Novemb. 1668. At a meeting of the Council of the Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledg Ordered That these Discourses viz. A short Relation of the River Nile c. Of the Unicorne Why the Abyssine Emperour is called Prester John of the Indyes A tract of the Red Sea Of Palme trees Translated out of a Portuguese Manuscript at the desire of the Royal Society by Sr. Peter Wyche Kt. fellow of the same be printed by their Printer BROUNKER Pres A short RELATION Of the RIVER NILE Of its Sourse and Current Of its Overflowing the Campagnia of AEGYPT till it runs into the MEDITERRANEAN And of other Curiosities Written by an Eye-witnesse who lived many years in the chief Kingdoms of the ABYSSINE EMPIRE LONDON Printed for John Martyn Printer to the Royal Society and are to be Sold at the Sign of the Bell without Temple Bar 1669. To the Right Honourable HENRY L d. ARLINGTON one of the Lords of his MAJESTIES most Honourable Privie Councill AND Principall Secretary of State My Lord THE thoughtfull provision for my Journey into Russia whither his Majesty hath been pleased to send me hindered me from a more solemne Dedication of these Discourses to Your Lordship They were by Curious S ir Robert Southwell procured from an inquisitive and observing Jesuite at Lisbon who had lived many years in Aethiopia and the Indies so writ as to seem a candid Relation of matter of Fact contaiâ— a more precize and minutâ— account of some Historicaâ— and Naturall Curiosities then is in any one Tract extant and give the Portuguese their just and undoubted Title of Discovering daily to the West the Wonders and Mysteries of the East The Royal Society commanded me to Translate them and ordered the Impression My Lord Your benigne and encouraging Patronage for all subtile and nice Enquiries Your peculiar province to get intelligence from the South and my particular obligations countenance this Dedication which were I not in procinctu the copious argument of Your Lordships virtues and perfections would justly make much larger now it must only excuse the faults of the Translation and publish my zeal of being esteemed My Lord Your Lordships most devoted Kinsman and humble Servant Peter Wyche A short Relation Of the RIVER NILE c. THe Abyssine Emperour vulgarly though falsly called Presbyter John of the Indies is Lord of the most ancient and largest Dominions of those many Kingdoms and Provinces into which Africa is divided This Empire is the most Easterly part of all Africa called Ethiopia above Egypt not without reason all Egypt lying below it and the same Situation have to it most of the bordering Kingdoms The Red Sea bounds it on the East Egypt on the North On the West the Island of Africa and on the South the Indian-Sea with this difference that Eastward this Kingdom reacheth the Red Sea though at present the Turks courtaile its greatnesse by keeping the whole Shore of that Sea with two Forts in the Islands of Suaguem and Massuba and one upon the main Land called Arquico which serves for no other use than the defence of the Water drunck in the Island of Massuba drawn out of Wells called Cacimbas sunk near the head of a River dry in the summer full in the Winter fetch'd daily in Boats called Geluas The Island of Massuba and fort of Arquico are too leagues distant This the onely Port where is imported what Ethiopia wants and whence the natural Commodities are exported that in circuit about twelve hundred fathoms shap'd like a mans foot hath a convenient Haven little or no defence though Garison'd by near sixty Turks white and black The Customhouse is inhabited by the Basha's Lieutenant called Caqua and other Officers The Island of Suaguem with the third Fort is lesse but better defended by Art and Nature incompassed with many Shoals inhabited by an hundred Turks being the residence of the Basha out of the limits of the Empire and of natural right belonging to a powerfull and warlike King whose Kingdom is called Ballow anciently Negran the Inhabitants are Moors the Men Horses and Sheep the fairest I have any where seen the water-mellons the most delicious I have ever tasted Toward the North between Egypt and this Empire lies the famous Desart of Thebaide so renowned for the ancient Ancorets where begins the Kingdom of Ballow above mentioned This Empire reacheth Westward so far into the main Land that the Kingdom of Congo was its tributary as the great Historian John de Barros affirmed in his first decade At present it extends not further than the Kingdom of Naire whose Inhabitants are neither Abyssines nor Ethiopians yet not defective in policy garbe or government The soyle is rich in Gold-mines of the same quality of those of Sofalla lying under the same parallel and not far distant they pay a Tax yearly tribute of their Gold to the Abyssine Emperour the Coyne called Miloqueas the value ten thousand pieces of Eight The Greatnesse of this Empire is toward the South more restrain'd there lying betwixt it and the Sea divers Nations of Moors and Pagans barbarous to extremity which never did nor do acknowledg