and such like Labors however want not courage or skill in Arms to defend themselves and offend their Enemies their Complexion black as Pitch their Language as their Colour peculiar to their Climate but all their Publick Devotions are performed in the old Coptick Tongue ¶ THeir Government is Monarchical Their Government and Religion Their Religion seems to relate to Christianity for in above a hundred and fifty Churches yet among them is to be seen the Image of Christ the Virgin Mary and many Saints and Martyrs Painted upon the Walls but much decayed by time and want of new Colourings Some affirm them to be neither Christians Turks Moors nor Jews but Hathen averrs they are yet Christians which Brokard confirms reporting that they Baptize one the other wherein they use hot Irons like the Abyssines with burning a Cross on some part of their Bodies and as a proof of their once being such the Patriarch of Alexandria hath Jurisdiction over them in all affairs Ecclesiastical whom they yet own using as we said before in all their Church-Services the Coptick Tongue BITO THis Kingdom hath for Borders on the West The Kingdom of Bito Guberion on the North Kano and Zegzeg on the East Temiam The chief City also call'd Bito lies in eight Degrees and ten Minutes of Northern Latitude The Inhabitants are governed by a Prince of their own TEMIAM THe Kingdom of Temiam lies neighbored in the West by the last mention'd Bito The Kingdom of Temiam in the North by Guangara the Eastern Limits are the Desart of Seth and Seu A. Anâ—u Trast 3. on the South washed by the great River Niger The chief City is Temikan The Head City Temikan scituate in eight Degrees and thirty Minutes of North Latitude where the Inhabitants are Cannibals or Anthropophagi DAUMA THe Kingdom of Dauma lies surrounded on the East by Medra The Kingdom of Dauma on the North with the Desart of Seth to the West hath the Wildes of Seu and on the South the Jews Countrey or the Kingdom of Semen The Inhabitants are very rich and govern'd by a Prince of their own Countrey who is an absolute Sovereign and when seen in publick carried up from the ground which he may not touch Sanut lib. 7. and if by chance at any time he do it is accounted ominous and he is purg'd with many Solemnities and Sacrifices MADRA MAdra also is a Kingdom conterminate in the East by Gorhan The Kingdom of Madra in the West with Dauma on the South by the Jews Countrey and on the North with Borno The chiefest Town thereof lies in eleven Degrees and twenty Minutes of Northern Latitude GORHAN GOrhan lies encompassed on the East with the Nile The Kingdom of Gorhan on the West with Medra hath Goago on the North and divided on the South by several great Mountains from jewen-Jewen-Land The People are as bruitish as wilde Beasts struggling with a thousand kindes of miseries and calamities in the Desart there being none that can understand their Language however they have a kind of Government and that too absolutely Monarchical The Countrey of the Jews or Kingdom of SEMEN SAnutus calls this Countrey in Italian Terre Giudei the Abyssines Xionuche but divers Europeans a little altering the pronunciation Semen in stead of Ximench or Ximen It lieth inclosed with Mountains and Desarts on the East extending themselves to Nile on the South to Congo and the Equinoctial-Line in the West to the Kingdom of Benin and on the North over against Davina and Medra a Countrey but little known and less conversed with and under the Domimon of the Abyssines The Desart of SETH and SEU THe Desart of Seth borders in the North on Borno in the East on that of Medra in the West on some Countreys where Gold is found in great plenty and in the South on the Kingdom of Dauma The Desart of Seu hath for Limits in the North the aforemention'd Golden Countreys in the East Dauma in the South vaste Mountains in the West the Kingdom of Benin From this Desart some affirm the great River Niger takes its beginning ¶ THus much we thought fit briefly to mention of the In-land Parts we will now lead you by the Sea-Coasts beginning at Cape Verde the farthermost Westerly Point of Negro-Land and so come to the Cape of Lopez Gonzalves and Saint Catharine The Coast of the Negro's Countrey THe furthermost Point of Negro-Land to the West is Cape Verde lying in fourteen Degrees and one and twenty Minutes Northern Latitude Three miles Southerly off which lieth a Village call'd Refrisko one mile from that another nam'd Kamino two miles further to the South-East Eudukura and a mile and a half beyond that Punto and