those countries put them to Some few of these sorting themselues together in one time of the yeare haue vsed to go vp this Riuer in a boate or small barke as farre as Setico and there to remaine in trade from whence it is certainely knowne they haue returned much gold aboue which place they neuer attempted which is not halfe the way we haue already gone vp since our trading there With these in their places of dwelling wee are very conuersant notwithstanding we receiued such a horrible treachery from them as is set downe in my beginning in regarde they tell vs those that were the Actors thereof are banished from amongst them as being hated and detested for the fact Howsoeuer wee hope and desire it may stand for all our Nations warning neuer to let them haue the like occasion but beleeue euer they will doe as they say in telling vs they do loue and wish vs wel prouided they may neuer haue vs vnder their power to be able to doe vs ill which it behooneth vs to take especiall care of The conditions they liue subiect vnto vnder the blacke Kings makes it appeare they haue litle comfort in any Christian countrey or else themselues are very carelesse what becommeth of their posteritie for whensoeuer the husband father or maister of the familie dies if hee be of any worth the King seizeth vpon what hee hath without respect either to wife children or seruant except they haue warning to prouide before or are capable of themselues to looke out for the future time whereby we finde in some those few places we trade with them poore distressed children left who as it were exposed to the charitie of the country become in a manner naturalized and as they grow vp apply themselues to buy and sell one thing for another as the whole country doth still reseruing carefully the vse of the Portingall tongue and with a kinde of an affectionate zeale the name of Christians taking it in a great disdaine be they neuer so blacke to be called a Negro and these for the most part are the Portingalls which liue within this Riuer who since they see we haue followed a trade and begunne to settle vpon it in regard they much doubt wee waite but an oportunitie as they say amongst themselues to haue a valuable satisfaction for the wrong their Nation began with knowing the Englishmen doe not ordinarily digest such horrible abuses it hath made such as were of worth and dwelling vpon the coast who were woont to looke into the Riuer forbeare that recourse and also those that were of the best and most ablest estates to quit their dwellings and to seeke out else-where leauing none but a few poore snakes who for feare rather then loue offer themselues to do vs any maner of seruice which feare of theirs is the more increased because the naturall blacke people out of their morall vnderstanding and were some of them spectators of their bloody murther the shippe then riding before the Towne when the fact was done and by them rightly vnderstood to be treacherously done in betraying our faithfull trust contrary to the great protestations and obligements before these inhabitants made and confirmed did not onely vtterly disallow of the fact but exclaiming against them caused them to forsake their dwellings in that Towne neither haue they at this time any habitations there notwithstanding they had had continuance for many yeares before And further when some of our people who were aboue in the Riuer not knowing of this euill accident and were vpon occasions returning to the shippe whom they found so miserably lost and carried away the people of the Towne especially some principall and most powerfull men tooke such compassion vpon them that they fed them and lodged them with a great deale of louing care and that for no small time vntill they had deuised and concluded amongst themselues what course to take and hauing resolued to take a tedious iourney by Land in seeking to crosse the country to the North-ward vntill they came to Cape de Verde where they were fure to meete with shipping they not onely fitted them with such necessaries as they could but also fent of their owne people as guides with them and being in that manner commended from one King to another were louingly entertained lodged and fed and with new guides still conueyed neuer leauing them vntill their desire was satisfied and they safely arriued where they found conuenient shipping and still the commendations that went alongst with them from one blacke King to another was in regard their shippe was betraied and taken away by the Portingall whereby they found such compassion that in some places they had horses to ride on and in other places were entreated to rest and recreate themselues longer then they were willing And thus much is said for those people of the country amongst whom the Portingalls dwelt had their aboade and all familiar commerce but for those blacke people who are dwelling aboue in the Riuer where these Portingalls neuer had any habitation onely as I sayd a trade in their boates vp some part of the Riuer and amongest whom wee haue setled our selues with great league and testification of much amitie as I must deliuer when I come vnto them these I say when there was only fiue of our men dwelling amongst them their houses seated by the Riuer side and that ceraine Portingals in a smalbark or Boat were to passe by them in following their Trade to Setico being a matter of some 16 leagues aboue the place our men liued at these people when they saw our men make ready their armes prepare their peeces to standon their guard being so sew of them not daring to trust the Portingals flattering promises did not only put thēselues in companies for their defence but likewise animated our men to set vpon them promising if they would giue the ou-set they would prosecute it to the confusion of all and euery man of them in the same manner as they before had dealt with vs with great vehemency pressing them as a thing they were especially bound to do which our men refusing they inthemselues did carry towards them a kind of sullen and insolent behauiour so as their bloody act wherewith they thought to daunt and discourage vs in seeking or following of any trade here and more securely to settle themselues hath no doubt by Gods prouidence if it be carefully considered and dilligently obserued by a timely following of what doth offer it selfe turned to the cleane contrary and through their owne guilt enforc'd them to auoyde the place leauing it of their owne accords whereby if wee imbrace the occasion many good and profitable ends may bee made and this haue I truely related the Portingal who as he sees we prepare with earnestnesse to follow this Trade with the like earnestnesse will prepare to leaue the Riuer which preparations as I hope and desire may speedily
priuiledge by being about him and more conuersant then the rest which by vs though strangers is easily discerned and therefore amongst vs we call her his hand wife to whom wee vse alwayes to be more free in those gifts we bestow yet this wife is not allowed to eate in sight but in another house although she be priuiledged of many other labours neither are the men euer scene to vse any manner of familiar dalliance with them insomuch as I thinke there is hardly any Englishman can say he euer saw the Blackeman kisse a woman Againe which is to be noted notwithstanding this partialitie of affection and so many of them of an equalitie liuing together it is neuer heard that they doe brawle or scold or fall out among themselues how beit it may be thought in matter that neare concernes them they cannot chuse but haue many aggreeuances contrary to our English prouerb that sayes Two women in one house c. but there indeede I will make answer That although they haue recourse all day together in his great or more spacious haunt yet for the night euery woman hath a seuerall house whether she retires herselfe to giue attendance as his desires shall leade him and as they appeare before him in the morning their salutations are vppon their knees laying their hands vpon his thigh And lastly for her apparrell it is loose clothes party-coloured blew and white of the same cotton stuffe the men weare whereof the women commonly we are but one tuckt about their middles and from the waste vpward bare in regard they are for the most part wrought or rather printéd vpon the backe especially in the higher parts we were at insomuch as we haue scene some of them with workes all ouer their backes resembling right the printed lids and couers which wee see layd and set vppon our baked meates whereof it appeares they take extraordinarie pride because they will turne themselues wee should take notice of it and be very well pleased wee should touch or handle it as a matter to bee esteemed or set by otherwise they cast another like cloth as they weare below vppon their shoulders which hangeth loose and those be their garments and without question many or the most part of them very chary or nice in shewing of their secrecie and to conclude concerning women which the country vse they serue in marriages the man doth commonly bespeake the woman vvhile she is young and not of abilitie vvhich is done and confirmed by the friends consent yet vvhen the time of her full age is come or aftervvards as they agree amongst them the man getting his friends which are all the youth and younger sort of men hee can procure come to the Towne where the Maide is dwelling in the beginning of the night when the Moone shines and as it were by violence lift her vp amongst them and carry her avvay vvho makes a noyse skriking and crying out which is seconded by the other young maides of the place and thereupon the younger sort of men that are dvvellers in the place gather themselues together and as it were in reskew of her vvhile the other with great shouts and cries of reioycing carry her quite away to his place of abode vvhere she remaines vnseene for a certaine time and vvhen shee doth come first forth for certaine Moones she doth not shew her open face but with a cloth cast ouer her head couers all but one eye after the maner of the Spanish vaile obseruing herein a shamefast modestie not to be looked for among such a kinde of blacke or barbarous people I proceed againe in the state of their Kings there is no people in the world stand more vpon their antiquitie and dignitie of bloud then they doe betweene themselues insomuch as once I had a quarrell grew in my house betweene one of the Kings sonnes vnder whose gouernement our habitation was and another Blacke who was a very lusty and able man called Boo Iohn vnto whom for some respects we carried a more kinde of extraordinary affection wherein they braued one another concering their dignities of birth the one was better and the other was better insomuch as Boo Iohn with his hand stroke the other in the face and thereuppon their weapons were drawne and parties making on both sides danger was like to ensue but calling more of my company with a small gunne I stept betwixt them and made them seuer how beit the Kings sonne promised to returne the next morning and take reuenge if he durst abide him which the other promised to doe and accordingly notwithstanding all the entreaties I could vse would not depart but withall sent out for more people who in the morning betimes came into him all of them fitted with their countrey armes And the Kings sonne also performed his word for in the morning he came to the Riuers side and called for a boate to passe ouer bringing a liue biefe with him as a token vnto me from his father as he was many times accustomed to send and there came likewise with him diuerse people and all with armes I was very doubtfull some hurt would arise and laboured Boo Iohn to goe away but all I could gaine of him was he would only sit downe in our yard vnder the shadow of our houses with his people about him and if no wrong were offered him hee would not stirre nor giue no offence and by meanes I wrought so with the Kings sonne carrying him and his companie into my house and vsing them curteously that for that time I pacified them and they parted quietly howbeit not without threatning vpon another occasion They doe distinctly know euery gouernement who shall be King and how the succession shall hold for in their temporall gouernements one brother doth euer succeed another vntill that race be extinct then the eldest brothers sonne beginnes and likewise they doe distinguish of gouernments as they are in age For there were foure brethren the eldest whereof was the great King of Cantore whom we neuer savv the second was Summaway King of the next place and he came downe and vvas aboard our boate the third brother was King of the place where our Land-dwelling vvas being a blinde man at vvhose house I haue sundry times beene and the fourth brother vvas called by the name of Ferran and had the gouernment of a countrey vvhere vve had much and often trade and for the most part kept a Factor lying and this notvvithstanding hee vvas of great age vvas the youngest brother and as any of his brethren died they were all to remooue still giuing him the latter place And this may suffice to shew their manner of gouernment and for their seuerall Titles they haue onely foure vvhich is Mansa for the King Ferran a second name Ferambra the third and Boo Iohn the last euery one of these foure being in their places commanders aod
came vnto the place we did obserue some who were markt vnder both their eyes with three blewe stroakes resembling stripes all after one manner demaunding therefore what they were it was answered a people who belonged to a King further vp in the Countrey and by those markes they were distinguished and knowne from other people This day likewise came vnto vs an ancient Marybucke taking acquaintance of our people to whom he was very well knowne I enquired what hee was and they told me it was a Mary-bucke who did vse to Ferambra and was acquainted with George Thompson and that he had a wife in Ferambras towne which was within three miles of Tobabo Conda the place where our habitation vpon the land was and George Thompson did vse to lye at this Ferambras house who had shewed himselfe a faithfull friend in time of neede vnto him and his company and likewise confirmed the same vnto me by diuers Curtesies which past betwixt vs during my time of trade in the riuer I askt the Mary-bucke from whence he came and he answered from Iaye a towne nine dayes trauell higher in the countrey whether he was sent by George Thompson and seemed to lament much for his death hee tolde vs there was great store of gold at that place and that the Arabecks which are the Moores of Barbary came thither we askt him if he would vndertake to carry fome of vs thither he answered yes if wee were but past these bad people pointing to our consorts ashore we told him they were a good people and very louing to vs shaking his head he said immane immane which signifies naught or the thing they like not hee had two or three other consorts with him and made hast to be gone keeping themselues seuered from the other people during their time of staye he told vs he was going downe to Ferambras and by him I sent letters to our Marchants below which were very orderly deliuered by reason he was in some feare and came in the night aboard of vs making such hast away we had little conference but meeting of him afterwards in my trade at Setico I had a full and large discourse and receiued the intelligence which I will now recite Hee told me that not farre from Iaye there were a people who would not bee seene and that the salt was carryed vnto them and how the Arabecks had all their gold from them although they did neuer see them demanding the cause hee made a signe vnto his lippe and could receiue no farther answer he saide likewise if we could haue gone further vp the Riuer with our boare many people would haue come vnto vs and brought great store of gold and to the place where we did staye hee saide many people were comming downe both from Iaye and many other townes but that they were sent backe againe by such as had gone from vs and told our salt vvas endded vve askt him as vve had done Buckor Sano and others if they had a towne called Tombutto that name thcy knevv not but a towne called Tomboconda they saide vvas neerer vvhere vve vvere then Fay the pronuntiation of vvhich two places as Tomboconda for Tombutto and Fay for Gago may if therebe such two places carry some resemblance vvherein I stand to put forth this question vvho should hee be that directs these names being it is apparent neuer vvhite men either by land or vvater vvere vp this countrey so farre but vve this man likewise tolde vs of the houses couered vvith gold and many strong incouragements to inuite vs on especially to goe surther vp the Riuer To this let me novv set downe although not able to name particular authours vvhat is the generall report for the Moore of Barbary his trade That it is certaine vvhen they come vp into the country vvhere they haue their chiefest trade they doe obserue one set time and day to be at a certaine place vvhereas houses are appointed for them vvherein they finde no body nor haue sight of any persons At this place they doe vnlade their commodities and laying their salt in seuerall heapes and likewise setting their beades bracelets and any other commodities in parcells together they depart and remaine away a vvhole day in vvhich day comes the people they trade vvithall and to each seuerall layes dovvne a proportion of gold as he valewes it and leauing both the commodity and the gold goes his vvayes the Merchant returning againe as hee accepts of the bargaine takes avvay the gold and lets the commodity remaine or if he finde there is to little left diuides his commodity into another part for which he will haue more at the vnknowne peoples returne they take to themselues where they see the gold is gone and either lay more gold or take away what was laid before and remaines in suspence so that at the Marchants third time his bargaine is finished for either he findes more gold or the first taken away and his commodity lest and this it is saide they haue a iust manner of trading and neuer see one another to which is added that the reason why these people will not be seene is for that they are naturally borne with their lower lippe of that greatnesse it turnes againe and couers the greater part of their bosome and remaines with that rawnesse on the side that hangs downe that through occasion of the Sunnes extreame heate it is still subiect to putrifaction so as they haue no meanes to preserue themselues but by continuall casting salt vpon it and this is the reason salt is so pretious amongst them their countrey beeing so farre vp in the land naturally yeeldes none And this carryes some appearance by what wee are able to say for first out of our owne experience wee find that these people who trade with vs for our salt haue for their owne occasions little or no vse thereof and being demanded what they doe with it they doe not deny to tell vs they carry it vp further into the countrey vnto another people to whom they do sell and vent the same which still are good inducements to follovv a further search and therein to neglect no time but diligently to follovv the occasions already obtained vvhich is the loue of these people vvho vvere held so dangerous vvho vvere so earnest for our comming againe and to hold a certaine course of trade vvith them vvhich by vs vvas faithfully promised vvherein the Aduenturers haue this strong encouragement that if vve should attaine no further then amongst these people the gaine is knowne to bee great vpon our exchanges and fitted accordingly to carry a good proportion will yeeld a valuable returne to the full satisfaction a reasonable desire may aime at but if it please God to prosper the discouery and that we meete with any place of habitation againe by the riuer side which may bee a conuenient seate of residence to
