or 50 Pieces of Ordnance and kept by 300 Renegadoes in Garrison At the West side another Castle somewhat less but altogether as strong doth overlook the Town In the Harbour is built a very commodious Mould able to contain above 200 Sail. Upon it stands a strong Fort that threatens Destruction to all Vessels that dare adventure near without leave or in a Hostile manner Three Tier of Guns are planted in it the lowest is level with the Water The Mould lies in such a crooked manner that no Ships can with their full Sail come straight in without turning So that it is a very difficult work to break the Chain and enter it by force This Nest of Pirates is very well prepared for the Attempts of any Christian Enemy None can do them the least injury by Land or by Sea so that here they retreat as the Wild Beasts in their Dens to enjoy their Thefts and Prey That which renders the Town more strong is that it is built upon a hard Rock and cannot easily be undermined I have taken notice of 3 Places in the Castles that are but weak In the great Cittadel on the South side is a rising Hill as high as the half of the Wall if it was possessed by a powerful Enemy it might serve very commodiously either for Battery or Mining On the East side is but a weak Wall that would not endure long the Fury of the Canon The other Castle hath many little Hills that are equal in height besides the Wall in the Town in one place is not so strong but an Enemy might enter by it Charles the 5th attempted to drive these Pirates out of their Nest but it was to no purpose that he brought a Navy by Sea and Landed a puissant Army to besiege the Town the violence of a storm broke his Vessels to pieces and forced him to raise his Siege with the loss of a hundred Ships and many thousand Men. Since that time Argiers is much stronger and better fortified Daily something is added to the strength of it so that unless the Christian Princes join together or some powerful Monarch by Sea Land lay siege to it it will be one day impregnable but by Famine In the City the Houses are very pleasant and more beautiful within and without than in other Parts of Affrica The greater lie open in the middle with handsom Galleries and Turrets Several Mosquets are built for Publick Devotion into which no Christian hath liberty to enter unless he intends to Apostatize for he must either burn or turn that enters the Place of their Prayer that handles the Alcoran before Witnesses or that repeats their Illa Alla Mahumet c. They have a great number of their Talubs Religious Men whose Duty is to read their Publick Prayers They have many other sorts of Men appointed to attend in their Mosquets some are to expound the Mahumetan Law and they are called Cadirs others are to invite the People to their Devotions and they are named Dervises some live by the Alms of the People others are Prophets and holy Men. Over all the Religious Orders there is one established as the Supreme Judge of all Controversies and he is honoured with the Title of Marabut He is the Judge between Man and Man of Matters of Equity and Justice A certain stipend is allowed unto him from the Publick Treasury He lives not upon the Inferiour Orders every one hath a setled Salary The great swallow the little ones as Fishes they feed upon them and from their Labours derive a maintenance to their idle Bodies a sad encouragement to Laziness Vice and the grand Cause of the Disorders of a Nation Other Persons besides the King and Bashaw are eminent in this City the Lagaw is the Chief in the next place He is the first person of the Duan and is the General of the Armies abroad Under him are the Cheuses which are like our Justices of Peace or Sheriffs The next are Boulgebushes Men like our Bayliffs they are Servants to the Duan They remain three years in their Offices and then go out with the Armies as Controulers of the rest Besides these are other Bushes Captains and Officers of the Militia they wear a Badge of Honour on their Heads and are distinguished from the rest by their Turbant that is wound about in the form of a Sugar-Loaf behind a Red Cross falls down It is not lawful for any to take this Attire but themselves It is the Badge of their Office as the Red Scarf is the Sign of Command amongst Christians In the Camp there are other Great Men as Daventees Mouchees c. An Acha Basha is an experienced man amongst them one that hath been in several Encounters who commands a Party when it is separated from the Main Body He must be an old man and when once he comes to that Employment he can rise no higher as other Officers can About the City are most pleasant Gardens Orchards and fair Houses belonging to the Inhabitants Further in the Countrey very good Corn grows upon the little Hills that appear round about Here is plenty of all things unless it be of Wine which is not made by the Turks or Moors They of Argiers are not so scrupulous as the stricter sort their Consciences can suffer them to be drunk with Wine when they take good store in Prizes In the City towards the East side is a very strong House built and some Souldiers to keep guard I enquired what the Place was and I was informed that it was the Publick Treasury-House Every year they cast in vast Sums of Money according to their happiness in the Encounters with Christians They never take out of it It is thought there are many Millions shut up in that Hole The last Barbarossa built it for the Publick and to encourage the rest to give liberally he put in 2000 Dolars When the Ships come in and when the Lots are made there is alwaies something for the Treasury and a good Portion for Mahomet It seems these Heathens have Religion enough to make them honour their Prophet and those that represent his Place amongst them for the most part such are good for nothing else but to say the Publick Prayers Yet the People are so far from despising them that they bear a great respect unto them and suffer not any to be in want that attends at their Devotions This Portion which is called the Portion of Mahomet in the Division of the Prize-Goods is put into the Hands of a Treasurer appointed for that purpose and he distributes equally to all their Religious men If they find at any time that he hath converted the least part to his private use he is put to death in a most cruel manner He is stript naked and at the Door of the Marabut he is empaled alive and then in that manner raised to the top of the Steeple of a Mosquet where he is exposed to Publick view for
