustin and Mansiatre The Coast of the Territory of Carcanossi to the River Mandreri BEyond the Mouth of the River Franshere to the Cape of Monkale lieth a Sandy way of four great French Leagues and from thence to the Bay of Ranoifoutchy otherwise call'd the Bay of the Galliones two Leagues Upon this Sandy Coast stand some Bushes between two Lakes call'd The Pools of Ambouve upon whose more fertiliz'd Banks grows abundance of Aloes in the Countrey phrase named Tetech Beyond Monkale and Ranoifoutchi you pass through a way call'd Mozambike but the chiefest Village call'd Italy The Bay of Ranoifoutchi hath a good coming in for a Bark or Sloop but not for a great Ship it lieth open to the South and South-East Winds the worst that blow in these Countreys never arising but accompany'd with Thunder and Tempests Five Miles from thence glides the River Mandreri upon whose Banks they make abundance of Salt with little labor and cost The Soil here cannot produce Rice by reason of the two much Sandiness but Cotton they have in abundance and Oil made of the Plant Ricinus good for many sicknesses and other uses Ever since four hundred and twelve the Portuguese had at the Bay a Habitation under a Captain of their own call'd Macinorbei by the Natives but by the Portuguese Miosignor with the addition of the word Bei that is Lord. The Territory of Ampatre Mananghare and Caremboule AMpatre hath in the East the Territory of Carcanossi with the River Mandreri between both it spreads in length by the Coast twenty French Miles in the breadth twelve from the Sea to Machicore The Countrey within hath neither Rivers nor Water onely by chance some Ditches or Ponds yet boasts an exceeding fertility being full of Wood with which the Inhabitants erect their Villages surrounded with Poles and Thorns so that it is
call Voulou of which cutting off a Piece the length of ones Hand they shape a Pen as we do fit and convenient to write with The Natives of Madagascar number or reckon like the Europeans Atithmetick from one to Ten and to Ten they add One Two and so the following Numbers to Twenty in this manner Issa or Irache is One Roe Two Telon Three Effats Four Luui Five Enem Six Fiton Seven Valou Eight Siui Nine Foulo Ten Irach-foulo-ambi or Iraiche amainifoulo Eleven Roe foulo pambi Twelve Roepoulo Twenty Telou ambi Thirty Effats poulo Forty Zatou An hundred Armou A thousand Alen An hundred thousand Indeed the Blacks of the Mountains or on that side of the Countrey of Machicore where nothing is Planted nor Sow'n know not how to keep any Account Their Measures are several viz. Rice-measure Measure with them call'd Troubahouache which is said to be the Kings Bushel Moucha or Monca a Measure of six Pints of cleansed Rice Voule Half a Pint Zatow is an hundred Voules and therewith they mete unbeaten Rice The Measure for Clothing Cords and other things to be estimated by Length they name Refe and contains a Fathom but Ells Feet or Inches they have no knowledge of They set forth Lands not by Rods Perches and Acres but by the quantity of Rice that may be Sow'n upon it The Trade of these Islanders one among another consists in exchanging Wares for Wares for Money Merchandise or Coyn of Gold and Silver they have none and if they get any of Foreign People they melt it and make thereof Bracelets and Armlets But especially they use Glass Beads and other Commodities which the French bring to them in stead of Money to buy Oxen Cotton Silk Clothes Iron Assagays or Lances Bills Knives and other Necessaries Those that have need of Cotton bring to the Places where it is to be had Rice or Beasts and they that have need of Beasts or of Rice come with Cotton to the Places where Rice and Beasts are plenty to barter one for the other They exchange also Gold and Silver for Copper and Iron But this onely among themselves for with Foreigners they neither do nor care to deal So that hitherto in that Countrey there hath little Merchandise of consequence been discover'd although there grows indubitably Sapphyres Rubies Smaragdines Cornelians and other Precious Stones as appears by the Trials which the French have made of them and sent into Europe The most desired Merchandises and by the Islanders best liked are red Beads of all Sorts Sizes and Colours pierc'd with Holes that they may be strung into Bracelets large and yellow Brass Wyre and several other small Wares as yellow little Brass Chains Scissors Knives Bills Hatchets Hammers Nails Padlocks and