the inhabitants held as impossible in regard they did affirme the riuer was full of trees suncke and drifts wee should meete withall and our time in passing being vncertaine our prouision which was small might faile vs and poorely God knowes we were prouided of those materials that would haue helpt to maintaine that principall in respect the place and way affordeth it and what experience hereafter can direct in that kind to doe which being good comforts and encouragers to the Aduenturer I will not by any meanes leaue vnwritten There is abounding in this Riuer who are bred and liue therein two sorts especiall as I may terme them monstrous the one deuouring as the people report and the other daungerous as I haue found The deuouring is the Crocodile or Alegatha because they carry one and the same resemblance but doubtlesse I am perswaded there is no other Crocodile but such as wee haue seene in this Riuer whom the people call by the name of Bumbo sundry times when we haue driuen them from the shore where they haue beene lying in the morning or otherwise forth of the water when wee haue obserued the print they leaue behind them vpon the foft sand we haue found by measure of rule his whole length from the point of his nose to the end of his tayle containe thirty three foote The people of the Country stand in such dread of these that they dare not wash their hands in the great Riuer much lesse offer to swimme or wade therein reporting vnto vs many lamentable stories how many of their friends and acquaintance haue beene deuoured by them neither do they at any time bring any of their Cattle to passe the Riuer as within ebbing and flowing they haue diuerse occasions to doe but with great dread and ceremony for at all Townes within that compasse they haue small boats which we call Canoos to ferry ouer withall which cannot receiue a liue beefe onely some fiue or sixe of the people but when they passe a beefe ouer he is led into the water with a rope to his hornes whereby one holds him close to the boate and another taking vp his tayle holds in the like manner the Priest or Mary-bucke stands ouer the middle of the beast praying and spitting vpon him according to their ceremonies charming the Crocodile and another againe by him with his bow and arrowes ready drawne to expect when the Crocodile will ceaze and in this manner if there be twenty at a time the passe them one after another neuer thinking them safe vntill they be on the toppe of the Riuer bancke One thing more to shew the feare they haue of him when I was going in my discouery vp the Riuer hauing as I sayde onely nine of our owne people with me I did hire Blacke-men as I had occasion to vse them to serue as Interpreters likewise to send abroade and to helpe to row and get vp the boate so that when I came to passe the flowing and to goe all against the currant I did furnish my selfe of foure able Black-men the first place we found a stiffe gut to resist vs the water being not aboue foure foote deepe for speedier and more easier passing our men went into the water and laying hands some one the one side of the boate and some likewise on the other waded along and led her through which we found a good refreshing the Riuer being sweete and cleare was comfortable in the heate by no meanes I could not make any of my blacke people go out of the boate denying flatly to go into the water saying that Bumbo would haue them after some two of these ages there was another streight where was a necessity of more hands so that striping my selfe I leapt into the water the Blackes seeing me prepare seeme much to diswade me but when they saw me in the water they presently consulting together stript themselues and came likewise in the businesse ended and we all aboord againe I askt of them the cause made them come in hauing so earnestly denied it before they made answere they had considered amongst themselues the white man shine more in the water then they did and therefore it Bumbo come hee would surely take vs first so that after they neuer refused to go in yet in all our whole passage did we neuer receiue any assult but to the contrary where we haue seene great companies of them lying vpon the sands they haue perpetually auoyded vs with the same shines that Snakes doe vse to auoyde the noyse and sight of men here onely boldest to shew himselfe where the water was deepest and the Blacke people do not sticke to say that since the white men haue had to doe in the Riuer the Crocodile is not so daungerous as in former times Againe whereby it doth appeare they are more aboundantly aboue whereas he doth naturally smel exceeding sweete after the manner of muske so as in all places where they vse to come one shore they leaue a sent behind them that many times we are not able to receiue but inforced to stoppe our nostrils some three dayes before wee came to the highest place we stayd at we beganne to find the Riuer water which was our daily drinke to change his rellish but after we came there it had such a sweete musky tast that we not onely refused to drinke of it but also could not endnre our meate to be drest therewith but sought out springs and freshes vpon the land nay more those great fish which with our hookes we tooke in that place lost the sauor they had below and did tast and rellish as the Crocodile smelt that we vtterly refused to eate them ourselues but bestowed them vpon the people of the Country which receiued them thankfully land likewise the cry and noyse of them in this place was more then we had heard al the way for the noyse he makes is resembled right to the sound of a deepe great well with which the great ones call one to another and may be distinctly heard a league which surely argues the continuance of this hopefull riuer and that some great lake aboue may bee the nourisher of them The other is the Sea-horse who in this Riuer do wounderfully abound and for that the name of Sea-horse is a common word in regard of the Greene-land voyages where they vse the same to the Sea-mosses they kill there who are of contrary shapes I thinke it fit to describe this fish or beast or what I may call him because questionlesse there was neuer beast nor any thing in that kinde set forth to shewe in these our Countries that would produce more admiration He is in fashion of body a compleate horse as round buttock'd as a horse of seruice and in his whole body answerable his head like vnto a horse with short eares but palpably appearing which he wags and stirres as he shewes himselfe onely toward his mouth
then pray'd vpon him but bid vs cut of his head and being dead his vertue was gone and he very good to eate At this place onely we should see many Moores sporting playing and comming boldly into the water a good distance from the shore where lay a sandy banke but they neuer went beyond their heights and they would tell vs there was a blessing granted to that place by some great Mary-bucke that Bumbo should neuer hurt them and on that side the Towne stood as our ship did ride in the middle of the Riuer and we haue obserued we neuer saw any Crocodile but on the contrary side many times very great ones And this being assuredly true for varieties sake I haue placed here In the vpper part of the Riuer there are store of fish and more conueniently to be come by if men go prouided Amongst which we note one little fish which may well be called the running fish and is much like our English Roach with a red tayle who is inforced to runne aboue the water and will continue a great way but only touching of it to saue his life from his pursuing enemy who comes chopping after him iust like the Trout after the flie and is of that bignesse the Trout is that somtimes the little fish hath runne into our Canoe to auoyde the pursuer Likewise of foule the higher we go we find plenty and much variety but this we haue euer obserued that in the maine Riuer we neuer see them swimming but as they are in sholes together be they Ducke and Mallard or any other in their kind they sit vpon the shore close to the Riuer side and dare not surely venter in for feare of the Crocodile but haue their principall feeding vpon the marish grounds and ponds which lie from the Riuer whereof the Country is very full and you can finde no such place but is aboundantly furnished among which are many geese of colour white and blacke rather bigger then our English tame goose who hath vpon each pinion of his wing a sharpe spur in euery point resembling a Cockes spurre of the largest size with which they are apt not being shot dead to giue offence but for foule that liue naturally by the shore side as Hernes Corlews Storkes Pluffer and the like it doth yeeld plenty so that whomsoeuer shall go vp well furnished of peeces and powder shal be sure to mend their fare and light vpon many a dainty dish The people of the Country haue likewise diuers wares which they make vse of in the time of raines and when the Riuer is ouer-floude at which times they kill much fish and they haue also a strange maner of fishing in their lakes and ponds of which there are many that are very broade and containe much circute but are not deepe to which they resort as they desire to fish a whole towne or plantation together only the men euery one hauing a kind of basket with the mouth open which hee holds downeward and so going into the water close on by another they ouer spread the pond whereby the fish is moued and so clapping downe the mouth of their baskets before them they hit vpon the fish and in this manner they take so many that most of them go loaden home and if at any time we be neare those places they will louingly impart them to vs vpon returnes from vs of poore valew These things which now we know and can tell how to prouide for may serue as incouragements to proceede vpon a farther discouery but in that which followes concerning the loue of the people what trade we already haue found and what reliefe they bring vs and at what rates as also what Deare and wild Cattle the land affords throughout with such variety of land foule and other necessaries wherof in their due place I meane to speake I hope as I desire may be some furtherances to inuite Aduenturers to aduise of some few dayes search further into this hopefull Riuer Wherein the very Riuer if we had nothing else to friend prouing but as we haue hetherunto sound it will afford that comfortable reliefe men neede not stand in dread of staruing which considered and the probable good that may and will rise in obtaining the Golden Trade I conclude it most necessary to follow dilligently a farther search for which if I should be thereunto required in place conuenient I could yeeld some other speciall account which for some respects I forbeare to publish and following my order proceede to the inhabitants The seuerall Inhabitants c. TO speake of the Country and the inhabitants I take my beginning from the mouth of the Riuer whereat our first entrance we find the Black men called Mandingos and that they do continue amongst themselues still one and the selfe same language Those of them who are inhabiting or dwelling in the mouth of the Riuer or within certain leagues of the first enterance are very fearefull to speake with any shipping except they haue perfect knowledge of them in regard they haue beene many times by seuerall nations surprized taken and carried away but vpon some knowledge they wil resort to the shore neare vnto vs and bring with them Beeues Goates Hennes and aboundance of Bonanos in the West Indies called Plantanos a most excellent good and wholesome fruit likewise of their Country pease and other graine and in way of Tradesome hides they there alone haue the domination their Kings and Gouernors being their seated as in the vpper parts of whom especially my discourse is intended howbeit for the more playner proceeding I must breake of a while from them and acquainte you first of another sort of people we finde dwelling or rather lurking amongst these Maudingos onely some certaine way vp the Riuer And these are as they call themselues Portingales and some few of them seeme the same others of them are Molatoes betweene blacke and white but the most part as blacke as the naturall inhabitants they are scattered some two or three dwellers in a place and are all married or rather keepe with them the countrey blacke women of whom they beget children howbeit they haue amongest them neither Church nor Frier nor any other religious order It doth manifestly appeare that they are such as haue beene banished or fled away from forth either of Portingall or the Iles belonging vnto that gouernement they doe generally imploy themselues in buying such commodities the countrey affords wherein especially they couet the country people who are sold vnto them when they commit offences as you shall reade where I write of the generall gouernement all which things they are ready to vent vnto such as come into the riuer but the blacke people are bought away by their owne nation and by them either carried or solde vnto the Spaniard for him to carry into the West Indies to remaine as slaues either in their Mines or in any other seruile vses they in
but hath a principall sor better relation whereof I will declare vnto you the towne and place where there especiall or as I may say high Priest doth dwell The Towne iscalled Setico lying from the Riuer side some three miles to this Towne I went hauing occasion in following of our Trade to lye with my boate so neere as I could come my Guide or Conductor was one of my blacke people I hired called Fodee Careere who in his profession was a Mary-bucke and they are for our commodities to be hired and will put their hand to any needfull occasion like as any of the temporall sort would do This was the first of the Country who euer I entertained and continued with mee both vp into the highest part I went as likewise all the time I followed any trade in the Riuer with whom we doe agree by the moone how much hee is to haue which agreement he receiues when the moone is ended in some commodity of ours which he desireth the valuation whereof amounts vnto a poore summe our continuance together had bred such an affectionate league betweene vs that we were vnited as people of one place and in those courses of trade we followed I did not onely aske and require his aduise but in most things allowed and followed the same with that Mary-bucke I had diuerse and sundry communications concerning their Religion wherein many times he would wish that I might once come to conuerse with their chiefe man whom he called Fodee Bram who would as he sayd giue me full satisfaction concerning their religious orders and being now come to the Port of Setico for so we called it he was very importunate I should goe vp to see the towne and visit this religious person I receiued his direction what Present it was fittest I should carry him vp wherwith furnished taking two of our men with me one of them carrying a fowling peece on his necke we came to the towne but mee ting of some of the dwellers by the way they had told vs that this Fodee Bram was very il and dangerously sicke whereat they seemed much to mourne Being entered the Towne and come vnto his house I found without many people demaunding of him what they were he told me they were all as he was Mary-buckes for by their habite they are not to be discerned being all clothed in one and the same manner as the common people are I was intreated to sit downe vnder their open shades which are made by the better sort of people on the out-side of their houses to take the ayre in and in the meane time my Alchade for by that name my hired Mary-bucke was called went into his house and in my name presented my present acquainting of him that I was the Captaine and Commander of our people whereupon he caused himselfe to be lifted vp from his bed or mat whereon he lay sitting on the side whereof supported and helde vp by three of his wiues he sent out to haue me brought vnto him and after our salutations past he held me fast by the hand giuing me many thankes for that great present he had receiued bemoneing much his sicknesse hindered him he could not accompany me thereby to shew his respect vnto me during our conference he caused a dinner to be made ready I did conceite him to be daungerously sicke for his hand wherewith hee held me did burne with that extremity as the heat gaue such offence that I wisht very willingly I might be loosed I tooke notice of those women who held him and to euery of them gaue a pewter ring which both from them and him was thankefully receiued dinner prouided he intreated me with my Company to passe into another house adioyning which after their Country manner was prepared and we had Hennes and other prouision brought in amongst which one sort of suftenance I neuer saw before nor after in the Country which was compounded of their Country graine made vp in round cakes resembling very much our English Ielly and as our Alchard told me was one of the principall dainties esteemed amongst them while I was at dinner a messenger came from him bringing word he was very sory to heare I fed not and likewise by him sent vnto me a large hide and an Elephants tooth of a good bignesse as a gratuity for the present I had brought him wherein may be iudged what losse I receiued when the valuation of what I deliuered and by him so much esteemed did not cost here at home according to our Merchants accompt aboue the great summe of xviij d After I had eate my desire was to go see the Towne and view their dwelling he sent certaine people with mee who brought me through their streetes or housing into the plaine fields where I might throughly discerne the whole Scituation I did heedfully regarde it for it did appeare the greatest Towne or place that I had seene and the manner thereof in my opinion was worthy the obseruation The towne was built round after the manner of a Circle whereof the front of the houses did not containe any great thicknesse but as we may say the breedth of a reasonable faire street ioyning their houses or walles of their yards and barnes close together the diameter whereof that is from the North to the South or likewise from any one point to his opposite we did conceiue to be neere an English mile within which Circute was much Cartle especially store of Asses whereby it may be coniectured that they contriued their towne in that sort to keep out the rauening beasts and securing those Cattle they had about them whereof at this place they had the greatest vse I meane of their Asses as I will relate vnto you but first I must take leaue of the high Priest after I had satisfied my selfe in looking abroade I returned vn o him into his house where I found him layd along in extremity of paine he seemed to labour much in his desire to haue had conference with me saying he had earnestly wished to see me that we might haue spoken together concerning our lawes and something he spake but what came from him was very vnperfect which I imputed to the paine he endured only I noted when he wold haue spoken of Adam and Eue and Moses so I tooke notice of the names in that manner hee might well perceiue we had knowledge of them he seemed to take pleasure therein but the conclusion with him was to no purpose nor worth rehersall So that after he had made me to eate by him a dish of excellent creame drest with corne after their best fashion a solemne farewel past betwixt vs I left him Not withstanding before I proceed fur ther I will relate what I haue gathered of their profession and what they conceit of vs. They do worship the same as we do the true and only God to whom they pray and