themselves Vassals to the Emperour who live in tents like the mountanous Africans The chief amongst them is elected every Eight year with the Title of Caraye Primeyro afterwards called Luba The Moors bordering on the Sea-coast have Kings the greatest of them called Macheda This Empire anciently commanded many Kingdoms and Provinces their own Annals and some Historians count above twenty with almost as many Provinces What at present passeth for current is that its Greatness was notorious though now limited to five Kingdoms each about the bigness of Portugal and to six Provinces every one little different from * Two Provinces in Portugal Beyra or Alenteyo One of these and among the biggest is called Agaos the Inhabitants of the same name whether these bestowed their Name or took it from the Province This is divided into Diverse Territories the most famous called Tuncua deservedly glorious in two respects being the Country of the famous Vnicorne of which I shall speak in this discourse and onely now say t is not the Abbada rightly taken by Authors for the Rhinoceros being in shape a quite different Animal and having in it the so long sought for Head of Nile concealed so many Age discovered by the industrious Portuguees The higher part of this Province is mountanous and woody yet not without Vallyes and Groves of Cedars for goodness and scent not inferiour to those of Mount Lebanus their thickness is a great inconvenience to Travellers but suites with the inclination of the native Agoas who being professedly Pagans and so of little faith or loyalty live commonly in Rebellion thereto invited not more by their own natural disposition than the convenience of certain caves into which in time of warr they retire these Caverns have but one entrance are capable of one or two
families which are ordinarily great among the Pagans increased by their wives multiplied proportionable to the Cows they keep allowing to ten Cows one woman What is most admirable in those subterraneous Caves or Caverns is that they receive not onely their Goods and Cattle which are their whole Estates personal and real they living little on their crop but they ordinarily find in them water sufficient to serve them the summer months when onely they are assaulted and are without apprehensions of being conquered though with smoak by fire made at the mouth of the Cave having Vents by which they receive sufficient light and can conveigh the smoak if attempted by fire In this Territory of Toncua is the known head and sourse of the River Nile by the natives called Abani i.e. the Father of Waters from the great collection it makes in the Kingdoms and Provinces through which it passeth for the greatest part of Ethiopia being mountanous and the Torrents swel'd in the winter the mountains so transmit them as to increas the Rivers which falling into the Nile make no little addition to its greatness causing it to run with such a stock of water as overflows the plain of Egypt this is the River the Scripture in Genesis 2. calleth Gihon which encompassed the land of Ethiopia so doth Nile with its turnings and Meanders The Head rises in the most pleasant Recesse of the Territory having two Springs called Eyes each about the bigness of a Coach-wheel distant twenty paces The Pagan Inhabitants adore as an Idol the biggest offering to it many Sacrifices of Cows which they kill there flinging the head into the spring eat the flesh as holy lay the bones together in a place designed for that purpose which at present make a considerable Hill and would make it much bigger if carnivorous Beasts and Birds of Prey did not by picking them lessen and scatter them These two springs rise in a little field covered over with green and thick wood Travellers especially Horsemen are easily convinc'd that this ground stands in the water from the trembling and hollow sound this field is lost in a Lake where 't is under water * Provincia ubi Nylus Oritur Vocatur Agaos Vicina regno Gojam Terra vocatur Sagela in apice montis in plano arboribus undiq circundate Athan Kercheri Oed. Aegypt Tom. 1. Cap. 7. p. 57. Fons Nyli situs in summitate unius Vallis qua assimulatur ingenti campo jugis montium undique circundato ibi This Plain is on the top of a high mountain overlooking many spacious Vallies and from this hight insensibly descends from the midle of this Descent is seen near a Trench entangled with shrubs the bigger of these springs whose bottom is not to be reached with a Lance of five and twenty palmes which by the way meets with as is gues'd the roots of the Neighbouring shrubs so hinder'd further passage the other spring is to be fathom'd at sixteen Palmes From the biggest spring runs in a streight line a green and pleasant Wood seeming to follow the course of the water which though under ground leaves the veine to be track'd by its re-appearing at the distance of little more than an hundred paces at this appearance the quantity of water is so inconsiderable as onely to make a very little Rivulet which grows presently bigger by the assistance of other