the Captives it lay without the Mould At that time that I was on the Sand it was dusky a French man offered me his assistance I accepted of it and went into his Boat but I was discovered before I could get off the Mould and sent back to my Master that punished me with a hundred blows on the Soles of my Feet which rendred me uncapable for his Service many days He was soon weary of my Company and sold me to the English Renegado that came on board our Ship at our Arrival I expected from him a kinder entertainment but found less He was cruel and severe to me he made me work night and day I often treated with him for my Ransom but found his Demands to be so high that I could not comply with him He abus'd me most sadly about five Moneths and then Death delivered me of his Tyranny His Executors sold me again amongst his Goods and Chattels I fell next inro the hands of an Italian Renegado named Ishmael Reiz who was not kinder to me than my former Masters my Work was painful my Diet mean my Labour continual and my Rewards the Blows of a hard Cudgel I could not suffer long this Service therefore I sought to displease my Patron and make him sell me to another He gave me next to an Officer of the Militia called Hally Hamez Reiz who was so well pleased with my Person and Countenance that he resolved not to part with me for any Money I offered unto him 800 Dollars He told me I should first go with him in the Countrey and at his return I should have liberty to be redeem'd if I behaved my self well At that time the Turks did send out a strong Army to gather the Contributions of the People and to relieve Tremsen or Climsan a strong and populous City in the Country There is a Garrison of Turks that are sent every year to that place and another that comes from thence for as it is a great City the Countrey round about do always submit to those that are Masters of that Place It concerns therefore the Turks to fortifie and preserve that City for themselves against the Attempts of the Arabs that are their deadly Enemies Having run through so many strange and unexpected Fortunes I did not hope to meet with less Variety in this Expedition in the which I was engaged amongst the rest my Master was a Commander of a hundred Men He was very passionate and lascivious nevertheless Valiant as I did afterwards learn We marched out in very good Order with our Flying Colours and some few Field-Pieces very small The Army was composed of Twelve Thousand Men Four Thousand were to go Westward and gather the contributions along the Sea-Coast as far as Tetuan and the Kingdom of Fez The next Four Thousand were to march towards Tunis and the third Four Thousand were to enter into the Country The Custom of the Turks is to gather the Contributions upon the Inhabitants who do not pay willingly therefore they venture not amongst them but in great Numbers well armed able to oppose an Enemy or prevent a sudden surprizal There is a Natural Antipathy between them The Moors that dwell in the Kingdom and the Arabs do hate the Turks because they are imperious and and because they are obliged to pay unto them an yearly Tribute The time that these Armies set forth was in June the Harvest when the Corn was ripe and fit for use then the Country was able to furnish the yearly Revenue either in Corn or Money The Commander of the Western Circuit was Abel Hamed Simon of the Eastern were two Chieftains Halac Rigla Reiz an old Renegado of Spain and Halec Sim Haly a young Blade that had more Precipitation than Wisdom they met with many Mischances as you shall afterwards hear and had it not been for our unexpected Approach the whole Army had been cut in pieces Our Commander was a judicious man but very unfortunate cruel bold and valiant a great Enemy of the Arabs his Name was Ben Osman Bucher he had been a great Commander at Sea and fought in many notable Encounters against the Christians never with so much success as in the Year 36. against a Portuguese Caraque near the Island of Tenerifa sayling from the East-Indies and bound for Lisbon laden with very rich Commodities to a great value His share was so considerable that he was raised from a poor and a mean Estate to a good Fortune and to the Esteem of the Divan especially because the good Success of that Fight was attributed to his Valour and Resolution For the Christians making a stout resistance the Turks were discouraged from further Attempts and not willing to continue their Enterprize longer when he with his drawn Cymeter did compel some and perswade others to try again the Portuguez Courage and so by that means won the Ship and brought great Riches into the City He was ever after highly esteemed and employed in great Affairs where any danger or difficulty did appear For that Reason he commanded the Army that was to go the middle Circuit because there are a sort of People very valiant and stout that sometimes make a strong Resistance to the Turks and when they see their advantage they refuse Tribute Our Army was composed of Horse and Foot a thousand Horse and two thousand Foot were numbred at the Musters besides Slaves and Servants The Cavalry was composed of Turks born and Moors that had quitted their Countreys interest to serve them of Argiers and for the most part they were Inhabitants of the City and had there their Wives and Children The Infantry was made up of Renegado-Christians whereof there are such number in that place that they bear all the sway and command both by Sea and Land They are as Imperious over the rest as the Janizaries in Turky over the Greeks and the Mamalukes in Egypt were over the ancient Inhabitants The Divan is composed of this sort of men who are most skilful because they are acquainted with the Affairs of Europe and better able to manage the Publick Business relating to that part of the World and to give Orders Some of them do get vast Estates others are miserable and poor and therefore are obliged to the meanest Offices With this strong Party we set forward and came to a Place the first day called Atsabah at two Leagues distance from the Sea It was a pretty little Town situate on the Decline of a pleasant Hill that was covered on the right hand with a Large Wood extream Bushy about two Miles in length The Houses were more handsom than we could expect in a Countrey Village About it were to be seen the Ruines of old Buildings that did only appear out of the Earth A Christian Renegado that had studied in the University of Salamanca informed me that this place was named anciently Stilpeia and that it had been an Episcopal See in the time of the Christian
for he did not treat me as a Slave but as a Friend granting me as much Liberty as I could desire After this Expedition we remained about a year in Climsan during which time several Accidents hapned the great Mosque of the City fell to the ground by a terrible Earthquake and frighted the rest of the City a few Houses joining to this Religious place with their Inhabitants were buried in the Ruines Two Stars of a good bigness flew over the City they were followed by several other little Lights they met all together in one point and made a great Star that hung over the City about three days The Astrologers and Negromancers of the Countrey were consulted about the meaning of these Meteors they all agreed that they were significant and Prophetical All the little Lights that joined to make a great one they said were several little Principalities that would unite together to compose a great Monarchy that would not favour the Turks in those parts The Inhabitants are very superstitious when any such Wonders do appear in the Firmament they run to their Mosquets and fall to their Devotions neglecting all other business many days for they never interpret such Signes to their advantage they look upon them as dreadful forerunners of publick Calamities The people of this place were so much the more concerned because these Signes did appear only to that Region and did hang over their City in a threatning manner Another thing very extraordinary hapned about the same time A strange Monster was born of a Morisco Woman it had the Head of an Ape the Feet of a Goose the Body of a Man the Hands like the Claws of a Lion many persons went to see it Several Reports were spread about the Town concerning these unusual Accidents