on his name they call in their language expressed by the word Alle insomuch as if he see any thing which begets in him admiration casting his eyes to the Heauens hee cries Alle Alle neither haue they amongst them any manner of image or picture or resemblance of any diuine things but as far as we can perceiue such things are distastfull vnto them They doe acknowledge Mahomet and are all circumcised the manner of their circumcision I refer to speak of in another place their Sabboth or the seuenth day is vppon the friday and haue distinctions and proper names for seuen dayes in their weeke they reckon their age or times by the raines in saying hee hath liued so many raines as we say so many yeares howbeit we doe neuer heare them call vpon the name of Mahomet neither haue they amongst them any Churches nor places they dedicate to holy vses so farre as we can perceiue neither do we finde that they celebrate or solemnize them Sabboth day for euen on that day will they follow any Trade they will haue with vs and their owne occasions without any intermission they haue certaine round houses built open and are spacious according to their fashions wherein they teach their youth the manner whereof is this All the male children that proceedes from these Mary-buckes are taught to write and reade and in regard they haue no paper amongst them but what wee or others bring them in the way of Trade and therefore is of esteeme they haue for their bookes a small smooth boord fit to hold in their hands on with the childrens lessons are written with a kinde of blacke incke they make and the pen is in a manner of a pensill The Character they vse being much like the Hebrewe which in regard I vnderstood not I caused my Mary-bucke to write in paper some part of their law which I brought home with me that some of our learned Schollers might peruse if wee might by that meanes come to any better knowledge then the small practise we haue hetherto had and by men of our capacities cannot so easily be attained onely this much wee discerne that the religion and law they teach is not writ in the same tongue they publickly speake and moreouer that none of the temporall people of what dignity soeuer are traded vp to write or reade or haue any vse of bookes or letters amongst them And whether these open houses they teach their children in be places for their religious ceremonies and for their publike meetings in their holy exercises because they are euer placed neere the principall mans dwelling and as it were ioyning vnto him wee cannot well resolue but rather conceite the contrary in regard they lie open and are not swept and kept with any manner of decency and therefore do rather thinke they make vse of the open fields where vnder some spacious shady tree they obserue their meetings some part of the manner whereof as an eye witnesse I will readily recite The place where we had houses built and walled with straw for our owne vses was seated by the Riuer side vpon the top of the banke and by the people of the Country called Tobabo Condo the whitemans towne some hundred paces within vs from the Riuer was a small towne of these religious people wherein liued an ancient Mary-bucke called Mahome who could not be lesse in apparance then an hundred yeares of age from whom we receiued much relation concerning the countrey aboue and of the abundance of gold there which himselfe had trauelled and seene as it is their profession to doe and I shall haue occasion foorthwith to shew you This ancient Mahome was euer a faithfull and louing neighbour vnto vs howbeit in regard of his age he did not teach the children nor was not the eminentest man of the Towne but one Hammet who was not so trusty a neighbour The olde Mahome did diuerse times lodge and entertaine strangers that came especially of his owne profession amongest which there had laine one night at his house a Mary-bucke who in the morning coming downe to the Riuer side close without our wall hauing his slaues to follow him who brought in his hand a great gourd in the Riuer he filled it full of saire water and brought vnto him vvhereinto presently pulling forth all his priuie members hee put them without any nicenesse of being seene what he did and after hee had well washed them hee made him to throw away the water vvhich done and the gourd vvell vvashed orrinced he brought him another filled also vvith vvater vvherein he vvashed and rubbed his hands and in the like manner it was throwne away and a third brought wherewith he washed and cleansed his face all which performed he making a kind of lowe reuerence with his bodie and laying his hand on his breast his face directed toward the East kneeled downe and there mumbled or vttered foorth after a decent manner it should seeme certaine prayers wherein after hee had continued for a space kissing the ground hee rose vp and turning himselfe about with his face directed to the West hee performed the like ceremony which ended after hee had stayed and looked a while vpon vs hee returned to his place of lodging One ceremony more of their Religion I will relate if you please to remember where and how I left the chiefe Mary-bucke sicke and full of danger it did manifest no lesse for in the euening the day after I came from him he died the report whereof was immediately spread ouer the whole countrey who from all parts came in after that abundant manner to solemnize his funerall so many thousands of men and women gathered together as in such a desart and scattered countrey might breed admiration which I thinke was rather increased in regard at that time he died the moone was high and gaue her light and they in whole troupes trauelled eyther the whole night or most part of the same together the place or port whereat my boat did ride was a Passage or Ferry to the towne from the whole countrey on the further side whereunto belonged a great Canoe which I had hired hauing likewise another of my owne both which neuer stood still but were vsed night and day in passing the people none of them came emptie some brought beeues others goates and cockes and henues with rice and all sort of graine the country yeelded so as there came in a wonderfull deale of prouision my Mary-bucke entreated mee to send something of sweet sauour to be cast vpon his body which the people much esteeme of I sent some Spica Romana and some Orras which by his sonne was thankefully receiued the manner of his buriall was after this sort hee vvas layed in a house vvhere a graue vvas digged and a great pot of water set in the roome and iust after the same manner as
end of his Northerne progresse in the Tropicke of Cancer whose power as it may appeare draweth vp after him those great and clowdy vapours which directly come perpetually out of the Southeast and from no other place or point which following after the force of the Sunne as they rise higher and neerer the heate begin to dissolue but as the Sun turnes backe againe and comes in his reuerse to meete with these massie vapours sending in his forceable raynes amongst those clowdy substances compels them to giue way and breake in sunder the violence whereof produceth that terrible thunder and fearefull lightning which followeth and great abundance of raine which falleth which as it doth appeare is most terrible when the Sunne and those vapours are as it were incorporate for from the middle of Iuly vntill the middle of August the extremity is and by that time in September the Sunne is againe in his equinoctiall the aire doth cleare and all the stormes doe end and so it appeares that as the Sunne after his comming from the Equinoctiall in his whole Northern progresse is raysing and drawing these vapours after so in his reuerse againe from the Tropicke vntill he comes to the Equinoctiall he is dissoluing and clearing the same againe all which obseruing as a naturall man I commend to the ingenious practitioner either to amend or make vse of And in my selfe with humble thankefulnesse giue glory to God who shewes his almighty power to thesevnbeleeuing people that in regard they will not accept of that pleasing and peacefull intelligence of our louing and meeke Sauiour his blessed Sonne they shall feele and feare his omnipotent power in trembling vnder those incomprehensible terrours which as hee saith in Iob are prepared for his enemies Againe if it hath pleased him to appoint certaine places vpon the earth where more especially those great and fearefull workes of his shall appeare thereby to daunt and keepe down the hawty aspirings of sinnefull man how much are wee bound to praise and acknowledge his euerlasting goodnesse in not seating vs and our habitions vnder those contagious clymates and how much more is his great power manifested that hath appointed bounds and lymits as hee saith himselfe of the swelling Seas so likewise of these fearefull seasons hethereto shall you come and shall exceed no further And now to adde comfort vnto vs that are or shal be called to trauell these parts first the times and seasons are certaine that men may either auoide them by leauing the countrey when they are to come or by preparing themselues with things necessary bee the better able to endure them when they are come of which now wee haue had such experience as wee can expound things outwardly by Gods permission requisit and auailcable and inwardly frame our bodies and dispositions to the countrey and seasons agreeable and this is encouraged with a comfortable resolution that the continuance is not long and that wee know the ends and termination of the season which before experience was a fearefull discourager So I returne backe to speake of the naturall plants which following the laborious courses I was driuen to omit They haue naturally growing which is but onely neare the mouth of the riuer Bononos auery excellent fruit and they are as delicious good and great as any that are in the West Indies likewise within that lymit store of small Lemmons or Lymes and for Orenges wee haue seene and had brought vnto vs farre vp in the riuer at some times good store that shewes there are trees in the countrey and that they might be stored if the people were ingenious and either would or could knowe how to plant them but to speake of things that the whole countrey yeeldeth plentifully and what is esteemed and set by amongst them whereof especially wee note Palmeta trees and in some places there are whole grounds or groues of them the vse whereof is to draw from them a most sweete and pleasant drinke which we call Palmeta Wine and as wee approue and like of it to bee toothsome so likewise in operation wee find it wholesome the manner whereof is this they do cut into the body of the tree holes in some more in some lesse as the tree is in substance to whichholes they place a hollow cane cut sloping to goe the neatlier in into which the iuyce of the tree distilleth and is conueid as in pipes vnto gourdes set handsomely into the ground reddy to receiue it which is in lesse then twenty foure houres taken away and as they please disposed of now this is of that esteeme that the vulgar sort may not meddle with but the principall persons and therefore they will send of this vnto vs foure or fiue miles distance as a curteous present the tast whereof doth truely resemble white Wine when it comes first ouer into England hauing the same sweetnes of tast and in colour if they were together not to be distinguished onely this is the misery it will not keepe aboue one day for if you reserue of it vntill the morning it will grow sowre notwithstanding any dilligence that can be vsed and of this kind there are seuerall sortes and tastes as there are in white Wines which the people themselues distinguish by seuerall names calling some Sabbagee Bangee Tangee and other names as the trees are from whence it comes Some Palmeta trees doe likewise carry great store of Apples which the countrey people will feede vpon especially the yonger sort And being entred into their good liquour I must not forget to speake of the knowledge they haue in making a compounded drinke which wee can afford to tast and accept of and it is made of some corne boild and ordered as wee doe our Ale they call it Dullo it is not common amongst them but when the King or principall person will make a feast he calles all the inhabitants about him and hauing a great gourd or two sometimes three of this liquour in his presence they drinke round and it is deuided amongst them making an end of all before they part and it is of that operation it will warme their braines and set their tongues a working the poore Fulbye finding that wee affect it will many times watch for a priuate conueyance but if the Blackes meete with him they will surely drinke it and send him home againe hauing lost his market Now because I speake of gourdes which are growing things it is fit I tell you they doe grow and resemble iust that wee call our Pumpion and in that manner are placed and carried vpon their walles and houses being of all manner of different sorts from no bigger then an egge to those that will hold a bushell and the necessary vse they haue of them to eate and drinke and wash their clothes in with diuers other very fit occasions giues thē iust cause to preserue them although the meate or
their voyces together when instantly one great voyce exalts it selfe and presently all are hush and the noyse is dasht so as we were wont to say Maister Constable speakes likewise when wee are a shore and meete with these troupes on a sudden the great ones will come forward and seeme to grin in our faces but offer vp a gunne and away they packe One of our people one day as we came neare the shore in our boate and a troupe of these shauers being gazing on vs made a shot and kild one of them which before the bote could get on shore the others had taken vp betwixt them and carried quite away but we haue kild of them which the countrey people doe much desire and will eate very heartely wherein I hope neuer to take their part And lastly let mee tell you that wee haue seene in the desert places they vse trees and plants wound and made vp together in that artificiall manner and wrought together with that thicknes ouer head to keepe away the sun and shade the ground which hath bin beaten smoothed vnder neath and all things in the manner and shape of an excellent arbour which place they haue only vsed and kept for their dancing and recreation that no man liuing that should haue come by chance and seene the same without knowledge of these vnlucky things but would haue confidently supposed it had and must haue beene the handy worke of man which some wayes confirmes the opinion the Spaniard holds of them and doth not sticke to write it that they are absolutely a race and kind of people who in regard they will not bee brought to worke and liue vnder subiection refuse to speake and so he reports of them And to conclude amongst their multitude of wilde beasts we haue enquired amongst them especially when I was at the highest in the countrey whether they could tell or report of a Vnycorne setting foorth vnto them a beast with one onely horne in his forehead and certainely they haue told me that higher within the land there is a beast which hath one onely horne in the same manner but describe the beast to be both about the colour and bignesse of a vallow Deare and the horne to be about the length of their arme and no otherwise which is nothing like to the description of a Vnicorne as he is with vs set out if there bee any such beast whereof indeed I am very doubtfull and so I am come to the last which is to deliuer what land fowle and of that nature there doe remaine wilde as we haue seene amongst them The discourse of land fowle AMongst such fowle and birds that remaine and liue vpon the land in our trauels vp the Riuer and our daily walkes and trauels vpon the shore our indraught being so many hundred miles wee neuer saw any Estriches neither did any of the cuntrey people euer bring any of their feathers to barter or sell vnto vs so as it appeares plainly there is none of them in these parts notwithstanding in the Riuer of Senega which is to the Northward and likewise againe more Southerly vpon the Sea coast of Affrica great store Therefore the greatest bird or fowle we see is called a Stalker who by reason of his long legs and necke when he stands vpright is in height taller then a man his body in substance is more then an indifferent lambe which wee doe feede vpon and finde it somewhat a dry meate but well allowed for nourishment and by the countrey people much esteemed of The especiall desire we haue to kill them is in regard of some feathers he hath which being taken in due time and so preserued are heere at home esteemed and worne The next in greatnesse is called a Wake in regard of the great noyse hee makes when hee flyeth which resembleth what he is called by and of these there is great abundance who for the most part liue vpon their Rice grounds and in those times do them great spoyles they are very good to eate and is a bird of a great stature hauing the vpper part of his head carrying a beautifull shew with a pleasing tuft on his Crowne which I haue seene worne by great personages here at home There is infinite store of another sort of excellent birds which wee call Ginney Hennes in bignesse much about our Phesants and in beauty answerable his feathers being all laid ouer him like vnto eyes in a pleasing fashion they are all the countrey ouer and in flockes of many hundreds together their food is vpon their corne grounds keeping close together insomuch as we haue killed eight of them at one shoote they are an excellent meate and many of these are brought into England and giuen as presents to those of note and worthy persons who preserue and keepe them for their rarenesse as birds of pleasure And in the very like abundance they haue Patridges whose colour is not beautifull so much as our Patridges here but onely of a darke feather and these are likewise all the countrey ouer where it is planted for the most remaining neare their houses and in the middle of their dwellings the great plenty of both which kinds of Gynney Hennes and Patridges are some manifest tokens there are no Foxes at all in the countrey who are in these our parts great enemies to both the kindes of Phesant and Patridge and the cause the keepe so neare the houses is to preserue them from as subtill enemies which are the Babownes and Munkeys who are no night walkers and in the day time the recourse of people makes them keepe further off whereas otherwayes they would not faile to be sharers There are also great store of Quailes who are in bignesse as great as a Woodcocke and from whence it is deriued I cannot auouch onely it is saide they are of those kind of Quailes as fell among the children of Israels tents thus much I can affirme they are a pleasing and delightful meate and in many places where we haue made abode they haue accustomed to sall about vs so as prouided wherewithall to shoote them mens dyets are mended euen in a short warning In all their townes and dwellings likewise store of Pidgeons vvhich feede vpon the offall of their Corne in the very doores yet all are wilde and of tame Pidgeons they haue no knowledge I haue vvith my stone-bow or pelletbow in two houres killed twenty Pidegeons euen among their houses vvhich manner of shooting they haue had in vvonderfull admiration And these birds or fowle nominated are such that are at all times and in most places euer neare at hand and alvvayes ready for sustenance if men bee prouided and vvill take small paine to looke them There are likewise in the countrey Parats but none good for ought except the dun Parat with the red tayle of which fort you haue some few that come to speake well but