several other Trinkets which with great Profit are exchanged and traded for against their Island Commodities Flaccourt in his Deseription of Madagascar judgeth this Island to be of great concernment for the advanâ—ing and settling of Trade on the Coast of Ethiopia the Red-Sea the Persian Gulph and other Places of the East-Indies and might bring great Advantage and Profit by Wood for building of Ships that might be carried from thence to all the aforesaid Places to exchange for other Commodities He adds moreover That this Island may serve for a Ladder or Step as may be said whereby to climb to the Trade and Voyages of the East-Indies All their Wealth consists in the foresaid Goods Richeâ— as also in Axes Knives Bills sharp Iron and Steel Spades Clothes Oxen Fields to plant Rice and Ignames in and abundance of Slaves The Zafferamini possess the most Gold which they keep as much hidden as they can from the French No Eminent Person upon the whole Island is without some Gold of his Ancestors which no way assimilates our European Gold but is much paler and almost as soon melted as Lead they dig it out of the Ground in several Places They have some Gold in Manghabei but it lieth buried in their Church-yards and they dare not bring it to light from thence alledging They are unworthy of it Most esteem the reddest Silver higher than the finest but the People of Anossi can well tell how to distinguish it yet their Goldsmiths would not know how to work European Gold because they say it is too difficult to melt That of ours they call Voulamena Voutroua but their own Ahetslaua and Litcharongha or Voulamena Madecasse In Military Affairs these People know nothing The manner of their Wars but in such Cases by sudden Attempts coming upon their Enemies unawares and by surprise assembling privately and marching by secret and unfrequented ways in the Woods When they come to the Enemies Quarters they make their Assault with a hideous and horrible Cry and being enter'd kill all that come next to hand not sparing Infants at their Mothers Breasts exercising this Cruelty with purpose to extirpate the whole Generation of their Enemies for fear that the Successors sooner or later if they left them alive might take Revenge They often send Spies into their Enemies Quarters to know his Condition and where the chiefest Town is and most Cattel and therefore at such time they all drive them into the Mountain to which access is difficult They send out sometimes Parties twenty thirty or forty of a Company to plunder small Villages and lay the subdu'd Towns in Ashes These Parties they style Tafichemanthy that is A secret Army These come usually provided with Auli and Moussanes that is with Sorcery and written Arabick Letters with firm belief That these Letters will do their Enemies much annoyance viz. take away their courage cause them to die by Sickness and at least be the chiefest cause of their destruction whereas to them on the other side it gives Courage and brings all Success Their Arms are various Arms. according to the several Countreys In the Territory of Androbeizaha they use a great Assagay arm'd at the end with a broad and long sharp Iron Head and carry besides ten or fifteen Fiteracks or small Casting-Darts as also a great Javelin call'd Renelefo that is The Mother of Assagays In Manghafia they use a round Shield and great Canbahi or Javelin So do they also in Ampatre Mahafalle Machicore and Andribeizaha but the Countreys of Anachimoussi Eringdranea and Vohits-anghombe afford the best-arm'd and most undaunted Soldiers On that side of the River Mananghourou three Miles below Galemboulou are a Generation of about four or five hundred strong very undaunted which fight with Bowes Arrows and Darts Those of Manghafia up Northwards to the end of the Island fight Foot to Foot onely with an Assagay under shelter of a round Shield Those of Manamboulle the most Warlike and undaunted of all fight both at a distance and at hand In Battel they keep no Order Ranks or File but Fight in Crowds every one resolving to do some Execution When any fall down wounded they set up their