then Porto d' Ale to the Westward of which is Punto d' Porto Ale that is The Point of the Haven of Ale On the same Shore not far from Porto d' Ale lies Cabo de Maste Porto Novo or New Haven and Punto Sereno or Bright-Point then Punto Lugar neighbors with the Village Juala on whose Southern side flow the Rivers De la Grace Barsala and Garnba on a Point of this last lies the Cape St. Mary from hence you pass to the Eastern River and that of Rha or Kasamanka and so to Cabo Roxo and the two greater and lesser Points Then appears the River Sante Domingo call'd also Jarim betwixt which and Cape Saint Mary live people known by the Names of Arriareos and Faluppos Two miles from the small rough Point the River Katcheo falls into the Sea Then Rio de les Iletas or The River of the small Islands and Rio Grande flowing into the Sea over against the Island Bisegos or Bigiohos More Southerly the River Danaluy discharges his Waters into the Sea the like do Nunno Tristan and Tabito or Vergas near Cape Virgen in the Kingdom of Sere-Lions or Bolmberre so passing to Rio das Piedras The River of Stone Pechel Palmas Pagone Kagranka Kasses Karokane Kaper and Tambasine Tagarim or Metombo and lastly Rio de Sere-Lions and Bangue which last disembogues his Stream on the South-side of Sere-Lions into the Sea as Metombo doth on the North. Upon the Coast of Sere-Lions divers Islands appear as the Bisegos De los Idolos or Idol-Isle Banannas or Bravas and the Sombreras between which last mention'd the Land makes a great Point call'd Furna de Sant Anna where four Rivers intermingle with the Sea from whence it is but a short passage to Cape Tagrin or Ledo the outermost Southerly Point of Serre-Lions Here begins Guinee extending all along to the Cape of Lopez Gonzalvez and the River Benin a large Maritime Countrey and divided into the Grain-Coast Tooth-Coast Quaqua-Coast Bants-Coast and Gold-Coast The first thing we meet with in Guinee worth taking notice of are the Rivers Rio das Palmas and Ria Galhinas running through the Countreys of Bolm Cilm and Quilliga where begins the Kingdom of Quoia wherein are
Countrey of Tuchusor whose Inhabitants Jarrik makes the Negro-Jalofs to the West side on the Ocean the North bounded by the River Zenega and the South by the Kingdom of Gambea Ala The Bigness Jarric l. c. 44. and Brokallo The Length is from East to West Seventy six miles and upon the Sea-Coast forty Under the Name of Gelofs Marmol compriseth many People What People by Marmol are comprised under the Name of Gelofs the chiefest whereof which dwell on the Shore of the River Zenega are the Barbasins by Jarrik call'd Berbesins Tukurons Karagols Baganosen the People of Mani-inga Mossen and others beside ¶ THe Kingdom of Zenega The Subordinate Kingdoms under Zenega or Great Joalof holds several other inferior States subjected as Baool Cayor Ivala and Ale although others repute them for several and free Kingdoms because most of the Kings rule with absolute Power and no less than the Great Jalof himself without acknowledging any above them though in antient times they pay'd Tribute And not onely these but also all the Places from Cape de Verde to Kassan the Great Jalof writing himself King over thirteen or fourteen Kingdoms among which also the Barbasins are numbred ¶ THe Countrey of the King of Baool The Kingdom of Baool call'd Louchi Four by the Inhabitants begins on the East-side of the Village Kamino lying from Porto d' Ale about sixteen miles The King keeps his Court two days Journey from the Sea-Coast in Lambaya the chiefest City of the Kingdom taking to himself the Title of Tain ¶ THe King of Cayor The Residence and Court of the King of Kayor who also commands Cape de Verde and the Places round about hath his Residence in like manner two days Journey within the Countrey ¶ THe Dominion of Ivala The Kingdom of Ivala severed by the River De la Grace from that of Ala contains not above twenty miles whose chief Governor call'd Walla Silla dwelleth also two days Journey up into the Countrey but is indeed of little Power ¶ THe Countrey of Cayor The Extents of the Countreys of Cayor and Barsalo together with the Region of Barsalo border upon the North with the Kingdom of Ale and Ivala ¶ THe utmost Borders of these two Jurisdictions The Borders of Cayer and Borsalo are two Villages the one call'd Yarap belonging to Cayor and the other Banguisca to Borsalo divided one from the other by a woody and desolate Wilderness of eight or ten miles ¶ THe Principalities of Ale and Brokallo The Kingdom of Ale and Brokallo