The Golden Trade OR A discouery of the Riuer Gambra and the Golden Trade of the Aethiopians ALSO The Commerce with a great blacke Merchant called Buckor Sano and his report of the houses couered with Gold and other strange obseruations for the good of our owne countrey Set downe as they were collected in trauelling part of the yeares 1620. and 1621. By Richard Iobson Gentleman LONDON Printed by Nicholas Okes and are to be sold by Nicholas Bourne dwelling at the entrance of the Royall Exchange 1623. TO THE RIGHT VVORSHIPFVLL SIR WILLIAM St. IOHN Knight Couernour of the Countries of Ginney and Binney Sr. Allen Apsley Knight Liuetenant of the Tower of London and Deputy Gouernour as a foresayd Sr. Thomas Button Knight and other the Noble Knights and Gentlemen aduenturers for the sayd Countries of Ginney and Binney Honorable Gentlemen IF it may please you to take into consideration the cause of publishing this ensuing treatise it may some-way satisfie for my presumption in offering to bring to the publike presse that which to you hath bin so chargeable in discouering and therefore by all reason to you belongs the benefit of what is discouered or at the least free will to dispose of your owne priuiledges as to your wisedome should be most approueable But such are the turbulent spirits of some men that no curtesies can win faire correspondency but as profest enemies to the ingenious search of worthy minded Gentlemen proclaime warres against their indeuors if they tend to merchandizing thereby intermedling as they terme it to discouer their secret mistery although in their perticulars to begin such an interprize they can no wayes paralell the meanest of your true experience and well grounded desigments but it might have bin hop'd that there would haue beene some better respect towards you in regard of your persons and not to deale in that nature as to euery ordinary Gentleman or other by them imployed by whose industry after the way is opened to any profitable businesse and that hee hath made plaine the discouery then they doe find occasion to cauill and turne them off and presently imploy seruants of their owne many times very vnfitting in regard they will not requite deserts nor allow of any society in an apparant way of gaine All which is indeuored towards you for whilst you haue bin suffered to disburse your monies in the first discouering and as it were beating and laying open the way where and how this Golden Trade should rise you haue quietly past one but now there can be no more euasions but that the profit plainly appeares what complaints have bin framd what combination and plotting together Wherein to auoyd suspition the face of simplicity the honest Country-man hath bin made the instrument to bring about the incroaching gaine they aymed at That it may therefore appeare how the first grounds of this hopefull businesse by you were layd and how you haue seconded one losse by another and how needfull and necessary it is that you should now proceede to follow what is begun and make vse of what you so deare haue payd for I haue written this Discourse out of my owne carefull obseruation in the time of my imployment for you that you might if you please see what you haue done and what if it please God to blesse the courses you are like to do which may not onely incourage you but inuite other Gentlemen of your Ranke to associate with you to follow and proceede vpon this hopefull enterprize wherein intending faithfully in demonstrating the truth to manifest the zeale and seruice I must euer owe you humbly crauing pardon I remaine Your deuoted Seruant RICHARD IOBSON The Inuitement to this golden Trade shewing the cause of the first vnderta king it and orderly proceedings therein IT hath beene the vsuall course for the most part of such as trauaile Forraine parts in the obseruiug and setting downe such things as they see to neglect the noting of what is held publike in regard that after the whole Company be they 60. 40. or but ten together haue taken perfect view it stands conceited the same is as well manifest to our whole Country whereby diuerse times many things worthy of note here at home to such as take pleasure in reading of other mens aduentures and delight in variety of other nations are either quite left out or slited in so poore a manner as the Reader goes away vnsatisfied I hauing receiued this caueat from that worthy gentleman Mr. Samuel Purchus who is so dilligent a searcher and setter forth of all our English trauailes of whose true industry those great volumes he hath publisht to the world shal be perpetuall witnesse spending therein as he rightly termeth it his talent for his Countries seruice and being likewise incouraged by him after he had seene and read my iournall breefly relating each dayes particular in my trauailes into this great and spacious Country whereof by Gods grace I entend to write laying as it were a commande vpon me not to conceale that which by publishing may first tend vnto the aduancement of Gods glory and next vndoubtedly the honor wealth and preferment of our owne nation Likewise hauing beene still earnestly inuited by all sorts of people and especially by some of worthy note as occasions haue fallen out at any time whereby I haue beene drawne into discourse of these trauailes that I ought not nor might not without offence leaue vnpublished that which doth proffer so apparant hopes of so great a golden Trade which at this time seemes so needfull that by the generall complant of our great want the earth hath shut vp her rich bowels toward vs in other places the rather to enuite vs to seeke after that which lies as it were vnder our noses in respect of other trauailes and hath beene lest as a concealed businesse vntell our time of neede that then it might be more effectually followed and more seriously regarded For apparant proofes whereof first there is no Historian but will accord that in all ancient Histories discoursing of the inward parts of Affrica assurely alwayes called by the name of Ethiopia it hath beene noted for the golden region in the whole conquests of Alexinder as Quintus Curtius sets it downe lie onely had a great desire to visit these parts of Ethiopia but neuer came there The Romans likewise carefull Relaters of their great victories doe speake little of the interior parts of Affrica their greatest entrance being in the wars of Iugurth and in pursuite of him onely mention is made of a great desire they had to search the South parts in regard they were thereunto inuited by those rich and golden armes they found those blacke people to come against them withall where of so many golden shields were carried to their famous City in their so glorious triumphs but in their discoueries they had no successe Returning with the losse of most of their people in regard as is alleaged
they met with diuerse drie and sandy deserts to passe wherein as many were lost and ouer-whelmed so againe the parching heate and continuall droughth was cause of the perishing of many others and inforced their returne without any satisfaction The selfe same causes continue still for which we neede not search written bookes but talke or discourse with any Marchant of this City of London who haue yearely trade and commerse in Barbary being the nearest parts of Affrica adioyning vnto vs and many times from our Country into their principall Harbours runne in twelue dayes and in the like time againe from them to vs and inquire of them whence the Moore of Barbary hath that rich gold he makes his Chequens of and they will tell you there is no gold growing within the confines of Morocco or Fesse at least that is knowne or made vse of but that the great aboundance of that rich gold they haue is fetcht and brought into the Country by the naturall inhabitants for which they vndergo great trauailes onely by land wherein they do passe great desertes of sand with much danger as appeares by the losse they receiue many yeares of diuerse both of their people and Cammels yet so commodious is their trade and followed with such great dilligence and gouernment that amongst themselues none are admitted but principall persons and by especiall order without entertaining any other nation what respect or familiarity so euer they haue gained amongst them This in effect hath beene the sole ground to attaine vnto that knowledg which I presume here to write for my Countries seruice wherein duety especially requires me to manifest the care and dilligence of those noble and worthy Gentlemen who are the grounds and originals of this hopefull worke vnto whom these my labours as their owne proper rights are dedicated whose vertues ayming at good actions in this our blessed and peacefull time and cessation from those sea affaires they were wont to be bufied in summond them vp to in quire and make search after the goldnest hopes and vpon good grounded conferances with such principall Merchants of Barbary as their wisdomes could make choyse of attaine some better satisfaction to their former knowledge of the Moore of Barbarios Marchandizing as I lightly haue toucht before wherein their practise and true vnderstanding in the Mathematiques assured them the Moors vnknowne trauaile must be to the South-west if other wayes our Quotidian trade into all and euery part of the Mediterrane sea must needes haue had some or other intelligence And theresore vniting themselues together concluded vpon a lawfull and warrant-able course to vndergo the search of this golden trade by the South-parts and to aduenture vppon those promising riuers that fall into the maine Ocean on the South-west side wherein it now requires I should briefly relate the manner of their proceeding In the yeare 1618. in the month of September they set forth a ship called the Catherine burthen 120. tun and in her imployd on George Thompson a man about fifty yeares of age who had liued many years a Marchant in Barbary the carcazon of goods hee carried with him amounted vnto 1856 f. 19 s̄ 2d. hauing his instructions from the Gouernour and Company to enter in the Riuer of Gambra and with such shallops as hee had and were thought conuenient for him to follow his trade and to discouer vp the Riuer leauing the shippe in a secured Harborough All which in his part being carefully performed in his absence through the ouermuch trust of our English hearts and faire familiarity wee vse to all nations with whom we are in amity the shippe was betrayde and euery man left in her his throat cut by a few poore deiected Portingals and Melatos whom they gaue free recourse aboord being onely banisht people and for the most runnagados from their Country as when I come more particularly to write of them will more fitly be deliuered Thompson vpon intelligence being gotten farre vppe into the Riuer and finding the inhabitants to vse him curteously with the Kings allowance of the Country seated himselfe vppon the land and thorough the kindnesse of the inhabitants neere those parts where the shippe was lost some of the English who came downe from Thompson where safely conueighed many dayes trauaile ouer land vntill they found meanes to meete with shipping to transport them home with their woefull tidings Whereupon the noble Aduenturers with all expedition set forth a Pinnace of fifty tunnes called the S. Iohn and in her a new supply of goods and direction to Thompson either for his repaire withall his Company home or as he did affect his trade or had hope of his discouery to make vse of those goods and abide there He vtterly refused to come away and therefore sent away the S. Iohn who for that they came in an vnseasonable time which then experience made them vnderstand and thorough some other abuses which more conueniently else where I shall set downe which losse of many of her men returned and as little comfort of gaine to the Aduenturers onely hopefull letters from Thompson inuiting them to a new supply and by the next season to send vnto him a shippe and pinnace with some especiall commodity hee made mention of confidently affirming they should no wayes doubt of a hopefull discouery where the Moores of Barbary traded and a valewable returne for their losses sustained promising in the meane time which such company as he had left with him being in all onely eight persons in his small boate to search vp the Riuer which hee attempted in a payre of Oares takeing onely two of his owne Company with him the rest people of the Country which whom hee past vp the Riuer and got to Tinda a place hee aymed at in hope to haue had conference with a blacke Merchant called Buckor Sano of whom I shall haue cause to speake in the Relation of my owne trauailes fayling of him for that hee was then in his trauailes within the land hee stayd not many houres aboue how-be-it in that time hee receiued such intelligence of the trade hee lookt after that such an extasie of ioy possest him as it is and hath beene aleadged against him that growing more peremptory then he was wont and seeming to gouerne with more contempt by a quarrell falling out amongst them one of his Company slew him to the vtter losse of what he had attaind vnto who in regard of emulation in striuing to keepe others hee affected not in ignorance committed nothing to paper so as all his endeauours and labours were lost with him These things I haue presumed to write that it may appeare what rubs haue beene in the infancy of this discouery and may partly make answere to the question may bee propounded by any that shal bee pleased to read ouer my insuing discourse why so hopefull and promising abusinesse should bee neglected And now I returne to the worthy Aduenturers
who little distrusting this mishap not withstanding Thompson was slaine in March whereof they could haue no intelligence In October after beeing a conuenient season set forth againe a shippe and Pinnace the shippe called the Syon burthen 200. tunne and the S. Iohn a Pinnace of 50 tunne In this shippe it pleased them to imploy mee the present wrighter and now what doeth insewe of this discourse is written from mee either as an eye witnesse or what I haue receiued from the Country people and none but such as were of esteeme and as my confidence assures would deliuer no false thing as where I come to speake of the blacke people in particular may be more aptly conceiued The 25. of October 1620. wee set sayle from Dart-mouth the 4. of Nouember when the day appeared we were vp with the Iland of Launcerot and the next day by noone past the Canary Iland and had layd all that land the 17. of Nouember we came to an anckor in the Riuer of Gambra hauing had some occasion of stay by the way to the losse of neere three dayes so as our whole trauaile from Dart-mouth thither was in 20. dayes we anckored some foure leagues within the mouth of the Riuer And to auoide inconueniences by intermingling one thing with another to set downe each particular as they presented themselues I haue thought it most acceptable to the Reader to diuide my discourse into particular heads the more aptly to bee vnderstood wherein I thinke it fit to beginne with the description of the Riuer with the limit and bounds thereof so farre as we haue scene likewise what opinion experience makes mee hold for the continuance thereof and how necessary it is to bee searcht into for aduancing the Golden Trade with a relation what we find liuing therein which may serue for sustenance and maintaine the Traueller next the seuerall sorts of people inhabiting vpon the land Blackmen alias Mandingos or Ethiopians Fulbies and the vagrant Porting all with the manner of their liues buildings and fortifications the state of their Kings and the title of other Commaunders and their manner of life The gouernment of the Mary-bucke or Bissareas the discourse of their Religion and seperations from the rest and course of trading and therein speaking of their luliettos or Merchants with the Relation of my meeting with Buckor Sano a great blacke Merchant and commerce with him Their Iuddies or Fidlers and manner of meeting with the discourse of circumcision and report of their diuell Ho-re what manner of trads are amongst the common people their order for tilling the ground and seuerall sorts of graine and other plants in vse amongst them and therewith an ample Relation of the times and seasons of the yeare when those great stormes of thunder and lightning with aboundance of raine do fal the vnwholsomens of the ayre in those times and what naturall reasons may be all edged as well for those contagious times as also to auoyde the inconueniences that haue formerly by most of our nations beene fallen vnto Againe what variety of wilde beasts aswell offensiue and rauenous as also such as are for the sustenance and comfort of those as trauaile we find the Country replenished with thereunto adioyning what land foule is likewise there the aboundance of both which kinds are alwayes at hand to mend the dyet of any ingenious looker out and with a briefe conclusion from myselfe I shut vp my discourse vnto which seuerally I now proceed first to the Riuer The description of the Riuer THIS Riuer whereof I now take in hand by Gods grace to write is scituate in the latitude of 13 degrees and ½ by all or the most part of Mappes and Cardes and by some called by the name of Gambia by others Gamba and by another sort set downe Gambra to which latter name being most frequent I doe apply my selfe for by the naturall inhabitants either belowe in the mouth of it neither it aboue to the farthest I haue trauelled being vpon the truest accompt I could keepe some 320 leagues or 960 miles could I euer heare any proper name but only the word Gee which in their language they vse to all riuers and waters It hath one sole entrance which in the very mouth is about some 4 leagues broad and in the channell 3 faddome water at the least without any barre contrary to the setting of it formerly forth where it is generally noted to haue a barre and much sholer water then we haue found After we are run some 4 leagues in it doth spread it selfe into so many riuers bayes and creekes that for the space of some 30 leagues vnto a Towne called Tauckro valley it is so intricate thar many months might be spent to search each particuler within that limit but for that my occasion of writing is grounded vpon the great hopes and expectations that are from aboue I entend not to make any stay there but refer what is to be sayd vntil I speake of the inhabitants only as I proceed to let you know that the maine channell is not to be mistaken except within the limit aforesayde and then also thorough great neglect or rather some wilfull ignorance Thus with a faire streame this braue riuer shooteth in flowing from his mouth into the land neare vpon 200 leagues vnto a Towne called Baraconda or some little aboue that is the vttermost bounds of his flowing euen in the lowest season of the yeare For as in all riuers running into the sea the increase of the inland waters occasioned by raines or snowes doe abate of the seas in draught so much more in this great Riuer who swels vpright 30 foote obseruing one due time and season of the yeare for euer must the seas force in those swelling times be mightely driuen backe whereby a certaine knowledge is attaind which are the setled times to be followed eamestly to meete with no impediment in passing vp which impediment is onely want of water to passe ouer flats which in the lowest season of the yeare in certaine places are met withall as is commonly seene in all riuers of such mighty inlets which bankes as it were being past presently a faire passable Riuer continues for many leagues and as we expect our seasons of Winter and Sommer so do these inhabitants these times of floods occasioned by aboun dance of raine which raines alwayes proceed forth of the South-east and haue their beginnings much sooner in the inland then at the Riuers mouth so as in those parts where we haue had aboade they begin to fall in the latter end of May and at the Riuers mouth not vntill the end of Iune These raines continue very violent for three moneths comming downe with great winds and very much thunder and lightniug not perpetually but as we say in suddaine gustes and stormes the violence whereof being ouerpassed the people continue their labour as where I write of their manner of Tillage