hour of the Morning with an empty body which they can discern by the shadow of a Man in the Sun standing straight upright for they measure the shadow with their Feet which they call Liha or Pas which being nine of their own Feets length is the time of the Circumcision Then the Drums beat and the Circumciser puts on his Garments and binds a Fillet of great strong white Cotton-Yarn to his left Arm to scour his Knife At last every Father takes his Child in his Arms and going a Procession through the Lapa passing in at the Western Door and out again at the Eastern ten by ten one after another twice After some short pause they begin two other for the Oxen which are for the Sacrifice and with the left hand of the Child touch their right Horn as they lie upon the ground with their Feet ty'd together Then all the people are bid to clear the place and a large Ring made whereupon the Circumciser appears with his Knife to cut off the Fore-skin of every Child which the Uncle of the Child receives and lays into the white and yealk of a Hens-Egg which he holds in his hand but a Rhoandrian or Anakandrian kills the Cattel and cuts for every Child a Hens throat and lets the Blood drop upon every Wound and another puts upon it the Juyce of a certain Herb call'd Hota a kind of Clover-Leaf If the Child be a Slave and hath no Uncle then the Fore-skin is thrown upon the ground This day they keep so holy that no Sport is made nor none then drink beyond the measure of hillarity The Priests call'd by them Ombyasses and by the Moors Marabauts are of two sorts that is Ombiasses Ompanorats and Ombyasses Omptifiquili the Ompanorats are Scribes who can write Arabick very Expertly they have many Books wherein are some pieces of the Alcaron most of them understand the Arabian Tongue which they teach together with Writing Several Offices are conferr'd upon the Ombyasses Ompanorats which very much agree with the Church-Offices among Christians as Male Ombyasse Tibou Mouladzi Faquihi Catibou Loulamaba Sabaha Talisman Male is a Clerk which onely teacheth to Write Ombyasse a Master of Arts Tibou an under Deacon Mouladzi a Deacon Faquihi a Priest Catibou a Bishop Loulamaba an Arch-Bishop Sabaha a Pope These People cure the Sick make Hiridzi or Talismans or Massasser-Robes which are certain Charms or Spells written with Arabick Letters which they sell to the Grandees and Rich men with promise that they shall be freed from a thousand Mischiefs Sicknesses Thunder Fire Enemies yea from Death it self though they know not how to preserve themselves from it These Cheaters make great gain of those Letters receiving for them Beasts Gold Silver Clothes and all Conveniencies The people stand in great fear of these Ombyasses and hold them for Sorcerers and Witches as also the Grandees of the Countrey make use of them against the French but without any effect alledging that their Sorcery can do nothing upon them because they eat Swines-Flesh and are of another Religion It chanc'd that these Ombyasses close under the Fort of the French to drive them away had brought Baskets full of Papers written with Arabick Letters Eggs laid upon a Friday fill'd over with Characters and Arabick Writing Earthen Pots never yet set upon the Fire written upon within and without Biers to carry the Dead written upon Canoos Girdles Scissers Pinsers of Iron to pluck the Hairs out In brief nothing was omitted that they thought expedient for the Work yet without any other effect than the Pastime of the French at their ridiculous Vanity These Ombyasses Ompanorats are the usual Physitians who visit the Sick and give them Medicines being Decoctions of Herbs and Roots They also Cure Wounds and write Charms with Arabick Characters which moisten'd with Water they hang about the Necks and Middles of the Sick to expel all Sicknesses and evil Influences They make likewise Geomantick Images to find out the time of the Disease and to discover the Remedies fit for the Malady If the Sick recover not as they expect they acquaint him that he wants somewhat and so set upon the Work anew either till he die or grow well of himself The Ombyasses in the mean time get both from the Patient and his Friends all they require as Gold Silver Corral Cows Clothes Girdles and other things The Ombyasses Ompanorats among the People of Matatane keep publick Schools to teach Children The Omptifiquili are commonly Negro's and Anakandrians which undertake the practice of Geomancy or Soothsaying in the Countrey Language call'd Squili and do such like Feats as in Europe the Books of Geomancy express onely they erect their Schemes or Work upon a Plank strew'd over with Sand whereupon they make Figures with their finger setting down the Day Hour Moneth Planet and Signs that have Dominion over the Hour according to which they Presage Strange things