generally vneuen and mountainous but the valleis are passing fertile and throughly inhabited and here is sowed abundance of rice and Saburro which groweth to ripenes in fortie daies Howbeit the soile will beare no wheat Here is store of cotton also the cloth whereof is dispersed along the coast of Africa The shee-gotes here as likewise in all the isles adiacent bring forth three and more kids at a birth euery foure moneths When the sunne is in Cancer it raineth here in a manner without ceasing To the west of Sant Iago stand the isles of Fogo and Braua being but of small importance albeit that of Fogo is in some parts thereof inhabited and to the North of the same is situate the isle of Maio where there is a lake of two leagues long which is full of salt the which is a common thing in all these islands but in one more then in any of the other in that it is full of such like salt pits and is therefore called The island of salt being destitute of all other liuing things saue onely of wild gotes The isle of Buena vista hath a name contrary to the quality for it is without all shew of beauty Of the others I haue nothing woorthie the obseruation Of the Isles of Arguin A Little to the south or on the backside of Cabo blanco within a certaine gulfe or baie which entereth thirtie miles into the maine lie the isles of Arguin which were discouered in the yeere 1443. so called after the name of the principall of them which hath great store of fresh water whereof all the residue are destitute Heere the king of Spaine hath a fortresse for the traffique of gold and other rich commodities of those countries These isles are sixe or seuen in number all little ones being inhabited by the Azanaghi who liue of fish whereof there is plentie in that baie They go to sea in certaine small botes which they call Almadies The names of the other isles as farre as I coniecture are The isle of Penguins The isles of Nar Tider and Adeget Of the Isles in the Atlantick Ocean and first of the Canaries FOr so the isles named of olde Insulae fortunatae which euer since the decay of the Romaine empire till within these two hundred yeeres lay vndiscouered are at this present called They are in number twelue although the ancient writers make mention but of sixe that is to say Canaria Lançarotta 〈◊〉 ventura Hierro Palma Gomera Santa Clara Isla de lobos La Roca Gratiosa Alegrança and Infierno They 〈◊〉 abound with barly sugar hony goates cheese hides and Orchel being herbe commodious to die cloth withall and whereof they make great merchandise Amongst other beasts they haue also camels The natural inhabitants of the countrey are of a good disposition and notable agilitie but before they were discouered they were so grosse and rude as they knewe not the vse of fire They beleeued in one creatour of the world who punished the 〈◊〉 and rewarded the good and in this point they all consented but in other matters they were very different They had no iron at all but yet esteemed it much when any came to their hands for the vse thereof They made no accoūt of gold or siluer iudging it a folly to esteem of that mettal which could not serue for mechanicall instruments Their weapons were stones and staues They shaued their heads with certaine sharpe stones like to 〈◊〉 The women would not willingly nurse their owne children but caused them to be suckled by goates They were and are at this day delighted with a kinde of dance which they vse also in Spaine and in other places and because it tooke originall from thence it is called The Canaries From hence also they bring certaine birds which sing at all times of the yeere The greatest of all these isles is the Gran Canaria containing fower-score and ten miles in circuit and it hath to the number of nine thousand inhabitants Tenerif is not altogither so great This is esteemed one of the highest islands in the world by reason of a mountaine therein of the forme of a diamond being as it is reported fifteene leagues high it may be seene more then threescore leagues off Hierro hath neither spring nor well but is miraculously furnished with water by a cloud which ouer-spreadeth a tree from whence distilleth so much moisture as sufficeth both for men and cattell This cloud ariseth an hower or two before the sunne and is dissolued two howers after sunne rising The water falleth into a ponde made at the foote of the tree The isle of Palma is little but beautifull and abundant in sugar wine flesh and cheese wherefore such ships as go from Spaine to Terra firma and Brasil do there ordinarily prouide themselues of fresh victuall It is from Lisbon a thousand miles by sea being much subiect to tempests and especially those which come from the northwest Of these islands Lançarota Hierro and Gomera are in the hands of priuate men the others belong to the crowne Of the Isles of Madera and Puerto santo MAdera is the greatest and most principal of all the isles in the Atlantick Ocean It standeth in two and thirtie degrees and an halfe fortie miles to the southwest of Puerto santo So it is called because at the first discouerie thereof it was all ouergrowen with mightie thick woods Wherfore to waste the said woods and to make it fit to be manured the first discouerers set them on fire which continued burning as some report for the space of certaine yeeres together whereupon it grew so exceeding fertile that of corne it yeeldeth sixtie folde for one and for a certaine space the fifte part of the sugars amounted yeerely to threescore thousand Arrouas one of which Arrouas containeth fiue and twentie pounds of sixteene ounces the pound but now it cometh not to the one halfe of that reckoning This isle containeth in compasse an hundred sixtie miles It is dided into foure regions or quarters that is to say Comerico Santa Cruz Funcial and Camara de los Lobos It aboundeth with water and besides diuiuers sundry fountaines it hath eight small riuers which make it as fruitfull and pleasant as a garden It yeeldeth euery thing in such perfection that Cadamosta in regard of their excellency affirmeth all commodities which are there gathered to be gold It produceth infinite store of fruits excellent wines and sugars which cannot be matched Heere is likewise great abundance of cedars whereof are made fine chestes and other works of account for which purpose there are diuers sawing milles vpon the foresaid riuers This isle is very scarce of oile and of corne The head or principall citie hereof is Funciall being the seat of an archbishop who hath 8000. ducates of reuenue Here are two fortresses built which command the hauen Fortie miles to the northeast of Madera lieth the isle of Puerto santo so called
are two opinions the first is this namely because this part of the worlde is diuided from Europa by the Mediterran sea and from Asia by the riuer of Nilus Others are of opinion that this name Africa was deriued from one Ifricus the king of Arabia Foelix who is saide to haue beene the first that euer inhabited these partes This Ifricus waging warre against the king of Aslyria and being at length by him driuen out of his kingdome passed with his whole armie ouer Nilus and so conducting his troupes westward made no delay till he was come vnto the region lying about Carthage Hence it is that the Arabians do imagine the countrie about Carthage onely and the regions lying westward thereof to comprehende all Africa The borders of Africa AFRICA if we may giue credite vnto the writers of that nation being men of learning and most skilfull Cosmographers beginneth southward at certaine riuers issuing foorth of a lake in the desert of Gaoga Eastward it bordereth vpon the riuer Nilus It extendeth northward to that part of Egypt where Nilus at seuen mouthes dischargeth his streames into the Mediterran sea from whence it stretcheth westward as farre as the streites of Gibraltar and is bounded on that part with the vtmost sea-towne of all Libya called Nun. Likewise the south part thereof abutteth vpon the Ocean sea which compasseth Africa almost as farre as the deserts of Gaoga The 〈◊〉 of Africa OVR authors affirme that Africa is 〈◊〉 into fower partes that is to say Barbaria Numidia Libya and the lande of Negros Barbaria taketh beginning from the hill called Meies which is the extreme part of all the mountaines of Atlas being distant from Alexandria almost three hundred miles It is bounded on the North side with the Mediterran sea stretching thence to mount-Meies aforesaid and from mount-Meies extending itselfe to the streites of Gibraltar Westward it is limited with the said streites from whence winding it selfe out of the Mediterran sea into the maine Ocean it is inclosed with the most westerly point of Atlas namely at that Westerne cape which is next vnto the towne called Messa And southward it is bounded with that side of Atlas which lieth towards the Mediterran sea This is the most noble and worthie region of all Africa the inhabitants whereof are of a browne or tawnie colour being a ciuill people and prescribe wholsome lawes and constitutions vnto themselues The second part of Africa is called of the Latines Numidia but of the Arabians Biledulgerid this region bringeth foorth dates in great abundance It beginneth eastward at the citie of Eloacat which is an hundred miles distant from Egypt extendeth west as far as the towne of Nun standing vpon the Ocean sea Northward it is inclosed with the south side of Atlas And the south part thereof bordereth vpon the sandie deserts of Libya All the Arabians doe vsually call it The land of dates because this onely region of Africa beareth dates The third part called of the Latines Libya and of the Arabians Sarra which word signifieth a desert beginneth eastward at that part of Nilus which is next vnto the citie of Eloacat and from thence runneth westward as far as the Ocean sea Northwarde it is bounded with Numidia southward it abutteth vpon the land of Negros eastward it taketh beginning at the kingdome of Gaoga and stretcheth westwarde euen to the land of Gualata which bordereth vpon the Ocean sea The fourth part of Africa which is called the land of Negros beginneth eastward at the kingdome of Gaoga from whence it extendeth west as far as Gualata The north part thereof is inclosed with the desert of Libya and the south part which is vnknowen vnto vs with the Ocean sea howbeit the merchants which daily come from thence to the kingdome of Tombuto haue sufficiently described the situation of that countrie vnto vs. This lande of Negros hath a mightie riuer which taking his name of the region is called Niger this riuer taketh his originall from the east out of a certaine desert called by the foresaide Negros Seu. Others will haue this riuer to spring out of a certaine lake and so to run westward till it exonerateth itselfe into the Ocean sea Our Cosmographers affirme that the said riuer of Niger is deriued out of Nilus which they imagine for some certaine space to be swallowed vp of the earth and yet at last to burst foorth into such a lake as is before mentioned Some others are of opinion that this riuer beginneth westward to spring out of a certaine mountaine and so running east to make at length a huge lake which verily is not like to be true for they vsually saile westward from Tombuto to the kingdome of Ginea yea and to the land of Melli also both which in respect of Tombuto are situate to the west neither hath the said land of Negros any kingdomes comparable for beautifull and pleasant soile vnto those which adioine vnto the bankes of Niger And here it is to be noted that according to the opinion of our Cosmographers that land of Negros by which Nilus is said to run namely that part of the world which stretcheth eastward euen to the Indian sea some northerly parcell whereof abutteth vpon the red sea to wit the countrie which lieth without the gulfe of Arabia is not to be called any member or portion of Africa and that for many reasons which are to be found in the processe of this historie set downe more at large The said countrie is called by the Latines Aethiopia From thence come certaine religious Friers seared or branded on the face with an hot iron who are to be seene almost ouer all Europe and specially at Rome These people haue an Emperour which they call Prete Gianni the greater part of that land being inhabited with Christians Howbeit there is also a certaine Mahumetan among them which is said to possesse a great dominion A diuision of the fower forenamed partes of Africa BArbarie is distinguished into fower kingdomes the first whereof is the kingdome of Maroco which is likewise diuided into seuen regions or prouinces namely Hea Sus Guzula the territorie of Maroco Duccala Hazcora Tedles The second kingdome of Barbarie called Fez comprehendèth in like sort seuen regions within the bounds thereof to wit Temesne the territorie of Fez Azgara Elabat Errif Garet and Elcauz The third kingdome is called Telensin and hath three regions vnder it namely the mountaines Tenez and Algezer The fourth kingdome of Barbarie is named Tunis vnder which are comprized fower regions that is to say Bugia Constantina Tripolis in Barbarie and Ezzaba which is a good part of Numidia Bugia hath alwaies beene turmoiled with continuall warres because sometimes it was subiect vnto the king of Tunis and sometimes againe vnto the king of Tremizen Certaine it is that euen vntill these our daies this Bugia was a kingdome of it selfe and so continued till
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
camels backs At this towne of Suez they haue no fresh water but all their water is brought them from a place sixe miles distant vpon camels backs being notwithstanding brackish and bitter The western shore of the Red sea is inhabited with people called in old time Troglodytae which at this present do all of them yeelde obedience to the great Turke who considering that the fleets of the Portugales entered very often into the Red sea and were there receiued by the subiects of Prete Gianni and did him great domage hath thereupon taken occasion not onely to conquer the Troglodytae but also to wast and subdue a great part of Barnagasso the most Northerlie prouince of the said Prete So that the audacious attempts of the Portugales in those partes haue bred two most dangerous and bad effects the one is that the Arabians haue most strongly fortified all their sea-townes which before lay naked and without fortification the other for that the Turke also hath bin occasioned thereby to make warre against the Prete Wherefore they ought not to haue vndertaken any such enterprise but with full resolution and sufficient forces to accomplish the same for lesser attempts serue to no other end but onely to rouze and arme the enimie which was before secure and quiet Neither is it heere to be omitted that in the foresaide sea a man can saile in no ships nor barks but only those of the great Turke or at least with his licence paying vnto him for tribute a good part of the fraight For this purpose he hath certaine Magazines or store-houses of timber which is brought partly from the gulfe of Satalia and partly from Nicomedia and other places vpon the Euxin sea vnto Rosetto and Alexandria from whence it is afterward transported to Cairo and thence to Suez This sea is called the Red sea not in regard that the waters thereofbe all red but as some thinke from certaine red rushes which growe vpon the shore and as others are of opinion from a kinde of red earth which in sundry places it hath at the bottome which earth dieth not the very substance of the water red but by transparence causeth it especially neere the shore to appeere of that colour Africa Troglodytica THat sandie barren and desert part of Africa which lieth betweene Nilus and the Red sea especially to the south of the tropike was in old times inhabited by the Troglodytae a people so called bicause of their dwelling in caues vnder the ground Along this westerne coast of the Red sea runneth a ridge of mountaines which being an occasion that the inland riuers can not fall into the saide sea they are forced to discharge themselues into Nilus The foresaide mountaines and sea coast are now inhabited by Mahumetans being partly Arabians and partly Turkes which not many yeeres ago haue attempted to saile that sea and to inuade the regions adioining The naturall inhabitants are a rude barbarous people and very poore and beggerly The chiefe places of habitation are Corondol a speciall good porte Alcosser a place well knowne bicause that neere vnto it the saide mountaines open themselues and giue passage to the bringing in of the fruits and commodities of Abassia Suachen esteemed one of the principall ports in all the streights and being made by an island Here resideth the Bassa of the great Turke which is called the gouernour of Abassia with three thousand soldiers or thereabout Next followeth Ercoco the onely hauen towne of the Prete lying ouer against the little isle of Mazua and heere the mountaines make an other opening or passage for transporting of victuals out of the lande of the saide Prete Ianni From hence almost to the very entrance of the Red sea the coast is at this present vninhabited forlorne and desert Likewise from Suachen to Mazua is a continuall woode the trees whereof are but of small woorth Iust within the saide entrance standeth the towne and port of Vela vnder the iurisdiction of the king of Dancali a Moore Vpon all this west shore of the Red sea as likewise vpon the contrary east shore scarcitie of water is the cause why there are so fewe and so small places of habitation and the people runne and flocke togither where they may finde any pit or fountaine of water Some curious reader might here expect because I haue nowe passed so neere the frontiers of Egypt that I should make an exact description of that most famous and fruitefull prouince and likewise of the great city of Alcair and of the inundation and decrease of Nilus all which because they are expressed in most orient liuelie colours by our author Iohn Leo I should shew my selfe both iniurious to him and tedious to all iudiciall readers in anticipating and forestalling that before the beginning of his booke which he so neere the end doth in such large and particular wise intreate of Now therefore let vs proceed to the vpper or inner Ethiopia beginning with the first and most northerly prouince thereof called Nubia Nubia PAssing therefore westward from the Island of Siene you enter into the prouince of Nubia bordering on the west vpon Gaoga eastward vpon the riuer Nilus towards the North vpon Egypt and southward vpon the desert of Goran The inhabitants thereof called by Strabo 〈◊〉 liue at this present as Francisco Aluarez reporteth a most miserable and wretched kinde of life for hauing lost the sinceritie and light of the gospel they do embrace infinite corruptions of the Iewish and Mahumetan religions At the same time when the foresaid Aluarez was in Abassia there came certaine messengers out of Nubia to make suit vnto the Prete that he would send them priests and such persons as might preach and administer the sacraments vnto them But he returned answere that he coulde not in regard of the scarcitie of great cler-giemen in his dominions The said messengers reported that the Nubians had sent often to Rome for a bishop but being afterward by the inuasions of the Moores and the calamitie of warre cut short of that assistance they fell for want of teachers and ministers into extreme ignorance of Christian religion and by little and little were infected with the impious and abominable sects of the Iewes and Mahumetans Some Portugals trauailing to those parts sawe many churches destroied by the handes of the Arabians and in some places the pictures of saints painted vpon the wals They are gouerned by women and call their Queene Gaua Their principall citie called Dangala and consisting of about ten thousand housholds is a place of great traffike bicause it is so neere vnto Egypt and the riuer Nilus All their other habitations are villages and base cottages Their houses are built of claie and couered with strawe The chiefe commodities of this region are rice stone-sugar sanders iuorie for they take many elephants as likewise abundance of ciuet and golde in great plentie The countrey is for the most part sandie howbeit there