which terrified the common people susceptible of fear upon the least occasion Many Dreams also were divulged at the same time by the Turks Enemies concerning the same business tending to the destruction of the Turks Empire in those parts So that there was likely to be a great Commotion had not our Governour kept good Orders and clapt one of these busie Prophets in a deep Dungeon to expect his Release from that Power that was to destroy and drive away the Turks but the silly Rascal would never expect that Hour he grew impatient in his Chains so that he employed several of his Friends to mediate for him and procure from our Governour his Liberty which was granted upon condition that he would be more discreet for the future and keep his Dreams within the Circumference of his Couch Our Governour could not so well order his business but that the Arabs forward enough to catch at all Occasions of ruining the Turks made several Parties in the Territories of this Kingdom assuring the Inhabitants that now was the time that they should pay no more Taxes to entertain the Pride and Luxury of Argiers and that if they would lend their helping hand it was possible to recover from thence what they had sent from year to year Some as it alwaies happens on such occasions were so silly to believe them they formed therefore several little Parties up and down they were inconsiderable separated but had they been together they might have created us much trouble and business Several Companies of our Souldiers were sent out to disperse them The greatest Body was composed of two thousand Horse and Foot met together about six Leagues from Climsan at a Town called Tezrim which is stony by situation and Art These had killed some that favoured the Turks and were resolved to wait there to see whether any more would happily join with them My Master was sent out with about 1200 men only but chosen out of the Garrison We laid siege to this strong place and at the end of six days it was surrendred to us by Composition The Conditions imposed were favourable the Inhabitants were condemned to deliver up their chief Leaders and part with a Sum of Money The Leaders were sacrificed to the Turks vengeance and sent into the other world to raise Tumults there One thing I cannot omit very memorable in this place At some distance from Tezrim in a little Meadow where excellent Grass grows I saw the perfect Stature of a man Buggering his Ass it was so lively that at a little distance I fancied they had been alive but when I came nearer I saw they were of a perfect Stone I enquired wherefore the Moors or Arabs that naturally hate all sorts of Representations should shew their Skill by making such Beastly Figures odious to Nature I was informed that this was never made by man but that some body of former years had been turned into this Representation with the Ass in the very moment of the Beastly Act. God by his power had changed the fleshly Substances of the Man and of the Ass into a firm Stone as an eternal reproach to Mankind and a Justification of his severe Judgments against us I did further search into the Appearances of this Report and found the Stone to represent not only the perfect shape but also the colour of every part of the Man and of the Beast with the Sinews Veins Eyes Mouth in such a lively manner that no Artist with all his Colours could express it better so that I was convinced of the Truth of this Report I did labour to move it but some that were in company did forbid me telling me that some have laboured to transport it from thence but could never away that Monument of mans shameful Lust Some have endeavoured to their peril either their Persons or their Cattel that did attempt it were struck dead in the place Gods Justice will not suffer that to be hid or destroyed that he hath placed there for all to example by it It is necessary that the Moors should have such signal Tokens of Gods Displeasure always before their Eyes for they are enraged to commit such filthy Actions more frequently than other Nations * An Account of this was Printed 14 years since under the name of Sir Kenelm Digby I was informed by some of my Acquaintance that have been at Tripoly that there is some such Monument of Gods Justice near that Town about five days Journey from it towards the South-East amongst the Mountains called Gubel far more notable than this Many of our English protest they have seen some pieces of it brought by the Moors to Tripoly and heard it confidently reported in Town as an undeniable Truth Some of our Merchants have had the Curiosity to have gone to that place and they also protest it to be true that in the Mountains about five days Journey from Tripoly there is a whole Town full of these Representations stones representing all manner of Creatures belonging to a City with the Houses Inhabitants Beasts Trees Walls and Rooms very distinctly shap'd Our people have entered into the Houses and there they have found a Child in
approach they came in a very humble manner to pay homage to our Commander in Chief the Shack of the Place went in the Head of them on foot and kiss'd the Hem of our Generals Garment and presented unto him a Basket full of Loaves two white Cows and half a dozen young Barbs The Present was accepted and they were confirmed in the possession of their Lands There were in the Town about 600 Houses or Huts some were pretty considerable and adorned with Marble Pillars and good Workmanship They were most Graziers for we found hereabouts several Droves of Cattel very fat The Country People informed us of the Design of the Arabs to resist us They were gathered together beyond the River Talna where they were resolved to try the Fortune of a Battel All their Substance they had transported to the Top of a high Mountain called by the Inhabitants Azar unto which they were resolved to flee if they did lose the Day The reason of their Revolt as was pretended was the Turks Tyranny the Poverty of the Year not able to furnish for their own Livelihood and for the Tribute demanded from them therefore they had made haste to gather up the Corn and had prepared themselves to make resistance This kind of People did not want a Resolution to fight nor good Conduct in the management of their Affairs for they had dispatch'd away several Messengers into the Neigbouring Countries for Aid and had drawn a great company to their Assistance Our General gave notice of all things to the other Armies that they might draw towards him if Occasion did require it Nevertheless he proceeded in his March and did send every day several Parties of Horse from the main Body to receive the Offerings of the People The third day which was according to our Account the 20th of June we past over high Mountains fenced on all sides with craggy Rocks we were obliged sometimes to climb over them Our Horse took a compass about by a way more easie About Noon the Sun was extraordinary hot which obliged us to seek a Repose under the shady Trees that grew in this Stony ground as I was resting my self at a distance from my Patrons Company a great Scorpion spies me in her way and as I was between sleeping and waking the venomous Creature fixed her sting in my naked Leg so gently that I had not felt it had not my next Neighbour advertised me I had heard much of that Beast when I saw my self wounded by it and my flesh swelling immediately I began to fear