are attempted in this Art yet they seldom hit upon the truth but rather judge blindly by guess nevertheless they are esteem'd by all There is another sort of Ombyasses among the Negro's which the Sick also send to yet can neither Write nor Read but make onely Geomantick Figures and use Crystals Topazes Eagle-Stones Amethysts and others which they call by the general name of Filaha making the people believe God sends them these Stones by the Thunder to work Cures by which perswasion hath taken so deep root in the hearts of the Islanders that they cannot be drawn to believe the contrary They have great glistering Crystals but foul and cloudy which they say are Terachs that is having others within when they make Figures they have one of these Stones in the corner of their Tables saying That it hath power to bring activity into their fingers Vincent le Blank and Casper de Saint Bernardino Government set down six Kingdoms in this Island which Kings continually wage War one against the other But Marcus Paulus Venetus affirms That in his time it was govern'd by four Cheques but at this day every Territory hath a peculiar Lord or Dian who usually sets over every Town under his Jurisdiction a particular Philoubei that is Bailiff of the Town In the whole there is not a foot breadth of Land but belongs to some Lord or other so that it is an error and mistake to say that every one may make use of as much Land as he will There are not found in this whole Island any written Laws but all is done according to the Law of Nature being three-fold Massindili or the Princes Law Massinpah the natural Law of particular people which is no other than their own way and Massintane the Law or Custom of the Countrey The Princes Law or Massindili is a compound word of Massin that signifies Law or Custom and Hadili that signifies Command being nothing else but arbitrary Will grounded nevertheless upon Reason consisting in the doing every one Right to determine
Tree always cover'd with thick Mists or Clouds except in the hottest time of the day this Mist casts so great a dew upon the Tree that from the Leaves drop constantly pure clear Water twenty Tuns in a day falling into two Stone Cisterns each of twenty Foot square and sixteen Hands deep made for that purpose on the North-side of the Tree When the Spaniards at the Conquest hereof found no Springs Wells nor Rivers of fresh Water they stood amazed and asked the Inhabitants whence they gat their Water they answer'd That they preserv'd the Rain-water in Vessels for the Tree they had cover'd with Canes Earth and other things in hope by this means to cause the Spaniards to leave the Island But this subtilty did them little good for a Woman had discover'd the Secret to a Spaniard that was her Gallant who disclos'd it again to the Spanish Commanders In brief this Tree affords so much Water that it not onely furnisheth the Inhabitants and their Cattel but also Ships which by accident come thither This Tree which the Inhabitants call Garoe and the Spaniards Santo that is Holy attains a competent bigness having always green Leaves like the Lawrel but not much bigger than those of a Nut-Tree and a Fruit like an Acorn in the Shell with a very sweet and Spicy Kernel and for defence and presenvation they have enclos'd it with a Stone-Wall Here grows some Corn Sugar-Canes much Fruit and Planâ—â— in great abundance besides many Cattel affording the Inhabitants much Milk and Cheese The small Islands lying near and about the Canaries as Vecchio Marino Rocha Graciosa Santa Clare Alegranca Inferno and Salvaies little can be said of them but onely that Salvaies is the most Northerly Vecchio Marino or Vecchi Marini lying between Lancerote and Forteventure Santa Clare a little Northward of Lancerote and smaller than Graciosa Alegranca more Northward than the three former But all these deserve rather the name of Rocks or Cliffs than Islands The Description of these Islands Linschot and others add as a Wonder a certain Island call'd St. Borondon or Porondon a hundred Leagues or thereabouts from Ferro which such as have by accident seen greatly praise as being full of Trees very delectable fruitful and inhabited by Christians whose Language and Descent is not known but never any have been able to find upon Design Many Spaniards have attempted to discover it but in vain whereupon some have believ'd that it never appears to those that seek after it Others are confident that it appears onely