is more largely set downe as also a more free discription of these contagious times The increase of the Riuer likewise in the beginning of the yeare before any raine is seene to fall where we aboade did make it propable that raine wasfallen within the land before we tasted any all which affirmes the great inlet of this hopefull Riuer and giues an assurance that it is passable if times and seasons be obserued and with dilligence followed with boates and vessels fitted accordingly as experience in trauelling it already so farre may some wayes warrant a sufficient director Next to shew a continuance of this great streame when we had rowed beyond the ebbing and flowing and 12. dayes against the currant which wee trauailed in the moneth of Ianuary when the water was at the lowest of his nourishment and then the shole we met withall and stopped our further proceeding had 9. inches water which shallownesse continued not aboue to yards wherein if we had beene an able company together being onely 10. of vs and likewise had had prouision of tooles wherewithall and beene assured of a commodius trade and so friendly a people to conuerse withall as after we found any encouragement would haue made vs worke a gut thorough that little distance and being past that place the riuer shewed himselfe againe with faire promising so farre as wee bad occasion to looke neare a league and how far he might so continue we are ignorant and in those places aboue did we see sea-horses whosenature requires deep waters as where I write at large of him you may better perceiue likewise the higher still more store of Crocodiles which addes incouragement of the largnesse of the Riuer and likewise a faire breadth betweene the shores I follow these probabilities to encourage the farther search of the Riuer which dilligently followed may euen in one season giue a full satisfaction to the forward Aduenturer and if it so fall out we can meete with any towne aboue standing by the Riuer side it will assuredly proue a commodious place to make our aboade in to take the aduantage of the seasonable times and to make returnes to and againe as experience must leade to the greatest aduantage And for trade there is no question but a maruailous recourse would be vnto vs which is already testified in that so many hundreds of them came downe vnto vs to the remote place where we were enforced to stay building them houses of reads on both sides the shore and the recourse still more and more increasing in so much as we had intelligence the people were comming from a great Towne called Iaye in their language and wee doe conceaue it to be Gago if wee had beene furnisht with commodities enough for them and likewise knowne the seasonable times for our passage in the Riuer and conuenient Harborough for our safer aboade and why may not the towne they call Mumbar which they say is but 6. dayes iourney from the place we stayed at according to their trauaile which in the discourse of the people Laster lay downe belikewise vpon the Riuer if so how great an aduantage might it bring vnto vs if wee were minded to stay there when the Moore of Barbary come for at this towne the Carauan from Barbary doth stay and abide we know their whole trade is for gold but what quantity they haue here or what people it is they trade withall we are as yet ignorant and this aduenture vp the riuer would vndoubtedly discouer that the gold is there wee are assured of hauing battered and had trade for some and vpon triall the same in goodnesse that Barbary affords our Countries hauing the riuer to friend we should be able though but few of vs to defend our selues from the rage of the Barbary Moore if he should attempt any thing against vs for vndoubtedly when he shall see vs entered into his trade he will appose what may be to affront vs And although I haue beene promised safe defence by the country people yet a boat is a certaine retreate and the Riuer a constant friend to trust vnto Againe what know we whither the Riuer may bring vs within the confines of those people who will not be seene and are those to whom our salte doeth passe of whom in the relation of the Country in his place as it followeth I write and if it be as in all descriptions that are set out it is layd downe that the Riuer of Senega and this Riuer do meete yet cannot be in any probability but a few dayes iourney aboue the place and heigh we haue already beene at must needes reach to it and no doubt afterwards that which affordes two such branches must containe within himselfe a faire and promising streame which may take head from some great and large lake aboue such as is described to be about Gago and if any such place should be found what vse or profit might arise cannot but promise a hopefull expectation And lastly if the inhabitants aboue be enemies amongst themselues as we see in the mouth of the Riuer and heare likewise of them what aduantage our force in the Riuer may worke will easily be considered in regard they haue not the vse of any boates aboue where it ebbes and flowes so farre as we haue hetherunto beene which is about 120. leagues or 360. miles which we were trauelling as I haue sayd before onely 12. dayes wherein is to be vnderstood we laboured not the whole day but setting forward so soone as it was day light we continned working vntill 9. or 10. of the clocke resting the heate of the day and againe from 3. vntil the euening shut in and not at all in the night when it was coole and conuenient for auoyding of trees sunke rockes and sholes which in the day time we could see and haue now taken notice of and perfectly writ downe that vpon any second attempt we may be much bolder and thereby aske lesser time for performance how beit our returne downeward for those 12. dayes trauaile was in 6. and God be praised both going comming and staying there without sicknesse or losse of any one man Nay more to our great comfort wee found the higher we went the more healthfull our bodies And it is likely if townes were found againe neare the Riuer they do so continue for from Baraconda whither the Riuer flowed we neuer hard nor saw of any Towne or plantation nor recourse of any people vnto vs but what we sent for neither shew of any boate onely some two or three bundles of Palmeta leaues we found bound vptogether which our Blackes would tell vnto vs some of the people had made shift to passe the riuer vpon so as our passage then must needes afford more discouragement to the Actors then any that can by Gods grace happen hereafter for we were discouraged that the people aboue were of a bad condition if we could passe vnto them which
he growes broade downe like a Bull and hath two teeth standing right before vpon his lower choppe which are great and dangerous in regard he strikes with them his crye or neighing directly like a great horse and hath in the same manner foure legges answerable to his body whereupon hee goes and wherewith hee likewise swimmeth as a horse doeth yet in these is his greatest difference for they are somewhat shorter in proportion then horses are and where they should be round hoofte it deuides it selfe into fiue pawes vpon euery which hee hath a hoofe the whole foote containing a compasse of great breadth as the beast is in growth insomuch as I haue taken the measure of some prints they leaue where they walke of twenty ynches ouer His manner of feeding likewise resembles the horse for although he liue all day in the Riuer yet euery night hee goeth duely on shore in diuers places feeding vpon their Rice and Corne doing the Country people much spoyle but his generall feeding is vpon low marish grounds where the grasse or sedge is greene to which they resort in great companies in those reaches of the Riuer which haue deepest water and lie nearest and conuenienst to such manner of grounds do wee alwayes finde greatest store in some places they go a mile from the shore side to their feede hauing trackes that are beaten as hard and palpable as London high way he returnes by the breake of day to the Riuer where he is very bold when our boates come by hee will hold his head aboue the water many times store of them together and so neare as within Pistolls shot snorting neighing and tossing the water making shewes of great displeasure and sometimes attempting it for in my passage too and againe in the Riuer my boate was stricken by them three times and one of the blowes was very daungerous for he stroke his tooth quite through which I was enforced with a great deale of dilligence to stoppe or it had daungered our sinking but the hazard of them may be well auoyded if men be prouided to shoote at them when they presse ouer-bold which wee could not do in regard out allowance of powder was small and we were driuen to put it to other vses neither had wee peeces accordingly thorough the neglect of some ill wishing persons who deceiue the trust the worthy Aduenturers apposed vpon them In the night while wee had candle burning some of them disturbed by vs would remaine in the Riuer and would come staring vp the streame snoring and pressing neere vpon vs but wee found meanes to send them packing for breaking a small peece of wood we would sticke a short candle lighted vpon it and let it driue with the streame vpon them from which they would flie and make way with a great deale of horrour and one note we obserued amongst them they werealwayes most dangerous when they had their young with them which they sometimes leaue on shore but being in the water euery female carries her young vpon her backe so as when she puts vp her head the young head likewise will looke his share and where they appeare many heads together there is asmuch variety as from the great horse to the hunting nagge the Sea-horse we found greatest store when we were likewise past the flowing of the tide and continued aboue the highest place we were which still argues a large and constant Riuer The people do account of these for an excellent meate not resusing to eate them if they be taken vp dead in the Riuer as they are many times found swimming howsoeuer they come killed howbeit I conceiue the Crocodile and they agree for that I haue stood vpon the bancke and see them swimme one by another without offence Hauing spoken of these I now returne to matter of sustenance which the Riuer affordeth there is variety of good fish among which great store of Mullet if men haue nets and prouision to take them which in some places within the ebbing and flowing the shore lies conuenient to make vse of and aboue that in most places howbeit we neuer made vse aboue any place where our shippe ridde who alwayes kept the net with her wherewith we made diuerse draughts most especially at a Towne called Cassan and against which the shippe did ride and was the highest place in the Riuer she went where our convenientst drawing was close to the Towne and when the people at any time saw vs bring our net on the shore and prouide to fish as the net came neare the shore they would come rudely in and many times with their vnciuilnes indanger the breaking and spoyling of our net with their greedinesse to lay hold on the fish that wee were inforced to speake vnto the King dwelling in the Towne to command them to forbeare troubling vs promising when we had taken for our own present vse and reserued some for him the residue should be taken out and remaine amongst them and his Commaund being given they were carefull to obserue it Amongst the rest one time hauing made a draught we had not such plenty as vsually onely some fish in the cod of the net which being taken vp were shakt into a basket standing in the boate with which we rowed aboord the basket being handed in as the custome is the fish were powred vpon the Decke whereof many rude Saylers will be their owne caruers amongst which fish there was one much like vnto our English breame but of a great thicknes which one of the Saylers thinking for his turne thought to take away putting therefore his hands vnto him so soone as he toucht the fellow presently cried out he had lost the vse both of his hands and armes another standing by sayd what with touching this fish and in speaking put thereto his foote he being bare-legged who presently cried out in the like manner the sence of his leg was gone this gaue others of better rancke occasion to come forth and looke vpon them who perceiuing the sence to come againe called vp for the Cooke who was in his roome below knowing nothing what had hapned being come wild him to take that fish and dresse which he being a plaine stayd fellow orderly stooping to take vp as his hands were on him suncke presently vpon his hinder parts and in the like manner made grieuous mone he felt not his hands which bred a wonderfull admiration amongst vs from the shore at the same time was comming a Canoe aboord vs in which was a Blacke man called Sandie who in regard he had some small knowledge of the Portingall tongue had great recourse amongst vs we brought him to the fish and shewed it vnto him vpon sight whereof he fell into a laughter and told vs it was a fish they much feared in the water for what he toucht hee num'd his nature being to stroke himselfe vpon another fish whom presently he likewise num'b and
Heards and come to the commanding Blacke The Maudingo or Ethiopian being the naturall Inhabitants distinguished by the name of the Maudingos THe people who are Lords and Commaunders of this country and professe themselues the naturall Inhabitants are perfectly blacke both men and women The men for their parts do liue a most idle kinde of life imploying themselues I meane the greater part to no kinde of trade nor exercise except it be onely some two moneths of the yeate which is in tilling and bringing home their countrey corne and graine wherein the preseruation of their liues consists and in that time their labour is sore as when I come to shew the manner you may easily conceiue All other times of the yeare they liue wandring vp and downe from one to an other hauing little vnderstanding either to hunt in the woods or fish in the waters notwithstanding both the one and the other in their kindes are infinitely replenished that to their very doores wilde beasts doe resort and about their houses in euery corner abundance of Ginny hennes and excellent partridges In the heat of the day the men will come forth and sit themselues in companies vnder the shady trees to receiue the fresh aire and there passe the time in communication hauing only one kind of game to recreate themselues withall and that is in a peece of wood certaine great holes cut which they set vpon the ground betwixt two of them and with a number of some thirtie pibble stones after a manner of counting they take one from the other vntill one is possessed of all whereat some of them are wondrous nimble we do perceiue amongst them that the ordinary people eate but one meale a day and especially the younger sort of what kinde soeuer their houre of feeding being onely aster the day light is in and then with fires of Reedes without the doore they sit them round and fall to their viands which for the most part is either Rice or some other graine boyled which being brought vnto them by the women in goardes hot putting in their hands they rowle vp into balles and cast into their mouthes and this is their manner of feeding they doe seldome eate either flesh or fish the rather because they cannot get it then out of any will to refuse it and although they are great breeders of such very poultry as ate our Cockes and Hennes and haue vnderstanding to cut Capons yet they are great sparers thereof and preserue them to sell vnto vs for small peeces of Iron beades and such like commodities wherof if we be furnished we can want none of that prouision They will say their feeding so seldome is a great preseruation of their healths at that time when the Sunne is downe a fittest time for nourishment auoyding especially to eate in the heate of the day as a thing wonderfull unwholesome wherein it may please you to giue me leaue to vtter my opinion which happly comming to be scanned by men of knowledge may produce some rules of better order then hath hither-unto beene kept amongest our Nation which hath caused the losse of so many liues and the dangerous sickenesse of others therewithall laying a generall scandall vpon the countrey it selfe to be both infectious and vnwholesome for our bodies whereas indeede it is our owne disorders For the custome that hath beene hither-unto held especially into this Riuer hath beene without any diligence to make choise of such Sea-men for gouernours as were men of temperance and commaund who being able to temper well themselues might the better gouerne the rest whose ill carriages may be thought to bee great prouokers for shortning other mens dayes I will example it in this last voyage of ours The Maister was a man knowne for an excellent Arts-man but in the gouernement of himselfe so farre from knowledge that after our passage from Dartmouth which was in October vntill the middle of March after about which time he dyed it will be iustified he was neuer twenty dayes sober in which time he went not alone but our Chirurgion with sundry other officers that were of his societie with their liues payed for their riotous order And further whereas wee were diuided into two shallops to goe vp the Riuer the bigger whereof the principall Factor was to follow his trade in and carried therefore in the same a Butte of Sacke and a Hogges-head of Aqua vitae making choice of such men as were the most able and likeliest bodies to hold out and he in himselfe carefull enough as his experience might well aduise him hauing spent many yeares and made many voyages vpon that continent to obserue both his diet of eating and drinking yet towards his people hee carried at sometimes such an ouer-sparing hand that they fell to practising how they might deceiue him making vse of all aduantages to steale those hot drinkes from him which being purchased as it were from his niggardly nature they would diuide as a spoyle with great greedinesse amongest themselues and thereby wrought their owne confusions that of those people he carried with him they eyther died before hee came backe to the shippe or shortly after some two at the most excepted who escaped with dangerous sickenesse whereas to the contrary with thankefulnesse to God be it spoken my selfe going vp in the other shallop and wherein I must take such men as were giuen me not such as I desired obseruing amongst our selues a louing and orderly course of diet wherein euerie man had his equall share notwithstanding I went one hundred and fortie leagues aboue the other shallop returned without the losse of any one man nay in all my going to the highest and in my returne to the Pinnace I neuer had any man sicke but vpon a second returne vp some part of the Riuer some of my olde men being changed two or three fell sicke howbeit with comfort be it spoken there was not one man died that went with mee and for my owne part through the whole voyage I was neuer one quarter of an houre sicke blessed be the name of God Now for my opinion concerning our diet I hold well with the Blacks that to feed at noone is an vnholesome thing for that the Sunne being then in his extremitie of heate and by his neerenes hauing such power ouer vs the moisture that lies within the body is exhaled to the exterior parts to comfort and refresh that which the heate doth drie and then are the interior parts most cold and vnapt for nutriment wherein experience makes vs see that in the height and heate of the day we can with great facilitie and without offence drinke off such a draught or quantitie of Aqua vitae or hot waters as if we should drinke heere in our natiue countrey at one time would certainely burne out our harts nay more wee finde our bodies naturally desiring and longing for the same wherein I might heere shew some reason
partly to blame a neglect in our owne prouisions but that I assure my selfe it hath beene rather ignorance to know what was good then want of wil to prouide it whereas in the coole of the morning and againe in the euening wee receiue it with much more temperance and a little giueth satisfaction so that my conclusion is that to vs that haue able and working bodies and in our occasions are stirring and labouring in the morning earely and after the heate of the day are the fittest conuenientst times to receiue our sustenance wherin I shal euer submit my selfe to those of more able iudgement and returning to the Blackes let you know that their vsuall and ordinary drinke is either the Riuer water or from some Spring howbeit they haue growne from trees seuerall sorts of wine or drinkes as also the making of a kinde of liquor they call Bullo made and compounded of their countrey corne whereof more conueniently else-where I shall effectually satisfie you and now goe on to shew you the manner of their building and fortifications They place themselues in their habitations round together and for the most part haue a wall though it be but of Reede platted and made vp together some sixe foot in height circling and going round their Towne with doores of the same in the night time to be orderly shut some of the houses within their walles likewise are made of the same Reedes but the better sort do build the walles of their houses of loame which after it is tempered and layde vp together carrieth a kinde of red colour with it and doth remayne with an extraordinary hardnesse that doubtlesse as I haue carefully diuers times obserued it would make the most excellent and durablest Bricke in the world the whole countrey except vpon the mountains yeelding the same earth whereof I will not forget to report one thing which in my opinion deserues admiration we doe finde in most places hills cast vp by Ants or Emmets which we heere call Ant-hills some of them twenty foote of height of such compasses as will hold or containe a dozen men which with the heate of the Sunne is growne to that hardnesse as wee doe vse to hide and conceale our selues in the ragged tops of them when wee take vp stands to shoote at the country deere or any other manner of wilde beast the forme of their houses whether it be loame or Reed is alwayes round and the round roofes made lowe euer couered with reedes and tyed fast to rafters that they may be able to abide and lie fast in the outragious windes and gusts that come in the times of raine for which purpose also they build their houses round that the winde may haue the lesser force against them and the walles enclosing and keeping them in is to auoyde those rauening and deuouring beasts which in the night time range and bustle about wherewith diuers times notwithstanding they are much affrighted and by making fires and raising cries at midnight to chase and driue them from their mansion dwellings This for the meaner Townes or countrey Villages but they haue likewise Townes of force according vnto the manner of warre they vse amongst them fortified and trencht in after a strong and defencible nature whereof they say the countrey within is full especially where the Kings are seated the maner whereof wee haue seene in some two or three places whereof I will instance onely one which is the Towne of Cassan against which as I sayd before the shippe which was betrayed did ride and we in our last voyage did make it our highest port for our bigger shippe This Towne is the Kings seate and by the name of the Towne hee holdes his title King of Cassan It is seated vpon the Riuers side and inclosed round neare to the houses with hurdles such as our shepheards vse but they are aboue ten foot high and fastned to strong and able poles the toppes whereof remaine aboue the hurdle on the inside in diuers places they haue rooms and buildings made vp like Turrets from whence they within may shoot their arrowes and throw their darts ouer the wall against their approaching enemies on the out-side likewise round the wall they haue cast a ditch or trench of a great breadth beyond that againe a pretty distance the whole Towne is circled with posts and peeces of trees set close and fast into the ground some fiue foot high so thicke that except in stiles or places made of purpose a single man cannot get through and in the like manner a small distance off againe the like defence and this is as they do signifie vnto vs to keepe off the force of horse to which purpose it seemes to be very strong and auaileable considering what armes and Weapons they haue in vse which in this place is necessary to be knowne They doe vsually walke with a Staffe or Iauelin in their hands which they call an Assegie being a Reede of some sixe foote long the head whereof is an Iron pike much like our Iauelines but most of them very artificially made and full of danger others they haue also made to throw like Irish-mens darts with heads all barbed full of crueltie to the receiuer each man likewise about his necke doth weare in a Bandeleere of red or yellow cloth a short Sword of some two foot long with an open handle which Swords they make of the Iron is brought vnto them as you shall heare when I speak of their Trades and also the better sort of them doe carry their bowe in their hands and at their backe a case very artificially made which may hold within it some twenty foure of their arrowes it is the smallest arrow vsed by any Nation made of a Reed about the bignesse of a Swans quill and some two foote in length there is fastned in the end a small Iron with a barbed head all which Iron is dangerously poisoned the arrow hath neither nock nor feather but is shot from the bowe which is also made of a Reede by a flat string or rather sticke smoothed and made euen and fastned to the bow so that the bowe and the string are one and the selfe-same wood whose force is small and therefore the offence lies in the poyson which neare hand vpon their cotten garments may make an entry but to a Buffe Ierkin or any other sleight garment of defence except it be very neare can be little offensiue we haue seene of them likewise on horse backe the horses being of a small stature bridled and sadled after the Spanish fashion each man hauing his Assegie in his hand and vpon the right side of his horse a broad Buckler hanging and this is all the weapon in vse amongst them The Kings house is in the middle of the Towne inclosed by it selfe onely his wiues seuerall houses about him to which you cannot come but as it were through a Court of Guard