the increase of the Venom but some had already killed it and brought the Blood unto me to apply to the Wound It was wonderful to see the present cure that the Blood gave it had no sooner touch'd the tumor but it began to decrease and out of the little prick came forth a Liquor white as Milk by that I found that the blood of the Scorpion hath an attractive virtue I had no sooner escaped this Mischief but I fell into a worse my Master had sent me to the Rear to buy Victuals for himself for there were some in that place that did sell Bread and Meat ready dress'd As I was returning loaded I fell down with my burden a steep Rock and bruised my self but the fear lest my Master should cudgel me for my Misfortune rouzed me up and made me speed towards him From this unhappy place we removed up Hill through a Countrey that was not inhabited unless it be by Monsters and Wild Beasts whereof we saw a great many some not known to me before It seems the Design of our General was to surprize the Arabian Army on a sudden and to come upon them by a way that they least suspected We marched here through Woods over Rocks and Hills three days together I had the satisfaction for my pains to see several Creatures of which I shall give a brief Account This Mountain is part of the Atlas it runs all along through this Kingdom and that of Fez and reaches as far as the main Ocean some part of it is very high We came to a place in this hot time of Summer which was very cold In the Corners that were not exposed to the Sun was a great deal of Ice and Snow This place which gave us a Prospect over all the Countrey was in the second Region of the Air. Here we found plenty of woods and Trees and several sorts of Birds one we did kill that had four Legs as a Beast Its Body was as big as a Turkie-Cock the Head was like an Owl its Tail was extream broad the Plumes were grey and the Head only black it did not fly very swiftly therefore our people had not much difficulty to kill it We saw several sorts of Lions towards the Evening they did go out of their Dens when the Jackals began to bark The noblest sort of Lion is that which is called the Royal it is the biggest and the strongst sort it hath a Shape somewhat differing from the rest and a Voice more stout When any of the others do meet such an one they seem to yield a respect unto him He is more grave in his Motion more fierce in the Encounter undaunted in the greatest danger There are other sorts of a lesser Size Every night we were visited with several Companies of wild Creatures some had the boldness to break in upon us but these never returned again to their company to tell News In an Evening we discovered afar off a great Beast some of us went nearer to it to discharge our Guns at it It was a Monster of a large Bulk the Head was like a Lion the Paws like a Bear the hinder parts much like to an Ass when it was killed every one in the Army had a sight of it I then did remember the Saying of the Romans Africa semper apportat aliquid novi every year there is some strange Creature or other to be seen in these remote places Some make it their business to watch them at the Season of the Year that they usually come into the World and employ all their Art to catch them that they might lead them from place to place alive to shew them to the Inhabitants for money There are here a great number of wild Goats we had the sight of some that climbed up the steepy Rocks but could not come within Shot of them Another Creature I saw here much like unto a Dog very nimble and quick sighted but yielding an extraordinary stink it is called by the Moore Subsib There is also another of the same shape only this difference that it hath a white Tail and adventures in the night amongst the Inhabitants to steal the Good-wives Hens and Geese it is called Thaloub it is of the nature of our English Foxes very subtil and crafty I saw here in this wild place several other sorts of Serpents and Beasts of which I could not come near to take a
was this same man that was present Tapnez seem'd to increase the number of the Wonderers and would not be perswaded the Revelation had been real until the Hage or Holy Man with all the Assembly earnestly requested him to try what he was able to do At last he consented to their Prayers and with his Right Hand began to stroke the Lame man He no sooner felt the others singer but he began to leap and falling at his Feet adored him as a Holy Man The Assembly taking notice of the Cure and the manner of it did really believe the Hage and without delay established Tapnez for their General and Chief Commander until they could give notice of their Designes to some of the Blood-Royal of Mahomet who only may command over them as King or Emperor It was then resolved also that they would no longer pay Tribute to the Turk Tapnez confirmed his Credit by many other feigned Miracles so that he was look'd upon in the the Countrey as some extraordinary Fellow sent from Heaven to their Assistance He had gathered together thirteen thousand Horse and Foot the Countrey People reported more and with this Army was resolved to wait for the Turkish Army that came that way to gather Contributions and to relieve the Garrison of Chinsan or Tremisen a City in the middle of the Countrey not inferiour to Fez. The Numbers of our Enemies did startle us when we heard how they were resolved to revenge themselves for all past Affronts therefore the Commanders did desire the General not to expose them to so eminent a danger until the other Armies had joined with him His Courage was great he could not yield to this wholsom advice his Hopes were greater He was resolved to get all the honour of the Victory to himself therefore he proposed to fall upon the Arabs that night he shewed it to his Captains to perswade them what an easie thing it was to rout the Enemy that was so secure and that had not any notice of their Approach and that unless they did speedily make use of the Opportunity the Horse and Baggage would be delivered into the Hands of the Arabs whose Numbers were able to oppress the small Party that came directly that way It was too late to go back we were now so near that unless we did surprize the Enemy it was impossible to escape According to our Generals Orders as it began to dawn we march'd with all speed into the Plain along the River and about two or three hours in the night we came within the Noise of the People in the Tents Our General divided us into three Parties appointing over each a skilful Leader an Acha Basha and commanded that we should fall upon the Arabs in three places Out of the Main Body he had separated a certain number to seise on certain stragling Horses which might be feeding about the Camp These he intended to employ in case he put the Army to flight Assoon as we came within a quarter of a Mile of the Enemy we found a small Party lodged in a hundred Tents which we surrounded according to our Orders We killed all that we found alive with very little noise In the Medows and by the Bank of the River great Companies of Horses were taken for our use It seems these Tents had been placed to guard them from Mountainers or Wild Beasts Our General made very good use of them in the Disorder and Confusion of the Rebels for he caused them to be mounted by some of his own Party and commanded them to pursue the Enemy Assoon as we came to the first Tents we fell upon them