upon some certain Days or is constantly cover'd with Clouds or that by a special power of the Sea Ships are driven from it Santo Port or Holy-Haven THe Island of Santo Port or Holy-Haven being situate in the Atlantick Ocean opposite to the Cape of Cantyn in the Kingdom of Morocco in two or three and thirty Degrees and thirty Minutes North-Latitude Ortelius held to be the Cerne of Ptolomy others the Ombrio or Pluvialia of Pliny but more probably it seems to be the Pena of Ptolomy from the Latitude It containeth five Miles in compass and was first discover'd in the Year Fourteen hundred twenty eight by two Portuguese Noble-men Jan Zarco and Tristan Vaz being then uninhabited and desolate but soon after Peopled and provided of all Necessaries They have no Haven there but one very convenient Bay This Island bears Corn and other Grain and breeds also Oxen wild Hogs and an infinite number of Coneys besides as good Honey and Wax as can be had in the most fam'd Places There grows also a Tree from which issues a Gum by the Apothecaries and Druggists call'd Dragons-Blood The Island of Madera LOwer to the South appears an Island by the Spaniards call'd Madera Ortelius Syntagm and by the Portuguese Madeira Gramay Afr lib. 9. because at the first Discovery they found it overgrown with Wood distant about thirty Miles from Santo Port and sixty from the Canaries in thirty Degrees and one and thirty Minutes North-Latitude between the Straights of Gibraltar and the Canaries The Form resembles a Triangle Cadam Sanuâ— holding in compass according to Sanutus an hundred and forty Italian Miles and five and thirty Dutch Miles long from East to West and six broad In the Year Fourteen hundred and twenty John Gonzalves and Tristan Vaz both Portuguese sent forth by Henry the young King of Portugal to discover new Countreys first took notice of it whither being come and seeing it as we said overgrown with Wood thought it little worth but an accident happening amongst the Wood uncover'd this fruitful piece of Ground that Nature had so long kept hidden and by burning clear'd it of that which had hinder'd the inhabiting it By this means the Portuguese gain'd it but underwent many hazards therein before they could make any advantage from it in regard the Fire raged so furiously as that it forced them for a time to forsake the Place The burning continu'd seven years among the thick Trees but at length the Fuel failing the Fire extinguish'd of it self whereon immediately planting and manuring it 't is become at this day one of the best and delightfullest Places that can be found The Discoverers at the beginning divided it into four parts that is into Monchrico or Manchico Santo Cruize Fonzal and Camerade Lobes that is The Chamber Wolves so call'd because at their first coming on Shore they found a great Cave resembling an Arch'd or Vaulted Room under a Point of Land reaching into the Sea where were the prints of the footings of Sea-Wolves The chiefest Places of this Island are the Head-City Funzal or Funhial the Seat of the Bishop comprehending a Collegiate-Church three other great Churches two Cloisters of the Order of St. Francis one for the Men built by the King of Portugal and the other for Virgins built by Gonzalves Governor of the Island and a Colledge for the Jesuits Manchico or Manchrico shewing a fair Church nam'd Santa Cruize and a Cloister of St. Bernard Moquet affirms that the whole contains many Castles six and thirty eminent Parish-Churches five Cloisters four Hospitals and two and twenty Hermitages In the Year Sixteen hundred twenty five there were computed in this Island six thousand ninety six Houses which at this day are increased to a greater number The Air keeps so even a temperature that neither Heat or Cold invade it with excess the Ground enriched by many excellent Springs of fresh Water and besides fertilitated with the advantage of seven or eight small Rivers so that every part lies carpetted with a pleasant Verdure or beautifi'd with the delightful prospect of various Fruits always flourishing on their natural Stems and gather'd as well please the Palate as the Trees refresh the Body by their cooling shade But especially it affords an excellent Wine better in the second and third year than in the first The Earth though Mountainous affords plenty of Corn that multiplies sixty fold Cadamast computed the