Monomotapa to the riuer Coauo and beyond west with the riuer Nilus North vpon the dominions of Prete Ianni and east vpon the kingdomes of Melinde Mombaça and Quiloa hath not many yeeres ago bin discouered or at least heard of by the Portugales vpon occasion perhaps of the warres which with vnfortunate successe they haue waged against Monomotapa The emperour of this country holdeth a continuall league with the princes of Melinde Mombaça and Quiloa towards the sea for traffiques sake for they prouide his dominions with cloth of cotton cloth of silke and sundrie other commodities brought from Arabia Persia Cambaya and India which are very well esteemed in those parts but among the rest they bring especially certaine little balles of a red colour and in substance like vnto glasse being made in Cambaya of a kinde of Bitumen or clammie claie which balles they vse to weare like beades about their necks They serue also to them in stead of money for gold they make none account of Likewise with the silkes that are brought vnto them they apparel themselues from the girdle downward In exchange of all the foresaide wares and commodities they giue gold siluer copper and iuorie Howbeit vpon his Inland frontiers to the south and southwest he maintaineth continuall and bloudie warres against the emperour of Monomotapa his principall and greatest forces consisting of a most barbarous and fierce nation called by the people of Congo Giachi but by themselues Agag who inhabite from the first great lake which is the fountaine of Nilus for a certaine space vpon both sides of the said riuer and then afterward on the westerne banke as farre as the second great lake from whence Zaire hath his chiefe original thence euen to the confines of Prete Ianni They are a wilde and lawles people liuing after the manner of the ancient Scythians and Nomades and like the Tartars and Baduin-Arabians of these times a vagrant kind of life vnder cabbins and cottages in the open forrests They are of stature tall and of countenance most terrible making lines vpon their cheekes with certaine iron-instruments and turning their eie-lids backward whereby they cast vpon their enimies a most dreadfull and astonishing aspect They are man-eaters and couragious in battaile For their armour of defence they vse certaine Pauises or great targets wherwith they couer their whole bodies being otherwise naked and their offensiue weapons are dartes and daggers It is not many yeeres since these cruel sauages ranging westward from Nilus inuaded the kingdome of Congo vanquished the inhabitants in sundrie battels tooke the head citie and forced the king Don Aluaro to flee for succour and safetie vnto the isle of horses in the mouth of the great riuer Zaire being one of the extreme frontiers of his dominions Where the king himselfe was taken with an incurable dropsie and his people in great numbers died of famine who to relieue their extreme necessities sold their wiues their children and their owne selues for slaues vnto the Portugals Howbeit these warlike Giacchi notwithstanding their hautie courage and great exploits are no whit feared but rather most boldly encountered and sometimes vanquished by the Amazones or women warriers of Monomotapa Which two nations what by warlike stratagems and what by open and maine force do often fight the most desperate and doubtfull battailes that are performed in all those southern parts The empire of Monomotapa the fourth generall part of the lower Ethiopia BEnomotapa Benomotaxa or Monomotapa is a large empire so called after the name of the prince thereof who in religion is a Gentile and for extension of dominions and military forces a renowmed and mightie emperour in the language of whose subiects an emperour is signified by this word Monomotapa This empire of his lyeth as it were in an Island which containeth in compasse seuen hundred and fiftie or as some thinke one thousand leagues being limited on the north-west by the great lake whereout Nilus springeth on the south by the riuer Magnice and the tributarie kingdome of Butua or Toroa on the east it hath the sea-coast and the kingdome of Sofala which in very deed is a member thereof and the North part abutteth vpon the riuer of Cuama and the empire of Mohenemugi That part of this great Island which lyeth betweene the mouth of Cuama and the cape de los Corrientes is a very pleasant holesome and fruitfull country And from the said cape to the riuer of Magnice the whole region aboundeth with beasts both great and small but it is cold by reason of the sharp brizes which come off the sea and so destitute of wood that the people for fewel are constrained to vse the dung of beasts and they apparel themselues in their skinnes Along the banke of the riuer Cuama are diuers hilles and downes couered with trees and vallies likewise watered with riuers being pleasantly situate and well peopled Here are such plenty of Elephants as it seemeth by the great quantitie of their teeth that there are yeerely slaine betweene foure and fiue thousand Their elephants are nine cubites high and fiue cubites in thicknes They haue long and broad eares little eyes shorte tailes and great bellies and some are of opinion that Ethiopia yeeldeth as many elephants as Europe doth oxen The townes and villages of this empire are very few and their buildings are of wood and clay couered with thatch None may haue doores to their houses but onely great personages Their principal cities are Zimbas and Benamataza the first whereof is one and twentie and the second fifteene daies iourney from Sofala They serue this emperour at the table vpon their knees to sit before him is all one as with vs for a man to stand vpon his feete neither may any presume to stand in his presence but onely great lords He is tasted vnto not before but after he hath eaten and drunke For his armes he hath a spade and two dartes Tribute he taketh none but onely certaine daies seruice and giftes presented vnto him without which there is no appearing in his sight Hee carrieth whithersoeuer he go foure hundred dogs as a most sure and trustie guard Hee keepeth all the heires of his tributary princes as vassals and as pledges of their fathers loialtie There are no prisons in al his empire for sufficient testimonie being brought of the commission of any crime iustice is executed out of hand and of all offences none are punished with greater seueritie and rigour then witchcraft theft and adulterie His people are of a meane 〈◊〉 blacke and well proportioned They are Gentiles in religion hauing no idols but worshipping one onely God whom they call Mozimo They go apparelled in cloth of cotton either made by themselues or brought from other countries howbeit the king will in no case weare any forrein cloth for feare of poison or such like trecherie and the meaner sort of his subiects are clad in beasts skins Among all the armies and
1595. that those seas are at sometimes not onely free from stormie tempests but most pleasant also to saile vpon with faire and gentle weather And as the Spaniards for a long time that they might discourage all other nations from attempting nauigation vpon The south sea beyond America blinded all Christendome with a report that the streights of Magellan were vnrepasable so perhaps the Portugals to terrifie all others from sailing to the east Indies and to keepe the gaine and secrets of that rich trade entire vnto themselues haue in their writings and relations made the doubling of the cape of Buena Esperança and the crossing ouer those seas a matter of farre greater difficultie and danger then it is of late manifestly found to be The name of Buena esperança or good hope was giuen vnto this promontory by Iohn the second king of Portugall bicause that when his fleetes had once doubled this cape either outward or homeward they then stedfastly hoped in good time to performe the residue of their voiage otherwise not In the midst of this cape lieth a plot of ground of that beautie and delight as that without any humane industrie it may compare with the most artificiall gardens of Europe On the top of this place nature minding as it were to excell her-selfe hath framed a great plaine which for beautifull situation fruitfulnes of herbes varietie of flowers and flourishing verdure of all things seemeth to resemble a terrestriall paradise The Portugals terme it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vnfitly The table of the cape And to the end they might not faile of the meanes to enioy so pleasant a place there is close vnder it a very good harbour which is called The port of Conception The people of this place called in the Arabian toong Cafri Cafres or Cafates that is to say lawlesse or outlawes are for the most part exceeding blacke of colour which very thing may be a sufficient argument that the sunne is not the sole or chiefe cause of their blacknes for in diuers other countries where the heate thereof is farre more scorching and intolerable there are tawnie browne yellowish ash-coloured and white people so that the cause there of seemeth rather to be an hereditarie qualitie transfused from the parents then the intemperature of an hot climate though it also may be some furtherance thereunto The Hollanders in the yeere 1595. entering the harbour of Saint Bras somewhat to the east of Cabo das Agulhas had conuersation truck with some of these Cafres whom they found to be a stoute and valiant people but very base and contemptible in their behauiour and apparell being clad in oxe and sheeps skins wrapped about their shoulders with the hairie sides inward in forme of a mantle Their weapons are a kinde of small slender dartes or pikes some whereof are headed with some kinde of mettall the residue being vnheaded and hardened onely at the points with fire They couer their priuie parts with a sheepes tayle which is bound vp before and behinde with a girdle Their horne-beasts are like those of Spaine verie well limmed and proportioned Their sheepe are great and faire not hauing any wooll on their backes but a kinde of harsh haire like goates Other particulars by them obserued for breuities sake I omit Now that we may proceede in describing the residue of Cafraria hauing sayled about the cape of Buena esperança westward albeit the coast in regard of the greatnes thereof may seem to ly directly north yet for the space of seuenteene degrees till you come to Cabo Negro the farthest Northwesterne bound of this fift part of the lower Ethiopia it trendeth somewhat to the west along which coast somewhat within the lande appeareth a mighty ranke or ridge of mountaines called by the Portugales Os picos fragosos that is the ragged points or spires being besides their excessiue height craggie rough and steepe lying bare desolate and vtterly voide of all succour and seruing for no other end but for an obiect to the windes and a mark for the tempests The residue of the coast till you come to Cabo Negro sometimes lying lowe and sometimes high sometimes shooting into the sea and sometimes again gently retiring containeth many plaines hils vallies and places most fertile and delightful some of them being alwaies of so fresh and pleasant view as they seeme to represent a continuall spring The sixt and last part of the lower or extreme Ethiopia containing the kingdome of Congo whereunto in times past were tributarie and subiect the kingdomes of Matama and Angola to the south the kingdomes of Quisama and Pangelungos to the east and to the north the kingdome of Anzicana inhabited by the Anzichi and Loango peopled by the Bramas FIrst therefore according to our proposed order that we may begin with the most southerly parts The kingdome of Matama so called after the name of the king thereof who being a Gentile ruleth ouer diuers prouinces named Quimbebe bordereth north vpon the first great lake whereout Nilus springeth and vpon the south frontiers of Angola east it abutteth vpon the western banke of the riuer Bagamidri and stretcheth south as far as the riuer Brauagul which springeth out of the mountains of the moone This coūtrey standeth in a good holesome aire aboundeth with mines of cristall other metals hath victuals great plenty And although the people thereof their neighbour-borderers doe traffike togither yet the king of Matama and the king of Angola wage war oftentimes one against another also the said riuer Bagamidri deuideth this kingdome of Matama from the great empire of Monomotapa before described which lieth to the east thereof Next followeth Angola a kingdome subiect in times past to the king of Congo the gouernour whereof not verie many yeeres ago growing exceedingly rich mightie rebelled against his soueraigne by diuers attempts shaking off the yoke of superioritie became himselfe an absolute prince This countrey by reason that the people are suffered to haue as many wiues as they list is a place most woonderfully populous They goe whole millions of them to the warres not leauing any men of seruice behinde but for want of victuals they are often constrained to leaue their enterprises halfe vndone Vpon this king Paulo Diaz who remained gouernour in these parts for the king of Portugall waged warre the reason was bicause certaine Portugall merchants and others going by way of traffike to Cabaza a towne situate an hundred and fiftie miles from the sea where the king of Angola vsually resideth they were by order from this king the same yeere that king Sebastian died in Barbarie sodainly spoiled of their goods and part of them slaine it being alleaged that they were all spies and came to vndermine the present state Whereupon Paulo Diaz prouided himselfe and with two galeots did many notable exploits on both sides of the riuer Coanza Finally hauing built a forte in a very commodious and hillie ground
hurteth none but such as do him iniurie only he will in a sporting maner gently heaue vp with his 〈◊〉 such persons as he meeteth He loueth the water beyond measure and will stande vp to the mid-body therein bathing the ridge of his backe and other parts with his long promuscis or trunke His skin is fower fingers thicke and it is reported that an elephant of this countrey being stricken with a little gunne called Petrera was not wounded therewith but so sore brused inwardly that within three daies after he died Heere are likewise reported to be mightie adders or snakes of fiue and twentie spannes long and fiue spans broad which will swallow vp an whole stagge or any other creature of that bignes Neither are they here destitute of Indie-cockes and hens partridges feasants and innumerable birds of praie both of the lande and of the sea whereof some diue vnder the water which the Portugals call Pelicans Ouer against the most southerly part of the said kingdome of Congo where it confineth with Angola lyeth an Isle called Loanda being twentie miles long and but one mile broad at the most betweene which and the maine land is the best port of all that Ocean About this Isle do haunt infinite store of whales where notwithstanding no amber at all is found which is a manifest argument that it proceedeth notfrom these creatures Here they fish for certaine little shels which in Congo and the countries adioyning are vsed in steed of mony The well-waters of this Isle when the sea ebbeth are salte but when it floweth they are most fresh and sweet In this Isle the Portugals haue a towne from whence they traffique to Congo and Angola and amongst other commodities they get euery yeere in those parts about fiue thousand slaues the custome of which trade belongeth by ancient constitutions vnto the crowne of Portugale To the north of Congo vpon the sea coast beginneth the kingdome of Loango tributarie in times past to the king of Congo It aboundeth with elephants and the inhabitants called Bramas are circumcised after the Iewish manner Next vpon them doe border the Anzichi who are possessed of large countries namely from the riuer Zaire euen to the deserts of Nubia They abound with mines of copper and with sanders both Red and Gray which are the best and some are of opinion that here groweth the right Lignum Aquilae which is of so excellent vertue in phisick They haue one supreme king with many princes vnder him They traffique in Congo and carrie home from thence salt and great shels to be vsed for coine which are brought thither from the Isle of San Tomé in exchange of their cloth of the palme tree and of Iuory but the chiefe commodities which they part from are slaues of their owne nation and of Nubia and the said shels they vse also insteed of Iewels and ornaments Both they and the Bramas before mentioned do carry for their defence in the warres certaine targets made of the skin of a beast which in Germany is called Dante their weapons offensiue be little bowes and shorte arrowes which they shoot with such woonderfull celerity as they will discharge twentie one after another before the first arrow fall to the ground They haue shambles of mans-flesh as wee haue of beeues and muttons They eat their enemies which they take in the warres their slaues which they cannot make away for a good round price they sell vnto the butchers and some will offer themselues to the slaughter for the loue of