without Mercy and did great Execution The two other Parties entred the Camp by several ways having fetch'd a Compass about we found no resistance until we came to the middle of the Tents There was a large Spot of Ground unto which the Arabs did run together at the sound of the Alarm They had not time to put themselves in a good Order therefore at the third Volley of Shot they began to disperse and to shift for themselves by divers ways The two other Parties met several Companies of them which they either kill'd or took Prisoners The most of them recovered their Horses and fled for their Lives Our small Party of Horse was not idle in the mean whiles they ventur'd after the Enemy with more Noise than Ability to do harm In the dark their Numbers could not be well discerned but this hindred them from viewing us the next day for knowing that we had both Horse and Foot they would not hazard themselves near us until they had been informed by some Runaways of our small Numbers They fled to the next Hills where all their Substance had been stored The Plunder of the Camp was but small such things we found that Beggars would scarce lift from under their Feet a few nasty Tents we erected of such pitiful Stuff that I never saw the like It seems the Arabs delight not in rich Houshold-stuff but in numbers of Sheep and Camels Some few Horses fell into our hands the next day In this Attempt we lost about 50 men and 435 of the Arabians were kill'd in and about the Camp Our General found in some of the Tents Letters sent from the Arabians in the other Kingdoms to encourage these to resist the Turkish Power promising all assistance that they could furnish For fear therefore that the Enemy should receive from their Neighbours and Brethren such Supplies as should encourage them to revenge themselves and for fear we should lose the passage of the River which was of so great importance to the Turkish Affairs and Designs our General and his Council resolved to fortifie themselves on both sides in the best manner that the place would permit and with all speed to dispatch away some Messengers to the other Armies to hasten them in their March to his assistance for he knew himself unable to encounter the Arabs or to proceed in his Designs and March towards Chinsan with his small Number Three Trenches were drawn on the Enemies side and one on the other There we thought our selves secure for the Enemies Horse were not able to come to us their Foot were poor and miserable ten of them do not dare to look a Turk in the Face The situation of the Place did favour our Enterprize for the Ground on both sides is higher than the rest at the Ford. The River is deep in all other places and runs in a narrow Channel but when it comes there it spreads it self finding more Elbow room The Rising Ground forces it to run in a larger Stream and then again the Water is confin'd to a lesser Channel so that only in this place we may pass on foot without fear of Drowning Two days after the Battel our Cavalry and Baggage came safe to us although they had been met by several Parties of Arabs and forced to skirmish many times By this new
in those Parts began to separate again and to proceed in their Journey over the Kingdom to gather the Tribute-money The People pay by the Head two Dollars that is nine Shillings a Head Men Women and Children those that are very rich in Cattel are forced to part with more when the Army goes the Rounds and if any is extraordinary poor in a Family his Neighbours and near Kinsfolks must supply his wants and pay for him so that the total Sum of this Tribute is very great I have heard some speak of ten Millions of Dollars besides the Expences of the Army This Money is brought into Argiers some part of it is sent to Constantinople to the Grand Segnior another part defrays the Expences of the Militia and Officers of Church and State and another part is cast into the Publick Treasury Our Army proceeded right to Chinsan or Tremisen a strong and populous City kept by the Turks with a numerous Guard that is relieved every year Our General was designed Governour of this place and was sent thither with his Army to Command it We had a very pleasant Journey from this Mountain to that City thorough a fruitful Countrey that did furnish us both with Money and good Entertainment some of them had been in the Rebellion but the Turks would not deal with them more severely than with the others to oblige them to a greater Fidelity for their is no greater tye to Obedience than Love and the sense of former Obligations Our Army might have treated them as Enemies sold their Goods taken their Wives and disposed of them as Bond-slaves but they knew that this dealing would serve to no other purpose but to exasperate the Spirits of the rest who might then have reason to seek an occasion of a Revenge It is never good to deal with Men as with Beasts the latter are awed into obedience but the first must be perswaded The Magistrates sword may scare me but it shall never win me This Practice of the Turks was very commendable They thought it unworthy their Courage to tread on the Neck of a vanquish'd and yielding Enemy Our General to oblige the Chief of the Families and Tribes did invite several of them to eat with him he bestowed Gifts upon some of the Arch Rebels imitating the practise of those Princes that bestow their Favours upon those that are suspected or that have been rebellious to oblige them to be more faithful to their Interest for the future At a small Town called by the Turks Canatudi and by the Moors Canahaal there was a great Feast kept for the Marriage of one Elmswar Bidow Ben hemmed an Alcalde of one of their Tribes our General coming to the place at that time honoured the Solemnity with his presence and caused all his Captains and Chouses to pay their respects to the Bride and Bridegroom I cannot pass further until I take notice of what is observed by this People in such occasions the young man that hath a mind to marry demands the Daughter from her Father or next Kindred if they grant her he never troubles himself to win her consent this is an excellent way to spare a great deal of hypocrisie and to save the poor men much Courtship The man makes a great Feast according to his Quality some do treat their Friends seven days the first day he sends to his future Spouse by some Kinswoman a Vail to recommend unto her Modesty the second day a Suit of Apparel such as they wear the third day a Mill to grind Corn and Instruments to spin to remember she may not be idle the fourth an Alcoran the fifth a pair of Slippers handsomly made and guilded the sixth day he sends a Cock and a Dog to teach her Diligence and Watchfulness and the seventh a Ring of that Countrey Fashion with a Dish of Meat and a Staff with this Motto about it I will punish all Offenders All this while the Bridegroom hath not so much as seen his future Spouse but sends to visit her often with some course Complements as as is usual amongst Moors On the eighth day which is that of the greatest Solemnity the Bridegroom comes to the Fathers house accompanied by all his Friends and Kindred and there in the presence of them all the Father delivers all his right title and interest in his Daughter to the man by giving unto him her hand and saying some words proper to the business in hand They go next to the place of Prayer which in Tents is near the middle and