product of one Harvest to thirty thousand Venetian Measures call'd Stares every one reckon'd at three and thirty Pound The Grass and Trees shoot up so high that the Inhabitants are necessitated to cut up and burn part of it in the Ashes whereof they plant Sugar-Canes which in six Moneths bring forth Sugar for those planted in January are cut up in June and so the rest each according to the Moneth wherein they were planted MELITE INSULA vulge MASTA Here is much tame Cattel as upon the Mountains many wild Swine Partridges Doves and Quails The Inhabitants are much civiler than those of the Canary-Islands and Trade with all sorts of Countreys giving in Exchange for their Commodities Sugar Honey Wax Oranges Citrons Lemons Pomgranates Wines and Leather THe Island of Malta THe Name of Malta seems to be derived from Melite so call'd of old which not onely the antient Geographers Strabo Mela and Ptolomy but the holy Scripture it self mentions though there be another Melite near the City Ragousa and the Coast of Damiata at this day call'd Meleda Cluverius in his Description of Sicily supposes that the Iste Hiperia spoken of by Homer as the Habitation of the People call'd Phaeacians who being hunted thence by the Phenycians took their flight to Corfu or Scherie antiently Phaeacia is no other than this And assuredly the Phaeacians were the Inhabitants of Corfu which came first from Malta as Homer by placing the Mountain Melite in Corfu plainly makes manifest Cluverius endeavors to maintain by demonstrative reasons that it was the most antient Ogygia the Habitation of the Nymph Calipso Daughter of Oceanus and Thetis who receiv'd and entertain'd Ulysses suffering Shipwrack where he stay'd seven years but at last by the order of Juno was commanded to quit his Mistress and leave the Countrey This Island hath been commonly accounted in Europe but Ptolomy placeth it in Africa and the very Tongue there spoken being broken Arabick proves it African no less than its being in the Atlantick Sea though it seem nearer to Europe It lieth in six and forty Degrees of Longitude and in five and thirty and ten Minutes North-Latitude or according to Ptolomy in four and thirty Degrees forty Minutes and hath in length from East to West six Leagues in breadth three and in compass fifteen It hath on the East the Mediterranean Sea on that side next Candia in the North the Island of Sicily not above fifteen Leagues distant in the South Tripolis in Barbary and the lesser Africa in the West the Islands of Pantalaree Linose and Lampadouse The Sea which divides it from Sicily bears the Name of The Channel of Malta Ptolomy places there a City of the same Name and two Temples one of Juno and the other of Hercules At this day it contains four Wall'd Cities besides a great number of Towns the Cities are Valette Citta Vecchia that is The Old City otherwise Old Malta Biurgo Sante Angelo or The City of Angels otherwise Citta Victoriosa and the City or Town of St. Michael or Sangde Valette by the Italians call'd Terra Nuova and by the French Ville Neuve gain'd that Name from the Grand Master Jan de Valette otherwise Parisot who presently built it after the Siege of the Turks in the Year Fifteen hundred sixty five who had then straitned this Island and taken the Castle St. Elmo lying before the City The City stands founded upon a Rock and an elevated piece of Ground call'd Scebarras which severs the Haven Marza Mazetta and the Great Haven being indeed an Isthmus the Sea beating on three sides of it and a great Trench hewn out of the Rock cuts it off from the rest of the Island On the outmost Point of that Rock before it stands the Castle St. Elmo It appears very strong surrounded on the out side with Ditches cut in the Rocks fortified with Bulwarks and very delightful Out-works within beautified with straight and broad Streets of which the chiefest are Strata Reale or The High Street and Strata Merchanti The Merchants Street The Houses lofty built of hewn Stone with flat Roofs according to the manner of the Eastern Countreys to the number of about two thousand Every House had formerly a Cistern to catch Rain-water but Strangers at this day fetch it from some fair Springs neighboring the Port del Monto on the Sea-coast whither the Water hath been brought some Miles out of the Countrey by Conduits an Invention of the Grand Master Alofi Vignacourt to the great Relief and Comfort as well of the Inhabitants as Foreigners which lie with their Ships before the City for the Water spouts by the opening of an Engine in the City and by