springs bringing in their water At little more than three dayes journey from the Head the River is large deep enough for Vessels to sail in and so broad that I doubt whether a strong arm can throw a stone over it A little above a hundred paces from this place this River so conveys it self betwixt rocks as in the year 1629. I passed it without wetting my foot in my journey from the Kingdom of Gojama to the Province of Dambeha when the Passengers being many and the Boats but few which I will anon describe I with my companions going along the banks of the River and engaged among many little Rivulets leaping from stone to stone got dry to the other side the same did immediately many others naming it the Passage of Father Jeronimo I being the first who discovered or attempted it This is the ordinary passage over the Nile most frequented by Travellers who come from the Court and Province of Dambeha for the Kingdom of Gojama the Territory called Bed the passage over in Boats with head and Sterne made of grosse and thick * Navigatio hic nulla nisi cymbis papyraceis quas ipsi Tancoas appellant Vossius de Origine Nili Cap. 16. p. 55. Conficitur bibulâ Memphitis Cymba papyro Lucan matt strongly joyned and put together yet not secure from falling in pieces which often happens and the Passengers left in the water they are rowed with long round poles being without the use or knowledge of any other Oars are capable of receiving about ten persons with some baggage many swim over so do all the beasts and both man and beast go in danger of some mortall accident from the Sea-horses and Crocodiles both bred in the Nile and infesting the passages From this place the Nile grows crooked making almost a semicircle Two dayes journey from this passage it runs by a point of land into a Lake of fresh water called by the Natives Dambeha abounding with wild-foul some there is but little fish the reason conceived that the Sea-Horses fright and the Crocodiles devour them this Sea is in length twenty five leagues fifteen over at the largest place about the middle are divers Islands of different bignesse full of Wood some inhabited others desart The biggest called Dec two leagues long but narrow hither are banished condemned persons sent for security whereas the Boats not being many and pain of death to any who without leave go to the Island all means of escape is desperate swimming is lesse inviting the Lake being full of Sea-horses and Crocodiles which to meet is certain death The point of this Lake is with so much violence broken by the Nile that the current is divided in the water and Mud till it forceth a passage at another place The Nile is for about a quarter of a league detained in this Lake leaving that it makes a beautifull and large Tour so great as to contain in the circumference a Kingdome call'd Gojama about the bignesse of Portugal and a great part of another call'd Damotes By this circuit the Nile returns again within lesse than two dayes journey of its head hence taking a south east course running through many Kingdoms and Provinces it falls into Egypt by the way in diverse places are made those so canazing and stupendious Cataracts so famous for their noyse when the water falling with its whole Body sinks and hollows the Abysse which receives it Yet doth not the greatnesse of the noyse deafen the neighbouring Inhabitants as some fabulously write if so the populousnesse of the adjacent places would swarm with deaf
multitudes which hear the noyse and find not that effect One of these Cataracts is eminently remarkable as will appear in the relation of what hath surpriz'd and allured many At the first or second Cataract the Nile makes The water from an high and craggy rock is praecpitated with all its masse into a large and deep Abysse the noyse heard three long leagues and thâ— rebound which spends it self iâ— minute atomes and subtile smoak seen as farr The water to admâ—ration being shot with so mucâ— Violence as to fall at a distancâ— makes an arch and under that leaves a larg Road where peoplâ— passe in security not to be weâ—… There are convenient seats cuâ— out in the Rock for Travellers 〈◊〉 rest themselves where they enjoâ— the most pleasant sight Imaginâ—tion can fancy made by the suâ—… reflection on the water so producing glorious and pleasing Colours resembling those of the Rainbow which at this nearnesse of the water most deliciously satisfy and feast the Eye The Nile was never under any Bridg before we arrived in Ethiopia The first made in the Kingdom of Amara where betwixt two high Rocks was a streight and dangerous passage The Nile ran deep and violent between all ran great hazzard many lost in the passage the winter chiefly increased the difficulty The Abyssines were incapable of removing this evil ignorant what Bridges were and without Workmen to make them The Emperor informed what a Bridge was how conveniently made in so narrow a Passage and we having brought from India in the Patriarks company two stone-cutters designed for building Churches in Ethiopia One was recommended to this