their princes and patrons so sillie they are that to do their lordes a pleasure they will not refuse present death wherefore the Portugals repose not so much trust in any kinde of slaues as in them and they are very valiant also in the warres But to returne vnto the sea-coast from the mouth of the riuer Zaire Northward the land bearing out somewhat more to the west is framed into three headlands namely Cabo primero Cabo da Caterina and the cape of Lopo Gonsalues which is a cape very well knowen in regard of the eminency and outstretching thereof Itlyeth in one degree of southerly latitude Ouer against which cape within the land do inhabite the people called Bramas in the kingdome of Loango beforementioned From hence for the space of fiue or sixe degrees till you come to Punta delgada or The slender point the coast lyeth in a manner directly North most of which tract is inhabited by a nation of Negros called Ambus North of the said slender point you haue Rio dos Camarones or the riuer of shrimpes which is full of little Isles not far from which riuer are The countries of Biafar and Medra inhabited with people which are addicted to inchantments witchcrafts and all kind of abominable sorceries Much more might be said concerning this sixt part of the lower Ethiopia but because it is in so ample and methodicall a manner described in the historie of Philippo Pigafetta most iudiciously and aptly Englished by the learned Master Abraham Hartwell I refer the reader thereunto as to the principal and the very fountaine of all other discourses which haue bin written to any purpose of Congo and the countries adioyning Of the countries of Benin Meleghete Ghinea and Sierra Leona WEstward from the countries last mentioned lyeth the kingdome of Benin hauing a very proper towne of that name and an hauen called Gurte The 〈◊〉 liue in Idolatry and are a rude and brutish nation notwithstanding that their prince is serued with such high reuerence and neuer commeth in sight but with great solemnity many ceremonies at whose death his chiefe fauorites count it the greatest point of honour to be buried with him to the end as they vainely imagine they may doe him seruice in another world This countrie aboundeth with long pepper called by the Portugals Pimienta dal rabo which is as much to say as ppeper with a tayle This tailed or long pepper so far excelleth the pepper of the east Indies that an ounce therof is of more force then halfe a pound of that other For which cause the kings of Portugale haue done what lay in them to keep it from being brought into these parts of Europe least it should too much abase the estimation and price of their Indian pepper All which notwithstanding there hath bin great quantitie secretly conueied from thence by the Portugals as likewise the English and French nations and of late yeeres the Hollanders haue had great traffique into those parts Next follow the kingdomes of Temian and Dauma and lower to the south the prouince of Meleghete a place very famous and well knowne in regard of a little red graine which there groweth being in shape somewhat like to the 〈◊〉 of Italy but of a most vehement and firy tast and these little graines are by the apothecaries called Grana Paradisi Here also is made of 〈◊〉 and the ashes of the Palme-tree a kind of
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
of the originall of the tawnie people that is to say of the Numidians and Barbarians For all the Negros or blacke Moores take their descent from Chus the sonne of Cham who was the sonne of Noë But whatsoeuer difference there be betweene the Negros and the tawnie Moores certaine it is that they had all one beginning For the Negros are descended of the Philistims and the Philistims of Mesraim the sonne of Chus but the tawnie Moores fetch their petigree from the Sabeans and it is euident that Saba was begotten of Rama which was the eldest sonne of Chus Diuers other opinions there be as touching this matter which because they seeme not so necessarie wee haue purposely omitted A diuision of the tawnie Moores into sundrie tribes or nations THE tawnie Moores are diuided into fiue seuerall people or tribes to wit the tribes called Zanhagi Musmudi Zeneti Hacari and Gumeri The tribe of Musmudi inhabite the westerne part of mount Atlas from the prouince of Hea to the riuer of Seruan Likewise they dwell vpon the south part of the said mountaine and vpon all the inward plaines of that region These Musmudae haue fower prouinces vnder them namely Hea Sus Guzula and the territorie of Marocco The tribe of Gumeri possesse certaine mountaines of Barbarie dwelling on the sides of those mountaines which lie ouer against the Mediterran sea as likewise they are Lords of all the riuer called in their language Rif. This riuer hath his fountaine neere vnto the streites of Gibraltar and thence runneth eastwards to the kingdome of Tremizen called by the Latines Caesaria These two tribes or people haue seuerall habitations by themselues the other three are dispersed confusiuely ouer all Africa howbeit they are like strangers discerned one from another by certaine properties or tokens maintaining continuall warre among themselues especially they of Numidia These I say are those very people as some report who had no other places then tents and wide fields to repose themselues in and it is reported that in times past they had great conflicts together and that the vanquished were sent to inhabit townes and cities but the conquerors held the champions and fieldes vnto themselues and there setled their aboad Neither is it altogether vnlikely because the inhabitants of cities haue all one and the same language with the countrie people For the Zeneti whether they dwell in the citie or in the countrie speake all one kinde of language which is likewise to be vnderstood of the rest The tribes of Zeneti Haoari and Sanhagi inhabit the countrie of Temesne sometimes they liue peaceably and sometimes againe calling to minde their ancient quarrels they breake foorth into cruell warres and manslaughters Some of these people beare rule ouer all Africa as namely the Zeneti who in times past vanquished the familie called Idris from which some affirme the true and naturall Dukes of Fez and the founders of the same citie to deriue their petigree their progenie likewise was called Mecnasa There came afterward out of Numidia another familie of the Zeneti called Magraoa this Magraoa chased the familie of Mecnasa with all their Dukes and chieftaines out of their dominions Not long after the said tribe of Magraoa was expelled in like sort by certaine others of the race of the Sanhagij called by the name of Luntuna which came also out of the desert of Numidia By this familie was the countrie of Temesna in processe of time vtterly spoiled and wasted and all the inhabitants thereof slaine except those which were of their owne tribe and kindred of Luntuna vnto whom was allotted the region of Ducala to inhabit and by them was built the citie commonly called Maroco It fell out afterwards by the inconstancie of fortune that one Elmahdi the principall 〈◊〉 preacher among them conspiring with the Hargij these Hargij were of the familie of Musmuda expelled the whole race of the Luntuna and vsurped that kingdome vnto himselfe After this mans decease succeeded in his place one of his disciples called Habdul Mumen a Banigueriaghel of the kindred of the Sanhagij The kingdome remained vnto this family about an 120. yeeres whereunto all Africa in a manner was subiect At length being deposed by the Banimarini a generation of the Zeneti the said familie was put to flight which Banimarini are said to haue raigned afterward for the space of 170. yeeres The Banimarini which descended of the Sanhagij and of Magroa waged continuall warre against Banizeijan the king of Telensin likewise the progenie of Hafasa and of Musmuda are at variance and dissension with the king of Tunis So that you see what stirres and tumults haue at all times beene occasioned in those regions by the foresaid fiue families Certaine it is that neither the Gumeri nor the Haoari haue at this present any iurisdiction at all albeit heretofore as we reade in their chronicles they had some certaine dominion before such time as they were infected with the Mahumetan lawe Out of all which it is euident that in times past all the foresaid people had their habitations and tents in the plaine fields euery one of which fauoured their owne faction and exercised all labours necessarie for mans life as common among them The gouernours of the countrie attended their droues and flockes and the citizens applied themselues vnto some manuall art or to husbandrie The said people are diuided into fiue hundred seuerall families as appeereth by the genealogies of the Africans author whereof is one Ibnu Rachu whom I haue oftentimes read and perused Some writers are of opinion that the king of Tombuto the king of Melli and the king of Agadez fetch their originall from the people of Zanaga to wit from them which inhabite the desert The agreement or varietie of the African lauguage THe foresaid fiue families or people 〈◊〉 diuided into hundreds of progenies and hauing innumerable habitations doe notwithstanding vse all one kinde of language called by them Aquel Amarig that is the noble toong the Arabians which inhabite Africa call it a barbarous toong and this is the true and naturall language of the Africans Howbeit it is altogether different from other languages although it hath diuers words common with the Arabian toong whereupon some would inferre that the Africans as is aboue said came by lineall descent from the Sabeans a people of Arabia foelix Others say that these words were euen then inuented when the Arabians came first into Africa and began to take possession thereof but these authors were so rude and grosse-witted that they left no writings behinde them which might be alleaged either for or against Moreouer they haue among them another diuersitie not onely of 〈◊〉 but of significant words also as namely they which dwell neere vnto the Arabians and exercise much traffique with them doe for the greater part vse their language Yea all the Gumeri in a manner and most of the Haoari speake Arabian
mountaine of Iron commonly called Gebelelhadih THis mountaine is not to be accounted any part of Atlas for it beginneth northward from the Ocean and southward it extendeth to the riuer of Tensift and diuideth Hea from Duccala and Maroco The inhabitants are called Regraga Vpon this hill are waste deserts cleere fountaines and abundance of hony and of oyle Arganick but of corne and pulse great scarcitie vnlesse they make prouision thereof out of Duccala Few rich men are heere to be founde but they are all most deuout and religious after their manner Vpon the toppe of this mountaine are many Hermites which liue onely vpon the fruits of certaine trees and drinke water They are a most faithfull and peaceable nation Whosoeuer among them is apprehended for theft or any other crime is foorthwith banished the countrey for certaine yeeres So great is their simplicitie that whatsoeuer they see the Hermites do they esteeme it as a miracle They are much oppressed with the often inuasions of their neighbours the Arabians wherefore this quiet nation choose rather to pay yeerely tribute then to maintaine warre Against the saide Arabians Mahumet the King of Fez directed his troupes insomuch that they were constrained to leaue their owne countrey and to flee into the mountaines But the people of the mountaines being aided with Mahumet his forces vanquished the Arabians so that three thousand of them were slaine and fower-score of their horses were brought vnto K. Mahumet After which prosperous battaile the said mountainers remained free from all tribute I my selfe while these things were a dooing serued the king It was in the yeere of the Hegeira 921. that is to say in the yeere of our Lord 1512. When this people vndertake any warre they bring commonly into the fielde an armie of twelue thousand men Of the region of Sus. NOw comes the region of Sus to be considered of being situate beyond Atlas ouer against the territorie of Hea that is to say in the extreme part of Africa Westward it beginneth from the Ocean sea and southward from the sandie deserts on the north it is bounded with the vtmost towne of Hea and on the east with that mightie riuer whereof the whole region is named Wherefore beginning from the west wee will describe all those cities and places which shall seeme to be woorthy of memorie Of the towne of Messa THree small townes were built by the ancient Africans vpon the sea shoare each being a mile distant from other in that very place where Atlas takes his beginning all which three are called by one onely name to wit Messa and are enuironed with a wall builte of white stones Through these three runneth a certaine great riuer called Sus in their language this riuer in sommer is so destitute of water that a man may easilie without perill passe ouer it on foote but it is not so in the winter time They haue then certaine small barkes which are not meete to saile vpon this riuer The place where the foresaide three townes are situate aboundeth greatly with palme trees neither haue they in a manner any other wealth and yet their dates are but of small woorth because they will not last aboue one yeere All the inhabitants exercise husbandry especially in the moneths of September and Aprill what time their riuer encreaseth And in May their corne groweth to ripenes But if in the two foresaide moneths the riuer encreaseth not according to the woonted manner their haruest is then nothing woorth Cattell are very scarce among them Not farre from the sea side they haue a temple which they greatly esteeme and honour Out of which Historiographers say that the same prophet of whom their great Mahumet foretold shoulde proceed Yea some there are which sticke not to affirme that the prophet Ionas was cast foorth by the whale vpon the shoare of Messa when as he was sent to preach vnto the Niniuites The rafters and beames of the saide temple are of whales bone And it is a vsuall thing amongst them to see whales of an huge and monstrous bignes cast vp dead vpon their shore which by reason of their hugenes and strange deformitie may terrifie and astonish the beholders The common people imagine that by reason of a certaine secret power and vertue infused from heauen by God vpon the saide temple each whale which woulde swim past it can by no meanes escape death Which opinion had almost perswaded me especially when at my being there I my selfe sawe a mightie whale cast vp vnlesse a certaine Iewe had tolde me that it was no such strange matter for quoth he there lie certaine rockes two miles into the sea on either side and as the sea mooues so the whales mooue also and if they chaunce to light vpon a rock they are easily wounded to death and so are cast vpon the next shore This reason more preuailed with me then the opinion of the people My selfe I remember being in this region at the same time when my Lord the Seriffo bare rule ouer it was inuited by a certaine gentleman and was by him conducted into a garden where he shewed me a whales rib of so great a size that lying vpon the grounde with the conuexe or bowing side vpwarde in manner of an arche it resembled a gate the hollow or inwarde part whereof aloft we could not touch with our heads as we rode vpon our camels backs this rib he said had lien there aboue an hundred yeeres and was kept as a miracle Here may you finde vpon the sea-shore great store of amber which the Portugal Fessan merchāts fetch from thence for a very meane price for they scarcely pay a duckat for a whole ounce of most choise and excellent amber Amber as some thinke is made of whales dung and as others suppose of their Sperma or seede which being consolidate and hardened by the sea is cast vpon the next shore Of Teijeut an ancient towne of Sus. TEijeut being as the report goeth built by the ancient Africans in a most pleasant place is diuided into three partes whereof each one is almost a mile distant from another and they all make a triangle or three-square This Teijeut containeth fower thousand families and standeth not farre from the riuer of Sus. The soile adiacent is most fruitfull for graine for barlie and for all kinde of pulse They haue here likewise a good quantitie of sugar growing howbeit because they know not how to presse boyle and trim it they cannot haue it but blacke and vnsauourie wherefore so much as they can spare they sell vnto the merchants of Maroco of Fez and of the land of Negros Of dates likewise they haue plentie neither vse they any money besides the gold which is digged out of their owne natiue soile The women weare vpon their heads a peece of cloth woorth a duckat Siluer they haue none but such as their women adorne themselues with The least iron-coine