there a Thaloub blesseth the married Couple adding several Prayers to God and Mahomet and to the Angel Zadiel that governs as they say the Planet Jupiter to favour this Conjunction by some happy influence Then they all march in order to the Fathers House where a great Feast is prepared for them The men by themselves in one Room make merry the Women in another are jolly until the Evening Then the Bride in all her State with all her Houshold-stuffe Servants Gifts and Money is carried to the mans House she usually sits mounted on a Camel glittering in Gold and Silk and about her are all her Kindred and Friends When she comes to her Husbands House she then pulls off her Vail because Modesty is no longer in season nor proper to that place Some do keep several Feast days afterwards and spend much of their Estate according to their abilities or the love they bear to the Spouse I was an Eye-witness of several Ceremonies observed in this occasion which are related in other Travels We stayed in this place several days to refresh our selves and then we continued our Journey towards Chinsan where we arrived on the third of October It is a large and populous City inhabited by a kind of People called Lhebdiah round about are most pleasant Gardens and Orchards The Soil is good the Climate wants nothing but People worthy to receive and enjoy the good things that it affords We found here great store of Fruits Apples Pears Melons of divers kinds Grapes for although the Mahumetan drinks not Wine he loves the Grape and a kind of Drink that is made of Water and Raisins called Africana it is very pleasant and proper for this Climate Here is a strange sort of Tree made up of Leaves one Leaf grows on the top of another the Leaves are thick two or three inches in the middle they are above a foot large and long an excellent Fruit grows upon them which the Arabs call Asholoch our English Prickle Pear the Substance is cold and refreshing it is ripe about Midsummer and of a yellowish colour Every Garden is furnished with such a Tree The Rind is full of little Prickles undiscernable therefore it is not to be handled with naked hands I have since seen some in other parts Here is also a beautiful Tree of divers Colours that the Great Men cause to grow in the midst of their Gardens it serves as an excellent
Ornament to a place Its Body is of a deep green the Boughs red the Leaves yellow as Gold with a mixture of white Some told me that this Tree could not grow in any other Climate or Soil and that some had laboured to transplant it on the Sea-shore but that Air had rendred all their Labours and Endeavours to little purpose Here is great abundance of Dates That Tree never produces unless there be a Conjunction of the Male with the Female they usually join their Boughs together I had time in this place to take a view of all the Rarities It appears to me to be one of the ancientest Cities of the World it stands upon a plain ground fortified with a strong Wall beautified with many square Marble Pillars very white the rest of the Wall being built of a brown stone on the top the Bulwarks are adorned with Turrets of divers colours The City yields a pleasant sight to the Beholder when the Sun shines The inside is no less beautiful The Streets are straight and broad The Heart of the City contains many excellent Buildings A stately Mosque supported by a hundred Pillars of white Marble with several Arches of very curious work the Governours Palace where there are a hundred large Rooms very neatly adorned with several mishapen Figures of divers Colours for the Mahumetans abhor Images and Statues therefore they have not the use of Pictures nor do not allow them to appear publickly in any place Here is also a Town-House a place appointed for the meeting of the Chief Persons when any urgent Business calls them to consult together It stands upon an Arch supported by two Rows of Marble Pillars It hath a Steeple to it built with half Brick and half Stone very high and large The top hath a Prospect into all the Countrey as far as our Eye-sight will reach and in one side is a large Room full of the ancient Records of the Arabians since the first Conquest of this Countrey with many Large Volumes The next Place to it is the Court that belongs to the Cadir the Chief Justice where he sits upon a Seat covered with a Canopy of Cloth of Silver the Seat is elevated above the rest in the manner of a Table spred with Turky Carpets upon which he sits as a Tailor A Fellow stands at his Elbow with a naked Cymeter about him a little lower sit several of his Assistants whose Counsel he takes in difficult Affairs Over against stands the Parties to be judged without delay they usually receive the Punishments due to their Offence at the same time that they are judged for they admit of no Reprieve There are many other Houses very well built they are flat on the Top some are curiously painted according to the Mosaique Fashion The Inhabitants do sleep upon them in the Summer covered with an Alhage to defend them from the venomous Flies and from the Musketa's pernicious Creatures that suck their Blood In the middle of the City is a large Market-place and round about many Cloisters of the Religious men amongst the Moors One is more remarkable than the rest because of the excellent Workmanship and ancient Fabrick and because of a great Library a curious thing amongst this rude People I know not with what manner of Books it is stored for Christians have never the liberty to handle them but as I did learn from the Keepers of the Door they were Books that had been pick'd up in all the parts of Africa by one of their Princes and laid in that place for the benefit of the Students whereof there are very few unless it be of Magicians and men that study the Virtues of Simples Other Arts and Sciences as Astrology Logick the Mathematicks c. are almost extinct amongst them In the time of my abode among them I have perceived that they pretend many times the assistance of the Devil to work miraculous Effects when they do it by the Knowledges that they have of Nature They are very superstitious and listen very much to the Reports and Whimsies of their Soothsayers Some never undertake a Voyage of any Concern without consulting these Oracles Many in these parts make a great advantage of the Peoples Folly There is a Society amongst them that profess Fortune-telling It is not so much discredited as in our Kingdom They are persons for the most part of Honour and Reputation that are admitted to a familiar acquaintance with the infernal Spirits They vouchsafe not to appear and discover themselves to every idle Rascal I have seen wonderful Cures performed by their means not so much by the secret operation of the Spirit as by the virtue of Herbs and Medicines applied to the Patient which were directed and revealed by the Evil Spirit for the Devil is a good Physitian he may dispute the Palm with Hypocrates and Galen I have seen a deaf man whose Organ was only obstructed and not incapacitated cured by the Application of an Herb like unto our Sorrel called Hegn by the Moors Agues and Fevers are driven away by the touch of some of these Magicians other Diseases require a longer time and other Remedies This City is full of this sort of People that openly acknowledge themselves to be such and own a familiarity with several infernal Spirits Their Names and Appearance I could