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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A05331	A geographical historie of Africa, written in Arabicke and Italian by Iohn Leo a More, borne in Granada, and brought vp in Barbarie. Wherein he hath at large described, not onely the qualities, situations, and true distances of the regions, cities, townes, mountaines, riuers, and other places throughout all the north and principall partes of Africa; but also the descents and families of their kings ... gathered partly out of his owne diligent obseruations, and partly out of the ancient records and chronicles of the Arabians and Mores. Before which, out of the best ancient and moderne writers, is prefixed a generall description of Africa, and also a particular treatise of all the maine lands and isles vndescribed by Iohn Leo. ... Translated and collected by Iohn Pory, lately of Goneuill and Caius College in Cambridge; Della descrittione dell'Africa. English	Leo, Africanus, ca. 1492-ca. 1550.; Pory, John, 1572-1636.	1600 (1600)	STC 15481; ESTC S108481	490,359	493

interior Mauritania Tingitana the most rich and beautifull couutrey of Africa so named of the citie Tingis which we at this day call Tanger was sometimes also as Plinie witnesseth called Borgundiana moreouer others haue called it by the names of Mauritania Sitiphensis Hispania Transfretana and Hispania Tingitana but Solinus termeth the same Mauritania inferior The inhabitants were of old named by the Graecians Maurusij and by the Romaines Mauri but the Spaniards at this present terme them Alarabes In this part of Africa are now contained two stately kingdomes namely the kingdome of Maroco 〈◊〉 the kingdome of Fez both which are enuironed with the mountaines of Atlas the Ocean and the Mediterran seas and to the east with the riuer of Muluia Mauritania Caesariensis named according to the citie of Caesaria which was so called after the name of Claudius Caesar at this present bearing the name of Tiguident or Tegdemt which worde in the Arabian toong signifieth ancient was by Victor Vticensis termed Mauritania maior by Strabo Massilia and Massaesilia and the inhabitants thereof by Plinie Massaesuli At this present it containeth the kingdome of Tremizen as Dominias Niger and Giraua are of opinion Numidia the ancient called in the time of Ptolomey The new but by the Greekes as Plinie testifieth Metagonitis and the inhabitants thereof Numidae and Nomades is that region which lieth betweene The great riuer and the riuer Megerada ouer which countrey king Masinissa bare rule It containeth now as I coniecture the prouinces of Bugia Constantina Bona and Mezzab Howbeit at this present we vnderstande by Numidia that region which lieth betweene the mountaines of Atlas and the Libyan deserts called by Iohn Leo and Marmolius Biledulgerid or the lande of Dates bicause this is the onely region for plentie of Dates in all Africa Africa propria situate vpon the Mediterran sea betweene the regions of old Numidia and the Cyrene is called by Plinie Zeugitania who diuideth it into the ancient and the new At this present it is the kingdome of Tunis for it containeth Byzacium which by Strabo is accounted a part of Africa propria The head of this prouince in times past was Carthage whereof at this present there are nothing but ruines extant Cyrene or Cyrenaica by Plinie called Pentapolis and by the Hebrews Lebahim is esteemed by Giraua to be at this present called Corene and by Andrew Theuet Assadib but Iohn Leo and Marmolius name it Mesrata Marmarica is called by Plinie Mareotis and Libya howbeit at this present the desert of Barcha described by Iohn Leo in his sixt booke containeth a great part of Cyrenaica and all Marmarica But Libya propria retaineth till this present the name of Libya and is that part which the Arabians call Sarra which worde signifieth a desert Both the ancient Ethiopias are now possessed by the Abassins vnder the dominion of Prete Ianni Egypt retaineth euen till this day the ancient name The best moderne diuision of Africa for these our times is to adde vnto the foure general partes Barbaria Numidia Libya and the land of Negros set downe by Iohn Leo three other generall partes to wit Egypt the inner or the vpper Ethiopia containing Troglodytica Nubia and the empire of Prete Ianni and the lower or the extreme Ethiopia stretching from the said empire along the sea-coast and through the Inland euen to the Cape of Buena Esperança Thus much of Africa in generall Now it remaineth that we briefly describe in particular all the principall maine landes and islands vndescribed by Iohn Leo which thereto belong or adioyne beginning first with the Red sea one of the chiefe limites of Africa and from thence shaping our course along the easterne or farthest quarters thereof through the dominions of Prete Ianni the lande of Zanguebar the empires of Mohenemuge and Monomotapa and the region of Cafraria and then hauing doubled the cape of Buena esperança range we along the westerne partes by the kingdomes of Angola Congo Anzichi Benin Ghinea and by the capes of Sierra Leona Capo verde and the castle of Arguin till we haue brought our selues to finish our course vpon the most southwesterne partes of Barbarie from whence our author Iohn Leo beginneth his A particular description of all the knowne borders coastes and inlands of Africa which Iohn Leo hath left vndescribed collected out of sundry ancient and late writers Of the red sea THe red sea called by others the Arabian gulfe and the streight of Mecha containing in length twelue hundred miles and in bredth but one hundred is deuided into three partitions or chanels the middlemost whereof being called The large or deepe sea is without danger nauigable both day and night because it hath from fiue and twentie to fiftie fathomes water especially from the isle of Camaran euen to Suez stāding at the very bottome of the gulfe the other two partitions which are the easterne and westerne extremities are incumbred with so manie little isles and rockes as it is impossible to saile ouer them but onely by day-light and with most expert pilots which are to be hired at a small island lying ouerthwart the very mouth or entrance of the red sea which the ancient kings of Egypt if the report of Strabo be true barred with a chaine from the African to the Arabian side This sea is very skarce of fish perhaps because there fall no riuers thereinto which with their fresh and sweete waters doe much delight and nourish the fish and the strand or shore thereof is destitute of all greene grasse herbes or weedes The portes and hauens of this sea are for the most part very dangerous and difficult to enter by reason of the manifold windings and turnings which must be made to auoide the rockes At the very head or North end of this gulfe standeth Suez which heretofore seemeth to haue bin called Ciuitas Heroum and in the times of Dauid and Salomon Hazion-Geber from whence the fleetes of those partes were sent to Ophir for golde and other rich commodities Vnder the Egyptian Ptolemeys and the Romans this towne flourished exceedingly by reason of the infinite quantitie of merchandize brought thither from the east Indies and Arabia But now it is nothing so frequented partly in regard of the mighty concurse and traffique which Mecha draweth vnto it selfe and partly by reason of the Portugales conueiance of spices and other Indian commodities about the cape of Buena esperança At this present the great Turke hath there an Arsenale with certaine gallies for feare of the Portugals aforesaid against whome there haue bin dispatched from this place two greate fleetes one for the assailing of 〈◊〉 and another for Ormuz Howbeit because all the countries round about are vtterly destitute of wood it is a matter of infinite charge to furnish foorth a fleete from hence for they are constrained to fetch their timber as far as Caramania partly by sea and partly vpon