a certaine storie of his maketh mention of Tedsi which he saith is neere vnto Segelmesse and Dara but he declareth not whether it bee built vpon mount Dedes or no. Howbeit for mine owne part I thinke it to be the very same for there is no other citie in the whole region The inhabitants of Dedes are in very deede most base people of whom the greater part dwell in caues vnder the ground their foode is barly and Elhasid that is to say barly meale sodden with water and salt which we mentioned before in our description of Hea For heere is nothing but barly to be had Goates and asses they haue in great abundance The caues wherein their cattell lodge are exceedingly full of Nitre so that I verily thinke if this mountaine were neer vnto Italy the saide Nitre woulde yeerely be woorth fiue and twentie thousand ducates But such is their negligence and vnskilfulnes that they are vtterly ignorant to what purposes Nitre serueth Their garments are so rude that they scarce couer halfe their nakednes Their houses are very loathsome being annoied with the stinking smell of their goates In all this mountaine you shall finde neither castle nor walled towne when they builde an house they pile one stone vpon another without any morter at all the roofe whereof they make of certaine rubbish like as they doe in some places of Sisa and Fabbriano the residue as we haue saide do inhabite in caues neither sawe I euer to my remembrance greater swarmes of fleas then among these people Moreouer they are trecherous and strong theeues so giuen to stealing and quarrelling that for one vnkinde worde they wil not onely contend but seeke also the destruction one of another They haue neither iudge priest nor any honest gouernour among them No merchants resort vnto them for being giuen to continuall idlenes and not exercising any trades or handie-crafts they haue nothing meet for merchants to buy If any merchant bring any wares into their region vnlesse he be safe conducted by their captaine he is in danger to be robbed of altogither And if the wares serue not for their owne necessarie vses they will exact one fourth part of them for custome Their women are most forlorne and sluttish going more beggerly apparelled then the men So continual and slauish are the toiles of these women that for miserie the life of asses is not comparable to theirs And to be briefe neuer was I so wearie of any place in all Africa as I was of this howbeit in the yeere of the Hegeira 918. being commanded by one to whom I was in dutie bound to trauell vnto Segelmesse I could not choose but come this way IOHN LEO HIS THIRD BOOKE OF the Historie of Africa and of the memorable things contained therein A most exact description of the kingdome of Fez. THE kingdome of Fez beginneth westward at the famous riuer Ommirabih and extendeth eastward to the riuer Muluia northward it is enclosed partly with the Ocean and partly with the Mediterran sea The said kingdome of Fez is diuided into seuen prouinces to wit Temesna the territorie of Fez Azgar Elhabet Errif Garet and Elchauz euery of which prouinces had in olde time a seuerall gouernour neither indeed hath the citie of Fez alwaies beene the kings royall seate but being built by a certaine Mahumetan apostata was gouerned by his posteritie almost an hundred and fiftie yeeres After which time the familie of Marin got the vpper hand who here setling their aboad were the first that euer called Fez by the name of a kingdome the reasons why they did so we will declare more at large in our small treatise concerning the Mahumetan religion But now let vs as briefly as we may describe the foresaid seuen prouinces Of Temesna one of the prouinces of Fez. WEstward it beginneth at the riuer Ommirabih and stretcheth to the riuer Buragrag eastward the south frontire thereof bordereth vpon Atlas and the north vpon the Ocean sea It is all ouer a plaine countrie containing in length from west to east almost fowerscore miles and in breadth from Atlas to the Ocean sea about threescore This prouince hath euer almost beene the principall of the seuen before named for it contained to the number of fortie great townes besides three hundred castles all which were inhabited by Barbarian Africans In the 323. yeere of the Hegeira this prouince was by a certaine heretike against the Mahumetan religion called Chemim the sonne of Mennal freed from paying of tribute This bad fellow perswaded the people of Fez to yeeld no tribute nor honour vnto their prince and himselfe he professed to be a prophet but a while after he dealt not onely in matters of religion but in commonwealth-affaires also At length waging war against the king of Fez who was himselfe then warring with the people of Zenete it so befell that a league was concluded betweene them conditionally that Chemim shoulde enioy Temesne and that the king should containe himselfe within his signiorie of Fez so that from thencefoorth neither should molest other The said Chemim gouerned the prouince of Temesne about fiue and thirtie yeeres and his successours enioyed it almost an hundred yeeres after his decease But king Ioseph hauing built Maroco went about to bring this prouince vnder his subiection Whereupon he sent sundry Mahumetan doctors and priestes to reclaime the gouernour thereof from his heresie and to perswade him if it were possible to yeelde vnto the king by faire meanes Whereof the inhabitants being aduertised they consulted with a certaine kinsman of the foresaid gouernour in the citie called Anfa to murther the king of Maroco his ambassadours and so they did Soone after leuying an armie of fiftie thousand men he marched towards Maroco intending to expell thence the familie of Luntuna and Ioseph their king King Ioseph hearing of this newes was driuen into woonderfull perplexitie of minde Wherefore preparing an huge and mighty armie he staied not the comming of his enemies but on the sudden within three daies hauing conducted his forces ouer the riuer of Ommirabih he entred Temesne when as the foresaid fiftie thousand men were so dismaied at the kings armie that they all passed the riuer Buragrag and so fled into Fez. But the king so dispeopled and wasted Temesne that without all remorse he put both man woman and childe to the sword This armie remained in the region eight daies in which space they so razed and demolished all the towns and cities thereof that there scarce remaine any fragments of them at this time But the king of Fez on the other side hearing that the people of Temesne were come into his dominions made a truce with the tribe of Zenete and bent his great armie against the said Temesnites And at length hauing found them halfe famished neere vnto the riuer of Buragrag he so stopped their passage on all sides that they were constrained to run vp the craggie mountaines
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
be seene to his subiects but onely vpon solemne dayes At other times it was held as a great fauour if he did shew but the halfe part of his feete to ambassadours and to his fauorites And no maruel for amongst the Ethiopians it hath beene an ancient custome as Strabo writeth To adore their kinges like gods who for the most part liue enclosed at home This so strange and stately kinde of gouernment did exceedingly abase his subiects whom the Prete vsed like slaues so that vpon the smallest occasions that might be he would depriue them of all honour and dignity were they neuer so great Abassia containeth many large plaines and very high mountaines all fruitfull In some places you shall haue most extreame coulde and frostie weather but not any snowe throughout the whole empire no not in the mountaines The Prete hath many moores in his dominions and vpon his borders but the most populous of all others are the Moores called Dobas who are bound by a law neuer to marry till they can bring most euident testimony that each of them hath slaine twelue Christians Wherefore the Abassin merchantspasse not by their country but with most strong guardes A particular and briefe relation of all the kingdomes and prouinces subiect to the Christian Emperour of Abassia commonly called Prete Ianni 〈◊〉 OF all the prouinces subiect vnto the Prete that of Barnagasso is best knowne vnto vs bicause it is so neere vnto the Red sea ouer against the shore whereof it stretcheth in length from Suachen almost as farre as the very mouth or entrance of the streight being as is before saide bounded on the south part with the mightie riuer of Abagni which runneth westward out of the lake of Barcena into Nilus Howbeit it hath no other port vpon the Red sea but onely Ercoco situate neere the Isle of Mazua neither hath the Prete any porte but this in all his dominions so that he is as it were on all sides land-locked which is one of the greatest defects in any empire kingdome or state that can be imagined This prouince is full of townes villages as likewise of riuers and pooles which make it exceeding fruitfull The Viceroy or gouernour hereof called also by the name of Barnagasso resideth in the citie of Beroa otherwise called Barua and by Ptolemey as Sanutus thinketh Coloue situate vpon a pleasant riuer abounding with fish Vnto him likewise are subiect the gouernments of Danfila and of Canfila neere vnto the borders of Egypt Certaine yeeres past the great Turkes forces haue mightily afflicted this prouince destroying the townes and leading the people captiue so that in the end Isaac the lorde Barnagasso was inforced to compound with the Turkes lieutenant bearing title The Bassa of Abassia and residing in Suachen for the yeerely tribute of a thousand ounces of golde Ouer and besides he paieth euery yeere vnto his soueraigne the Prete an hundred and fiftie excellent horses with cloth of silke and of cotton and other matters On the most westerly part of Barnagasso beginneth a mightie ridge of mountaines which for a good space waxing narrower and narrower at length in the kingdome of Angote dilateth 〈◊〉 selfe into a rounde forme enuironing with the steepe sides and impassable tops thereof many fruitefull and pleasant vallies for the space of fifteene daies iourney in compasse within which vallies as it were in walled castles all persons whatsoeuer both male and female of the Abassin bloud royall are vnder paine of most extreme punishment togither with their whole families limited to remaine Within this great roundell or enclosure of mountaines there is among many others contained one lesser which is begirt arounde with a mountainous wall so craggie steepe and vnscaleable that no man can come in or out but onely by a certaine basket drawne vp and downe vpon a rope neither is it possible to famish the parties within by a siege be it neuer so long for they haue fruitefull ground with houses a church a monasterie cesternes of water and all other necessaries for the continuall maintenance of fiue hundred persons Within this strong citadell of mountaines for the auoiding of all tumults and seditions are locked vp those great personages which come neerest in bloud to the Prete and are in possibilitie of the crowne and here must they all liue and die except a very few of them who attaine at length vnto the gouernment of the empire The Abassins haue a tradition that one Abraham an emperour of theirs being admonished in a dreame that he shoulde keepe his dominions in tranquillitie by the meanes aforesaid was the first that founde this mountaine and vsed it for the same purpose Tigremahon TIgremahon a very large kingdome lieth betweene the riuer Marabo Nilus the Red sea and the kingdome of Angote The gouernour heere of paieth for yeerely tribute vnto the Prete two hundred Arabian horsés a great quantitie of silke and cotton-cloth and very much golde Vnto this kingdome is subiect the prouince of Tigray wherein standes the citie of Caxumo sometimes the royall seate of the Queene of Saba which they say was called Maqueda of whom Salomon begat a sonne named Melich before mentioned which citie was the seate likewise of Queene Candace Also to the said kingdome of Tigremahon belong the prouinces of Sabaim Torrates Balgada and others Angote THis kingdome standing betweene the kingdomes of Tigremahon and Amara is full of mountaines and valleies and aboundeth mightilie with all kinde of corne and cattell The inhabitants eate but one meale in fower and twentie howers and that alwaies in the night their foode is most commonly rawe flesh with a kinde of sauce made of an oxegall In stead of money they vse salte and little balles of iron as is before saide Vnto this kingdome do belong the prouinces of Abuguna and Guanamora with other regions and places Amara THe kingdome of Amara bordering north vpon Angote east vpon Xoa south vpon Damut and extending west almost as farre as Nilus is for the most part a plaine region without mountaines very fertile and abounding with cattell Vpon the frontiers of this kingdome standeth the foresaide large high and 〈◊〉 mountaine wherein the sonnes brethren and kinsfolkes of the Prete are most warily kept and from whence after his decease the heire apparant is brought to be inuested in the empire The kingdome of Xoa situate betweene the kingdomes of Amara Damut and Fatigar containeth many deepe vallies and aboundeth with all kinde of corne and cattell In the kingdome of Goiame are two mightie lakes from which Nilus is saide to fetch his originall Heere is exceeding plentie of golde vnrefined the north part of this region is full of deserts and mountainous places Bagamidri one of the largest kingdomes in all the vpper Ethiopia extendeth in length by the riuer Nilus the space almost of six hundred miles and in 〈◊〉 kingdome are many mostrich siluer-mines The kingdome of Fatigar lying betweene
inheritance Canons but priests sonnes haue no such priuilege vnlesse they be ordained by the Abuna They pay no tithes to any churches but the clergie are maintained by great possessions belonging to their churches and monasteries Also when any priest is cited he is conuented before a secular iudge Whereas I saide they sit not in their churches it is to bee vnderstoode that alwaies without the church doore stande a great number of woodden crutches such as lame men vse to goe vpon where euery man taketh his owne and leaneth thereupon all the time of their diuine seruice All their books which they haue in great numbers are written in parchment for paper they haue none and the language wherein they are written named Tigia is all one with the Abassin language but so it was called from the name of the first towne in all that empire which was conuerted to the Christian religion All their churches haue two curtaines one about their great altar with belles within which curtaine none may enter but onely priests also they haue another curtaine stretching through the midst of their church and within that may no man come but such as haue taken holy orders insomuch that many gentlemen and honorable persons take orders vpon them onely that they may haue accesse into their churches The greater part of their monasteries are built vpon high mountaines or in some deepe valley they haue great reuenues and iurisdictions and in many of them they eate no flesh all the yeere long Neither do they spende any store of fish bicause they know not how to take it Vpon the wals of all their churches are painted the pictures of Christ of the blessed virgine Marie of the apostles prophets and angels and in euery one the picture of Saint George a horseback They haue no Roodes neither will they suffer Christ crucified to be painted bicause they say they are not woorthy to behold him in that passion All their priests friers and noblemen continually carrie crosses in their hands but the meaner sort of people carrie them about their neckes Their mooueable feasts namely Easter the feast of Ascension Whitsontide they obserue at the verie same daies and times that we do Likewise as concerning the feasts of Christmas the Circumcision the Epiphanie and other the feasts of the saints they agree whollie with vs though in some other things they varie They haue great store of leprous persons who are not put apart from the rest of the people but liue in company with them and many there are who for charitie and deuotions sake do wash them and heale their wounds They haue a kinde of trumpets but not of the best and likewise certaine drums of brasse which are brought from Cairo and of woode also couered with leather at both endes and cimbals like vnto ours and certaine great basons whereon they make a noise There are flutes in like sort and a kinde of square instruments with strings not much vnlike to an harpe which they call Dauid Mozan that is to say the harpe of Dauid and with these harpes they sounde before the Prete but some what rudely Their horses of the countrey-breed are in number infinite but such small hackney-iades that they doe them little seruice howbeit those that are brought out of Arabia and Egypt are most excellent and beautifull horses and the great horse-masters also in Abassia haue certaine breeds or races of them which being new foled they suffer not to sucke the damme aboue three daies if they be such as they meane to backe betimes but separating them from their dammes they suckle them with kine and by that meanes they prooue most sightly and gallant horses Hitherto Aluarez Thus much I hope may suffice to haue bin spoken concerning the vpper or Inner Ethiopia which containeth the empire of Prete Ianni now sithens we are so far proceeded let vs take also a cursory and briefe surueie of the lower or extreme Ethiopia extending it selfe in forme of a speares point or a wedge as far as thirtie fiue degrees of southerly latitude Of the lower or extreme Ethiopia THis parte of Africa being vtterly vnknowne to Ptolemey and all the ancient writers but in these later times throughly discouered by the Portugales especially along the coast beginneth to the Northwest about the great riuer of Zaire not far from the Equinoctial from whence stretching southward to thirtie fiue degrees and then Northward along the sea-coast on the backside of Africa as far as the very mouth or enterance of the Arabian gulfe it limiteth the south and east frontiers of the Abassin Empire last before described In this part also are many particulars very memorable as namely besides sundry great empires kingdomes The famous mountaines of the moon the mightie riuers of Magnice Cuama and Coauo springing out of the lake Zembre the renowmed cape of good hope and other matters whereof we will intreate in their due places This portion of Africa is diuided into sixe principall partes namely The land of Aian the land of Zanguebar the empire of Mohenemugi the empire of Monomotapa the region of Cafraria the kingdome of Congo Aian the first generall part of Ethiopia the lower THe land of Aian is accounted by the Arabians to be that region which lyeth betweene the narrow entrance into the Red sea and the riuer of Quilimanci being vpon the sea-coast for the most part inhabited by the said Arabians but the inland-partes thereof are peopled with a black nation which are Idolaters It comprehendeth two kingdomes Adel and Adea Adel is a very large kingdome and extendeth from the mouth of the Arabian gulfe to the cape of Guardafu called of olde by Ptolemey Aromata promontorium South and west it bordereth vpon the dominions of Prete Ianni about the kingdome of Fatigar The king of this countrie being a Moore is accounted amongst the Mahumetans a most holy man and very much reuerenced by them because he wageth continuall war with the Christians taking captiue many of the Abassins and sending them to the great Turke and the princes of Arabia of whome he receiueth greate ayde for the maintenance of his warres both of horse and foote The people of Adel are of the colour of an oliue being very warlike notwithstanding that the greatest part of them want weapons Their principall city is called Anar as some are of opinion Vnto this kingdome is subiect the citie of Zeila inhabited by Mooes situate on a sandie and low soile which some suppose to be built in the very same place without the enterance of the Red sea where Ptolemey placed the ancient mart-towne of Aualites This citie is a place of great traffike for hither they bring out of India cloth elephants teeth frankincense pepper golde and other rich merchandize The territorie adioining yeeldeth abundance of honie waxe and great quantitie of oile which they make not of oliues but of a kinde of daintie plums it affourdeth likewise such