never know from them I was very inquisitive to understand something of their art but their Grandeur could not suffer them to entertain a Discourse with a poor Slave I have seen them make Figures Images of Clay and Wax which they put upon the top of their houses especially in the two Solstices in the Equinoctials and in the full Moon the reason as I did conceive was to make them receive some quality which the Stars do send down at such seasons upon the corporal Bodies There are many sorts of Trades in this place but as in most Cities of Barbary they all live together in one Street that are of the same Profession At one end of the Town hard by the River Elouad that waters the Fields of Climsan is erected a stately Castle the Seat of the Lieutenant or Governour of the City It overlooks the Town and commands it with a hundred Peeces of Ordnance Nothing is here remarkable but the Antiquity of the Buildings and Fortifications It was first erected in the time of the Vandal Kings to keep this Inland Countrey in subjection and especially this great and populous City It hath been since enlarged by the Saracens In the middle stands a Pillar full of Arabick Letters written in blew Figures upon black Marble to signifie the memorable actions that have been performed in the time of Saracen or Arabick Kings They have reigned in these parts many years before Charles the Fifth attempted to win Argiers A small History and Account of their Names and Actions I shall annex in its place This City is the largest in the whole Kingdom which is limited on the
North side by the Mediterranean on the East by Tunis on the South by Angad another large Kingdom in the Land and by Snatta Province that hath almost nothing but Mountains and Rocks and on the West it borders upon the Kingdom of Fez. It contains 250 Leagues in length from the Sea in the Land as far as Angad and about 160 in breadth from Bousema to the Cape called by our people Cap de Bugaremo It contains several Cities well fortified the chief are Argiers and Tremisen or Climsan so called by the Inhabitans on the Sea-Coast are Cercelli Bougia Gigiari Mastagan Bische Gileto Guien Arseni Oran that belongs to the Spaniard where a Marquiss commands the Countrey about ten Miles round with seven or eight hundred horse Zereni Arsebiba Buazia Corban some of these are Cities others but small Towns In the Land are many good Towns and Places of Note these are the chief Benibachul Albori Tegdeme Stefe Canatudi Medua Calamou Lori Albron Segmes a large Town that gives name to a Province so called Hagroah Bibroehl and several others whose Names are hereafter mentioned I have reckoned up here above a hundred Villages inhabited by the Africans that are Servants to the Arabians and they are Subject to the Turk Some of them retain the ancient Language In the Province of Snatta they have a particular Speech not understood by any but by themselves Some told me that it is the old Punick Language for they that inhabit these Mountains and barren Places were driven thither by the Wars and Cruelty of the new Inhabitants who had ground and room enough without troubling that poor sort of People therefore they always left them to enjoy their own without disturbing them only they have obliged them to receive the Law of Mahomet That was not difficult to impose upon a People that before had scarce any Religion or if they had it was accompanied with so much Ignorance and Superstition that they knew no reason to oppose that Religion that appeared round about them so successful and so universally received In this City of Climsan I remained 3 years with my Master At our first Arrival our General took possession of the Government and of the Castle and the former Governour took Charge of the Tribute-Money to be conveyed to Argiers A week after our coming he set forwards with his Companies that had been weakned by the Diseases of the last Year His Commission ordered him to meet the Western Army and both together to return home with their sums of Money Our Destiny staid us in this City in which I met with various and strange Adventures I was 〈◊〉 times obliged to undertake a â—â—â—â—ney with my Master in the 〈◊〉 first was towards Angad in which Province is a famous and ancient City called Bedtua not inferiour to Climsan unless it be in the largeness and excellency of the Buildings The Countrey round about is full of all sorts of Fruit and is not so hot as one might imagine I found several sorts of Commodities at a very cheap Rate which we purchase with large Sums and great labour and hazard Hides Hony Bees-Wax are here in a great abundance We past over a Sandy Valley about half way to Bedtua where we found a great deal of glittering Sand much like to that of Gold In the middle is a large Lake unto which the wild Beasts and Serpents resort above 50 or 60 did threaten us when we offered to approach Our Business in these parts was to treat with a great Commander of the Arabs the Prince of this Kingdom about some Business of Importance to our Garrison My Master was dispatch'd as an Ambassador with a considerable Guard to defend him from the Attempts of wild Beasts and Lawless Thieves of which the Mountains are peopled It is needless to relate all the Particulars of our Journey and the manner of our Reception We passed through many Companies of Tents They had chosen for their Situation the most pleasant Valleys and fruitful Ground The first day we had a sharp Encounter with about a dozen lusty Lions they hunted after their prey and met with death at the end of our Muskets They could not be kill'd without receiving some damage One of our men was wounded with the Paws of one of these Furious Beasts that leap'd upon him after that he had been struck through the Belly The danger of our Companion made us dispatch him sooner out of the way This danger was followed by another more fearful but we escaped out of it as happily The next day we passed through a large and Sandy Plain of about ten Leagues long and four broad called by the Moors Scidduahr in it were raised several little Hills moveable with the Wind between which of necessity we were to pass We were no sooner entred but a strong Easterly Wind raises the light Sand and threatens to bury us alive It was a fearful thing to us to behold so much Earth flying in our faces the Air was thick with the dusty Sand in a moment a Hill was removed from one place to another besides that we had to encounter with the boisterous Wind our Horses were half buried in a moment we could not make a stop in this dreadful place for fear of being past hopes of returning The rest of our Journey was far more pleasant for it afforded us variety of Objects not ungrateful unto us besides the way was less dangerous and less troublesom In eight days we had a sight of the Walls of Bedtua We were kindly entertained at the Princes Cost He was a Person of a middle Stature very swarthy in his Face the Characters of Majesty did appear and in his Garb and Attendance those of his Dignity At our arrival 500 Horse were sent out to meet us at some distance from the City they came in very good Order and led us to an Apartment that had been prepared for my Master Reception assoon as they heard of our Approach We received here the Complement of many persons of Quality Assoon as the Prince was arrived from the Fields we were sent to wait upon him The Ceremonies observed on this Occasion I took exact notice of The Princes Guards cloathed with a thin Stuff of a Scarlet Die with red Bonnets and white Feathers flying upon it yielded a most pleasant sight on both sides of the way that were lined with them At a convenient distance stood the officers whose Garb and Meen did make us take notice of them for Persons more eminent than the rest They were as full of Civility as Honour when my Master passed by them paying unto him as much Respect as an Ambassador from the Grand Seignior could expect We passed through three large Streets in view of many Thousands that did look upon us from the tops of the Houses and the Windows Before us matched two grave Fellows very neatly drest next went my Master followed by two Turks bearing the Presents designed for the Prince