sope which hath double the force of ours For which cause it is forbidden by the Portugals who haue vpon that coast a little to the east of Cabo das tres puntas in the northerly latitude of fiue degrees a strong castle called San Georgio de lá Mina whereunto by way of traffike they draw all the gold and riches of the countries adioining Westward of these lieth the countrie of Ghinea inhabited by a people which the ancient writers called Autolatae and Ichthyophagi Ghinea is so named according to the chiefe citie thereof called Genni being situate vpon the riuer of Sanega The people of this countrie towards the sea-coast liue vpon fish and they of the inland sustaine themselues with Lizards and such like creatures in some places more temperate their food consisteth of herbes and milke They conuerse togither in great families and they fight oftentimes for water and for pastures neither haue they 〈◊〉 knowledge of learning or liberall arts So long as the sun continueth in our northren signes that is from the xj of March to the xiij of September this people in regard of extreme 〈◊〉 heat are constrained all the day time being ordinarily with them of 12. howers to retire themselues within their houses and to do all their busines in the night The countrey in most places is destitute of trees that beare fruite neither haue the greatest part of the inhabitants any haire on their bodies saue onely a thicke tuft growing vpon their heads they sell their children vnto strangers supposing that their estate cannot possiblie be impaired Vnto these naturall miseries of the place you may ad the insupportable mischiefes which are here done by the locustes for albeit these creatures do infinite harme likewise in all the inner parts of Africa yet seemeth it that this countrey of Ghinea is their most proper habitation whither they do often resort in such innumerable swarmes that like a mightie thicke cloud they come raking along in the skie and afterward falling downe they couer the face of the earth deuouring all things that they light vpon Their comming towards any place is known two or three daies before by the yellownes of the sunne But in most places where they haunt the poore people are reuenged of them by killing and driuing them in the aire for their foode which custome is commonly vsed by the Arabians and Ethiopians and the Portugals also haue found vessels full of them vpon the coast of Cambaia where they do the like mischiefes They which haue eaten of them affirme that they are of a good taste and that their flesh so much as it is is as white as that of a lobster These may seem to be al one with those grashoppers which God sent to plague Egypt and the same kind of locustes which the holy prophet Iohn Baptist fed vpon in the wildernes Moreouer along the coasts of Meleghete and Ghinea are diuers small riuers and freshets containing little water and running a slow pace which notwithstanding are the best and pleasantest things that are to be founde in these forlorne countries For wheresoeuer any little water springeth or runneth thither do the people resort partly for the watring of their scorched groūds partly to quench their own thirst Also vpō these coasts are diuers and sundry headlands which stretch into the sea as namely The faire cape The three-pointed cape The cape of Palmetrees Cabo da Verga Sierra Leona This cape last mentioned hath an exceeding high mountaine thereupon which causeth it to be seene a mightie distance off It seemeth to be the same promontorie which Hanno and Ptolemey call The chariot of the gods It is called by the name of a lyon in regard of the dreadfull thunders and lightnings which are continually heard from the top thereof howbeit neere vnto it are found apes munkeies and such other beasts as liue in temperate places Of Cabo verde Sanega and Gambra or Gambea NOrthward of Sierra Leona lieth Cabo verde or the greene cape called by Ptolemey Arsinarium and being one of the most famous headlands in all Africa It is enuironed with two riuers namely the riuer of Gambra or Gambea on the south and the riuer of Senaga on the north which last riuer is esteemed to be an arme of Ghir or Niger Gambea springeth out of the same fountaines assigned by Ptolemey vnto Niger which by all the ancient writers is placed heereabout and out of the lake of Libya It is larger and deeper then that other of Senaga and runneth a crooked course receiuing many lesser riuers thereinto One hundred and eightie leagues within the mouth of this riuer the Portugals haue a factorie or place of traffique called the factorie of Cantor Hither by exchange of sundry wares they draw the gold of all those countries In the midde way as it were vnto the said factorie there is a place called the isle of Elephants in regard of the huge numbers of those creatures The riuer of Senaga is thought to take his original out of the lakes called Chelonides It containeth certaine Isles which in regard of their rough and ragged shape are good for nothing but to breed adders and such like hurtfull things and these Isles in many places make the riuer vtterly innauigable About one hundred and fiftie leagues from the mouth thereof it falleth spouting-wise with such maine force from certaine high cliffes or rockes that a man may walke drie vnder the streame thereof The Negros in their language call this place a Bowe It is reported that Nilus doth the like at his Cataracts or ouerfals And Strabo writeth of certaine riuers of Hircania which from exceeding steepe and craggie rockes gush with such violence into the Caspian sea that whole 〈◊〉 may passe vnder them without danger of drowning Into this riuer of Senaga among many riuers vnknowne falleth one which passing through a red soile is it selfe also died red and whosoeuer drinketh of the waters first of the Red riuer and after of Senaga is constrained extremely to 〈◊〉 Along the bankes of this mightie riuer inhabite the blacke and barbarous nations of the Gialofi the Tucuroni the Caraguloni and the Bagani Finally it voideth into the sea at two mouths one of which mouthes is a mile broad And it is strange to consider how vpon the south side of this riuer the people are blacke and well proportioned and the soile pleasant and fertile whereas on the north side they are browne and of a small stature and do inhabite a barren and miserable countrie In both the said riuers of Gambra and Senaga do breed diuers strange kindes offishes and other creatures of the water as namely crocodiles sea-horses and winged serpents and hither come to drinke sundry sorts of wilde beafts The lands comprehended betweene them both by reason of their yeerely inundation for from the xv of Iune they increase fortie daies togither and are so long time decreasing after the manner