leaue his citie to the sacke and spoile of his enimies who found therein a good quantitie of gold siluer and pearle and likewise cloth of cotton of silke and of gold with great numbers of slaues such other commodities Howbeit they remained not there any long time but were inforced to abandon the place in regard of the most vnholesome and infectious aire This kingdome is tributarie to the great empire of Mohenemugi The kingdome of Quiloa situate in nine degrees towarde the pole Antarticke and like the last before mentioned taking the denomination thereof from a certaine isle and citie both called by the name of Quiloa may be accounted for the third portion of the lande of Zanguebar This island hath a very fresh and coole aire and is replenished with trees alwaies greene and with plentie of all kinde of victuals It is situate at the mouth of the great riuer Coauo which springeth out of the same lake from whence Nilus floweth and is called also by some Quiloa and by others Tahiua and runneth from the saide lake eastward for the space of sixe hundred miles till it approcheth neere the sea where the streame thereof is so forcible that at the very mouth or out-let dispersing it selfe into two branches it shapeth out a great island to the west where of vpon the coast you may behold the little isle and the citie of Quiloa being separated from the maine by a very narrow arme of the sea This isle as also the great isle before named is inhabited by Mahumetans who are of colour whitish Their women are comely and rich in their attire Their houses are fairely builte of lime and stone and haue within them very gallant and costly furniture and without they are enuironed with gardens and orchards full of sundry delicate fruits and herbes Of this island the whole kingdome as is aforesaide tooke the name which vpon the coast extendeth it selfe to Cabo Delgado or the slender Cape being the limite betweene Moçambique and this kingdome of Quiloa from thence it stretcheth vnto the foresaid riuer of Coauo In old time this kingdome of Quiloa was the chiefest of all the principalities there adioining for the Arabians which were masters thereof had inlarged their dominions for the space of nine hundred miles so that all the sea-coast and the islands as farre as Cabo de los Corrientes situate in fower and twentie degrees of southerly latitude were tributarie and subiect thereunto Whereupon when the Portugals arriued in those countries the king of this place trusted so much to himselfe that he thought he was able with his owne forces not onely to make a defensiue warre against them but also to driue them from those places which they had already surprized Howbeit quite contrarie to his expectation he was by the Portugals vtterly vanquished and put to flight Who seazing vpon the isle and citie enriched themselues with the great booties spoiles that they found therein Thus the mightie king of Quiloa who before the Portugals arriuall in those parts enioied also the chiefe commoditie of the rich gold mines of Sofala became atlength by a composition made with Don Pedro Cabral tributarie to the crowne of Portugall paying for tribute at the first fiue hundred and afterward fifteene hundred peeces of gold Vpon the foresaid isle the Portugals erected a fortresse which their king afterward commanded them to deface considering that there were other forts sufficient enough for that coast Betweene the two mightie riuers of Coauo and Cuama both which spring out of one lake with Nilus among the kingdomes of Mombara Mozimba Maeuas and Embeoe which are not as yet perfectly discouered lieth the kingdome of Moçambique so called of three small islets situate in the mouth of the riuer Meghincate in fowerteene and a halfe or fifteene degrees of southerly latitude which kingdome in ancient time by Ptolemey was called Promontorium 〈◊〉 In the principall of the three foresaide isles there is a very commodious and secure hauen capable of all kinde of vessels and there also the Portugals haue built a very strong forte where albeit in regard of the lownes and moisture of the soile being full of bogges and fens the aire be most vnholsome and in manner pestilent yet the oportunitie of the place and the plentie of victuals haue made it one of the most famous and frequented hauens in all that Ocean For which cause the fleetes which saile from Portugall to the east Indies when they are out of hope to performe their voiage in summer do vsually resort to spend the whole winter at Moçambique and those Portugale ships also which come from the Indies toward Europe must of necessitie touch at this place to furnish themselues with victuals Along these coasts do saile certaine Moores in vessels sowed or fastened togither with thongs of lether the sailes whereof they make of Palme-leaues and in stead of pitch and tallow they calke them with gumme which they gather in the woods Vnto this kingdome of Moçambique belongeth the prouince of Angoscia so called from certaine isles of that name lying directly ouer against it which prouince stretcheth to the riuer of Cuama It is inhabited by Mahumetans and Gentiles who are for the greatest part merchants and do trafficke along that coast with the same wares and commodities wherewith the people of Sofala do trade Sofala or Sefala the fift and last general part of Zanguebar is a small kingdome lying vpon the sea-coast between the riuers of Cuama and Magnice being so called after the name of a riuer running through it in which riuer lyeth an Island which is the head and principal place of the whole countrie On this Island the Portugales 〈◊〉 built a most strong forte by meanes whereof they are become Lordes of the richest trade in all those parts For to say nothing of the Iuorie Amber and slaues which are hither brought all the gold in a manner that is taken out of those manifolde and endlesse mines of Sofala and all the Inland-countries thereabouts is here exchanged vnto the Portugales for cotton-cloth silkes and other commodities of Cambaia all which is thought yeerely to amount vnto the summe of two millions of gold This golden trade was first in the power of the Moores of Magadazo and afterward it befell to them of Quiloa The inhabitants of Sofala are Mahumetans being gouerned by a king of the same sect who yeeldeth obedience to the crowne of Portugale because hee will not be subiect to the empire of Monomotapa Neither is it heere to bee omitted that in these parts vnder the name of Iuorie are bartered not onely elephants teeth but also the teeth of sea-horses which creatures are commonly found in the riuers of Nilus Niger Coauo Cuama Magnice and all other the great riuers of Africa The empire of Mohenemugi the third generall part of the lower Ethiopia THis mightie empire bordering south vpon the kingdome of Moçambique and the empire of
legions of soldiers which this emperour for the defence of his great estate is forced to maintaine his Amazones or women warriers before mentionied are the most valiant being indeed the very sinewes and chiefe strength of all his militarie forces These women after the manner of the ancient Scythish or Asiatike Amazones so much spoken of in histories of former times seare off their left paps that they might not be an hinderance vnto them in their shooting They are most expert in warlike stratagems and swift of foote Their weapons are bowes and arrowes At certaine times for generations sake they accompany with men sending the male children home to their fathers but keeping their daughters vnto themselues They inhabite towards the west not farre from the beginning of Nilus in certaine places which themselues make choise of and which are graunted vnto them by the fauour of the Emperour This empire of Monomotapa comprehendeth not onely the foresaid great island but stretcheth it selfe farther also toward the cape of Buena esperanca as farre as the kingdomes of Butua or Toroa which being gouerned by particular lords do acknowledge Monomotapa for their soueraigne Throughout all this emperours dominions is found infinite quantitie of gold in the earth in the rockes and in the riuers The gold-mines of this countrey neerest vnto Sofala are those of Manica vpon a plaine enuironed with mountaines and those also in the prouince of Matuca which is inhabited by the people called Battonghi and situate betweene the Equinoctiall line and the Tropique of Capricorne These mines are distant from Sofala betweene the space of 300. and sixe hundred miles but those of the prouinces of Boro and Quiticui are fifteene hundred miles distant towards the west Others there are also in the kingdomes of Toroa or Butua so that from hence or from Sofala or from some other part of Monomotapa some are of opinion that Salomons gold for the adorning of the temple at Ierusalem was brought by sea A thing in truth not very vnlikely for here in Toroa and in diuers places of Monomotapa are till this day remaining manie huge and ancient buildings of timber lime and stone being of singular workemanship the like whereof are not to be found in all the prouinces there abouts Heere is also a mightie wall of fiue and twentie spannes thicke which the people asoribe to the workemanship of the diuell being accounted from Sofala fiue hundred and ten miles the neerest way All other houses throughout this empire as is aforesaid consist of timber claie and thatch And heere I may boldly affirme that the ancient buildings of this part of Africa along the coast of the east Indies may not onely be compared but euen preferred before the buildings of Europe The authors of which ancient monuments are vnknowen but the later African buildings haue beene erected by the Arabians In the time of Sebastian king of Portugale the emperour of Monomotapa and many of his nobles were baptized howbeit afterward being seduced by certaine Moores hee put Gonsaluo Silua to death who conuerted him to the Christian religion Whereupon Sebastian king of Portugall sent against him an armie of sixteene thousand consisting for the most part of gentlemen and men of qualitie vnder the conduct of Francisco Barretto The Monomotapa being afraid of the Portugall forces offered Barretto as good and acceptable conditions of peace as might be desired but he not contented with reason was quite ouerthrowne not by his enimies but by the vnholesome aire of Ethiopia and by the manifold diseases which consumed his people Cafraria the fift generall part of the lower Ethiopia CAfraria or the land of the Cafri we esteeme to be both the coasts and inlands of the extreame southerly point of Africa beginning from the riuer Magnice and thence extending by Cabo da pescaria Terra do Natal Bahia da lagoa Bahia fermosa about the cape of Buena esperança by the bay called Agoada Saldanha and thence Northward along the westerne coast of Africa as far as Cabo Negro or the blacke cape which is situate verie neere vnto eighteene degrees of Southerly latitude The saide Cape of Buena esperança is deuided into three smaller headlands or capes The westermost being called Cabo de buena esperança or The cape of good hope after the name of the whole promontorie and being cut from the rest of the firme land The middlemost is named Cabo falso because the Portugales in their voiage homewards from the east Indies haue sometimes mistaken this for the true cape beforementioned betweene which two capes runneth into the sea a mightie riuer called by the Portugales Rio dolce where their caraks often take in fresh water and by the naturall inhabitants Camissa which springeth out of a small lake called Gale situate among The mountaines of the moon so much celebrated by ancient geographers The third and eastermost cape stretching farthest into the sea is called Cabo das Agulhas or the cape of Needles because there the needles of dialles touched with the loadstone stand directly North without any variation either to the east or to the west betweene this cape and the foresaid westermost cape which ly forth into the sea like two hornes is the bredth of this mightie promontorie containing about fiue and twentie leagues the length whereof from the riuer of Fernando Poo where it beginneth to iuttie forth into the sea along the westerne coast southward to the cape das Agulhas amounteth to two thousand two hundred Italian miles and from Cabo das Agulhas along the easterne shore northward to Cape Guardafu are three thousand three hundred of the same miles This cape at the first discouerie thereof was called by Nauigators The Lyon of the sea Cabo tormentoso or The tēpestuous cape not so much as I take it for the dangerous and stormie seas more about this cape then any other but partly in regard of the chargeable dangerous and long trauels of the Portugals before they could attaine vnto it and partly bicause of the great compasse which in their voiages outward they are constrained to fetch for the doubling thereof and partly also in regard of some tempestuous and stormie weather wherewith they haue beene encountered at this Cape which notwithstanding at certaine times is an ordinarie matter vpon all shores and promontories ouer the face of the whole earth And albeit some will not come within sight of this cape but keepe a great distance off for feare of the dangerous seas beating thereupon as namely Francis de Almeida who sailed aboue an hundred leagues to the south in fortie degrees of latitude Pedro de Agnaia in fortie fiue and Vasco Carualho in fortie seuen where in the moneth of Iuly eight of his men died for cold yet we finde by the late and moderne experience of sir Francis Drake master Candish master Lancaster in his returne from the east Indies and of the Hollanders in their nauigations thither begun in the yeere
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
of Nilus abound with all kinds of graine and pulse wherof the climate is capable as namely with beanes 〈◊〉 millet c. but wheate rie barley and grapes cannot there attaine to ripenes and perfection by reason of ouermuch moisture saue onely some small quantitie of wheat neere the deserts where the Caraguloni inhabite But their chiefe sustenance is Zaburro otherwise called Ghinie-wheate or Maiz which they sowe after the inundation of their riuers casting some quantitie of sande thereupon to defend it from the heate which otherwise would scorch the grounde too excessiuely They drinke the iuice of the palme-tree which they cut and lance for that purpose and this iuice not being tempered is as strong and headie as any wine Neither are they heere destitute of mightie adders of lions leopards and elephants but beasts for labour they haue none saue onely a small kinde of oxen and goates The horses which are brought thither by merchants liue but a short time The aire by reason of abundance of lakes bredde by the ouerflowes of their riuers is moist and grosse And heere fall most vnholesome and palpable dewes It raineth in these countries from October till the end of Iuly euery day about noone with thunder and lightning All the kingdomes and countries by vs before described from the cape of Buena esperança to the riuer last mentioned are inhabited by blacke people The most northerly are the Gialofi who spread themselues between the two foresaid riuers for the space of fiue hundred miles eastward so that the riuer Senaga is the vtmost northren bound of Negros or nations extremely blacke howbeit vpon the bankes thereof are found people of sundry colours by reason of the varietie of women Betweene this riuer of Senaga and Cabo blanco or the white cape lieth a countrey called by some Anterote being all ouer in a manner sandy barren lowe and plaine neither is there in all this distance any place of account or reckoning saue onely the isles of Arguin where of we will intreat among the isles of Africa and a territorie or towne sixe daies iourney within the maine called Hoden This towne is not walled but lieth open and consisteth of the wandring Arabians rude and homely habitations being notwithstanding a place of Rendeuous or meeting for all such as trauell in Carouans from Tombuto and other places in the lande of Negros to Barbarie The principall food of the inhabitants heere are dates and barly both which the soile yeeldeth indeed but not in so plentifull a manner and they drinke the milke of camels of other beasts for wine they haue none at all These people are Mahumetans and most deadly enimies to Christians neither abide they long in any place but runne rouing and wandring vp and downe those deserts They are themselues very populous and haue abundance of camels vpon whose backes they carrie copper siluer and other commodities from Barbarie to Tombuto and to the residue of the land of Negros From Cabo blanco to the regions of Sus and Hea which are the first prouinces described by Iohn Leo excepting a small portion onely of Biledulgerid you haue nothing but part of the vast fruitles vninhabitable desert of Libya called by the Arabians Sarra which stretcheth from the westerne Ocean as farre as the frontiers of Egypt Thus from the very bottome of the Red sea hauing coasted along the easterne and westerne shores of the most southerly partes of Africa and briefly described all the principall knowen empires kingdomes and regions within that maine which are left vntouched by our author Iohn Leo let vs now with like or more breuitie prosecute the description of the islands which are by the hand of the omnipotent creator planted round about this ample and spacious continent A briefe enumeration and description of all the most famous and knowne Islandes situate round about the coasts of Africa which haue beene omitted by IOHN LEO beginning first with the most northeasterly and so by little and little bringing our selues about the Cape of Buena Esperança neerer vnto Europe The Islands of the Red sea BOth the shores of the Red sea as well on the African as on the Arabian side are euerie where beset with many small islets and rockes which lie so thicke togither that they make the nauigation all along the said coasts to be most dangerous and difficult The isles of the Red sea most woorthie to be remembred are these following Babelmandel a little isle situate in the very mouth of the Red sea in twelue degrees containeth two leagues in compasse being from either of the firme lands three miles distant and standing about twentie paces high out of the water By Ptolemey it is called The isle of Diodorus Vpon this isle or one of the continents adioining are to be hired the most experimēted pilots for al that narrow sea euen as far as Suez And from the easterne and westerne side of this islet Strabo reporteth that the twofold enterance of the Arabian Gulfe was barred with a double chaine More to the north standeth Camaran being about eight leagues from the Arabian coast in fifteene degrees of latitude Vpon this isle are to be seene great ruines of ancient buildings It hath one indifferent good hauen and aboundeth with fresh water a thing most precious and acceptable in those parts with salt and with cattell On the other side towards Africa in fifteene degrees and an halfe standeth the isle of Dalaqua of about thirtie miles in circuite which space is almost contained in the length thereof being a place very famous for the abundance of pearles which are there caught wherewithall likewise the isle of Mua neere vnto it is richly end owed Next followeth Mazua in forme like to an halfe moone and not aboue a bow-shoot distant from the African maine betweene which isle and the continent there is an excellent hauen which is now the only porte that Prete Ianni hath in all his dominions for which as you may read before in the description of the said princes empire his lieutenant Barnagasso is constrained to pay a great yeerely tribute to the Turke Ouer against Mazua vpon the firme standeth the towne of Ercoco Vpon this little isle are diuers houses of Arabians built of lime and stone and others of claie couered with thatch North of Mazua standeth Suaquen in a certain lake made by the sea which there insinuateth it selfe within the land and frameth a most secure and commodious hauen On this small islet is built the faire and stately citie of Suaquen being almost as large as the isle it selfe wherein resideth the Turkes lieutenant or Bassa of Abassia Of the Isle of Socotera and other isles lying without the narrow entrance of the Arabian gulfe WIthout the streight of Babelmandel there are no islands woorthy of mention saue onely Socotera which as Iohn Barros supposeth was of old called by Ptolemey Dioscoridis lieth in sight of cape Guardafu