work who made this first Bridg of a beautifull structure and great convenience to Passengers Thus was the Nile at first brought under a strange Dominion This discourse is not improperly ended by a reflection why anciently Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar using so great diligence to discover the head of Nile miscarried in the Enterprize The reason was because they sent discoverers against the stream Thus going by Land the length of the journey the many Kingdoms and Provinces to be travelled through the swarms of Barbarous people to be incountred so many unwholesom Clymates to be pass'd made their advance impossible going by water the same difficulties increas'd attend them The violent Current of Nile stopt their passage and coming to the first Cataract they could not proceed but were forced back with lost Labour and being without either knowledge of or commerce with the Abyssine Empire by the Red sea they neither ventured that way nor conceived their designe so feisible Thus were their endeavours frustrated the knowledg of this Province would by some of the Ports of the Red sea have brought them into the Abyssine Empire thence two months journey had made them drink in this so desirable so concealed and so famous Spring This secret with divers others of many parts of the world and their discovery was received for the indefatigable industry of the Portuguees who have seen with their Eyes what many have desired but could not obtaine The true Cause of the River Nile's overflowing and drowning the Campagnia of Egypt at the heighth of Summer in Europe DIvers causes were by the Ancients assigned for the Nile's overflowing in the hottest Summer months in Europe according to the Opinion of the Writers every one asserted what was in the reach of his reason yet all wandred from the truth The little knowledge had of the sourse and current of this so famous River of the places it passeth through and chiefly of the inland of Ethiopia where it riseth occasioned such variety of Opinions without the discovery of the truth reserved for the Navigation and Commerce of the Portuguees The great quantity of Snow which falls in the rigour of Winter on the inland mountains of Ethiopia and is melted by the intense heat of the Summer is not as some affirme the cause of this Rivers overflowing Ethiopia having not so sharp colds as to beget Snow unknown in this Country nor conceivable from our relation Two Places onely have a thick white Frost and Haile in great quantities which resemble but are not Snow One is in the Kingdom of Tigre upon the high mountains of Seman the other in the Kingdom of Damotis in the Territory called Namora of the cold Climate which melted do superficially water the mountains therefore mistaken for Snow semetimes fall with a Current into the low-lands yet not so considerably as to swell the Rivers much lesse to cause the innundation of Nile Neither do the great Winds which in those months of the overflowing of Nile blow in at the mouth of the River where it runs into the Mediterranean cause this Innundation as others assert who say those winds repell the water which being detained with the water which descends increaseth to that Excesse to force the Nile out of its Channel and stagnate in the Plains of Egypt so enriching and fatning the soyle by the slyme brought from those places through which it passeth Other reasons of the same credit given by Authors I omitt in hast to declare the true one onely attainable by such who have lived some years in Ethiopia The truth in short is that the winter in Ethiopia is the same and at the same time as in India and other places under the Torrid Zone beginning at the end of May or the first days of June and in all August the reason of the fairest weather in Europe spends its greatest fury the overflowing of Nile being at the height in these months the ignorance of Summers and Winters begat the Opinions mentioned Whereas the greatest part of Ethiopia being mountanous and the Nile in its course through many Kingdoms and Provinces of the Inland collecting the Rain waters which fall from the Mountains and receiving into it many great Rivers thus becomes so considerable and masterlesse As the plain of * Egypt experimentally and to its great benefit finds Nihil indiga mercis Aut jovis in solo tanta est fiducia Nilo As much discountenanced by the Heavens in being deprived of the common benefit of Rain as munificently requited by the water of this famous River which gave rise to the observation That the Egyptians never lift up their Eyes to Heaven never expect any favour from God Almighty but wholly depend upon the Nile thence receiving that benefit other places enjoy by Rain those Verses of Ovid may seem not Applicable to the Egyptians Os homini sublime dedit coelumque videre Jussit et erectos ad sydera tollere vultus The Nile running into the Mediterranean washeth the Walls of Grand Cairo distant from the mouth fifty miles This River declareth by the way the more or less abundance to be expected that year The Harvest proportionable to the greater or less inundation is thus concluded The Walls of this populous City have to ward the River * The Author a faithfull Eye-witnesse of