the flesh of such beasts as are taken in those deserts Sometimes they receiue tribute of the gouernour of Suachen and sometimes of the gouernors of Dangala They had once a rich towne situate vpon the red sea called Zibid whereunto belonged a commodious hauen being opposite vnto the hauen of Zidem which is fortie miles distant from Mecca But an hundred yeeres since it was destroied by the Soldan bicause the inhabitants receiued certaine wares which should haue beene carried to Mecca and at the same time the famous port of Zibid was destroied from whence notwithstanding was gathered a great yeerely tribute The inhabitants being chased from thence fledde vnto Dangala and Suachin and at length being ouercome in battaile by the gouernour of Suachin there were in one day slaine of them aboue fower thousand and a thousand were carried captiue vnto Suachin who were massacred by the women and children of the citie And thus much friendly reader as concerning the lande of Negros the fifteene kingdomes whereof agreeing much in rites and customes are subiect vnto fower princes onely Let vs now proceed vnto the description of Egypt Here endeth the seuenth booke IOHN LEO HIS EIGHT BOOKE OF the Historie of Africa and of the memorable things contained therein Of Egypt THe most noble and famous prouince of Egypt bordering westward vpon the deserts of Barca Numidia and Libya eastward vpon the deserts lying betweene Egypt it selfe and the red sea and northward vpon the Mediterran sea is inclosed southward with the land of the foresaid people called Bugiha and with the riuer of Nilus It stretcheth in length from the 〈◊〉 sea to the land of the people called Bugiha about fower hundred and fiftie miles but in bredth it is very narrow so that it containeth nought but a small distance betweene both the banks of Nilus and the barren mountaines bordering vpon the foresaid deserts being inhabited onely in that place where Nilus is separate from the saide mountaines albeit towards the Mediterran sea it extendeth it selfe somewhat broader For Nilus about fower-score miles from the great citie of Cairo is diuided into two branches one whereof 〈◊〉 in his chanell westward returneth at length into the maine streame from whence he tooke his originall and hauing passed about threescore miles beyond Cairo it diuideth it selfe into two other branches whereof the one runneth to Damiata and the other to Rosetto And 〈◊〉 of that which trendeth to Damiata issueth another branch which discharging it selfe into a lake passeth through a certaine gullet or streit into the Mediterran sea vpon the banke whereof standeth the most ancient citie of Tenesse and this diuision of Nilus into so many streames and branches causeth Egypt as I haue beforesaid to be so narrow All this prouince is plaine and is most fruitfull for all kind of graine and pulse There are most pleasant and greene medowes and great store of geese and other fowles The countrey people are of a swart and browne colour but the citizens are white Garments they weare which are streite downe to their wastes and broad beneath and the sleeues likewise are streight They couer their heads with a round and high habite called by the Italians a Dulipan Their shooes are made according to the ancient fashion In sommer they weare garments of particoloured cotton but in winter they vse a certaine garment lined with cotton which they call Chebre but the chiefe citizens and merchants are apparelled in cloth of Europe The inhabitants are of an honest cheereful and liberall disposition For their victuals they vse a kinde of newe and extreme salt cheeses and sowre milke also artificially congealed which fare albeit they account very daintie yet cannot strangers digest it and into euerie dish almost they put sower milke A diuision of Egypt SInce the Mahumetans were Lords of Egypt it hath beene diuided into three parts For the region from Cairo to Rosetto is called the shore of Errif and from Cairo to the lande of Bugiha it is called Sahid that is to say The firme land but the region adioining vpon that branch of Nilus which runneth towardes Damiata and Tenesse they call by the name of Bechria or Maremma All Egypt is exceeding fertile but the prouince of Sahid excelleth the two other parts for abundance of corne cattle fowles and flaxe and Maremma aboundeth with cotton and sugar Howbeit the inhabitants of Marremma and Errif are farre more ciuill then the people of Sahid bicause those two prouinces lie neerer vnto the sea and are more frequented by European Barbarian and Assirian merchants but the people of Sahid haue no conuersation with strangers except it be with a fewe Ethiopians Of the ancient pedigree and originall of the Egyptians THe Egyptians as Moses writeth fetch their originall from Mesraim the sonne of Chus the sonne of Cham the sonne of Noe and the Hebrewes call both the countrie and the inhabitants of Egypt by the name of Mesraim The Arabians call Egypt it selfe Mesre but the inhabitants Chibith And Chibith they say was the man that first tooke vpon him the gouernment of this region and began first to builde houses thereon Also the inhabitants call themselues by the same name neither are there left any true Egyptians besides a fewe Christians which are at this present remaining The residue embracing the Mahumetan religion haue mingled themselues amongst the Arabians the Moores This kingdome was gouerned many yeeres by the Egyptians themselues as namely by the kings that were called Pharao who by their monuments and admirable buildings seeme to haue beene mightie princes and also by the kings called Ptolomaei Afterward being subdued vnto the Romaine Empire this kingdome since the comming of Christ was conuerted vnto the Christian religion vnder the saide Romaine gouernment since the decay of which Empire it fell into the possession of the Emperours of Constantinople who being very carefull to maintaine this kingdome were at length depriued thereof by the Mahumetans vnder the conduct of Hamrus the sonne of Hasi being appointed captaine generall ouer the Arabian armie of Homar the second Califa or Mahumetan patriarke of that name who permitting all men to haue their owne religion required nought but tribute at their hands The said captaine built vpon the banke of Nilus a certaine towne called by the Arabians Fustato which word signifieth in their language a tabernacle for when he first vndertooke this expedition he marched through wilde and desert places voide of inhabitants so that his armie was constrained to lye in tents The common people call this towne Mesre Hatichi that is to say the auncient citie which notwithstanding in comparison of Cairo may not vnfitly be called the New citie And as concerning the situation of this towne many excellent men both Christians Iewes and Mahumetans haue in these our times beene deceiued For they thinke Mesre to be situate in the same place where king Pharao in the time of Moses and king Pharao in the time of