which the same author nameth Aromata Promōtorium Being about threescore miles long and fiue and twentie miles broad it is diuided with a rough and exceeding high ridge of mountaines and is subiect vnto most terrible and boisterous windes which do out of measure dry and parch the same For which cause and in regard of the slothfull rudenes of the inhabitants it is very scarce of victuals for it yeeldeth neither wheate rice wine nor hony In the vallies and places of shelter it affoordeth some quantitie of Millet of dates and of sundrie kinds of fruits neither is it altogither destitute of pasture for cattell It is frequented by merchants for Cinabre Sanguis Draconis and the most excellent Aloës of the world It hath no hauen of importance The Portugals are heere possessed of two small townes one called Coro and the other Benin and here in times past the king of Fartac A countrey of Arabia Foelix had a castle a garrison of soldiers vpon this isle which castle being taken by the Portugals was afterward by them abandoned bicause it quited not the cost The inhabitants being of a browne colour and of a good constitution are in religion a kind of Christians They hold an opinion that Saint Thomas suffred shipwracke vpon this isle and that of his ship was built a most ancient church which as yet is to be seene walled round about with three allies or partitions and three doores Furthermore they liue for the most part in caues or in cabins made of boughes very farre from the sea They go apparrelled in course cloth or in the skins of beastes In war their weapons are slings and swordes made of base iron and the women are as good soldiers as the men They are much addicted vnto Magick and inchantments and doe bring to passe matters incredible They haue no vse at all of nauigation nor of traffique and yet forsooth they esteeme themselues the most noble and worthy people vnder the heauens as also they are vtterly voide of learning which I doe note because that such as are learned make but small account of their wisedome To the North of Socotera are two small Isles which are called the two sisters the inhabitants whereof being of an oliue-colour liue without lawe and haue no conuersation with any other people The commodities of these Islets are Iuorie amber Sanguis draconis Aloës and a kind of pretious stones called Nizzolij Likewise ouer against Socotera are two other Islets one called the Isle of men and the other the Isle of women being distant thirtie miles asunder and fiue miles from Socotera They are so termed because that in the one dwell men onely and in the other women Howbeit they visite one another at certaine seasons but they cannot stay one in the Isle of another aboue three moneths in regarde of a secret qualitie of the ayer which is contrary to either sexe A matter if it be true most strange and admirable Of the Isles lying in the sea called Sinus Barbaricus ouer against the Easterne and Southeasterne shore of Africa ALl along from the cape of Guardafu to the cape of Buena Esperança are found sundry Islands partly dispersed heere and there in the sea and partly adioining vpon the firme land Such as are far into the sea are the greatest part vnhabited as namly the Isle of Don Garçia The * three and The * seuen brethren As rocas partidas the Isles of Sant Brandan and those of Mascarenha of Sant Francis of Santa Apollonia of Iohn de Lisboa of Cosinoledo and betweene the great Isle of Saint Laurence and the maine the Isles Do Natal or of the natiuitie as likewise the three Isles of Comoro with those of Alioa of Spirito Santo and of sant Christopher But of those which the vicinity of the firme land hath made more noble and frequented the first that offereth it selfe to our consideration is the Isle of Mombaza in foure degrees of southerly latitude cut out by a certaine chanel or arme of the sea which deuideth the same from the maine of Africa in compasse it containeth twelue miles and at the entrance of the saide chanel vpon a downe standeth the city of Mombaça built very handsomely after the Arabian fashion Somewhat farther from the continent are situate the Isles of Pemba Zanzibar and Monfia inhabited by Negros the greatest of which is Zanzibar the prince whereof is called by the name of a king and it lyeth vnder sixe degrees of south latitude being from the main ten leagues distant But the soueraigne of all these Isles was Quiloa inhabited like the rest with Mahumetans of little bodies and abiect mindes It aboundeth with rice millet cattel woods of palme-trees limons orenges sugar-canes where of notwithstanding they are ignorant how to make sugar The city standeth vpon the sea-shore ouer against the firme 〈◊〉 it is built of pure marble and the streetes are very narrow a thing common among the Arabians whereby they vse to defend themselues after the enemie hath once entered their townes From this Isle to Moçambique are about an hundred leagues Without the porte lieth Misa and three miles off Songo and Canga inhabited by Moores Next follow As Ilhas do Açotatado or The isles of the scourged bicause here a certaine pilot that was a Moore who had determined to wracke the whole fleete of Vasco da Gama receiued punishment Concerning Moçambique called by Ptolemey and other ancient writers Prassia we haue intreated before Fower miles from thence lie the desert isles of Saint George and then the isles of Angoscia inhabited by Moores These are stored with indifferent quantitie of victuals and here vpon an east winde they gather plentie of Ambergrise An hundred and fiftie miles from Cabo dos corrientes lieth A Ilha das vacas or The isle of Cowes with a castle thereupon and store of good water As Ilhas llanas or The plaine isles are not woorth the speaking of A Ilha da cruz otherwise called Ilha das fontanhas was the farthest limite of Bartholomew Diaz his nauigation who was the first Portugale that euer doubled the cape of Buena esprança and hauing doubled it returned backe without discouering any farther Of the Isle of Saint Laurence otherwise called Madagascar THis isle called by the Portugales The isle of Sant Laurence by the naturall inhabitans Madagascar by Paulus Venetus Magastar by Ptolemey Menuthias and by Plinie Cerne is accounted one of the greatest noblest and richest in the whole world About the midst thereof it approcheth towards the maine of Africa in forme of an elbowe being distant from thence an hundred threescore and ten miles The extreames of this isle are very farre separate from the saide maine and especially that which stretcheth toward the northeast The whole isle containeth in bredth fower hundred and fowerscore in length one thousand two hundred and in compasse fower thousand miles so that in bignes it farre exceedeth Italy though it be
for we were certaine yeeres fellow-students together at Fez where being of one standing and seniority we heard that booke of the Mahumetan religion expounded which is commonly called the epistle of Nensefi Of the towne of Hannimei VPon that side of Atlas which lieth towards the plaine countrey standeth a certain towne called by the inhabitants Hannimei being about 40. miles eastward of Maroco by which towne on the same side of Atlas lieth the direct way to Fez. From the said towne the riuer of Agmet is almost fifteene miles distant and the fielde lying betweene the saide riuer and towne is a most fruitefull soile like vnto the fielde adioining vpon the citie of Agmet before mentioned All the region betweene Maroco and the foresaid riuer is in subiection vnto the gouernour of Maroco but from the riuer vnto Hannimei the townes-men of Hannimei beare rule This towne had a famous yoong captaine who maintained continuall warre against the gouernor of Maroco and somtimes against the Arabians also He had likewise a most ample dominion vpon the mountaines of Atlas by naturall disposition he was right liberal valiant and hauing scarce attained to sixeteene yeeres of age he slue his owne vncle and vsurped his gouernment Whereof so soone as the Arabians had intelligence ioining three hundreth Christian horsemen which came out of Portugale vnto their great forces they marched on the sodaine euen to the very gates of the towne And the foresaide captaine with his armie containing scarce an hundreth horsemen with a very fewe footemen met the Arabians and gaue them such a valiant onset that the greater part of them was slaine and the Christians were so discomfited that as I suppose not one of them returned home into Portugale which they say came to passe both by reason that the Christians were ignorant of the place and vnskilfull of the Africans manner of warfare These things were done in the 920. yeere of the Hegeira and in the yeere of our Lorde 1511. Afterward being wearied by the king of Fez his warres which king demaunded tribute of the townes men of Hannimei he was slaine with a bullet whereupon the towne remained tributarie to the king of Fez. Yea the deceased captaines wife deliuered as prisoners certaine burgesses of the towne vnto the king himselfe And the king so soone as he had placed a lieutenant ouer Hannimei departed from the same towne in the 921. yeere of the Hegeira and in the yeere of our Lord 1512. Of the mountaine of Nififa HAuing before described all the cities and townes of Maroco it now remaineth that we briefly declare the situation and qualitie of the mountaines there Wherefore we will begin with the mountaine of Nififa from whence the region of Maroco it selfe beginneth westward and is thereby diuided from the prouince of Hea. The said mountaine hath great store of inhabitants and albeit the tops thereof are continually couered with snowe yet doth it yeerely affoorde marueilous increase and abundance of barley The rude people there are so destitute of all humanitie and ciuill behauiour that they do admire not onely all strangers but also do euen gaze and woonder at their apparell I my selfe remained two daies among them in which space all the people of the towne came flocking about me greatly woondring at the white garment which I wore being such as the learned men of our countrey are vsually clad in so that euery one being desirous to handle and view this garment of mine in two daies it was turned from white to blacke and became all greasie and filthie Here one of the townes-men being allured with the strangenes and noueltie of my sworde which I bought at Fez for halfe a ducate woulde neuer leaue intreating of me till I had exchanged it with him for an horse which cost as himselfe affirmed aboue ten ducates The reason of which fonde and childish behauiour I thinke to be because they neuer trauaile vnto Fez nor to any other cities And were they neuer so desirous to trauaile yet dare they not aduenture vpon the common high waies in regard of the great number of robbers and theeues Of honie goates and oile Arganick they haue woonderfull store for in this mountaine beginneth the saide oile to be put in vse Of the mountaine called Semede AT the bounds of Nififa a certaine other mountaine called by the inhabitants Semede taketh his originall and these two mountaines are separated by the riuer of Sefsaua Semede extendeth eastward almost 20. miles the inhabitants whereof are most base witlesse people Great store of springs fountaines are here to be found the snowe is perpetuall all good lawes ciuilitie and honestie are quite banished from hence except perhaps the people be mooued thereunto by the aduise of some stranger whom they finde to be of a modest and sober disposition Here being entertained by a certaine religious man of the same place who was had in great reputation by the people I was constrained to eate of such grosse meats as the saide people are accustomed vnto to wit of barlie meale mingled with water and of goats-flesh which was extremely tough and hard by reason of the stalenes and long continuance After supper we had no other bed but the bare ground to lie vpon The next morning being ready to take horse and desirous to depart fiftie of the people came about me laying open each man their causes and suites vnto me as our people vse to doe before a iudge Vnto whom I answered that I had neuer in all my life either knowen or heard of the manners and customes of that region Foorthwith comes one of the chiefe men amongst them affirming that it was their custome neuer to dismisse any stranger till he had both heard and throughly decided all the quarrels and controuersies of the inhabitants Which words he had no sooner vttered but immediately my horse was taken from me Wherefore I was constrained for nine daies and so many nights longer to abide the penurie and miserie of that region Moreouer my trouble was the greater for that in such abundance of suites and affaires there was not one man present which could set downe so much as a word in writing wherefore I my selfe was faine to play both the iudge and the notarie Vpon the eight day they all of them promised to bestowe some great rewarde vpon me Wherefore the night following seemed vnto me a yeere long for I was in good hope the next morrow to haue receiued a masse of golde from my clients So soone as the next day began to dawne they placed me in a certaine church-porch whither after an vsuall and short praier ended each man full reuerently presented his gift vnto me Here some offered me a cocke others brought me nuts and onions and some others bestowed a handfull of garlicke vpon me The principall and head-men amongst them presented me with a goat and so by reason that there was no money in all the said mountaine they
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
trauelled to wit Arabia deserta Arabia felix Arabia Petrea the Asian part of Egypt Armenia and some part of Tartaria all which countries I saw and passed through in the time of my youth Likewise I will set downe my last voiages from Fez to Constantinople from Constantinople to Egypt and from thence into Italie in which Iourney I saw diuers and sundry Islands All which my trauels I meane by gods assistance being returned forth of Europe into mine owne countrie particularly to describe decyphering first the regions of Europe and Asia which I haue seen and thereunto annexing this my discourse of Africa to the end that I may promote the endeuours of such as are desirous to know the state of forren countries IOHN LEO HIS NINTH BOOKE OF the Historie of Africa and of the memorable things therein contained Wherein he entreateth of the principall riuers and of the strange liuing creatures plants and minerals of the same countrey Of the riuer of Tensist THe riuer of Tensist that we may begin in Barbarie from the westerne part of Africa springing foorth of the mountaines of Atlas which are next vnto the citie of Hanimmei to witte about the east part of the territorie of Maroco and continuing his course northwarde ouer the plaines receiueth many other riuers thereinto and at Azafi a towne of Duccala dischargeth his streames into the maine Ocean Into this mightie riuer of Tensist fall two other great riuers called Siffelmel and Niffis the one whereof springeth out of Hanteta a mountaine of Maroco and the other issuing foorth of mount Atlas neere vnto Maroco and winding it selfe along the plaines of that region disemboqueth at last into the saide mightie riuer And albeit the riuer Tensist be for the most part of an exceeding depth yet may it in diuers places be waded ouer where the water reacheth vnto the stirrups of an horseman but a footeman must strippe himselfe naked to passe ouer the same Neere vnto Maroco there is a bridge of fifteene arches builte by king Mansor vpon this riuer which bridge is accounted one of the most curious buildings in all Africa Three of the saide arches were demolished by Abu Dubus the last king and patriarke of Maroco to the ende he might hinder the passage of Iacob the first Fezsan king of the Marin familie but this attempt of his was to none effect as it sufficiently appeered by the successe thereof Of the two riuers called Teseuhin THe two riuers called by this one name springing each of them three miles asunder out of mount Gugideme and running through the plaines of Hascora exonerate themselues into the riuer called Lebich These two riuers as I haue said haue one onely name being either of them according to the African language called Teseut in the singular number and in the plural Teseuhin which signifieth listes or borders Of Quadelhabid that is to say the riuer of seruants QVadelhabid taking his original among the high and chill mountaines of Atlas and runniug through certaine narrow and vneeuen valleis holdeth on his course by the confines of Hascora and Tedle and then stretching northward ouer a certaine plaine falleth at length into the riuer of Ommirabih In Maie when the snow melteth this riuer increaseth to some bignes Of the riuer of Ommirabih THe mightie riuer of Ommirabih issuing also forth of the lofty mountaines of Atlas where the prouince of Tedle bordereth vpon the kingdome of Fez passeth through certain plaines called Adachsun and being afterward streitned among the narrow valleis it