hundred before they cause them to bring forth not in a heap but in several ranks the Sun-beams warm them and cause them to burst forth into birds the Mother-Ostrich overlooks them and when the first laid Eggs are become birds she takes the farthermost Eggs to feed them until they come of age and strength to walk alone It is a Creature that is careless of her Fruit until they are birds and then she nourishes them with care giving equally to all shewing thereby her Justice She is a bird very temperate content with a small quantity of food and able to digest the hardest substance as Iron Steel and Stones Near the City is a Fountain of a strange nature it yields a plentiful Stream when the Moon is in its Full then the Water is boiling hot but it cools by degrees as the Moon decreases and becomes extream cold when it is the last day the Stream also becoming lesser or greater accordingly When any are troubled with the Gout or any other Disease in the Limbs they repair thither from all parts to be washt in that Water that is brackish I have known many that have been cured in the Bath that is joining to it by washing themselves several days in the full Moon One thing more renders this Place famous all over the Countrey and causeth people from all parts to resort to it Here is the Tomb of a great Hage not much inferiour to Mahomet in the esteem of this People as much respected by all that fancy to have received any benefit from their Pilgrimages hither Men or Women that are troubled with Issues of blood Agues Tumors Dropsies and many other Diseases do take a great deal of pains to come and pay their Respects to the Coffin of this old Saint renowned in his Life time for Physick and after his Death the Moors have fancied that his bones and Reliques had some extraordinary virtue contained in them which they seek to be partakers of by their Devotions in this place So easie a thing it is to perswade the Ignorant Multitude to Superstition When men are esteemed for some extraordinary qualities the People fancy that these qualities do yet accompany them in their graves that they are inseparable from their bodies The Heathen Idols were increased by this means to that vast Army of Gods and Rome hath fill'd her Oratories with an innumerable company of petty Saints by this Expedient for it is ordinary in the Popish Dominions to make them pass for Saints that have excelled in any particular Art or Knowledge when that Generation is dead that hath been acquainted with the Vices and Weaknesses of the Deceased Besides there is at a League distant from the City towards the East the Ruines of an old Tower and about it a large Cave where as the People of the Town report are frequent Appearances of Devils and evil Spirits that disturb the Passengers at certain Seasons of the Year some told me that thereabouts was kept the Witches Sabbaoth a general Meeting of those desperate Souls that own the Devils Power It is believed by the people that this place is dangerous in the night although I never saw any thing worse than my self when I have past that way going about my Masters business in all times of the day and night But when such kind of Reports are imprinted into the Fancy of the People the least testimony of a timorous person that hears the shaking of a Leaf is able to confirm them in that belief and nothing can remove it out of their minds I do not doubt but some Appearances have been of Evil Spirits none but a Phantastick Sadducee is able to deny this Truth that hath all Ages to confirm it but we must not be of so light a belief as to credit all the idle Reports of Appearances of Devils which fly amongst the vulgar sort of people In this City of Tremisen or Climsan we made our abode longer than my Master at first designed but his good Services to them of Argiers deserved no less than a grateful acknowledgement by advancing him to a higher employment such as might reward him At the return of the year when the Turks Army came to relieve us my Master had order to be Lieutenant Governour of the City and to remain still as long as he should judge it convenient for his Interest This place proved very beneficial to him because he had the Command of the Parties that did march out in the Fields to plunder upon the Enemy and when the Governour was pleased to go out himself towards the Borders my Master had the Governours small Fees that did amount to a considerable sum in such a large City During this time that we dwelt in this place several notable Affairs happened which may claim a part in this Relation The unconstant Arabians did often rise and trouble our peace by their frequent Incursions the King of Fez made an Inroad as far as our City with a considerable Body of Horse thinking to surprize it unawares Several other Princes were troublesome to us obliging our people to unusual Tributes and Customes when they passed through their Countrey for this City entertains a great Trade with the Inland people and with the Blacks It was therefore the Turks interest to entertain it and remove all Obstructions wich might hinder a free Intercourse For that intent we had several troublesom Businesses both Warlike and Politick which employed my Master all the time of his being there In the mean whiles I was not idle I had several Affairs that concerned my private Interest and that I was to manage with Care and Industry The Sultan of Argeirs gave a judgment of my Ability and Person which was not contradicted by the Women with whom I was afterwards acquainted I had as difficult Encounters and as strange Adventures that happened to me with them as my Master had in treating with the Arabs I was no sooner setled in Climsan but one of that Sex sought a fair occasion to discover her Affection to me I was very wary how I entertained any such Proposition for I was affraid of my Masters Cunning or any other Plot which might be set on foot to drive me to a necessity of turning Mahumetan for I was often importun'd by my Master and invited with the promise of my Liberty in case I would renounce Christianity but I could never consent to so much weakness nor to act against so much Light God had discovered to me in his Truth I was therefore affraid that all addresses that were made to me of that nature were but Designes to ensnare me and oblige me to Apostacie I did not accept of so fair opportunities as were offered to me which created me a great deal of trouble for those persons became my deadly Enemies they sought all occasions to do me mischief Angered Love turns into deadly hatred The first whose Caresses I was to suffer was the Wife of a wealthy Citizen of