when they first began to vsurpe ouer Egypt so wasted and destroied for certaine causes mentioned in histories that besides the foundations and rubbish they left nought remaining for transporting the pillers and principall stones vnto the other side of Nilus they built thereof the citie called Munsia euen as we will now declare Of the citie of Munsia MVnsia therefore founded on the otherside of Nilus by the lieutenant of a certaine Califa hath no shew of comelines or beautie by reason that all the streetes are so narrow And in sommer-time there riseth so much dust from the ground that a man can hardly walke the streetes It aboundeth notwithstanding with corne and cattell It was once subiect vnto a certaine African prince of Barbarie whose name was Haoara and whose predecessors were princes and gouernors of Haoara Which citie they say was giuen him in regarde of a singular benefite which hee did vnto the foresaide Dalmatian slaue that founded Cairo howbeit I cannot be perswaded that the gouernment remained so long a time vnto that familie But in our time Soliman the ninth Turkish emperour depriued them of the same gouernment Of the monasterie called Georgia THis was in times past a famous monasterie of Christians called after the name of Saint George and being sixe miles distant from Munsia It was inhabited by more then two hundred monkes who enioying large territories possessions and reuenues shewed themselues curteous and beneficiall vnto strangers and the ouerplus of their yeerely reuenues was sent vnto the patriarke of Cairo who caused the same to be distributed amongst poore Christians but about an hundred yeeres ago all the monks of this monasterie died of a pestilence which spred it selfe ouer all the land of Egypt Whereupon the prince of Munsia compassed the saide monasterie with a wall and erected diuers houses for artificers and merchants to dwell in And being allured by the pleasant gardens situate amidst the beautifull hils he himselfe went thither to inhabite but the patriarke of the Iacobites making his mone vnto the Soldan the Soldan caused another monasterie to be built in the same place where in times past the old citie stoode assigned so much allowance thereunto as might maintaine thirty monks Of the citie of Chian THis little citie of Chian was built in times past neere vnto Nilus by the Mahumetans which notwithstanding is not nowe inhabited by them but by the christiās called Iacobites who employ themselues either in husbandrie or in bringing vp of chickens geese and doues There remaine as yet certaine monasteries of Christians that giue entertainment to strangers But Mahumetans besides the gouernour and his family there are none at all Of the citie of Barbanda BArbanda founded by the Egyptians vpon Nilus about fowerhundred miles from Cairo was laide so waste by the Romaines that nothing but the ruines thereof remained most of which ruines were carried vnto Asna whereof we will foorthwith intreate Amongst the saide ruines are to be found many peeces of golde and siluer coine and sundrie fragments of Smaragds or emralds Of the citie of Cana. THe ancient citie of Cana built by the Egyptians vpon the banke of Nilus ouer against Barbanda and enuironed with wals of sunne-dried bricke is inhabited with people of base condition applying themselues vnto husbandrie by which meanes the citie aboundeth with corne Hither are the merchandise brought against the streame of Nilus which are sent from Cairo to Mecca for the distance from hence ouer the wildernes vnto the Red sea is at least 120. miles all which way there is no water at all to befounde And at the hauen of Chossir vpon the shore of the red sea are diuers cottages whereinto the saide merchandises are vnladen And ouer against Chossir on the side of Asia lieth Iambuh another hauen of the red sea whereat trauailers going on pilgrimage to see the tombe of Mahumet at Medina must make their rendezuous or generall meeting Morecuer Chana furnisheth Medina and Mecca with corne in which places they suffer great and continuall scarcitie Of the citie of Asna ASna in times past was called Siene which name was afterward changed by the Arabians in whose language the worde Siene signifieth a filthie or vncleane thing Wherefore they called it Asna that is to say faire and beautifull bicause it standeth in a pleasant situation vpon the westerne banke of Nilus which citie though it was brought almost to desolation by the Romaines yet was it so repaired againe in the Mahumetans time that the inhabitants grewe exceeding rich both in corne cattell and money for they transport their commodities partly vp the streame of Nilus and partly ouer the deserts into the kingdome of Nubia Round about this citie there are to be seene diuers huge buildings and admirable sepulchres togither with sundrie epitaphes engrauen both in Egyptian and Latine Letters Of the citie of Assuan THe great ancient and populous city of Assuan was built by the Egyptians vpon the riuer of Nilus about fower-score miles eastward from Asna The soile adiacent is most apt and fruitefull for corne And the citizens are exceedingly addicted vnto the trade of merchandise bicause they dwell so neere vnto the kingdome of Nubia vpon the confines whereof standeth their citie beyond which citie Nilus dispersing himselfe ouer the plaines through many small lakes becommeth innauigable Also the saide citie standeth neere vnto that desert ouer which they trauell vnto the port of Suachen vpon the red sea and it adioineth likewise vpon the frontiers of Ethiopia And heere in sommer time the inhabitants are extremely scorched with the heate of the sunne being of a swart or browne colour and being mingled with the people of Nubia and Ethiopia Heere are to be seene also many buildings of the ancient Egyptians and most high towers which they call in the language of that countrey Barba Beyond this place there is neither citie nor habitation of any account besides a fewe villages of blacke people whose speech is compounded of the Arabian Egyptian and Ethiopian languages These being subiect vnto the people called Bugiha liue in the fields after the Arabian manner being free from the Soldans iurisdiction for there his dominions are limited And thus much concerning the principall cities standing along the maine chanel of Nilus Some wherof I saw others I entred into and passed by the residue but I had most certaine intelligence of them all either by the inhabitants themselues or by the mariners which carried me by water from Cairo to Assuan with whom returning back vnto Chana I trauelled thence ouer the desert vnto the red sea ouer which sea I crossed vnto Iambuth and Ziddem two hauen-townes of Arabia deserta of which two townes because they belong vnto Asia I will not here discourse least I should seem to transgresse the limits of Africa But if it shall please god to vouchsafe me longer life I purpose to describe all the regions of Asia which I haue