passing through an open house where stands his chaire empty vnlawfull for any but himselfe to sit in by which hangs his drummes the onely instruments of warre which we see amongst them neither are these drummes without dayly imployment for this is their continuall custome euery night after it seemes they haue filled their bellies they repaire to this Court of Guard making fires both in the middle of the house and in the open yard about which they doe continue drumming hooping singing and makeing a hethenish noyse most commonly vntill the day beginnes to breake when as we conceiue deadsleepes take them by which meanes sleeping one part of the day it makes the other part seeme shorter vntill the time of feeding come againe otherwise it is done to that purpose in the night to feare and keepe away the Lyons and rauening beasts from about their dwellings who are at that season ranging and looking out for this manner of course is held amongst them not only in their fortified Townes but also in euery particular village and habitation whereof sew of them is without such poore drums they vse and if they be yet they continue the custome through hooping singing and vsing their voyces but when it happens muslcke is amongst them then is the horrible din as I shall signifie when I ouertake their fidlers But first I am to meddle with matter of state and acquaint you concerning their Kings and Gouernors for so I haue promist the better to bring my worke together In following of which I shall entreate your patience to obserue with me that the better to distinguish of their gouernments I must deuide the Country by the Riuer that how soeuer the Riuer trends which in his windings is surely all points of the compasse I shall alwayes call that part which lies to the southward in our intrance the southside and the other the northside of both which sides although we haue seene diuers petty Kings and other Commanders to whom we payd a kind of poore custome which in the mouth of the Riuer where the Portingall hath vsed is not onely greater but perremptorily demaunded whereas aboue it is lesse and rather taken as a curtesie presented which morall kindnesse requires all strangers comming in the way of amity to begin withall to a principall person then any manner of custome that is as we say exacted but how someuer both below and especially aboue it is of that poore quantity it hardly deserues the paines of so long a rehersall whereby you may be drawne to conceit of a greater valuation Those petty Kings I say where of I both saw had conference and did eate and drinke within sixe seuerall places who had the title of Mansa which in their language is the proper name for the King haue all reference to their greater Kings who line farther from those places on the southside the whole Country we past euen to the highest we went which you must needes conceiue to be very spacious had all reference to the great King of Cantore on the northside likewise from the sea-side about halfe the way we went vp they did acknowledge the King of Bursall and after him to the highest wee went on that side the great King of Wolley These three Kings we hard of but saw none of them the report going that they were such as shewed not themselues abroad but in a manner of pompe and that they were not seene to hunt but with great number of horse and especially on the northside whereofdiuerse English haue beene eye witnesse concerning Bursall whose continuall aboode is neare the sea-side whereby some recourse hath beene vnto him there is warres betweene the one side of the Riuer and the other and especially from this King of Bursall in so much as the people would tell vs if hee could haue any meanes to transport his horse on the farther side hee would in short time ouerrunne great part of that Country the state of the great Kings we may coniecture at by the obseruances those small ones we see doe assume vnto themselues and those people they gouerne performe vnto them for there is no man but at his first approach before them where they sit commonly in their houses onely vpon a mat which is spread vpon the ground but presents himselfe with a great deale of reuerence in kneeling on his knee and comming nearer layes first his hand vpon the bare ground and then on the toppe of his owne vncouered head many of them taking vp the dust and laying it vpon his bare-head which action he vseth twise or thrise before hee come at him where with a great deale of submission he layes his hand vpon the Kings thigh and so retireth himselfe a good distance backe and if it chance in any company or resort vnto him that there be a Mary-bucke which be their priests as soone as they haue made their maner of salutation they al kneele downe and hee fals to praying the substance of his prayer being for the preseruation of the King and in the same blessing him to which himselfe crossing his armes and laying his right hand ouer his left shoulder and his left hand ouer his right shoulder vseth the word Amena Amena many times ouer which signifies the same as we say Amen or so be it Nay more euen among the common people when they meete in the high way and are of acquantance hauing beene absent from one another any distance of time if there be a Mary-bucke amongst them they put themselues into a round ring and before any salutation fall on their knees to prayer The Kings respect vnto them againe is onely nodding of his head which is acceptably receiued how be it in manner of habite there is betweene the King and his people little or no manner of difference which may be imputed to the necessity of the Country because it yeeldeth but one onely materiall to make apparell of which is a Cotten wooll whereof they plant great fields and it growes vp as it were our rose bushes yeelding a cod that in his full maturity breakes in some part and shewes a perfect white cotten of which you shall find more written when I come to rehearse what trees and plants wee finde amongst them Now for the manner of their apparell it is soone related they being for the most part bare-head only bedecked or hang'd ouer with gregories as they are likewise ouer their bodies legges and armes which word I will presently expound vnto you but first tell you their onely garments are a shirt and a paire of breeches their shirts made downe to their knees wide in manner of a Sirplace and with great sleaues the which when he commeth to vse his bowe or armes he rowleth vp and it continueth fast at the shoulder his breeches are made with so much stuffe gathered iust on his buttockes that he seemeth to carry a cushion and after a manner makes him
gouernors their greatest Riches consists in hauing of most slaues and from the King to the slaue they are all perpetuall beggars from vs hovvbeit small matters vvill satisfie them except it be in Aqua vitae for vvhich they sell all things they haue and the Kings and all vvill drinke vntill they be starke drunke and fall fast asleepe so that to describe the life of the Kings truly is that they doe eate drinke and sleep and keepe company with their women and in this manner consume their time vntill Time consumes them with their great bloud and dignitie whereof they so much eesteme and with one example I will rehearse vnto you I shal conclude concerning their kingly priuiledges The King of Cassan who was dwelling in the Towne as wee came vp the Riuer with whom I spake drunke two or three bottles of Aqua vitae and had much familiar conference who had liued in that place many yeares howbeit hee was a lame man after we returned downe the Riuer and made stay at that Towne we found him nothing so merrily inclined as he was at our going vp whereupon demanding among some of the rest the reason they told vs hee was to be put out of his kingdome enquiring wherefore they replied there was another to come who had more right then hee for sayd they this was the Kings sonne but begotten of a base woman such as I described their concubines to be howbeit the King left behinde him a sonne who was right borne but very young which childe being now come to yeares craues his rightfull inheritance and the King of Bursall vnder whom they hold they could not deny but had taken order to send him forward so as he was lookd for euery day and indeed the second day after I was gone from the Towne he came thither bringing abundance of people with him to whom the people of the Town resorted leauing the old King to whom notwithstanding the yong King sent willing him to depart and goe away with his wiues and family before he came or if heâ— found him there hee should suffer death which at the first he refused to doe saying he would enclose himselfe in his dwelling and die ther but vpon better aduice when he savv himselfe quite forsaken he passed himselfe and wiues crosse the Riuer and left the Tovvne to this yong Commander who after his entrance our pinnace riding there and being ready to come away he sent for the Factor to whom after some familiar conference hee sayd this tovvne and kingdome hath been lost but hereafter you shall see it found againe promising at all occasions his friendly assistance But before I leaue them it were necessary I should acquaint you vvhat manner of ceremony doth passe betvvixt them and vs as we meet together the King is commonly sitting on his mat laid on the ground vvhich in our entrance he obserueth not offring to rise and in regard he hath nothing but his Gregories on his head vvhich are fast and cannot stirre We do not vse to mooue our hatts or vncouer our heads vvhen vve come to him but dravving neare somevvhat bending our bodies vvee lay our bands vpon our breasts vvhich he also performs to vs and vvhen vve come neare he holding foorth his hand vve first take hold on the vpper part of one anothers hand next on the lovver part and the third time ioyne palmes and with a full hand shaking one another downe wee sit by him and after some small parlee concerning the cause of our coming wherein the kings part is performed in state whatsoeuer he speakes being related ouer by another out goes our bottle of Aqua vitae which must not be wanting and a botle of Sacke too it is so much the better calling for a small gourd to drinke in which is their richest Plate I first beginne and drinking off a cup present both the cup and bottle vnto the king the botle he deliuers presently to some one of principall regard with him who by his appoyntment after the king hath first drunke and he himselfe not failing of his next turne distributes it to the whole attendance who for the most part stand round by the wall of the house one after another taking his cup and then to the king againe In their drinking I obserue one thing that in regard of the goodnesse or the strangenesse of the liquor when he receiueth the first cup before hee drinke himselfe with the same liquor he wets one of his principal Gregories The king many times calling for a cup breakes the square otherwise they neuer leaue vntill the bottle is out and so all the bottles we bring wherein we haue one priuiledge for after we haue tasted the first cup which must be of euery botle to secure them of danger we need not vnles we please take any more but shaking of our heads when they offer a cup it stands for a faire refusall and so passeth to another neither doe they suffer their women publiquely to drinke amongst them except some especially respected who may sometimes haue a cup but euen diuide it among themselues so long as the bottle will run and their brains hold out which being the true and proper element they delight in I will heere in in their hearts desires leaue them and proceed to a more ciuill I am sure soberer sort of people The discourse of their Maribuckes or religious men ANd so by order I am now come to speake of their Marybuckes or Bissareas which we in our language may call religious Persons or Priests of the country The Mary-buckes are seperated from the common people both in their habitations course of liues concerning whom I haue with dilligence obserued that in their whole proceeding they haue a wonderous reference to the leuiticall law as it is in our holy Bible related the principalls whereof they are not ignorant in for they do report concerning Adam and Eue whom they call Adama and Evahaha talking of Noahs flood and of Moses with many other things our sacred History makes mention of their houses or dwellings are seperated from the common people hauing their Townes and lands set out in seuerall within themselues wherein no common people haue dwelling except such as are their slaues that worke and labour for them which slaues they suffer to marry and cherish the race that comes of them which race remaines to them and their heires or posterity as perpetuall bond-men they marry likewise in their owne tribe or kindred taking no wines but the daughters of Mary-buckes and all the children they haue are nourished and bred vp vnto the ceremonies of their fathers But for the number of their wiues and women they haue the selfe course that I described before among the Kings and temporall people in the like manner amongst them euery man in his dignity and precedence hauing more or lesse wherein there is no seuered towne
or can at any time be drawne to tast or receiue any iot of this our comfortable liquor nay more they will not suffer none of their children not so much as the little infant who in the place we liued at through daily recourse one with another were growne to such familiarity with vs that they would many times steale from their homes and come and hang about vs these smal ones we might not giue any wine no nor any maner of fruit as reasons or sugar or any sweete things without great offence vnto the parents and if hee hapned they found it with them they would take it away with great displeasure and although themselues were neuer so sicke and in those times we would perswade them how comfortable it would be vnto them we could by no meanes preuaile to gaine any manner of inclination towards it for example as I was trauelling vp the Riuer in my boate vpon some occasions our people being in the water and in the shallow leading vp our boate a suddaine deepnesse occasioned by a steepe banke brought them beyond their reaches and enforced them to shift for themselues by swimming my Alchade or Mary-bucke being one of them who could reasonably vse his armes was notwithstanding taken in a whirle-poole and in great danger of drowning hauing beene twise at the bottome but at the second rise one of our men tooke hold vpon him and with helpe we presently got him aboord being almost spent and his senses gone we earnest to recouer him fearing the agony we saw him in got rosa-solis to put in his mouth the sent whereof as it appeared made him hold close his lippes that we gaue him none but within a while he came perfectly to himselfe and as it seemed retained the sauor so as he askt whether he had taken any or no He was answered no I had rather sayth hee haue died then any should haue come within me although I am verily perswaded the very fauor refresht and did him good wherein they haue a great resemblance to the Rechabites spoken of in the thirty fiue Chapter of the Prophet Ieremy who kept zealously the Commaund of Ionadab their father from whence these may be lineally discended in regard it is sayd they proceeded from Hobab the father in Law of Moses and Moses wife is noted to be an Ethiopian And this is the principall marke we know these Mary-buckes by that howsomeuer they cannot by their habite be discerned from the common people yet in offering them to tast or drinke our foresayde liquors they are presently to bee distinguished which sobernesse of their being an euident signe that they are alwayes themselues To which I adde that as they do not loue wee should promise them any thing but be sure of performance so in any thing we can discerne we receiue no false reports or vntruthes from them with which confidence I goe forward with the relation of their trade and trauaile These Mary-buckes are a people who dispose themselues in generall when they are in their able age to trauaile going in whole families together and carrying along their bookes and manuscripts and their boyes or younger race with them whom they teach and instruct in any place they rest or repose themselues for which the whole Country is open before them to harbour and sit downe as night or necessity ouer-taketh them alwayes disposing themselues to some Towne whereunto they are not ouerchargeable but only to rest their bodies in regard we see them alwayes carry prouision for the belly with them which we conceite is renewed as they meete with some principall persons or make their Rendevow in some eminent place this wee are sure that there is not any of them passe vs but they will vse the custome of the whole Country which is to begge without any deniall and although to vs it is but a poore matter in respect of the Trade we haue much more what we hope and looke for to giue vnto them or amongst a whole company a quier of paper which cost three pence yet to them it is a rich reward out of which they questionlesse doe rayse the greater part of sustenance to trauell withall and what else may be auaileable vnto them making thereof by writing in the paper their blessed Gregories which they giue and bestow as they sinde occasion and to confirme vs herein this wee note that if wee haue occasion to send any of the Countrey people of any message or employment for vs after he hath agreed for his reward he will oke to haue a sheete or two of paper giuen him which is to buy him sustenance as hee passeth from towne to towne so as you shall neuer meete with any of this profession but in discourse they can speake of more Countries then their owne natiue places one chiefe reason to encourage their trauell we haue learned which is that they haue free recourse through all places so that howsoeuer the Kings and Countries are at warres and vp in armes the one against the other yet still the Mary-bucke is a priuiledged person and many follow his trade or course of trauelling without any let or interruption of either side Notwithstanding there is none of these Mary-buckes but goe armed and are as compleatly furnished as any of the other people and haue the manner of vse and exercise of their weapons in as ample manner as they haue where unto I thinke they are rather inuited in regard of those wilde and rauening beasts the countrey is stored withall that vpon any occasion they may be able to defend themselues and offend their offensiue enemies To particularize heerein I may tell you of those two ancients Mary-buckes who were our neighbours in the towne where our housing stood who both of them would relate vnto vs of infinite store of gold which they had seene the Countrey aboue to abound withall wherein the more auntient man whom wee found so louing a friend would speake maruellous confidently howbeit he would tell vs there were a dangerous people to passe before wee came vnto them and that the Riuer was so full of trees we should not be able to get our boate along and in token of feare when I was to beginne my iourney vpward and came in the euening to take my leaue of him taking my right hand betwixt both his hee vttered ouer it diuerse vnknowne words and euer and anone would sparingly spatter with his spettle vppon it after which laying his mouth close to my necke ouer my right shoulder hee would after the like manner performe there which his superstitious zeale being assuredly done in loue I did not contemptuously refuse because I was ignorant of any offence therein but with a friendly curtesie parted with him and my returne backe was to him as ioyfull the other who was a more or as I may say most subtile fellow promised to be my guide along and to passe in the