all he relates and so of undoubted Credit took this onely thing upon report that the Nile washeth the walls of Gran-Cairo and that on the inside of this Tower in the walls should be kept the Register of the innundation of the Nile which is on a Marble Pillar placed in the middle of the River near a long Island called Rhodes opposite to Gran Cairo upon this Island and over the Pillar is built a Mosque with such an Arch towards the River to give the water passage This place and Pillar is so superstitiously secured from the sight of Christians that I found the attempt vain and dangerous onely saw in January the bottome of the Pillar in the water The other Circumstance of the number of Degrees and the Proclamation are truly related a Tower open with an Arch giving passage to the Nile which according to the waters it brings down riseth more or less On the walls of this Tower are from the bottome upward made marks or degrees and by ancient custome as more or fewer of these are covered with water the Magistrates make it be proclaimed every night in the streets that the knowledge how many degrees the Nile hath that day overflowed may be general This Proclamation begins at the end of July and continues all August when the rise or fall of the River is Particularly observed by the degrees The abundance of the year is thus guessed at when the water covers not sixteen degrees the want of water suggests fear of a Famine rising towards twenty five the higher it ascends the fairer are the hopes of a fruitfull season passing that number they are assaulted with new fears of death the quantity of water not allowing them to sow or house their Harvest These months passe not away without some trouble and anxiety the weather being every where subject to irregularity so rain is sometimes too much sometimes too little by which the Crop is altered Another Curiosity makes the Nile famous whose current stores Gran Cairo with Senna so known and so experienced in Medicine in the shops of Europe It is a little shrub peculiar onely to the woods of Ethiopia the place where I lived in that Kingdom hath great quantity The Wild Negro's fetch it from the Inland and bring it in great Boats to Grand Cairo The French Consul there hath the Monopoly of it for which he presents every new Basshaw with thirty thousand Dollars and bargains at a certain set price and a day prefixt to buy all that comes which he performs Having housed it in his Magazines he divides it into three parts two are burnt one reserved to be transported for Europe which payes for the two parts consumed There is less Expence for fraight the Shops alwayes want the Medicine which goes off at the price demanded Thus is the account ballanced a Frenchman Zacharias Vermiel a servant many years in the Consul's house gave me this Information his desire to travell brought him by Land into Ethiopia where he lived a year in my house and when we were banished went into the Emperours army being grown rich and turn'd Inhabitant not permitted to returne he died there ten years after his arrival Of the famous Unicorne where he is bred and how shap'd THe Vnicorn is the most celebrated among Beasts as among Birds are the Phaenix the Pellican and the Bird of Paradice with which the world is better acquainted by the fancies of Preachers and Poets than with their native soyle little knowledge is of any of them for some of them nothing but the received report of their being in nature it deserves reflection that the industry and indefatigable labour of men in the discovery of things concealed can yet give no account where the Phaenix and Bird of Paradise are bred some would have Arabia the Country of the Phaenix yet are the Arabians without any knowledge of it and leave the discovery to the work of time The Bird of Paradise is found dead with her Bill fixt in the ground in an Island joyning to the Mallucco's not far from Macaca whence it comes thither unknown though great diligence hath been imployed in the search but without successe One of them dead came to my hands I have seen many the Tayle is worn by Children for a Penashe the feathers fine and subtile as a very thin cloud the body not fleshy resembling that of a Thrush the many and long feathers of a pale invivid colour nearer White than Ash-colour which cover it make it of great beauty Report saies of these Birds that they alwayes fly from their birth to their death not discovered to have any feet they live by flyes they catch in the Air where their diet being slender they take some little repose they fly very high and come falling down with their wings displayed As to their Generation Nature is said to have made a hole in the back of the Male where the female laies her Eges hatcheth her young and feeds them till able to fly great trouble and affection of the Parent This is on the account of the Authors credit which gives the relation I set down what I have heard