runneth vnder a stately bridge built by Ibulhasen the fourth king of the Marin family from thence trending southward it watereth the plaines situate between the regions of Duccala and Temesne and lastly disburdeneth it selfe vnder the wals of Azamor into the maine Ocean About the end of Maye they take great store of fishes in this riuer called by the Italians Lasche wherwith all Azamur being sufficiently stored they salt the said fishes and send many ships ful of them into Portugall Of the riuer of Buregrag BVregrag arising out of one of the mountaines of Atlas and continuing his course by sundrie vallies woods and hils proceedeth on ouer a certaine plaine and neere vnto the townes of Sala and Rabat being the vtmost frontiers of the Fezsan kingdome it falleth into the Ocean sea Neither haue the two foresaid townes any other port or harbour but within the mouth of the said riuer onely which is so difficult to enter that vnlesse the pilote be throughly acquainted with the place he is in great hazard of running his ship vpon the shoulds which shoulds serue instead of bulwarkes to defend either towne from the fleets of the Christians Of the riuer of Baht THis riuer issuing foorth of mount Atlas stretcheth northward by the woods and mountaines and running among certaine litle hils disperseth it selfe vpon the plaines of the prouince of Azgar and from thence it falleth into certaine fens lakes and moist valleies where they take great store of eeles and of the foresaid fishes called Lasche The inhabitants liue vpon cattell and fishing and by reason of the plentie of milke fish and butter which they eate they are much subiect vnto the disease called in Italian Morphia This riuer may continually be waded ouer except it be much increased by abundance of raine and melted snowe Of the riuer of Subu THe riuer of 〈◊〉 beginneth vpon mount Selilgo standing in Cheuz a prouince of the Fezsan kingdome And it springeth out of a great fountaine in the midst of a vaste and solitarie woode and runneth by diuers mountaines and hils from whence extending vpon the plaines it approcheth within sixe miles of Fez diuideth in sunder the regions of Habat and Azgar and at length about Mahmora a place not farre from Sala exonerateth it selfe into the Ocean sea Into this riuer fall diuers others two of which namely Guarga and Aodor spring out of the mountanes of Gumera and the residue from the mountaines of the territorie of Teza And although Subu be a large riuer yet may it in sundry places be waded ouer except in winter and the spring when as it cannot be crossed but in certaine dangerous and small boates The same riuer also which runneth through the citie of Fez called in the language of that countrey The riuer of perles entreth into the foresaid riuer of Subu This riuer of Subu aboundeth exceedingly with fish and especially with the foresaid fishes called Lasche which are there of no reckoning The mouth thereof neere vnto the Ocean sea being very deepe and broad is nauigable for ships of great burthen as the Portugals and Spaniards haue found by often experience and were not the inhabitants so slothfull it might vsually and commodiously be sailed vpon yea if the corne which is carried by the merchants of Fez ouer land through the region of Azgar were conueighed by water vp this riuer it might be solde at Fez for halfe the price Of the riuer of Luccus LVccus issuing
euen to the women of Africa Of the root called Surnag THis roote growing also vpon the westerne part of mount Atlas is said to be verie comfortable and preseruatiue vnto the priuie parts of man being drunk in an electuarie to stir vp venereal lust c. Neither must I here omit that which the inhabitants of mount Atlas do commonly report that many of those damosels which keepe cattel vpon the said mountaines haue lost their virginity by none other occasion but by making water vpon the said roote vnto whom I would in merriment answere that I belceued all which experience had taught concerning the secret vertue of the same roote Yea they affirmed moreouer that some of their maidens were so infected with this roote that they were not only deflowred of their virginitie but had also their whole bodies puffed vp and swolne THese are the things memorable and woorthie of knowledge seene and obserued by me Iohn Leo throughout al Africa which countrey I haue in all places traueiled quite ouer wherein whatsoeuer I sawe woorthy the obseruation I presently committed to writing and those things which I sawe not I procured to be at large declared vnto me by most credible and substantiall persons which were themselues eie-witnesses of the same and so hauing gotten a fitte oportunitie I thought good to reduce these my trauels and studies into this one volume Written at Rome in the yeere of Christ 1526. and vpon the tenth of March. Heere endeth the description of Africa written by Iohn Leo borne in Granada and brought vp in Barbarie A briefe relation concerning the dominions reuenues forces and maner of gouernment of sundry the greatest princes either inhabiting within the bounds of Africa or at least possessing some parts thereof translated for the most part out of Italian AFricke hath euer beene the least knowen and haunted parte in the world chiefly by reason of the situation thereof vnder the torride Zone which the ancients thought to be vnhabitable Whose opinion although in very deede it is not true bicause we knowe that betweene the two Tropickes there are most fruitefull countries as namely Abassia and the kingdomes of Angola Congo with all India new Spaine and Brasile yet neither is it altogither false For no part of the world hath greater deserts nor vaster wildernes then this of Africa These deserts which extend themselues from the Atlanticke Ocean euen vnto the borders of Egypt for more then a thousand miles and runne out sometimes two hundred and otherwhiles 300. miles in bredth diuide Africke into two parts whereof the southerly part was neuer throughly knowne to the people of Europe as also Atlas which diuideth Numidia from Africa the lesse is some impediment to the same And towards the east it seemeth that nature also ment to conceale the same by those deserts that lye bewixt the Red sea and the lande of Egypt In the first times after the floud we finde mention very often made of the kingdomes of Egypt and Ethopia and as for Ethiopia the notice we had thereof was but obscure and confused But Egypt by reason of the commodious situation thereof betweene the Mediterran and the Red seas hath alwaies beene renowmed and famous yea king Sesostris that Egyptian monarch enlarged his empire from the Atlantick Ocean euen to the Euxine sea Afterwards the kings of Numidia Mauritania the Carthaginians flourished in those prouinces which are bounded by the Meditterran sea In our times wherein all Africke hath beene and is daily enuironed there is sufficient knowledge had of the Marine parts thereof but for the inland prouinces there is not so much knowne as might be rather through want of writers then for default of discouerie trade Now therfore leauing those parts of Africa which are possessed by the Turke and the king of Spaine to a briefe narration in the last place we haue reduced al the residue of our relations to three princes that is to Prete Ianni the Monomotapa and the Xeriffo who is king of Maroco and Fez for the rest referring you to Iohn Leo and the discourse prefixed before him the Xeriffo raigneth betweene Atlas and the Atlanticke Ocean Prete Ianni about the center of Africke and the Monomotapa hath his Empire towards the Sinus Barbaricus or the Barbarian gulphe The Empire of Prete Ianni THe Empire of Prete Ianni answereth not certainly in effect although it be very large vnto the fame and opinion which the common sort and most writers haue of it For lateliest of any other Hor atio Malugucci in a certaine discourse of his touching the greatnes of states at this day would needes haue his dominion to be greater then any other princes but the king of Spaine I confesse indeede that in times past his state had most ample and large confines as may be iudged by the multitude of kingdomes with which he adorneth and setteth foorth his stile for he entitleth himselfe king of Goiame a kingdome seated beyond Nilus and of Vangue and Damut situate beyond Zaire and yet it is at this day euidently knowne that his Empire scarcely reacheth vnto Nilus yea and Iohn Barros writeth that the Abassins haue little notice of that riuer by reason of the mountaines lying betweene them and it The hart or center of his state is the lake Barcena for on the east it extendeth from Suaquen as farre as the entrance of the Red sea for the space of an hundred and two and twentie leagues howbeit betwixt the Red sea and it there thwarteth a long ranke of mountaines inhabited by the Moores who also commaund the sea-coast On the west it hath another ridge of mountaines along the channell of Nilus enhabited by the Gentiles who pay tribute vnto the Prete On the north it consineth with an imaginarie line drawne from Suaquen to the furthest part of the isle of Meroe which is an hundred and fiue and twentie leagues long From hence it maketh as it were a bow but not very crooked towards the south euen to the kingdome of Adel from the mountaines whereof springeth that riuer which Ptolemey calleth Raptus and placeth to the south of Melinde for the space of two hundred and thirtie leagues all which distance is bordered vpon by the Gentiles from whence it turneth and endeth eastward at the kingdome of Adel whose head citie is Arar in the northerly latitude of nine degrees So that this whole empire little more or lesse amounteth to sixe hundred threescore and twelue leagues in circuite The countrie which is distinguished with ample plaines pleasant hils and high mountaines most of them manurable and well inhabited bringeth foorth barley and myll for it aboundeth not greatly with other sortes of graine and likewise Taffo da guza another good and durable seede But there is mill and Zaburro which we call the graine of India or Ginnie wheate great plenty with al sorts of our pulse and some also vnknowen to vs. Some of them weare clothes of cotton
greeue at nothing but you Christians who haue abandoned me In that the knights of Malta onely sent him small succour of powder and shot These Morabites affirme to declare some of their fooleries that when Allé fought he killed ten thousand Christians with one blow of a sworde and that this sword was an hundred cubits long Then there is the foolish and 〈◊〉 sect of Cobtini One of these shewed himselfe not many yeeres sithence in the market places and quarters of Algier mounted on a reed with a bridle and raines of leather giuing the multitude to vnderstand that vpon that horse in one night he rid an hundred leagues and he was for this greatly honored and reuerenced In tract of time there grew amongst the Mahumetans through the vanitie of their law and the incredible variety and difference of opinions great disorders For their sect being not onely wicked and treacherous as we haue declared but also grosse and foolish those that made profession thereof to defend and maintaine it were enforced to make a thousand interpretations and constructions far sometimes from reason and otherwhiles from the expresse words of Mahumet him selfe The Califas endeuoured mightily to reforme this but their prouisions of greatest importance were two For first Moauia this man florished about the yeere of our Lord 770 called an assembly of learned and iudiciall men to establish that which in their sect should be beleeued and to this end he caused all the bookes of Mahumet and his successors to be gathered together But they not agreeing amongst themselues he chose out of them sixe of the most learned and shutting them within an house with the said writings he commaunded them that euery one should make choise of that which seemed best vnto him These men reduced the Mahumetan doctrine into sixe books setting downe the pennaltie of losse of life to them that should otherwise speake or write of the law But because the Arabians gaue their mindes to Philosophie in the vniuersities of Bagdet Fez Maroco and Cordoua and being of piercing and subtile wits they could not but looke into the fopperies of their sect There was added vnto this another prouiso which was a statute that forbad them the studie of Philosophie by meanes of which statute their Vniuersities before most flourishing haue within these fower hundred yeeres daily declined At this day the sects of Mahumetan impietie are distinguished more through the might and power of those nations that follow them then of themselues and the principall nations are fower that is to say Arabians Persians Tartars and Turks The Arabians are most superstitious and zealous The Persians stand more vpon reason and nature The Tartars hold much gentilisine and simplicitie and the Turkes especially in Europe are most of them Libertines and Martialistes The Arabians as they that esteeme it for great glorie that Mahumet was of their nation and buried in Mecca or as others thinke in Medina Talnabi haue laboured with all arte and yet procure to spread their sect ouer the whole world In India they first preuailed with preaching and afterwards with armes Considering that seuen hundred yeeres sithence king Perimal reigning in Malabar they began there to sow this cockle and to bring the Gentiles more easily within their net they tooke and at this daie take their daughters to wife a matter greatly esteemed of them by reason of these mens wealth By this policie and the traffike of spices which yeelded them infinite profite they quickly set foote and fastned it in India They built townes and planted colonies and the first place where they grew to a bodie was Calicut which of a small thing by their concourse and traffike became a mightie citie They drew king Perimal to their sect who at their perswasion resolued to go and end his daies at Mecca and for that purpose he put himselfe onward on the voiage with certaine ships laden with pepper and other precious commodities but a terrible tempest met him in the midst of his course and drowned him in the sea They inhabite in Malabar where two sorts of Arabians or Moores as we may terme them haue more exceedingly increased and preuailed then in any other part of the Indies one is of strangers that arriue there by reason of the traffike of Arabia Cambaia and Persia and the other be those that dayly are borne of a 〈◊〉 father and a mother Gentile or both of father and mother Moores and these who are called Nateani and differ from the other people in person customes and habit make as it were a fourth part of the inhabitants of that countrey From Malabar they went to the Maldiue and Zeilan Here they began to take vpon them the managing of the customs and impositions of cities and townes and by making them greater then in times past they attained to the grace and fauour of the Princes and Lords together with great reputation and authority yea preeminence and superiority ouer the common people and fauouring those who embraced their sect daylie preached and diuulged by the Papassi but holding their hands heauie ouer such as shewed themselues repugnant they incredibly aduanced mahumetisme Afterwards perceiuing themselues strong and mightie both in richesse and followers they seazed on the townes and cities So that at this day they commaund a good part of the Maldiuae and the ports of the most noble iland of Zeilan except that of Columbo where the Portugals haue a fortresse By like stratagem are they become masters of the west part of 〈◊〉 within little 〈◊〉 then these two hundred yeeres first preuailing by trade and commerce then by marriage and affinitie and last of all by armes From hence going forwarde they haue taken into their hands the greatest part of the ports of that large Archipelago of the Luçones Malucos Iauas c. They are Lords of the citie of Sunda in the greater Iaua they enioy the greatest part of the Ilands of Banda and Maluco they raigne in Burneo Gilolo They came once as far as Luçon a most noble Iland and one of the Philippinas had planted therein three colonies On the other side they conquered vpon the firme land first the rich kingdome of Cambaia there established their sect as they did the like in all the places adioining from hence they went to Bengala and became Lords thereof They cut off by little and little from the crowne of Siam the state of Malaca which the Portugals holde at this day as likewise those of Ior and Pam and more then two hundred leagues along the coast Finallie they are entred into the most ample kingdome of China and haue built Moscheas in the same and if the Portugals in India and the Malucos and afterwards the Spaniards in the Philippinas had not met them on the way and with the gospell and armes interrupted their course they would at this instant haue possessed infinite kingdomes of the east yea in this they are so industrious and bould to