of the place or Riuers mouth vvee intended to goe vnto and further vvee vvould not haue passed nor endangered our selues and vvhat vvee carried into the little Riuer vntill vve had made triall of the peoples dispositions and hovv they should stand affected to vs vve met here vvith a shole as I haue said in the description of the Riuer vvhich stayed vs vve could passe no higher vve concluded therefore in the after-noone to send avvay three of our Blacke-men vvho vvere vvilling to goe directing them to Buckor Sano of Tinda to vvhom vve sent a Present and likevvise I sent to the King of the place as the manner is and gaue our Blacke-men vvherevvithall to buy them victualls demanding of them vvhen they thought vve should expect their returne they said Sonday night wherin I speake after our ovvne phrase and vvhile they are trauelling it vvill be necessary I acquaint you what were the grounds or reasons vve sought after this Buckor Sano and laboured to get neare to this Tinda making more especiall choice of him then of any other man George Tompson in his diligence while hee liued hearing of diuerse Carauans that past in the country and went downe to the King of Bursals dominions for salt had learned that the onely and principallest man that maintained the greatest Trade was that Buckor Sano whose dwelling was at Tinda who maintained and kept too Asses following that tedious trauell Tompsons desire led him forthwith to goe finde this Marchant and in a paire of Oares as I spake in the beginning went vp the Riuer and trauelling some way by land recouered Tinda but found not his blacke Merchant in regard he was trauelled higher into the Country in the sale and vttering of his salt Commodity Thompson returned but found his expectation so satisfied in that he had hard of the Moores of Barbary and was come so neere where they frequented that hee talkt of nothing but how to settle habitations and fortefie the Riuer to defende themselues and keepe out other nations but these his desires died in his vnhappy end and this was all our acquaintance which now I came to second by sending vnto this Buckor Sano to come downe vnto the Riuer to vs as the onely man we were willing to sell and commend our commodities vnto And by this time Sunday night is come and none of my blackmen returned monday likewise all spent in expectation on twesday our men began to grumble and my especiall consort to speake out there was no reason wee should hazard our selues by staying any longer in regard it was fallen out as we were told below that they were a bloody and dangerous people and therefore those people we sent vp were murdered and if we stayed our turnes would be next and likewise that we had no flesh left and our other prouisions were very scanty I gaue them content with faire words that the place might be farther of then they conceited in regard we had beene on the toppe of the mountaines and could discerne no likelihood of Townes or habitations of which we had had no acquaintance since we came from Baraconde and in regard the Country about vs was aboundantly replenished with ali manner of wild beasts we would try our indeauors and on the wednesday morning I went out with two more and killed a great and goodly beast which was no sooner brought downe cut out hanged to coole vnder the shady trees on shore but there appeared in sight three blackmen the one was one of those we sent who had brought with him Buckor Sanus brother and the King of Tindas seruant and they came before to see vs and what commodities wee had bringing word that the next day Buckor Sano would be there himselfe I had them aboord my boate and made them curteous entertainment giuing them some small commodities and when the euening came we feasted with our Venison The next day about noone came Buckor Sano with his musicke playing before him with great solemnity and his best clothes on and about some 40. more armed with their bows and arrowes with him hee shewed no more at first bowbeit within two houres after there were two hundred men and women come thither he sat downe vpon the banke vnder a shady tree after a little stay I went a shore to him and our salutations being past I desired him to go aboord whereof he kindly accepted and withall shewed me a beefe he had brought to giue me for the present I had sent him diuerse goates the people had likewise brought and corne and cockes and hens so as there was no neede to doubt any more want of victuall He carried no more aboord with him but two after he was in the boate I shot off three such guns as I had to welcome him at the noyse whereof he seemed much to reioyce calling the report of the powder by the name of the white mens thunder and taking notice of the head and the hide of the Deare which we had killed which we shewed him was slaine by one of our guns they sent with admiration from one place to another and certified that there was a people come who with thunder killed the wild beasts in the wood and the fowles in the ayre Which for it was our dayly vse to kill one sort of fowle called a Stalker which is as high as a man and hath as much meate of his body as is in a Lambe which diuerse times we vsed to kill and eate more especiall we desired to haue his feathers which grew on his tayle which are of vse and such as are worne and esteemed of here at home amongst vs I had of my owne prouision good Rosa-solis taking forth a glasse I dranke vnto him after he had dranke he tooke off his sword and gaue it me to lay vp saying defend me here in your boate and I will secure you on shore he liked our drinke so well he suckt it in and as it seems not knowing the strength of it took more then he would haue done insomuch as he fell asleepe the people that came with him in the meane time cutting of reedes made them houses others fetching in wood made fires euery where about them so as it seemed a little towne Buckor Sano slept foundly vpon my bed by me in the boate and in the morning complained of his head and this much I must iustifie in his behalfe that during the time we were together he was neuer ouertaken by drinking after but obserued the course he saw we vsed to take a small cup before meate and another after and this euer gaue him satisfaction He desired to see all the Commodities we had which he liked very well of and whereas we thought our Iron would haue beene greedily desired we found it not so for they told vs there was a people neighbours vnto them who had knowledge to make it howbeit they were diuerse
times in wars together but some of our Iron we put away at better rates then below by one third and might haue done away all we had if we would haue accepted of hides which for the reason I shall presently shew was refused howsomeuer this was the maine businesse that after they saw our salt no other thing was esteemed amongst them which at first seemed strange vnto them forasmuch as they had neuer seene any of that fashion before the salt we had was onely bay salt which after they put in their mouthes and rasted they would looke vp and cry Alle in token of the good esteeme they had of it After two houres of the morning spent my Merchant went on shore keeping my gowne about him which when the euening shut in the night before I had put vpon him and in a manner of state he went one shore withall wearing of it in that manner it might well appeare they were not vsed to such kind of ornaments The first thing he did after he came on shore he caused on to make a lowed outcry in manner of a proclamation prohibing any of the people to buy or barter with vs but as he bargaind All that day hee found himselfe so sicke after his drinking that hee told me hee could tend no businesse onely hee shewed vnto mee certaine young blacke women who were standing by themselues and had white strings crosse their bodies which hee told me were slaues brought for me to buy I made answer We were a people who did not deale in any such commodities neither did wee buy or sell one another or any that had our owne shapes he seemed to maruell much at it and told vs it was the only marchandize they carried downe into the countrey where they fetcht all their salt and that they were solde there to white men who earnestly desired them especially such young women as hee had brought for vs we answered They were another kinde of people different from vs but for our part if they had no other commodities we would returne againe he made reply that they had hides and Elephants teeth cotton yarne and the clothes of the country which in our trade we call Negroes clothes he was answerd for their hides we would not buy in regard our boate was little and wee could not conueniently carry them but if they would bring them lower downe the Riuer where our bigger vessels could come we would buy them all but for their teeth cotton and clothes wee would deale for them so against the next morning being Satterday we had a house built by the water side open round about and couered with reeds on the toppe to shadow vs from the Sunne and this was our market house when we came to trade we asked which should be the Staple commoditie to pitch the price vpon to value other things by they shewed vs one of their clothes and for that they onely desired our salt wee fell to loveing and bidding vpon the proportion wherein we had such difference and held so long that many of them seemed to dislike and made shew that they would goe away but after we concluded there was no more difference euery man bringing his commodities our salt went away and as they dispatcht they likewise returned in companies together and still others came that we had the place continually surnished We neuer talked vnto them of golde the principall we came for but wayted opportunitie and notwithstanding we saw it worne in their womens eares warning was giuen none of our people should take any great notice of it as a thing wee should greatly desire vntill occasion was giuen by Buckor Sano himselfe who taking note of our guilt swords and some other things wee had although but poorely set out with some shew of gold trimming did aske if that were gold hee was answered Yes it should seeme sayth he you haue much of this in your Countrey Wee affirmed the same and that it was a thing our men did all vse to weare and therefore if they had any wee would buy it of them because wee had more vse then they for it you shall haue sayd he what is amongst our women here but if I did know you would esteeme of that I would be prouided to bring you such quantitie as should buy all things you brought and if you would be sure to come still vnto vs I would not faile to meete you And proceeding further hee sayd This Countrey aboue doth abound therewith insomuch as these eyes of mine poynting two of his fingers to his eyes as the Countrey manner in speaking is hath beene foure seuerall times at a great Tovvne aboue the houses whereof are couered onely with gold wee demaunded of him how long he was going and comming thither he answered foure Moones we asked him if hee would carry some of vs thither hee answered Yes but they had enemies by the way sometimes to fight with them wee shewed him presently our gunnes and tolde him wee would carry them with vs and kill them all at which he seemed to take a great deale of content Before I goe further I will take occasion heere to set downe their manner of trauell They goe in companies together and driue before them their Asses whose ordinary pace they follow beginning their dayes iourney when the day appeares which is euen at the Sunne rising for so neare the Equinoctiall there is a short dawning eyther before the Sunne riseth or after shee sets and continue trauelling some three houres then are they enforced to rest all the heate of the day some two houres before he Sunne setteth going forward againe and so continue vntill night comes whenas they are sure to harbour themselues for feare of wilde beasts except in some Moone light nights and then they will trauell the better likewise when they come to some speciall Townes they will rest themselues and their Asses 2. or 3. daies together laying all their burdens vnder some shadie trees close to the town set forth such things as they haue to sale maintaining in the time they are ther a kind of market their asses being spāseld which is their 2. forelegs tied together feed by them the people themselues lodging among their burdens vpon such matts as they euer carry with them of vvhich kind of Innes or lodging places they can seldome misse the Country being vvell replenished So as if you please to obserue although the time seeme much which is spent in this iourning yet the vvay cannot be much if you consider the maner of iourning wherein leauing to speake farther vntill I come to a more ample application I returne againe to Buckor Sano my blacke Merchant In our time of trading together if it were his owne goods he bartred for he vvould tell vs this is for my selfe and you must deale better with me then either with the Kings of the Country or any others because I am as
or three that doe attend him which we doe call the little Iacke All it is a little blacke shagge-heard beast about the bignesse of a small spaniell which so soone as the Euening comes hunts and busles about for the preye and comming on the foot followes the sent with open crye to which the Lyon being master huntsman giues diligent eare and applyes himselfe to follow for his owne ease and aduantage if it so happen the Iacke All beweary or set vp his chace besote the Lyon come in he howles mainely out to shew the estate he stands in and then comes the haughty Lyon and ceazeth one the weary prey for as it is written of the Lyon in his pride if hee saile of his prey at three iumps he scornes to pursue or toyle himselfe after it and being ceazd he remaines feeding making a kind of grumbling noyse whilest his small seruant stands barking and yalping by attending vntill his Master hath feasted and then hee falls vpon the remainder And this as we heare and receiue from the countrey people so likewise it is affirmed vnto vs by our owne ttauailes for as we had occasion when the tydes fell out to trauaile vp the Riuer in the night and likewise many times to ride all night at an Anker in the Riuer against desert places we did obserue the noyse and hunting of this Iacke All and likewise note the reply and answer of the Lyon insomuch as it was a commonn word amongst vs who will goe on shore and accompany the Master huntsman There are Ounces and Leopards great store whereof by reason of the many dennes wee see vpon the land we may discerne the print of the foot remaining vpon the holes mouth beeing able to assure vs what is within as also the countrey people doe bring many of their skinnes vnto vs to sell how euer they light vpon them for by their owne valour sure they dare not and by their ingenious capacities I beleeue they cannot deuise any course to lessen their company The Ounce doth seeme to bee more rauenous or dangerous vnto them then either Lyon or any others and makes more spoyle vpon them as they doe complaine I was shewed a child there which the mother gaue sucke vnto who early in a morning going neare to her house to a spring to fetch water had laid her child wrapt in a Cloath without her dore vpon a matte as they vse to doe and there came a hungry Ounce who it seemed had mist his nights prey and tooke vp the cloath and childe and runne his wayes the mother met him and with wofull outcry pursued him and as it chanced he tooke the way to come right vpon the place where the Father of the child with other people were labouring in the field who with roaring voyces run after him the Ounce still ran away keeping his hold but as it chanced the child dropt forth of the cloath and the father running after recouered it and tooke it vp the Ounce carryed cleane away the cloath and the man brought backe the child to the mother the which wee our selues haue both seene and handled and so bold and fierce is the Ounce that many times in the night hee hath driuen a small dogge wee had where we dwelt on shore to our bedsides by a hole he had through our straw vvalles barking and running vnder our beds not daring to looke out howsoeuer vve encouraged him vntill vve vvere faine vvith firebrands in our hands to goe abroad and so feare him avvay and many more are there of night enemies vvhich vvatch and looke after their carefull husvvisery amongst which especially is the great Ciuit Cat aud the Porcupin vvho are carefull purueighers for any outlying poultrey vvhose vievv early in the morning is their discouerie the Cattes by the print of their feete left in the sand and the Porcupine by his quills which are shed and many times taken vp in plenty and so I end with their night enemies and as I stand conceited cruell acquaintance because what after I deliuer is vppon such beasts as walke and shew themselues by day and howsoeuer they stand in feare of them it is rather out of a timorousnesse in the people then any willingnesse in the beast The first where of is the Elephant whose presence indeed as he is a wilde beast may euen to a strong person giue a iust amazement and such is the feare the countrey people in generall haue of them that by all possible meanes they seeke to shunne and flie from them yet such is the great abundance the Countrey doth yeeld of them that they are ouer all places and wheresoeuer you come you shall find the footing and apparent shew they haue been there though not presently to be seene and notwithstanding those great abundance of wilde ones they haue not any of them tame or vnder commaund as in other places of the world they haue which certainely proceeds from the feare they conceiue of them much and great is the spoiles they doe them both among their corne and especially in their Cotton grounds going in small companies together whereof I haue seene sixteene verie great ones besides young ones that suckt and others that were of middle statures the proportion of the greatest I leaue you thus to coniecture of the reeds or sedge that grows naturally in euery place is higher aboue our heads then the arme of a tall man can well reach and halfe the body of those Elephants is aboue the reedes their naturall feeding is amongest this sedge but more especially they doe browse vpon trees whereof in the woods you shall find store by them pulld downe and that of bigge bodies and round substance the manner whereof I must relate to correct the mistaking which is most common in picturing the Elephant whose two great teeth are commonly set in his lower law carrying them vpward as a Bore doth his tusks which is contrary for he carries them downward and with them breakes downe the trees for after with his truncke he hath bended the toppe he haspes ouer his two teeth so as one or other must needs giue way and that is the reason that among those multitude of teeth that are brought ouer so many broken teeth and crackt and shaken are amongst them for it the tree be too strong the tooth giues way and so the people find many iunkes and peeces which they sell vnto vs the abundance of those teeth that are yearely brought from thence may satisfie what store of these beasts are in the countrey for as I haue spoken with many who considering the great store are brought away haue conceiued they had shed their teeth as Stagges doe mew their hornes which directly is nothing so but by the death of the beast the teeth are gotten what casuall deaths they are subiect vnto wee are ignorant and for any practize of the peoples too much feare possesseth