This is certainly the Bird so lively drawn in our Maps The Pellican hath better credit called by Quevedo the self diciplining Bird and hath been discovered in the land of Angola where some were taken I have seen two Some will have a Scar in the brest from a wound of her own making there to feed as is reported her young with her own bloud an action which ordinarily suggests devout fancies So much of Birds Among Beasts we come to the famous Vnicorne of the more credit because mentioned in holy Scripture compared to many things * Edie vulg Psal 28. vers 6. even to God made man None of the Authors who speak of the Vnicorne discourse of his birth or Country satisfied with the deserved Elodiums by which he is celebrated That secret reserved for those who travell'd and survey'd many Countries That the Vnicorne is not to be confounded with the Abada commonly contended for is certain from the difference of the names of Rhinoceros and Vnicorne not reasonably to be given to both without distinction and from the variety of their Bodies and parts as appears in the Abada we know and in the Vnicorne we see painted This has one great straight horne of admirable virtue the Abada or Rhinoceros hath two a little crooked not so Soveraigne though used against poyson The Country of the Vnicorne an African creature onely known there is the Province of Agaos in the Kingdom of Damotes that it may wander into places more remote is not improbable This Animal is as large as a handsome horse of a dark brown colour with the mane and tayle black both short and thin though in other places of the same Province they have been observed with them longer and thicker with a fair beautifull horne in the forehead five palms long as is
by imitating the different cryes of other Beasts are so understood and known of what place and Province they are Those of an higher Province in the heart of this great Empire where many ages these Princes kept their Court when according to this ancient and usual Custom they present their Petitions cry Jan Coy i.e. my King Jan signifying King and Coy my which supposed for the cleerer proof of what I endeavour to evince you are to be reminded That the Abyssines affirme their Emperours were Priests in testimony of that relate some Miracles wrought by them That the Abyssines are naturally Wanderers particularly undertake pilgrimages to the Holy Land which being not far remote doth more easily engage them in the journey This they practise at present though formerly they did it more frequently It is also notorious that the French most of any Nation of Europe used the Levantine trade their concourse was so great that those Infidels scarce knew any other Europeans and called all white men as they still do Franks by a small corruption from the word Francois The French necessarily met many Abyssines particularly in Palestine with whom their discourse was probable about their Nation and Country The Abyssines speaking of their King undoubtedly gave him the most ancient most usual and most respectfull title of Jan neither is it less probable that for the greater reverence of the Royal person they told them their King was a Priest thence was he concluded Jan by title and by office a Priest All know that among us Sacerdote and Presbytero are the same which the Latines call Presbyter and the French Prester this word joyned to Jan begets Prester Jan which with small addition is corrupted into Prester John intending the same The French returning home were likely to relate what they believed and heard in forraigne parts so spred the report that the King of the Abyssines was King and Priest Prester Jan there not being then any knowledge of the true Prester John of the Indies This report set abroad past current that this famous Prince was without doubt the Emperour of the Abyssines thence at present vulgarly called Prester John of the Indies I may without arrogance think the Conjectures and Probabilities on which this Discourse is grounded above contempt both from my own observations and Experience and from the approbation of able Judgments particularly of great Travellers and those conversant in Ethiopia who found them agree with their information if any are dissatisfied with this Tract let them not condemn the good will that offers it and take my word to acquiesce in any better proposed A short Tract of the Red Sea and of the Cause of this name by which 't is commonly known THe Red Sea bounds the Territories of the Abyssine Empire which Eastward drinks those Waters having therefore discoursed what names the Abyssine Emperour Prester John we may conveniently inquire after the true cause that calls that boundary of this Empire the Red Sea The Name of Red Sea commonly given to the Arabian Gulf is very ancient the mistake lyes onely in the Reason I shall relate what I think most sutable to my own survey and experience The Ancients named the most Easterly poynt of all Africa Aromatum Prom. the Cape of spices because all those Ships which brought them from the Coast of India and traded with the Ports of that Sea