Pipes runs into the Cask in the Boats Three Gates give entrance into it one at the Haven call'd Porta del Monte and two at the Land-side viz. Porta Reale and Porta Boucheria or The Slaughter-house Gate There are seven Churches the chiefest is that of St. John the Patron or Guardian-Protector of the Order of the Knights of Malta on the right side whereof stands the Figure of that Saint in a lively Representation The other are St. Augustine St. Dominico St. Maria Jesus St. Paulo Madona de Carmine Collegio de Jesu La Madama de la Victoria There are also seven Palaces or Courts call'd Auberge or Bergia for the seven Languages for into so many Nations of several Tongues are the Knights divided in every one of which the Superiors have their Residence and live upon the Expence of the Order As Bergia or Auberge di Provence Bergia de Auvergne or Alvenia Bergia de France Bergia di Italia Bergia di Arragon Bergia de Alemagna Bergia di Castilia that is to say The Palace or Court of Provence The Palace of Auvergne The Palace of France The Palace of Italy The Palace of Arragon Germany and Spain Formerly there was a Bergia di Angliterre but at this day annihilated There are several Cloysters as of St. Ursula St. Catherine and di Repenti The Palace of the Grand-Master for here he holds his Court stands between St. Elmo and St. Johns wherein is a great Hall the usual Place for the meeting of the Grand-Master with the Counsellors or Knights of the Great Cross In the Court behind the Palace stand fix'd in the Wall the Portraictures of two very ancient Marble Heads rais'd upon an Arch bigger than the Life one with this Inscription Zenobia Orientalis Domina and the other Petesilia They were found in Malta in the Year Two hundred seventy six They have a Market-place to which the Countrey People bring all sorts of Fruit Fowl Sheep Goats Hogs and other provision to sell VALETTA CIVITAS NOVA MALTAE Olim Millitae There is an Arsenal or Magazine of Arms Magazine of Armâ—â— under the Inspection of a Cavalier or Knight wherein they have a very large and stately Hall compleatly furnish'd with all sorts of Warlike Weapons In the middle stand five square Wooden Buildings whose
therewith and taken or therein for a while laid to steep or else Wine or Water drank out of Cups or Cans made thereof Also the Stone of St. Paul's Cave being very white and soft hath the like vertue ascribed to it against all Biting and Stinging of Venomous Beasts The whole Island stands upon a Rock so that no place can be found where the Earth lieth more than four Foot deep the best quarter is about Boschetto and if the rest of the Island were as this the Knights would not need to fetch their Provisions from abroad yet notwithstanding the natural unfruitfulness by labour and diligence the Soyl brings forth many things particularly Corn but in no great abundance for all will not suffice to feed the Inhabitants above three moneths the rest they fetch from Sicily and other places Cummin in the Arabick call'd Camum or Cemum and by the Indians in the Malayan Tongue Jenta Nyeran they Sowe in great quantity because it thrives as delighting in a stony Soil They have of two sorts one white slender and sharp of a rank smell and tart in taste call'd Cimonageron that is wild Cummin and like the Ethiopian Cummin of the Apothecaries The other much smaller like Annise-seed whitish having a deadish taste and sweetish The first they use in stead of Spice the other the Inhabitants mix with Bread to give it a pleasant relish from hence they are brought all over Europe Also Cotton as good if not much better than grows any where else onely we must observe that the Cotton Planted here is but an Herb or Shrub with a stalk of a Foot and half long sown and dying every year but the other which grows in Egypt and all over Assia shoots up to the height of a Tree with a Stem and hard wooddy Boughs The Fruit of this Maltesian Plant grows to the bigness of a Hasle-Nut those that are ripe split open into three or four sharp Wedges out of which the soft white Wooll appears inclosing within a slender white and Oily Seed in taste like an Almond or Pine-Kernel The Inhabitants Sowe it upon the Barly-Land after the Crop taken off that is in April and May and pulled up in September It groweth also in Lemnos Candia Sicily and France brought thither out of Italy They say the profit arising thereby every year amounts to three hundred Cantares of Cotton every Cantare being a hundred weight