them so farre as we haue seene one place alone excepted which I will manifest vnto you within foure miles where our habitation was there stood a good spatious plantation the Commander whereof we called Ferambra who was alwayes a friend of ours as we were in our dwelling vpon our Christmasse day at dinner where God be praised wee had varieties of meate to mend our fare iust in the dinner time there came foure blacke people vnto vs whereof two were laden and had great gourds vppon their heads as much as they could stand vnder the one full of Palmeta wine the other of raw flesh which were Presents sent me from this Ferambra who sent me word hee had killed an Elephant and had sent me some part thereof our daintie stomacks looked asquash at such grosse flesh yet I receiued it kindly and gaue it away to our blacke neighbours who eat it very merrily The next day I went to Ferambras house the fashion of the Country is to entertain vs with their best prouision of diet amongst which we had Elephants flesh whereupon both my selfe and consorts that were with me fed very heartily and found it good and sauoury meate I desired to know how he killed them And he shewed me one of his blacke people and sayd There was none but hee alone durst doe it and taking downe a lauclin which hung in the house the staffe some ten foote long the Iron or head whereof was bound vp in a cloth which he opened and shewed me and it was laid with poyson all ouer he sayd his manner was when hee saw the Elephants feeding in the high sedge he would steale in amongst them by creeping still keeping himselfe behinde them he would recouer so neare as to strike his Iauelin into the body of the beast and leauing it there take to his heeles and through the long reeds scape away and the warme bloud dissoluing the poyson vppon the Iauelin it presently spreads it selfe to the cruell torture of the beast the extremitie whereof killes him the people in the meane time vpon trees and places of aduantage being set round about to watch him and so soone as he is downe come to him presently cutting away so much of the flesh as is inflamed with the poyson which they throw away reseruing the rest for their owne sustenance and in this manner he hath killed mee so many as you see I haue tailes heere hanging vp And except in this place I neuer heard but the people were wondrous fearefull of them the experience whereof was in those blacke people I had in my boate when I went vp the Riuer It was my manner as I cou'd with conueniencie to aduenture and set vppon such as wee met withall but my Blacks would alwayes tremble and runne away and many seuerall attempts I had vpon them wherein I must say as I found that they were as fearefull as a forrest Stagge and according to their greatnesse went as swift from vs as they could which pace was faster then a good able man could runne whereof I had triall in one great beast who notwithstanding wee had shot three times the bloud running downe his sides escapt away from vs that we lost him whom afterwards the people found dead and brought his teeth to sell vnto vs and had wee beene prouided accordingly we might haue made diuers preys vpon them but what wee did was held in admiration amongest the people for many would come downe on purpose to looke vpon vs and dernaund of our Blackes which was he that durst set vpon an Elephant There are also in the Countrey Buffelos which are wilde Bulles and cattell of that sort also wilde Boores very huge and great their colour being a darke blew and without doubt he is a very dangerous beast for hee shewes more boldnesse then any other being armed with great and large tusks and carrying vp his tufted taile of a great length boult vpright in a scornefull manner will walke from vs. There are likewise large Antelops and Deare of all manner of sorts spread ouer the whole countrey with beasts of that kind whose names wee are ignorant of and many strange hydes they doe bring vnto vs amongst which there is one beast whose hide is fourteene foote of length of a dunne colour and strokt with white Another sort I must needes remember whose great abundance may well put me in minde besides their society and neighbourhood which in our trauell vp the Riuer we were often acquainted withall which are the Babownes and Munkeys whereof the countrey hath innumerable store and where they are they doe goe in heards and companies but are of two societies the Munkeys alwaies keepe by themselues and great and little as they are onely of that kind consort together and euen in Ilands that lye within the Riuer they are as frequent as on the mayne which condemnes the report is of them that they cannot swimme but being in the water will drowne presently and in my owne knowledge I can affirme that hauing bought a Monkey from the countrey people who vse to bring them vnto vs and sel them for poore things being got loose in my boate that rid in the middle of the Riuer hee leapt into the water to swimme on shore and being pursued by one of our men who swamme after him hee did diue vnder water diuers and sundry times before he could recouer him But to speake of the Babowne I must say it is a wonderfull thing to obserue a kind of common-wealth that is amongst them they haue none but their owne kind together and are in heardes of three or foure thousand in a company as they trauell they goe in rancke whereof the leaders are certaine of the greater sort and there is as great and large of them as a Lyon the smaller following and euer now and then as a Commaunder a great one walkes the females carry their yong vnder their bellies except shee haue two and then one vnder the other aboue In the rear comes vp a great company of the biggest sort as a guard against any persuing enemy and in this manner doe they march along they are very bold and as we passe in the riuer when we come neare their troupes they will get vp into the trees and stand in gaze vpon vs and in a kind of collericke humour the great ones will shake the trees and with his hands clatter the boughes in that fashion as it doth exceed the strength of a man to doe the like barking and making a noyse at vs as if they were much offended and in this manner many times they will follow vs along and in the night time where wee ride at an ancker take vp their stands or lodgings on the mountaine toppes or on the trees that are aboue vs whereas we heare their gouernment for many times in the night you shall heare such a noyse of many of
proceed and goe on in the same aduenture as you both know and haue had iust cause to except against And apparent it is that notwithstanding you in your generous dispositions haue sate downe by the losse yet there is that haue gained But allovv if it please you all had beene lost if you shall againe consider vvhat charges and expences haue beene layd foorth and disbursed in Discoueries of this nature nay in those of farre lesse expectation vvith the recoueries and satisfaction that aftervvards they haue made euen to this our natiue Countrey vvhereof I forbeare examples in regard they are not hidden from your true and ingenious knowledge Only in regard of some great resemblance that may be to this intended business I may commend to your considerations the voiage into Muscouie wherein the Marchants haue that long passage of so many hundred leagues vp a Riuer and by a customary trade is brought to bee held as an ordinary passage the Countrey being fitted accordingly by which vse it is now no other wayes vnto them then as wee may terme it heere our Westerne passages vp the Riuer of Thames wherein were more probability for the attaining of this we ayme at in regard our Riuer is at all times open and not subiect to cold nor those extreame frosts which to the Muscouy trade are so great hinderers So that if you would conclude amongest your selues of a sufficient stocke and be armed with a bancke the ground of merchandizing to follow resolutely your vndertaken enterprize For so much as to mee belongeth I dare affirme you are vpon the most promisingst occasion that euer in our little Iland was vndertaken most especiall considering by how smal a charge it may be perfected wherin as experience hath made me the Writer to aâ—quaint you with each particular So likewise I â—â—feâ— my selfe vp both with my life and fortunes â—aâ—â— with my vtermost indeuours in your behalfes by Gods especiall blessing to bring to perfection what I haue heere related which is left with my selfe to your worthy considerations FINIS The trade of the Moores in in Barbary for their gold The Kings Maiesties Letters Patents The first voyage The ship taken by the vagrant Portingall and the men slaine The second voyage Captaine Thompson slain The third voyage The whole way from England to the Riuer runne in 20. dayes The particulers handled in this booke These are all more largly written of where the tillage of the ground is handled We were 10 of our owne company that went vp in a shallop and 4 Blacke that I hired to carry vp a Canoe These 〈…〉 The Country people haue no boates or Canoos aboue the ebbing and flowing We laboured to get vp the Riuer onely 7. houres in 24. No townes neare the River side after wee past the ebbing and flowing The Description of the Crocodile whom the Country people call Bumbo How the people do feare him The manner they passe their cattle ouer the Riuer for foare of Bumbo The Blackes would not goe into the Riuer Their answere when they went in The strong sent of the Crocodile changing the tast of the Riuer water the fish were taken in it The desctiption of the sea-horse The sea-horse feedes in the night vpon the shore A daungerous blow by a sea-horse A neglect to be hereafter carefully prouided for The Country People esteeme the sea-horse for excellent meate A strange operation of a fish The running fish The nature of the riuer foule The manner of the peoples fishing The vagrant Portingall An especiall Caueat The curteous vsage of the naturall inhabieants The reward of treachery The misery of the Fulbic The cleanelines of the Fulby women The time and manner of the peoples feeding A digression by the Writer for the better preseruing of mens liues and healths The Writers opinion concerning dyet The Cauneat must be lookt carefully to in the setting forth The manner of their building Strange Antehils The towne of Cassan with the manner of fortification The armes or weapons the people haue in vse The inhabitans custome in the night The great King of Cantore The great King of Bursall The great King of Wolley These great Kings are likewise tributaries to one great King fat ahoue in the land as is reported to vs. The reuerence of the people to the petty Kings The Religious ceremony of these people The manner of their apparrell The description of their Gregories which are tharmes they receiue from their Mary-buckes The number of their wiues Allowance of other women for necessitie sake The reason of that necessity Strict punishment for vnchastity The men buy then wiues The widdowes buy their husbands The subiection of the women No outward daliance seene amongst them A strange report The womens clothing The manner of taking away their wines which in some sort is vsed in Ireland at this day The modesty of a new married woman These people stand much vpon their dignity A daungerous quarrell betwixt them The certaine knowledge of their Kings Gouernours and their sucressors Their titles of honor Wherein their Riches consists Great Beggers The temporall people great drinkers of Aquavitae The life of their Kings truly described The deposing of Kings The ceremony vsed betwixt the King and vs when first we meet He giues his chiefe Gregory drinke first Their women not allowed to drinke in publike although they loue it well They obserue the leuiticall Law And haue great knowledge of the old Testament They marry in their own tribe and breede vp their children in their owne sects The Mary-bucks haue the same allowance of women the Kings or temporall people haue This Fodee Karcere was my Alchade and bought sold for me Fodee Bram was the chiefe Mary-bucke of all the Country Both Priest people weare one manner of apparrell The chiefe Mary-bucke daungerously sicke His manner of entertaining me The valuation of the present gaue him which was so highly esteemed The description of the town called Setico The chiefe Mary-bucke wonderfull desuous to confer with me about our Religion They worship the true God aboue whom they call Alle. They haue no manner of Image They haue no Chuches They obserue not their Sabboth The manner of teaching their male children to write and reade The manner of their character Their law is not written in the publicke We suppose they performe their religions ceremonies vnder the shady trees They called our dwelling the white mens towns In any oecasion of falling out betweene the people and vs this old man would come with his Assegy presently to ayde vs. Their manner of devotion The death of the chiefe Mary-bucke The great resort to his buriall They do bury the body withall sweete sauors and perfumes they can get The manner of buriall Verses and Orations in commendations of the deceased A Relique of great esteeme The inuesting of the eldest sonne in the fathers place A Ramme for sacrifice They cal Christ by the name of Nale The
opinion they hold concerning him They haue bookes of great volumes all manuscripts The wonderfull sobernesse of these Mary-buckes They abstaine from all sweete things A strange ex ample of abstinence The true way to know a mary-buckâ— They will tell no lies The marybucks manner of trauaile They will beg of vs without deniall The Mary-bucke free to trauaile in all places Their report of gold Old Mahome he ceremony at my going vp The subtilty of his neighbour Hammet The trade and trauaile of the mary-bucks of Setico Wherewith he maintaines his greatnesse An ill opinion of the Mary-buckes to bury their golde A good commoditie The reason of looking after Buckor Sano Note The Mary-buckes name was Selyman the other Tombo Samgulley a blacke boy Eleuen dayes trauell against the streame wherein wee wrought eighty eight houres Some of our men grew fearfull As bigge in body as a great Stagge and had wreathed bornes The returne of one of our messengers The comming of Buckor Sano Prouision the people brought His going aboord the boat and report of our powder A Stalker The saying of Buckor Sano aboord the boate Hee was but once ouertaken with our strong drinkes The great esteeme of salt He makes a proclamation He offers wemen to sell vnto vs. Their commodities A markethouse made a shorc Warning not to take notice of their gold Buckor Sanos report of gold and of the houses aboue couered therewith He seem'd wonderous willing of our companies Buckor Sano his subtill speech His declaration of the Moores of Barbary Pleasing intelligence being the maine businesse wee ayme at Their course of trading An oath they obserue carefully An vnhappy accident A people that neuersaw white men before Strange breeches the common people did weare An encouragement to search further vp the Riuer These people had another language These people expect our returne The King comes vnto vs. Buckor Sano did alwayes eate with vs in the boate These exercises did commonly hold three houres in the night Buckor Sano made the white mens Alchade The acknowledgment of his new title His mediation to the King in our behaltes The Kings answere Buckor Sanos gratification The Kings acceptance and faire reply He giues vs the Country A strange recemony in takeing of possession The possession giuen vnto me A great protestation of defence A people markt in the face Obserue this Mary-Bucke Ferambra was Lord of his Country and when the P ortingals had got the King of Nany to send horsmen to kill Thompson and his small company hee did preserue them and put himselfe Country in armes for their defence The marybucke first tale His second discourse Our opinion cercerning Trombutto and Gago More incouragment to go further vp the Riuer The manner of merchandizing without speech or sight one of the other The report of the people with the great lippe The people who bought our salt had no vse of it but for sale This ought speedily to be considered of The place called St. Iohn Marte Our curteous parting with Buckor Sano The fashion of the Irish Rimer Vpon this instrument only they play with their fingers A strange con sort-ship Their chiefest instrument The manner of this instrument Their manner of daunsing Their Fidlers rich They are basely esteemed of and being dead are not buried The affection of Saingulley our blacke boy vnto vs. This Bo Iohn was brother to Ferambra The feast of their Circumcision Samgulley taken from vs to be circumsised The great resort to this solemnity They that were cut kept all to gether The curtesie and muth that past betwixt vs. women looke vpon the circumcision Our boy circumcisised and the manner thereof We were not suffered to go amongst the new circumcised No vse of medicines to cure them The discourse of their diuell Ho-re He is a monstrous cater Sumetimes 8 or 9 atonec are carried away and sayd to be in his belly Comming forth they speake not for certaine daies Our opinion concerning Ho-re How he was partly discouered An example of the diuells conuerse with the Fidlers The Diuell could not tell the Portingall where we were friends or foes The trades or occupations they haue in vse their painfull season of thunder and lightning also what fruites plants the Country yeeldes and are growing there amongst them The Smith An excellent charcole to worke their Iron The Sepatero they of this trade are most ingenious The Potter tobacco pipemaker They haue in the highest of the Riuer excellent mattes A market kept euery monday No mony or coyne amongst them All labour to till the earth and sow their graine They vnderstand not to make their cattle worke The manner of their painefull labours Their coâ— or graine The manner of their Rice The planting of cotton The misery of the people The times of their raines the fearefulnes thereof A faire intreaty to men of iudgment The great aboundance of poyson The nature of the first raines An obseruation to be kept A note of experience An obseruation of the tempestuous times They heare speak of Christ but will not beleeue Gods mercy to vs. A comfort to the traueller Plantans Limes Orenges Good wine sorth of a tree Seuerall sorts thereof Palmeta apples Amade drinke called Dullo Gowrdes Locuste Wild hony Munkies meat A stony apple This fruite is of great esteeme They are not growing within the limit we saw Great store brought vs when we were aboue This is like our water Lilly The sensible tree All reuenous beasts in the day time keepe their dennes The Lyon His small seruant His manner of hunting The causes of our knowledge Ounces and Leopards The Ounce dangerous A true tale of a Child Ciuit Cat. Porcupine The Elephant The stature of the great ones He browses like a deare A false opinion This was that Ferambra I noted before Elephants flesh good to feede vpon The manner how he killed them I brought two of these tayles away with me The Elephant a fearefull beast The peoples admiration we durst set vpon them Buffelos Blew boores Antelops Deare of all sorts Munkies Babownes a strange story A gouerment amongsts them The people of the Country eate them The Spaniards opinion of them The pleoples report of a Vnicorne The Stalker The wake Ginney hens Patridges Quailes Pigeons Parrats Paraquetos Variety of smal birds A small bird withoutlegges A bird with foure wings about the bignes of a turtle Doue How the birds preserue their young from the Babouns and Munkyes The suâ—â—â—â—ry of the Babowne Another meanes of preseruation Hawkes that will kill a Vallow deare Bastard Eagles How the people finde the dead beasts The Inhabitants want knowledge to take them The Kings man ner of Hawking The vagrant Portingall