first made that Headland called at present by all Mariners Guarda fuy the Inland is the Kingdom of Adel the Inhabitants all Moors and stout Souldiers The defect of Rain is here the same as in Egypt supplyed by the many and great Rivers running from the mountains of Ethiopia which on that side bound this Kingdom This Promontory is answered by another in Arabia the happy directly opposite called Cape Fartach from a City and people of the same name inhabiting the main Land Warlike Moors and so reputed the distance between these two Capes is fifty leagues The largnesse of the Ocean begins to be restrained from these two Promontories to the entrance of the Red Sea in length an hundred and fifty leagues the two shoars all the way comming closer till they meet at four leagues distance in the narrowest part of the streight where this Sea looseth the name of the Arabian Gulf and within is called the Red Sea which extends three hundred and eighty leagues to Sues near the bottom of that streight in the largest place betwixt Masuba and the Island of Camaran the bredth is forty leagues near Sues onely three which is yet narrower at the bottom Authors divide this Sea into three parts the Midle is clear and navigable not without some small Islands and Rocks which appearing above water are of little danger the other two parts near the two shoars of Arabia and Ethiopia are of very bad passage full of Shoals Rocks and white Corral which in the night especially endanger Passengers The Mouth is double made by an Island called Nahum or Babelmandel two leagues in length less than a quarter in breadth all an high wild barren Rock parched with the Wind and Sun without any Grasse possest by an abundance of Sea-foul The entrance on the side of Arabia being clear and deep is the ordinary passage for Ships of burthen the other part of the mouth toward Ethiopia though three leagues over is so full of Shoals as none venters through but in little vessels called by the Natives Geluas Near the Island is a narrow Channel of a good depth which I twise passed but too dangerous for great Ships joyning on the Island Within this straight begins the Red sea the Easterly Shoar called Arabia Petrea Twelve leagues higher than the mouth is the City Mocha rich and of great trade Forty further is the Island of Camaran then follow Rido Loia Zebita and Goro this latter within sight and within half a dayes journey of Mount Sinai Hither lyes Gida the Port of famous Mecha or Medina where is the tomb of Mahomet At the bottom of this straight is Sues anciently a City of Heroes at present a poor fishing Village wanting the trade of Spices from India which arrive there as to the Mart of the East and Levant and the general Fair of the Indies This City from Grand Cairo twenty five leagues sixteen from the nearest part of the Nile and forty one from the Mediterranean Crossing from hence to the other shoar of Ethiopia the first City is Alcocere formerly rich and populous now a poor Village Little further is Corondelo where the Children of Izrael at their comming out of Egypt past over to the other shore of Arabia the Sea opening for three leagues the distance betwixt both the Shoars into a fair large way as seems to be intimated in the book of * Chap. 19. vers 7. Wisdom or dividing it self into twelve parts as may be gathered from the * Psalm 135. vers 13. Psalmist Not far distant is a place called Risa whence
their labour The Palme-tree takes no repose but every month in the year presents new fruit A beautifull cluster of thirty forty sometimes more Cocoes or nuts monthly appearing and though not above seven twelve at the most come to be ripe and attain the last perfection there not being strength and nourishment for so many yet is it questionless that the Palme-tree by her fruitfulnesse was by God peculiarly created for the advantage of mankind If Vigour to perform her natural propensity be wanting yet is her generous inclination apparent We may truly say of the Palme-tree that not being which is not contended for that so singular and excellent tree peculiar to the happinesse of Heaven which the * Revel 22. vers 2. Scripture calls the Tree of life which beareth twelve manner of fruits and yieldeth her fruit every month yet that it is a similitude or Embleme of that faecundity That by the frequency and goodnesse of her fruit and by the great benefit man enjoys by it it is a certain Tree of life on Earth as the other is truly in Heaven and the most beneficial the earth produceth shall appear in this Discourse The most favourable Climate or Soyle and which with greatest propriety and in most abundance produceth this famous Tree which strangers divine and humane writings and the Natives in the property of their language call'd the Palm-tree is Asia particularly that part of it called India containing the Kingdoms and Provinces which lye betwixt and are bounded by the two famous Rivers Indus and Ganges both so well known in History How religious fables have made Ganges and how vain a sanctity blind Idolatry attributed to those waters in