which last is much the bigger and bordereth on the River Gambea are inhabited by the Barbasins In Zenega In Zenega there are no strong Cities and the other inferior Dominions belonging to it there are neither fortifi'd Towns or wall'd Cities but onely sleight Villages and Hamlets The Countrey that runs out between the Rivers Zenega and Gambea Cape de Verde maketh that eminent Point call'd for its delightful Verdure seen afar off at Sea Cape Verde but the Inhabitants name it Besecher and Ptolomy Arsinarium which they place in the height of ten Degrees and forty Minutes North Latitude This Cape is very Hilly on the North-side dry and sandy shooting far into the Sea and containing many populous Villages and Hamlets upon the Sea-Coast ¶ ABout a Bow-shot from the Main Land The Island Goree in fourteen Degrees and thirty five Minutes North Latitude appears an Island to which the Hollanders have given the Name Goree Refrisco a Hamlet about three miles from Cape Verde Refrisco within half a mile of which lieth a high Rocky Cliff encompassed with dangerous Shoals and undiscernable Sands which the famous Pyrate Claes Campaen first adventuring to approach gave it the Name of Campaens Cliff Kampaens-Cliff A mile Eastward from Refrisco stands Camino between Cayor and Baool Kamino Two miles to the South-East lieth Endukura Endukura Gunihemeri-Punto and at like distance Gunihemeri beyond that close by Rio Picena the Village Punto that is a Corner Point which leads directly to Porto d' Ale eight miles from Goree and six or seven from Refrisco close adjoyning to which in the way to Ivala lieth the Wood Tapa The Wood Tapa On the Haven of Ale standeth a high Rock call'd The Whale The Whale which Sea-men Sailing out and in seek to avoid by all means by reason of the danger in coming too near it On the same Shore not far distant Cape Mast shews it self Kaho Maste so call'd from the breaking of Masts of Ships that Sail by which is done by the Wind furiously breaking forth from the two adjacent Mountains to prevent that mischief the Mariners always strike Sail beforehand The Sea-Coast from Frisko to Cabo Maste is clear and deep The Sea-Coast from Refricco to Cabo Maste and further so that the Ships may go close by the Shore but about Porto d' Ale the Coast is very foul scarcely having six or seven fathoms Water so that no Vessels of Burden can come within a League of the Haven Three miles from Porto d'Ale Porto Novo that is New Haven Porto Novo and a mile and a half farther up Punto Sereno and Punto Lugar Punto Sereno seven miles forward stands Ivala an open Town inhabited by Portuguese and Mulata's a Tawny People Ivala generated out of a white Father and a Negro-Woman which both Trade here for all Commodities of the neighbor Regions Four miles Eastward of Ivala lieth Candima Kandima and six miles farther within the Land Geroep where an Alkayor entituled Embap resideth with some Portugueses ¶ THis as to the Maritime Parts The In-land Places We will now proceed to set down the In-land Places To travel from the Shore to the In-land there are but two convenient and passable ways the one extends it self towards the North-West of Refrisco and the other full North. Upon the Edge of the first way a mile from Refrisco lieth Beer Beer a Town so call'd and on the second at like distance a mile also from Refrisco Emdoen Emdoen a Lordship and the Dwelling-place of a Great Man entituled Amarbulebu but a Vassal to the King of Ivala Two miles from thence towards the North stands Jandos Jandos under the Subjection of the beforemention'd Amarbulebu where grow many Palmito or Date-Trees A little more to the North may be seen the Lake Eutan The Lake Eutan nearly neighbor'd by Emduto where always one of the Antientest is elected as a Magistrate over the rest being a place of good Accommodation and Rest for all persons travelling those Parts Six miles further East lieth a Hamlet where the Licherins their Priests reside whose Superior is call'd Alletrop Thence you pass to Endir Endir where together with the Blacks four or five Portugal Families dwell and some Mulata's who maintain themselves by Merchandise Half a mile onwards lies Sangueng Sangueng where