Iewish Mahumetan and Gentilish religions there 〈◊〉 The Princes of greatest account either inhabiting or at least possessing large territories there are first The grand Neguz or Christian Emperour of Abassia or the higher Ethiopia commonly called Presbyter Iohn or as Zagazabo his owne ambassadour would haue him Pretious Iohn but bicause 〈◊〉 all the Ethiopick relation of Francis Aluarez being the best that euer was written of those parts he is continually named Prete Ianni in imitation of him I also most commonly call him by that name And so likewise though Zagazabo for the more magnificent reputation of his prince will haue his dominions called Ethiopia yet with the consent of some approoued authors and also to distinguish the country of this emperour from many other regions situate both in the higher Ethiopia and in the lower I haue set it downe in my mappe and in my discourses do most vsually speake thereof vnder the name of Abassia The other great Princes intreated of in the said relations are The K. of Spaine The Turkish Emperour The Xarifo otherwise called The Miramonin or the king of Maroco Sus and Fez and the emperour of Monomotapa My methode in the discourse before Leo is after a generall preface of Africa to begin at the Red sea where Leo endeth and thence as well in the description of the maine lands as of the isles by him vntouched to proceed on southerly to the cape of Buena esperança from which cape we returne toward the north describing all along the westerne countries and isles of Africa till we haue brought our whole descriptions to an end vpon the most southwesterly parts 〈◊〉 Barbarie where our author Iohn Leo beginneth his Et quoniam as one saith turpe non est per quos profeceris agnoscere my principall authors out of whom I haue gathered this store are of the ancienter note Ptolemey Strabo Plinie Diodorus Siculus c. and amongst later writers I haue helped my selfe out of sundrie discourses in the first Italian volume of Baptista Ramusio as likewise out of Iohn Barros Castanneda Ortelius Osorius de reb gest Eman. Matthew Dresserus Quadus Isolario del mundo Iohn Huighen van Linschoten out of the Hollanders late voiages to the east Indies and to San Tomé but I am much more beholding to the history of Philippo Pigafetta to the Ethiopick relations of Francis Aluarez of Damianus a Goez and beyond all comparison both for matter and method most of all to the learned Astronomer and Geographer Antonius Maginus of Padua and to the vniuersall relations written in Italian by G. B. B. And heere before I surcease I must admonish the Reader of certaine faults escaped in some copies as namely in the description of the isles in the Barbarian bay Açotatado for Açotado in a marginall note ouer against the description of Tombuto in the seuenth booke of Iohn Leo Money for Gold in the relation of the Christianitie of Egypt Hypostasis twise togither in stead of Hypostases and in the discourse of the Christianitie of Congo Paulo Aquitino for Panso Aquitimo Other literall faults if there be any will not be hard for the Reader himselfe to amend AFRICA A generall description of all Africa togither with a comparison of the ancient and new names of all the principall countries and prouinces therein THat part of inhabited lande extending southward which we call Africa and the Greeks Libya is one of the three generall parts of the world knowen vnto our ancestors which in very deed was not throughly by them discouered both bicause the Inlands coulde not be trauailed in regard of huge deserts full of dangerous sands which being driuen with the winde put trauailers in extreme hazard of their liues and also by reason of the long and perilous nauigation vpon the African coasts for which cause it was by very few of ancient times compassed by nauigation much lesse searched or intirely known Of which few the principall were Hanno a Carthaginian captaine sent by the gouernours of that commonwelth for discouerie of the saide lande and one Eudoxus that fled from Ptolemaeus Lathyrus the king of Alexandria Howbeit in these latter times it hath beene often by the Portugals sailed round about and diligently searched especially along the shore euen from the streights of Gibraltar to the enterance of the red sea but the first Portugall that euer doubled the cape of Buena esperança and coasted the south and southeast parts of Africa in former 〈◊〉 vnknowne was Vasco da Gama in the yeere 1497. who from hence sailed to Calicut in the east Indies to the vnspeakeable gaine of the Portugals To omit Iohn Leo his etymologies of this name Africa Festus will haue it to be deriued from the Greeke worde 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifieth horror or colde and from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the particle priuatiue as who shoulde say Africa is a place free from all horror and extremitie of colde bicause it lieth open to the heauens and is sandie drie and desert Others say that it is called Africa quasi Aprica that is exposed and subiect to the scorching beames of the sunne the most part there of lying betweene the Tropicks Iosephus wil haue it so called from 〈◊〉 one of the posteritie of Abraham and others from Afer sonne to Hercules of Libya But it was by the Greekes called Libya bicause it was in old time conquered by Libs the king of Mauritania In the holie Scriptures it is called Chamesis by the Arabians and Ethiopians 〈◊〉 and by the Indians Besecath In situation shape this land of Africa is almost an islle being by a very small and narrowe neckland passing betweene the Mediterran sea and the gulfe of Arabia 〈◊〉 the red sea conioined to Asia and in extension of ground being almost twise as bigge as Europe albeit for inhabitants it is not halfe so populous Wherefore though in longitude from west to east Africa be shorter then Europe in some places yet extendeth it so farre vnto the south that Europe in that respect is nothing comparable vnto it for Africa containeth almost seuentie degrees in latitude whereas Europe stretcheth but fiue and thirtie degrees moreouer Africa is more vniforme and spacious but Europe is of a more distracted and manifolde shape being in sundry places dispersed restrained by the sea Howbeit notwithstanding Africa hath farre greater extension of ground then Europe yet is it not so populous nor so commodious to inhabite for the lande of Africa is in many places vnhabitable the principall causes whereof are the scarcitie of water the barrennes of the soile being either couered with 〈◊〉 sande dust or ashes or else being subiect to extreme heate of the sunne also there are certaine dangerous heapes of sande which being raised by the winde are driuen vp and downe like the waues of a tempestuous sea In briefe there are such abundance of venemous and hurtfull