also to embrace it In times past Ethiopia was gouerned by Queenes onely Whereupon we reade in the history of the old testament that the Queene of the south came to King Salomon from Saba to heare his admirable wisedome about the yeere of the world 2954. The name of this Queen as the Ethiopians report was Maqueda who from the head-city of Ethiopia called Saba which like an Isle is enuironed on all sides by the riuer Nilus trauelled by Egypt and the Red sea to Ierusalem And she brought vnto Salomon an hundred twenty talents of gold which amount to 720000. golden ducates of Hungarie that is seuen tunnes of gold and 20000 Hungarian ducates besides This mightie sum of gold with other things of great value she presented vnto Salomon who likewise requited her with most princely giftes She contended with him also in propounding of sage questions obscure riddles Amongst other matters as it is reported by Cedrenus she brought before him certaine damosels and yoong men in maides attire asking the king how he could discerne one sexe from another He answered that he would finde them out by the washing of their faces And foorthwith he commanded all their faces to be washed and they which washed themselues strongly were found to be males but the residue by their tender washing bewraied themselues to be damosels The Ethiopian kings suppose that they are descended from the linage of Dauid and from the family of Salomon And therefore they vse to terme themselues the sonnes of Dauid and of Salomon and of the holy patriarkes also as being sprung from their progenie For Queene Maqueda say they had a sonne by Salomon whome they named Meilech But afterward he was called Dauid This Meilech as they report being growen to twentie yeeres of age was sent backe by his mother vnto his father and instructor Salomon that he might learne of him wisedome and vnderstanding Which so soone as the said Meilech or Dauid had attained by the permission of Salomon taking with him many priests and nobles out of all the twelue tribes he returned to his kingdome of Ethiopia and tooke vpon him the gouernment thereof As likewise he carried home with him the law of God and the rite of circumcision These were the beginnings of the Iewish religion in Ethiopia And it is reported that euen till this present none are admitted into any ministry or canonship in the court but such as are descended of their race that came first out of Iury. By these therfore the doctrine of God in Ethiopia was first planted which afterward tooke such deepe root as it hath since remained to all succeeding ages For the Ethiopians did both retaine the bookes of the Prophets and trauailed also to Ierusalem that they might there worship the true God reuealed in the kingdome of Israel Which manifestly appeereth out of the Historie of the Ethiopian Eunuch whose name was Indich which was a principall gouernour vnder Queene Candaces properly called Iudith For he about the tenth yeere after the death and resurrection of our blessed Sauiour trauailed for the space of two hundred and fortie miles to Ierusalem Where hauing performed due worship vnto God returning homeward as he sate in his chariot he read the prophet Esaias And by the commandement of the holy Spirit Philip one of Christ his disciples was sent vnto him And when they were both come to the citie Bethzur three miles distant from Ierusalem the Eunuch at the foote of a mountaine espied a certaine water wherein he was baptized by Philip. And being returned into Ethiopia this Eunuch baptized the Queene and a great part of her family and people From which time the Ethiopians began to be Christians who since that haue continually professed the Christian faith They beleeue also that Philip sent into Ethiopia a disciple of his called Lycanon who as they suppose ordained the verie forme of religion which they now holde Now these beginnings aswel of the Iewish as the christian religion among the Ethiopians being thus declared we are next to intreat of the doctrine religion it selfe togither with the rites ceremonies vsed at this present in the Ethiopicke church so far foorth as we can gather out of the ambassages which haue bin performed from these parts thither backe againe Besides which there is no historie nor discourse of any worth to be found which entreateth of the religion maners and customes of the Ethiopians So as it is a matter very strange that for so many hundred yeeres togither Ethiopia was so barred from our knowledge that we had not so much as any report thereof Vntill about the yeere of our Lord 1440. certaine ambassadours sent from thence to Pope Eugenius returned backe with his letters and Papall benediction to their king Which letters are most charily kept among the records of this Ethiopian king and are preserued for perpetuall monuments From which time also as though Ethiopia had beene againe quire debarred from the knowledge and conuersation of our men there were not any Europeans that went into Ethiopia nor any Ethiopians that came into Europe till the yeere of our Lord 1486. what time Iohn the second king of Portugall sent Pedro de Couilham and Alonço de Paiua to search out Ethiopia This Pedro was a man very learned eloquent skilfull in sundrie languages painfull in his endeuors fortunate in his attempts and most desirous to finde out new countries and people both by sea and land He therefore in the yeere aboue mentioned togither with his companion Alonço de 〈◊〉 who died in the voiage trauailed first to Alexandria and Cairo in Egypt from whence in the companie of certaine Mores of Fez and Tremizen he proceeded on to El Tor an hauen towne vpon the Arabian shore of the Red sea and thence to Aden situate without the entrance of the Arabian gulfe Where hauing embarqued himselfe in a ship of Mores he trauailed to Calicut Goa and other places of the east Indies and being fully informed of the state of the Spiceries he crossed ouer the maine Ocean to çofala sailed thence to Ormuz and then returned backe to Cairo From whence hauing dispatched letters vnto his king in the company of Rabbi Ioseph a Iew he made a second voiage to Ormuz and in his returne he tooke his iourney towards Ethiopia the Emperour whereof at that time was called Alexander Vnto whom when he had deliuered a letter and a mappe of the world sent from king Iohn he was most kindly entertained and rewarded with many rich gifts And albeit he most earnestly desired to returne into his owne countrey yet could he neuer obtaine leaue but had wealth honour and a wife of a noble family bestowed vpon him to asswage his desire of returning home Wherefore in the yeere 1526. which was fortie yeeres after his departure out of Portugall hee was left by Rodrigo de Lima the Portugall ambassadour still remaining in the court of Prete Ianni In all this meane
the emperour let Gonsaluo to vnderstand that he and his mother were resolued to become Christians and that therefore he should come to baptize them But he to instruct them better in the faith deferred it off for some daies Finally fiue and twentie daies after his arriuall with vnspeakeable 〈◊〉 and preparation he gaue the water of baptisme to the king and to his mother He was called Sebastian and shee Maria. And presently after about three hundred of the principall in this emperours court were baptized Gonsaluo for his wonderfull abstinence charity wisedome and for many other his singular vertues was so reuerenced and esteemed by those people as if he had come downe from heauen among them Now as matters proceeded thus prosperously and with so desireable successe behold an horrible tempest arose which drowned the ship There were in the court fower Mahumetans most deere vnto the king These men finding out some occasion suggested vnto him that Gonsaluo was a Magioian who by witchcraftes and 〈◊〉 could turne kingdomes topsie turuie and that he was come to prie into his estate and to stir vp his people to rebellion and so by this meanes to bring his kingdome vnder subiection to the Portugals With these and such like suggestions they brought the king who was but a young man to determine the death of Gonsaluo The effect whereof was that after long praier reposing himselfe a little he was by eight of the kings seruants slaine and his body throwne into the riuer Mensigine Neere vnto the same place were with like violence put to death fiftie new-conuerted Christians This rage and furie being ouer the king was aduertised by the Principall of his kingdome and then by the Portugals of the excesse and outrage he had therein committed He excused himselfe the best he could causing those Mahumetans to be slaine who had seduced him and he sought out some others also who lay hid to put them to death Whereupon it seemed that by the death of father Gonsaluo the conuersion of this great king and of his empire should haue bin furthered and no whit hindered if the Portugals would rather haue preuailed by the word of God then by force of armes The which I say bicause insteed of sending new preachers into those countries to preserue that which was alreadie gotten and to make new conuersions they resolued to reuenge themselues by warre There departed therefore out of Portugall a good fleete with a great number of noble Portugals therein conducted by Francisco Barretto At the fame of this warre mooued against him the Monomotapa full of feare sent to demaund peace of Barretto But he aspiring to the infinite mines of gold in that kingdome contemned all conditions offered him The effect of this enterprise was that this armie which was so terrible to a mightie Monarke was in fewe daies consumed by the intemperature of the aire which is there insupportable to the people of Europe Of the fortresses and colonies maintained by the Spaniards and Portugals vpon the maine of Africa by meanes whereof the Christian religion hath there some small footing VVhich albeit in other respects they haue beene mentioned before yet heere also in this one regard it seemeth not from our purpose briefely to remember them TO the propagation of Christianity those fortresses colonies woonderfully helpe which the Castilians but much more the Portugals haue planted on the coast of Africa For they serue very fitly either to conuert infidels vpon diuers occasions or by getting an habite of their languages and customes to make a more easie way to their conuersion For those who are not sufficient to preach serue for interpreters to the preachers And thus God hath oftentimes beene well serued and with excellent fruit and effect by the indeuour of some soldiers On the coast of Africa vpon the Mediterran sea the Spaniards haue Oran Mersalchibir Melilla c. and the Portugals Tanger and çeuta and without the streights of Gibraltar Arzilla and Mazagan and in Ethiopia Saint George de la mina They haue also a setled habitation in the citie of Saint Saluador the Metropolitan of the kingdome of Congo and in Cumbiba a countrie of Angola Beyond the cape de Buena esperança they hold the fortresses and colonies of Sena Cefala and Mozambiche Heere besides their secular clergie is a conuent of Dominicans who indeuour themselues to instruct the Portugals and the Pagans also which there inhabite and do trafficke thither Of the Islands of the Atlanticke Ocean where the Spaniards and Portugals haue planted religion THe Christian name is also augmented and doth still increase in the Atlantick Ocean by meanes of the colonies conducted thither partly by the Spaniards and partly by the Portugals The Spaniards vndertooke the enterprize of the Canaries in the yeere of our Lord 1405. vsing therein the assistance of Iohn Betancort a French gentleman who subdued Lançarota Fuerteuentura They were taken againe certaine yeeres after and were first subdued by force of armes afterwards by the establishment of religion so that at this present all the inhabitants are Christians Also the Portugals haue assaied to inhabite certaine other islands of that Ocean especially Madera which was discouered in the yeere 1420. This at the first was all ouer a thicke and mightie wood but now it is one of the best manured islands that is knowne There is in the same the citie of Funcial being the seate of a bishop Puerto santo which is fortie miles distant from Madera was found out in the yeere 1428. and this also began presently to be inhabited The isles of Arguin being sixe or seauen and all but little ones came to the knowledge of the Portugals in the yeere 1443. Heere the king hath a fortresse for the traffike of those countries The islands of Cabo Verde were discouered in the yeere 1440. by Antonio di Nolli a Genoway or as others affirme in the yeere 1455. by Aloizius Cadamosto These be nine in number the principall of them is Sant Iago being seuentie miles in length where the Portugals haue a towne situate vpon a most pleasant riuer called Ribera grande which consisteth at 〈◊〉 least of fiue hundred families The isle of Saint Thomas being somewhat greater then Madera was the last island discouered by the Portugals before they doubled the cape De buena Esperança They haue heere a colonie called Pouasaon with a bishop who is also the bishop of Congo and it conteineth seuen hundred families Vnder the gouernment of Saint Thomas are the neighbour islands of Fernando Pó and that del Principe which are as it were boroughs belonging to the same The island Loanda though it be vnder the king of Congo yet is a great part thereof inhabited by the Portugals For heere is the famous port of Mazagan whither the ships of Portugall and Brasile do resort Heere the fleetes are harboured and the soldiers refreshed and heere they haue their hospitall As also heere the Portugall
are certaine mightie lakes by the benefite whereof a great part of Nubia is watred and made fruitfull The Isle of Meroe MEroe called at this time by the names of Guengare Amara and Nobe being the greatest and fairestisle which Nilus maketh and resembled by Herodotus to the shape of a target containeth in bredth a thousand and in length three thousand stadios or furlongs It aboundeth with golde siluer copper iron Eben-wood palme-trees and other such commodities as are in Nubia Some write that there growe canes or reeds of so huge a bignes that the people make botes of them Heere also you haue minerall salt and lions elephants and leopards This island is inhabited by Mahumetans who are confederate with the Moores against Prete Ianni Strabo affirmeth that in old time the authoritie of the priests of this island was so great that by a meane and ordinarie messenger they woulde command the king to murther himselfe and woulde substitute an other in his roome But at length one king hauing in a certaine temple put all the saide priests to death quite abolished that monstrous custome And heere as Nilus vnfoldeth himselfe into two branches to embrace this Islande he receiueth from the east the riuer of Abagni and from the west the riuer Sarabotto which haue likewise other smaller riuers falling into them The Abassins are of opinion that the Queene of Saba which trauelled so farre to heare the wisedome of Salomon was mistresse of this isle Paulus Ionius saith here are three kings one a Gentile the second a Moore and the third a Christian subiect vnto the Prete From Meroe to Siene it is accounted fifteene daies iourney by water Abassia or the empire of Prete Ianni THe Abassins are a people subiect to Prete Ianni whose empire if we consider the stile which he vseth in his letters hath most ample confines For he intituleth himselfe emperour of the great and higher Ethiopia king of Goiame which as Botero supposeth is situate betweene Nilus and Zaire of Vangue a kingdome beyond Zaire of Damut which confineth with the land of the Anzichi and towards the south he is called king of Cafate and Bagamidri two prouinces bordering vpon the first great lake which is the originall fountaine of Nilus as likewise of the kingdomes of Xoa Fatigar Angote Baru Baaliganze Adea Amara Ambea Vaguc Tigremahon Sabaim where the Queene of Saba gouerned and lastly of Barnagaes and lorde as farre as Nubia which bordereth vpon Egypt But at this present the center or midst of his Empire as Iohn Barros writeth is the lake of Barcena For it extendeth eastward towarde the Red sea as farre as Suaquen the space of two hundred twentie and two leagues Howbeit betweene the sea and his dominions runneth a ridge of mountaines inhabited by Moores who are masters of al the sea-coast along except the porte of Ercoco which belongeth to the Prete And likewise on the west his empire is restrained by another mountainous ridge stretching along the riuer of Nilus where are founde most rich mines of golde amongst which are the mines of Damut and of Sinassij wholie in the possession of Gentiles which pay tribute vnto the Prete Northward it is bounded by an imaginarie line supposed to be drawen from Suachen to the beginning of the isle Meroe aboue mentioned which line extendeth an hundred and fiue and twentie leagues From thence the Abassin borders trend south somewhat crookedly in manner of a bowe as farre as the kingdome of Adea from the mountaines whereof springeth a riuer called by Ptolemey Raptus which falleth into the sea about Melinde for the space of two hundred and fiftie nine leagues next vnto the which borders inhabite certaine Gentiles of blacke colour with curled haire And heere the 〈◊〉 empire is limited by the kingdome of Adel the head citie whereof called Arar standeth in the latitude nine degrees So that all this great empire may containe in compasse sixe hundred threescore and two leagues little more or lesse It is refreshed and watered by two mightie riuers which conuey their streames into Nilus called by Ptolemey Astaboras and Astapus and by the naturall inhabitants Abagni and Tagassi the first whereof taketh his originall from the lake of Barcena and the second from the lake of Colue Barcena lieth in seuen degrees of north latitude Colue vnder the verie Equinoctiall The first besides Abagni ingendereth also the riuer of Zeila and the second besides Tagassi giueth essence to the riuer of Quilimanci Between Abagni and the Red sea lieth the prouince of Barnagasso betweene Abagni and Tagassi are the kingdomes of Angote and Fatigar and more towards the bay of Barbarians the prouinces of Adea and of Baru and somewhat lower that of Amara In briefe beyond the riuer of Tagassi ly the regions of Bileguanzi and of Tigremahon The Abassins haue no great knowledge of Nilus by reason of the mountaines which deuide them from it for which cause they call Abagni the father of riuers Howbeit they say that vpon Nilus do inhabite two great and populous nations one of Iewes towards the west vnder the gouernment of a mighty king the other more southerly consisting of Amazones or warlike women whereof wee will speake more at large in our relation of Monomotapa Throughout all the dominion of the Prete there is not any one city of importance either for multitude of inhabitantes for magnificent buildings or for any other respect For the greatest townes there containe not aboue two thousand housholds the houses being cottage-like reared vp with clay and couered with straw or such like base matter Also Ptolemey intreating of these partes maketh mention but of three or foure cities onely which he appointeth to the south of the Isle Meroe Howbeit in some places vpon the frontiers of Abassia there are certaine townes verie fairely built and much frequented for traffique The Portugales in their trauailes throughout the empire haue often declared vnto the Abassins how much better it were for auoiding of the outragious iniuries and losses daily inflicted by the Moores and Mahumetans both vpon their goods and persons if the emperour would build cities and castles stronglie walled and fortified Whereunto they made answere that the power of their Neguz or emperour consisted not in stone-walles but in the armes of his people They vse not ordinarily any lime or stone but onely for the building of churches saying that so it becommeth vs to make a difference between the houses of men and churches dedicated to God and of their Beteneguz or houses of the emperour wherein the gouernours of prouinces are placed to execute iustice These Beteneguz stand continually open and yet in the gouernours absence no man dare enter into them vnder paine of being punished as a traytour Moreouer in the city of Axuma esteemed by them to haue beene the seate of the Queene of Saba stand certaine ruinous buildings like vnto pyramides which by reason of their greatnes