Egyptian Monarchs Pharaoh at first and afterwards Ptolomy The proper Name of the present King is Daur but by the addition of that Royal Title which signifies King call'd Burdomel Daur This Name of Burdomel The King is taken by some for a Place about Cape Verde and accordingly so set down in the Maps of Africa ¶ HEre are no peculiar or Municipal Laws The Law of the Countrey for indeed the Law or light of Nature is the onely Rule they steer by for when a Man dies and leaves behind him Wives Children Cattel Slaves and Iron wherein their chiefest Riches consists the Brothers and Sisters of the Deceased take all without any consideration of the Children whom they leave to the wide World to help themselves as well as they can As to matters of distributive Justice or punishments of Crimes they are in a manner strangers to both the greatest extravagancies being bought off and pardoned by paying of Slaves or some other Mulct to the King ¶ THeir Religion Their Religion if so we may call it is generally Paganism for they greet the New-Moon with horrible roarings and strange gestures of adoration they offer their Sacrifices in the Woods before great hollow Trees wherein they have placed Idols and this they do rather out of custom then zeal using neither form nor method in their Devotions nor any particular Assemblies but every one following the dictates of his own humor makes a God in his own Fancy which is as often varied as their Lusts or Passions raises in them other motions Some of them seem to incline to Mahumetanism and admit among them some Marabouts but so little have they prevailed upon them that they know not what the Sala means nor do the Priests any other Service than write Arabick Characters on small Papers which sew'd in little Leather Purses are worn by the Blacks on their Necks Arms Legs Heads and every part of their Bodies in great numbers firmly believing that thereby in time to come they shall be freed of all troubles and dangers to the great gain of the Marabouts who sell them at no small Prices And although they know there is a God yet have they no understanding to worship him and use Circumcision the fifth or sixth Year and then if they be asked the reason thereof they can give no other account but that it is an antient Custom received among them but farther know not None of the Priests are permitted to Marry but in their own Families nor may teach any to Read or Write without the chief Marabout's Licence They hold the Christian Religion in great abomination affirming that God who giveth all things and can do what he pleaseth and causes Thunder Lightning Rain and Wind is Omnipotent and needs neither praying to nor to be set forth in so mysterious a way as that of the Trinity and thus Heathenism and Idolatry generally possesses the whole Countrey THE KINGDOM OF GAMBEA CASSAN CANTOR AND BORSALO ADjoyning to Zenega on the North is Gambea The Kingdom of Gambea a small Kingdom by the River of the same name On the other side of the River Gambea lies the Jurisdiction of Cassan Great Cantor and Borsalo all heretofore subject to the King of Mandimanza but now have Princes as absolute as himself and acknowledging no Superior The King of Great Cantor keeps his Residence continually on the Southerly Shore of the River Gambea The King of Canter having many inferior Dominions under his Obedience The King of Borsalo commands on the North-side of the same River to Tantakonde The King of Borsalo Both these Princes have several populous Towns belonging to them but Several Towns lying on Gambea as we said all without Walls and scituate on both the Shores of Gambea which like the Nyle overflowing it Banks much enriches and fertilitates the neighbouring Soyl. The Sea-Coast hereabouts shooting from the South is very low and in that regard unless in very clear weather hard to be known but more forward the Land rises high is full of Trees and spreads North-East and South-West At the Mouth of this River stands the Town Barra Barra so named because every Ship that comes thither must give a Bar of Iron which they call Barra to the King of Borsalo Above the South-Point stands a Town call'd Nabare Nabare within a Wood. Three miles higher on the same Point lieth a Town call'd Bintam inhabited by the Portugals Bintam On the South-side of the River twenty miles from the Mouth Tankerval Tendeba appears Tankerval and not far thence a Town call'd Tendeba twelve miles from which last may be seen Jayre Jayre in a narrow Creek Half a mile beyond the Creek on the South-side lieth the River and Town call'd Jambay Jambay Mansibaer Barraconda with another named Mansibaer on the North. In the last place you come to Barraconda above which the Sea floweth not so that whoever will go higher must Row against the Stream After a tedious and toilsom Journey of ten days you arrive at Tinda Tinda above which stands Joliet Joliet Munkbaer and six