at the confluence or meeting of the riuer last mentioned and the riuer Luiola with a small number of Portugals ioined to the aide sent him from the king of Congo and from certaine princes of Angola his confederates he gaue the foresaid king notwithstanding his innumerable troupes of Negros diuers sundry ouerthrowes The said riuer Coanza springeth out of the lake of Aquelunda situate westward of the great lake whereour Nilus takes his originall In this kingdome are the mountaines of Cabambe abounding with rich and excellent siluer mines which haue ministred the chiefe occasion of all the foresaid warres This region aboundeth also with other minerals and with cattell of all sorts Most true it is that dogs-flesh is heere accounted of all others the daintiest meate for which cause they bring vp and fatten great plentie of dogs for the shambles Yea it hath beene constantly affirmed that a great dogge accustomed to the bull was sold in exchange of two and twentie slaues the value of whom coulde not amount to much lesse then two hundred and twentie ducats The priests of Angola called Gange are helde in such estimation and account as the people are verily perswaded that they haue in their power abundance and scarcitie life and death For they haue knowledge of medicinable hearbes and of deadly poisons also which they keepe secret vnto themselues and by meanes of their familiaritie with the diuell they often foretell things to come Towards the lake of Aquelunda before mentioned lieth a countrey called Quizama the inhabitants whereof being gouerned after the manner of a common wealth haue shewed themselues very friendly to the Portugals and haue done them speciall good seruice in their warres against the king of Angola Thus hauing briefely pointed at the former three bordering countries let vs now with like breuitie passe through the kingdome of Congo it selfe This kingdome therefore accounting Angola as indeede it is a member thereof beginneth at Bahia das vacas in thirteene and endeth at Cabo da Caterina in two degrees and an halfe of southerly latitude True it is that the coast neere vnto the saide Bay of Cowes is subiect to the king of Congo but the inland is gouerned by him of Angola East and west it stretcheth from the sea in bredth as farre as the lake of Aquelunda for the space of sixe hundred miles and is diuided into sixe prouinces namely the prouince of Pemba situate in the very hart and center of the whole kingdome Batta the most easterly prouince where the ancient writers seeme to haue placed Agisymba Pango which bordereth vpon the Pangelungi Sundi the most Northerly prouince Sogno which stretcheth ouer the mouth of the great riuer Zaire and Bamba which is the principall of all the rest both for extension of ground for riches and for militarie forces In the prouince of Pemba or rather in a seuerall territorie by it selfe standeth the citie of Sant Saluador in former times called Banza being the metropolitan of all Congo and the seate of the king situate an hundred and fiftie miles from the sea vpon a rockie and high mountaine on the verie top whereof is a goodly plaine abounding with fountaines of holesome and sweete water and with all other good things which are requisite either for the sustenance or solace of mankinde and vpon this plaine where Sant Saluador is seated there may inhabite to the number of an hundred thousand persons In this citie the Portugals haue a warde by themselues separate from the rest containing a mile in compasse and about that bignes also is the palace or house of the king The residue of the people dwell for the most part scatteringly in villages It is a place enriched by nature with corne cattell fruits and holesome springs of water in great abundance The principall riuer of all Congo called Zaire taketh his chiefe originall out of the second lake of Nilus lying vnder the Equinoctiall line and albeit this is one of the mightiest riuers of all Africa being eight and twentie miles broad at the mouth yet was it vtterly vnknowen to ancient writers Amongst other riuers it 〈◊〉 Vumba and Barbela which spring out of the first great lake In this countrey are sundry other riuers also which fetch their originall out of the lake of Aquelunda the principall whereof are Coanza which diuideth the kingdome of Congo from that of Angola and the riuer Lelunda which breedeth crocodiles water-horses which the Greeks call Hippopotami of which creatures the isle of horses in the mouth of the riuer Zaire taketh denomination The Hippopotamus or water-horse is somewhat tawnie of the colour of a lion in the night he comes on lande to feed vpon the grasse and keepeth in the water all the day time The Africans tame and manage some of these horses and they prooue exceeding swift but a man must beware how he passe ouer deepe riuers with them for they will sodainly diue vnder water Also in these riuers of Ethiopia are bred a kinde of oxen which liue euery night vpon the lande Here likewise breedeth another strange creature called in the Congonian language Ambize Angulo that is to say a hogge-fish being so exceeding fatte and of such greatnes that some of them weie aboue fiue hundred pound This abūdance of waters togither with the heat of the climate which proceedeth from the neerenes of the sunne causeth the countrey to be most fruitfull of plants herbes fruits and corne much more fertile would it be if nature were helped forward by the industrie of the inhabitants Heere also besides goates sheepe deere Gugelle conies hares ciuet-cats and ostriches are great swarmes of tigres which are very hurtfull both to man and beast The Zebra or Zabra of this countrey being about the bignes of a mule is a beast of incomparable swiftnes straked about the body legges eares and other parts with blacke white and browne circles of three fingers broad which do make a pleasant shew Buffles wilde asses called by the Greekes Onagri and Dante 's of whose hard skins they make all their targets range in heards vp and downe the woods Also here are infinite store of elephants of such monstrous bignes that by the report of sundrie credible persons some of their teeth do weigh two hundred pounds at sixteene ounces the pound vpon the plaines this beast is swifter then any horse by reason of his long steps onely he cannot turne with such celeritie Trees he ouerturneth with the strength of his backe or breaketh them between his teeth or standeth vpright vpon his hinder feete to browse vpon the leaues and tender sprigs The she elephants beare their brood in their wombes two yeeres before they bring foorth yoong ones neither are they great with yoong but onely from seuen yeeres to seuen yeeres This creature is saide to liue 150. yeeres hee is of a gentle disposition and relying vpon his great strength he