which to wash is sufficient to be cleansed from fault and punishment and be secured of Salvation much might be said by what I have observed and heard of this superstition but that is not the task of this discourse intended onely of Palme-trees The land nearest the Sea side produceth the fairest the Air from the Sea being very favourable and benigne to them Though strangers give the same name of Palm-tree to divers sorts of this tree all cannot challenge it neither enjoy the Excellencies proper to the Palme-tree called Coco The Natives distinguish them by particular names and reckon up eight sorts all different in their Truncks leaves fruit profit and appearance yet enjoy the general name of Palme-trees having I know not what likenesse by which they lay claime to it besides the proper name of each species The chiefest and most famous and which best retains the property of the Palme-tree is that which bears Coco's of these some are wilde some cultivated some but few called Barcas which amongst them signifie excellent and when they knavishly put off any thing for excellent they say 't is Barca The Nut Barca is savoury wholesome not to be surfeited on though eaten in never so great a quantity But as all Trees are not Barca's so not all the Nuts and the same Tree bears Barca's and others The Natives distinguish and very much vallue them The Nut Barca when crude and unripe is called Lanha Taugi i.e. excellent and sweet is refreshing wholesome of great use in Fevers If the Roots of this Tree touch the Sea or any brackish water the bearing is very much improved Of the other seven sorts some are esteemed wild from their fruit soyle and the little manuring they require The Tree called Cajuri is the peculiar one which bears Dates though in India this tree yields none but affords a certain liquor which they distil and of it make wine Another sort named Trefulim from her fruit of the same name Arequeira of whose leaves are made great umbrellas large enough to shelter one or two men from the rigour of the Sun or rain without which none could travell There are lesse for the same use like our umbrellas which also keep off the raine This tree yields no fruit Another tree there is the name not much in use by the leafe trunck and make of the race of Palme-trees the fruit called de Raposa i.e. the Foxes fruit eaten of no good taste such a Crab as never ripens and if brought to maturity would prove a wild Date being so in the form colour bunch or cluster The tree called Berlim bears no fruit onely used for adorning Churches the boughs of so fit a size and proportion for this use as if foly created by God almighty for his service not of less esteem and value because serviceable to divine worship this dedication supplyes the defect of fruit for the service of man and may reasonably rank the tree above the fruitfull The last the Earth produceth called Macomeira is without doubt a species of the Palme-tree her fruit in clusters of thirty or more every one as big as an ordinary Apple when ripe of a Date-colour and very gratefull the rind as hard as Tow oftner suck'd than eaten if swallowed of very hard disgestion In sent exceeding the * Esteemed the best Apple in Portugal Camoesa the stone called Coquinho very hard though green is soveraign against many diseases These are the Palme-trees the Earth produceth which challeng a right in that name The Sea affords one which though at the bottom of the deep and so undiscovered the fruit called Coco and surnamed Maldiva because the Sea about those Islands affords that Plant in greatest abundance gives us the Information The Maldives are a Ridge of great and small Islands reaching near two hundred leagues are counted from North to South distant from the shoar thirty or forty leagues the Natives affirme them to be Eleven thousand He was at leisure and of no small curiosity who counted them But not to enquire too strictly and minutely into their number the Ocean about these Islands most abound with these Nuts which are rare the Sea casts them upon the shoar or they swim upon the water yet have I seen them from the coast of Melinde to the Cape of Guardafuy for above two hundred leagues they are little less than a man's head grow two together joyned one to the other not all along but near two thirds the colour of the Rind which is hard though thin black the Europeans make of it Bodies of Birds e. g. of a Peacock adding to it feet neck head and wings and that perfection of parts the Bird designed requires The Pulpe or kernell of this fruit is very firme as in those that grow at Land of very great esteem with the Natives I have seen it sold for its weight in silver being esteemed a singular Remedy against all diseases particularly against poyson pounded in a Mortar made for that purpose with a little water till it grows white and so drank In India they make frequent use of this remedy having it in abundance So much of the Palme-tree and the Nutt Maldiva I am now to discourse of the inestimable profit of the other sorts Palme-trees of what species soever have neither