Many sorts of Flowers especially Roses of a lovely smell flourish here besides Thime and all sorts of Herbs of a most pleasant taste And the Vines bear Grapes as big as Plums both white and red which hang five Moneths in the year ripe on the Vine They have also Olives Almonds very excellent Figgs sweet and sharp Citrons of an extraordinary bigness and beauty Apricocks and very large Peaches besides Melons Dates and other Fruits common in Europe For want of Wood they burn the Dung of Beasts dry'd in the Sun or wild Thistles But some of the better sort use the Wood of Olive-Trees for Fuel brought from Cicily and sold by the pound The Villagers keep many Sheep Goats Hogs Mules and Asses Beasts which serve in stead of Horses Their working-Horses to the number of about four or five hundred are all Unshod and fed onely with Straw and Fetches Conies and Hares Partridges and Quails breed here in great numbers but Falcons and many other Fowl flock thither especially in March and September in great multitudes out of other Countries The People of Bosio are of opinion that not so much as one Serpent is found upon this Island nor any other Venomous Creature and that if any be brought from other places they die presently But Crusius affirms there are Serpents and Scorpions but without Poyson caus'd by the Benediction of the Apostle since his Shipwrack and the shaking of the Viper from his hand into the fire insomuch that no person born in Malta others say also of all Nations that inhabit there can receive hurt from them and confirm it by Occular Testimony That several Persons Young and Old have play'd with handled and held them to their naked Breasts and Bodies without receiving the least hurt Men and Women of Quality Cloathing go Clothed after the Cicilian and Italian manner but the Villagers wear a small and single Coat call'd Capotin which covers half their Thighs with a Cape and a blew Cap upon their heads and some have Shooes of rough Goats Leather ty'd with a Leather Point but Foraigners go every one Habited according to the fashion of his Countrey The Natives use a proper and peculiar Tongue Language that is broken Arabick and every Town almost hath a peculiar Tone and Propriety The Vulgar can speak no other than their Mother-Tongue but the Citizens have learnt Italian and French Their Marriages are made by giving of a Handkerchief and the Bride and Bridegroom commonly lie together before the perfecting of Ecclesiastical Ceremonies They Bury their Dead after the Grecian fashion Burial that is hiring Mourners to follow the Corps who for their small stipend not onely make hideous Ululations but tear their Hair and scratch their Faces the Friends cutting their Hair off and casting it upon the Corps Most of the Inhabitants are poor Riches because of the infertility of the place and maintain themselves by Planting Cummin-seed and Cotton which they exchange with those of Cicily for Corn Wine fresh and salted Flesh Pease and Beans Oil and other Commodities The Countrey People use long Swords Aâ—â—â—s and great Daggers Lances or Darts not less than our Half-Pikes which they use with great dexterity on Horseback but the Knights have Muskets and other Fire-Arms The Walls Bulwarks Breast-works Cities and Castles are Fortifi'd with great numbers of Ordnance besides the beforemention'd Armory in Valetta and seven well Rigg'd and stoutly Man'd Galleys which the Knights of the Order always keep ready for Fighting Commanded by an Admiral who carries a Silver Cross in his Flag upon a Red Field so that the Italians Proverbially say of this Island Malta fior del Mundo Malta is the Flower of the World partly in respect of their Arms Fortifications and Castles partly because of the valiant Defenders the Malta Knights who have had their abode here many years They suppose at this day there are upon the whole Island Forty thousand Souls the Knights and Souldiers included In the Year Fifteen hundred and ninety the number of them according to Bosio was no more than seven and twenty thousand but since greatly increas'd In the two Burgs lie near two thousand Men the Knights keep about four hundred Horses to serve in the Wars which every six Moneths are Train'd and Muster'd besides every Knight who hath four hundred Scudi must keep a Horse in his Stable ready for service This Island was antiently under the Jurisdiction of King Battus Ancient Government an Enemy of Queen Dido but afterwards Subjected to the Carthagenians