the principall citie of that region was at the commandement of Ferdinando the king of Castile taken by one Peter of Nauarre The diuision of Numidia THis is the basest part of all Africa neither will our Cosmographers vouchsafe it the name of a kingdome by reason that the inhabitants thereof are so far distant asunder which you may easily coniecture by that which followeth Tesset a citie of Numidia containeth about fower hundred families and is in regard of the Libyan desert seuered from all places of habitation almost three hundred miles wherefore this second part is thought by diuers not to be woorthie the name of a kingdome Howbeit we will make some relation of the habitable partes of Numidia some whereof may not vnfitly bee compared with other regions of Africa as for example that of Segelmess which territorie of Numidia lieth ouer against Barbarie likewise Zeb which is situate against Bugia and the signiorie of Biledulgerid which extendeth vnto the kingdome of Tunis Reseruing therefore many particulars for the second part of this historie we wil make our entrie and beginning at those places which lie vpon the west of Numidia the names whereof be these Tesset Guaden Ifren Hacca Dare Tebelbelt Todga Fercale Segelmess Benigumi Fighig Tegua Tsabit Tegorarin Mesab Tegort and Guarghela The region of Zeb containeth fiue townes to wit Pescara Elborgh Nesta Taolac and Deusin so many cities likewise hath the territorie of Biledulgerid namely Teozar Caphesa Nefreoa Elchamid and Chalbis and from hence eastward are found the isles of Gerbe Garion Mesellata Mestrata Teoirraga Gademis Fizza Augela Birdeoa and Eloacat These are the names of the most famous places of all Numidia being bounded as is said before westward vpon the Ocean sea and eastward with the riuer of Nilus A description of the Libyan deserts which lie betweene Numidia and the 〈◊〉 of Negros THese deserts haue not as yet any certaine name amongst vs 〈◊〉 they be diuided into fiue partes and receiue all their denomination from the inhabitants which dwell vpon them that is to say from the Numidians who are in like sort themselues diuided into fiue partes also to wit the people or tribes called Zanega Ganziga Terga Leuta and Berdeoa There bee likewise certaine places which take some proper and particular name from the goodnes and badnes of the soile as namely the desert of Azaohad so called for the drought and vnfruitfulnes of that place likewise Hair albeit a desert yet so called for the goodnes and temperature of the aire A diuision of the land of Negros into seuerall kingdomes MOreouer the land of Negros is diuided into many kingdomes whereof albeit a great part be vnknowen vnto vs and remooued farre out of our trade we will notwithstanding make relation of those places where we our selues haue aboad and which by long experience are growne very familiar vnto vs as likewise of some other places from whence merchants vsed to trauell vnto the same cities wherein my selfe was then resident from whom I learned right 〈◊〉 the state of their countries I my selfe saw fifteene kingdoms of the Negros howbeit there are many more which although I saw not with mine owne eies yet are they by the Negros sufficiently knowen and frequented Their names therefore beginning from the west and so proceeding Eastward and Southward are these following Gualata Ghinea Melli Tombuto Gago Guber Agadez Cano Casena Zegzeg Zanfara Guangara Burno Gaoga Nube These fifteene kingdomes are for the most part situate vpon the riuer Niger through the which merchants vsually trauell from Gualata to the citie of Alcair in Egypt The iourney indeede is very long but yet secure and voide of danger All the said kingdomes adioine one vpon another ten whereof are separated either by the riuer Niger or by some sandie desert and in times past each one of the fifteene had a seueral king but now at this present they are all in a manner subiect vnto three kings onely namely to the king of Tombuto who is Lord of the greatest part to the king of Borno who gouerneth the least part and the residue is in subiection vnto the king of Gaoga howbeit he that possesseth the kingdome of Ducala hath a very small traine attending vpon him Likewise these kingdomes haue many other kingdomes bordering vpon the South frontiers of them to wit Bito Temiam Dauma Medra and Gorhan the gouernors and inhabitants whereof are most rich and industrious people great louers of iustice and equitie albeit some lead a brutish kinde of life Of the habitations of Africa and of the signification of this word Barbar OVr Cosmographers and historiographers affirme that in times past Africa was altogether disinhabited except that part which is now called the land of Negros and most certaine it is that Barbarie and Numidia were for many ages destitute of inhabitants The tawnie people of the said region were called by the name of Barbar being deriued of the verbe Barbara which in their toong signifieth to murmur because the African toong soundeth in the eares of the Arabians no otherwise then the voice of beasts which vtter their sounds without any accents Others will haue Barbar to be one word twise repeated forsomuch as Bar in the Arabian toong signifieth a desert For say they when king Iphricus being by the Assyrians or Aethiopians driuen out of his owne kingdome trauelled towards Aegypt and seeing himselfe so oppressed with his enimies that he knew not what should become of him and his followers he asked his people how or which way it was possible to escape who answered him Bar-Bar that is to the desert to the desert giuing him to vnderstand by this speech that he could haue no safer refuge then to crosse ouer Nilus and to flee vnto the desert of Africa And this reason seemeth to agree with them which affirme the Africans to be descended from the people of Arabia foelix The originall of the people of Africa ABout the originall of the Africans our historiographers doe much disagree For some will haue them to be deriued from the inhabitants of Palaestina because as they say being expelled out of their owne countrie by the Assyrians they came at length into Africa seeing the fruitfulnes of the soile chose it to be their place of habitation Others are of opinion that they tooke their originall from the Sabeans a people of Arabia foelix and that before such time as they were put to flight by the Assyrians or Aethiopians as hath beene aforesaid Some others report that the Africans descended from certaine people of Asia who being chased thence by reason of warres which were waged against them fled into Greece which at the same time had no inhabitants at all Howbeit the enimie still pursuing them they were forced to crosse the sea of Morea and being arriued in Africa to settle themselues there but their enimies aboad still in Greece All which opinions and reportes are to bee vnderstood onely