days Journey from that a City call'd Munkbaer to which without great hazards there is no coming from whence in nine days you come to the City Jayr and so to Silico an In-land Town yet a place of great Trade Five and fifty miles within the Land stands Borsalo and eighty five miles Little Cassan Small Cassan Groat Cassan three miles above which the vast and great City Cassan shews it self whose side is washed by the Ebbing and Flowing of the Sea and where the King keeps his Court. ¶ AMong other Rivers that water these Countreys The River Gambea one of the principal is Gambea or Gambia so call'd by the Portuguese after the example of the Blacks who call all the Tracts of Land reaching from the Mouth of it to the Gold-Coast Gambu It s Mouth is about three miles broad hath five fathom Water and lies in thirteen Degrees and nineteen Minutes North Latitude between the Zenega and Rio Grande It draws the original from the great River Niger It s Original at the place where it makes a great Lake and divides in four branches which are afterwards named Zenega Gambea Sante Domingo and the Great River all which after several long courses having visited and refreshed these hot Countreys with their pleasant Streams at last near Cape Verde pour forth their Waters into the Great Ocean but especially Gambea with so strong a Current and such abundance of Water that sixteen miles in the Sea as they say that Water may be taken up They may row up in this River against the Stream near a hundred miles but then are stopped with a strong Water-fall which with an impetuous noise pours down over the Rocks and by that means becomes unpassable The Channel is for the most part very broad especially from the Gold-Coast of Cantor or Reskate to its Mouth
many other Vice-Roys under him as of Bursalo Jaloffo and Bersetti who commanded the Kingdoms of Boloquo Bintao and Hondigu but now these have taken the Title of Kings and regard this Mandimansa little or nothing every one governing his Countrey with full Power without acknowledging him or any other for their Superior The Mandingians were antiently altogether given up to the Delusions of the Devil worshipping Stocks and Stones and keeping among them many Sorcerers South-sayers and Witches nor have they yet detested those old and wicked Customs but of late years Mahumetanism hath much prevail'd among them brought first thither by the trading Moors and Turks and since increased by the Natives who went to serve in Forreign Wars The chief Bexerin or High-Priest hath his Residence in the chief City of the Kingdom and deeply skill'd in Necromantick Arts wherein he hath instructed the King of Bena who makes great advantage thereof in revenging himself of his Enemies whom he variously torments as his malice or necessity incites him BENA and SOUSOS THe Kingdom of Bena and Sousos The Kingdom of Bena and Sousos deriving its Name from the Inhabitants of its principal Town which is named Sousos stands scituate about nine days Journey from the Way that leads to the Kingom of Torra and Serre-Lions but more Northerly of those and Southerly from Mandinga ¶ THis Countrey is very Hilly and Mountainous The Nature of the Countrey all whose sides are plentifully furnish'd with shady Groves of green-leaved Trees and here and there scattered some Valleys veined with cleer and purling Brooks From the colour of the Earth in the Mountain they conjecture that the Iron Mines inclosed within their bowels are of finer Ore than most in Europe Within the covert of the Woods lurk many Serpents curiously spotted with so many lively colours as are scarce to be found in any other Creatures The King whom the Inhabitants stile King of Serpents keeps commonly one of them in his Arms which he stroaks and fosters as it were a young Child and so highly esteemed that none dare hurt or kill it ¶ WHen any one dies The manner of their Funerals the nearest Relations of the Deceased and next Neighbors have notice of it whereupon they immediately begin to make a howling noise so hideous as to Strangers is terrible afterwards the Friends and Kindred go to accompany the Funeral howling and crying as they pass on which is redoubled by the frightful shreeks of such as go forth to meet and receive them They bring with them Cloth Gold and other things for a Present to the Grave which they divide into three equal parts one for the King the other for the nearest Relations to whose care the Funeral is left but the third part is buried with the Corps for they believe as we said before that the Dead shall