that of part Barbarie which containeth the kingdome of Tripolis and Tunis was in times past gouerned by Apulian Sicilian Captaines and the countries of Caesaria and of Mauritania are supposed to haue beene 〈◊〉 vnto the Gothes At what time also many Christians fleeing from the furie and madnes of the Gothes left their sweet natiue soyle of Italy and at length arriued in Africa neere vnto Tunis where hauing setled their aboad for some certaine space they began at length to haue the dominion ouer all that region Howbeit the Christians which inhabited Barbaria not respecting the rites and ceremonies of the Church of Rome followed the Arrians 〈◊〉 and forme of liuing and one of the African Christians was that most godly and learned father Saint Augustine When the Arabians therefore came to conquer that part of Africa they found Christians to be Lords ouer the regions adiacent of whom after sundry hot conflicts the saide Arabians got the victorie Whereupon the Arrians being depriued of all their dominions and goods went part of them into Italy and part into Spaine And so about two hundred yeeres after the death of Mahumet almost all Barbarie was infected with his law Howbeit afterward ciuile dissensions arising among them neglecting the law of Mahumet they slue all the priests and gouernours of that region Which tumult when it came to the eares of the Mahumetan Caliphas they sent an huge armie against the saide rebels of Barbarie to wit those which were reuolted from the Calipha of Bagdet and seuerely punished their misdemeanor And euen at the same time was layd the most 〈◊〉 foundation of the Mahumetan law notwithstanding there haue remained many heresies among them euen vntill this verie day As touching the patrons of the Mahumetan lawe and likewise concerning the difference in religion betweene the Mahumetans of Africa and them of Asia we will by Gods grace write more in another seuerall volume and in the meane season let these particulars which we haue noted suffice the Reader Of the letters and characters of the Africans THose writers which record the histories of the Arabians doings are all iointly of opinion that the Africans were woont to vse onely the Latine letters And they doe most constantly affirme that the Arabians when they first 〈◊〉 Africa and especially Barbarie which was the principall seate of the Africans founde no letters nor characters there beside the Latine Neither indeede doe they denie that the Africans haue a peculiar kinde of language but this they firmly auouch that they haue the very same letters which the 〈◊〉 or Florentinesa people of Italie haue The Arabians haue no historie of African matters which was not first written in Latine They haue certaine ancient authors who writ partly in the times of the Arrians and partly before their times the names of all which are cleane forgotten Howbeit it is very likely that those Latine authors haue written many volumes for when their interpreters laboured to perswade something vnto vs I remember they would say it is contained in the seuentieth booke Neither did they in translating of the said volumes altogether follow the authors order but taking the historie of some one prince they would conioine his time and actions with the historie of the Persian Assyrian and Chaldaean kings or of the Israelites which concerned the same times But when as those which rebelled against the Calipha of Bagdet as is aforesaid got the vpper hand in Africa they burnt all the Africans bookes For they were of opinion that the Africans so long as they had any knowledge of naturall philosophie or of other good artes and sciences would euery day more and more arrogantly contemne the lawe of Mahumet Contrariwise some historiographers there are which affirme that the Africans had a kinde of letters peculiar vnto themselues which notwithstanding from the time wherein the Italians began first to inhabite Barbarie and wherein the Christians 〈◊〉 out of Italie from the Gothes began to subdue those prouinces of Africa were vtterly abolished and taken away For it is likely that a people vanquished shoulde follow the customes and the letters also of their conquerors And did not the same thing happen to the Persians while the Arabians empire stood For certaine it is that the Persians at the same time lost those letters which were peculiar vnto their nation and that all their bookes by the commandement of the Mahumetan prelates were burnt least their knowledge in naturall philosophie or their idolatrous religion might mooue them to contemne the precepts of Mahumet The like also as we shewed before befell the Barbarians when as the Italians and the Gothes vsurped their dominions in Barbarie which may here I hope suffice the gentle reader Howbeit this is out of doubt that all the 〈◊〉 cities and inland-cities of Barbarie doe vse Latine letters onely whensoeuer they will commit any epitaphes or any other verses or prose vnto posteritie The consideration of all which former particulars hath made me to be of opinion that the Africans in times past had their owne proper and peculiar letters wherein they described their doings and exploites For it is likely that the Romans when they first subdued those prouinces as conquerours vsually doe vtterly spoiled and tooke away all their letters and memorie and established their owne letters in the stead thereof to the end that the fame and honour of the Roman people might there onely be continued And who knoweth not that the very same attempt was practised by the Goths vpon the stately buildings of the Romans and by the Arabians against the monuments of the Persians The very same thing likewise we daily see put in practise by the Turks who when they haue gotten any citie or towne from the Christians doe presently cast foorth of the temples all the images and memorials of their saints And to omit all the aforesaid may we not in our time see the like daily practised in Rome where sumptuous and stately buildings left vnperfect by reason of the vntimely death of one Pope are for some noueltie vtterly ruined and destroied by his next successour Or else doth not the new Pope cause his predecessours armes to be razed and his owne in stead thereof to be set vp Or at the least if he will not seeme so arrogant letting his predecessours monuments stand still doth he not erect others for himselfe farre more sumptuous and stately No maruell therefore though so long successe of times and so many alterations haue quite bereaued the Africans of their letters Concerning those nine hundred yeeres wherein the Africans vsed the letters of the Arabians Ibnu Rachich a most diligent writer of Africa doth in his Chronicle most largely dispute whether the Africans euer had any peculiar kinde of writing or no. And at last he concludeth the affirmatiue part that they had for saith he whosoeuer denieth this may as well denie that they had a language peculiar vnto themselues