find in the other World whatsoever is so laid up at their Interrment ¶ THe Kings and other great Lords are buried in the night very privately and in unknown places The Funerals of the King and other Grandees Jarrik lib. 5. c. 48. in the presence onely of their nearest Kindred Which privacy they use in all probability to prevent the stealing away the Goods and other Wealth which in great quantities they put into the Grave with them especially what ever Gold in their lives they had hoarded And for the more certain concealment they stop the Rivers and guard all ways round about until they have so levell'd the place that not the least mark appears discoverable This is used towards the greatest and most honourable but frequently over the Graves of persons of meaner repute some small Huts are erected sometimes made of Cloth other while of Boughs whither their surviving Friends and Acquaintance at set-times repair to ask pardon for any offences or injuries done them while alive and so continue as long as the Weather permits it to stand ¶ THe Jurisdiction of this King reaches over seven Kingdoms The Kings Authority and yet he is under Konche the Emperor of all the Sousos ¶ THe Inhabitants as all the rest are Idolaters Their Religion and use certain Letters or Characters written by the Brexerins to preserve them from Diseases THE KINGDOM OF SERRE-LIONS OR BOLMBERRE THe Mountain looking into the Sea and known to the English French The Mountain and Kingdom of Serre-Lions and Dutch by the Name of Serre-Lions as also the whole Kingdom first obtained this Title from the Portugals and Spaniards who call'd it Serra Lioa and at last Siera Liona that is The Mountain of the Lioness The cause of which Name is conjectur'd to be drawn from hence Why it is so call'd for that from the hollow of its Concave Rocks whereon the Sea beats when the Winds bluster and the stormy Billows rage proceeds a terrible noise like the furious roarings of a robbed Lioness adding moreover that from the top of this Hill which lieth continually cover'd with Clouds which the violent heat of the Sun-Beams darting perpendicularly upon it twice in the year cannot disperse there is continually heard a rattling of Thunder with frequent flashes of Lightning whose resounding Ecchoes may be distinctly observ'd twenty five miles off at Sea ¶ THe Inhabitants name this Countrey in their own Language Bolmberre The Bigness which signifies Low and good Land and especially hath respect to the low and fruitful Tract of Serre-Lions which taketh beginning at Cape de Virgen and endeth at Cape de Tagrin or Ledo lying in eight Degrees and thirty Minutes North Latitude and is easie to be known at Sea because it is exceedingly higher than the Countrey Northward and runs far into the Sea The Mountain about the Point is high and doubled spreading along the Sea South-East and South and by East but the Countrey Northerly of the Point is low and flat ¶ THis Kingdom containeth above thirty Rivers which all empty themselves into the Great Ocean and most of them having broad streams neighbored with pleasant Valleys and flowing between Groves of Orange-Trees and their Banks on both sides edg'd with fair Towns and Villages to the great delight of Passengers The first River by Cape de Virgen is by the Portuguese call'd Rio das Piedras that is The Stone-River because of the many Stones therein It is a very great River and divides the Countrey with several Arms making many Islands stiled Cagasian or Cagakais where the Portugals have built a strong Fort for the conveniency of their Trade In the next place the Maps of the Countrey have set Rio Pichel Rio Palmas Rio Pogone Rio de Cangranca Rio Casses Rio Carocane Capar and Tambasine which two last take their original from the Mountains of Machamala upon which may be seen a stately Work of Chrystal with several Pyramids of the same Matter Lastly The River Mitombo they describe the River Tagarin otherwise Mitombo but at present by the English Portugals Dutch and other-Traders call'd Rio. de
where some few Houses are erected From hence all Ships that arrive there plentifully furnish themselves both with fresh Water and Wood. Next in order comes the high Point Cabo das Palmas or Cape Palm Cape de Palm in four Degrees and fifteen Minutes North Latitude on whose Westerly Corner are three round Hills and a little farther within Land a round Grove of Palm-Trees which may be seen far at Sea from whence this Point took the Name of Cabo das Palmas Near to this in Sandy-Bay arriving Ships finde a convenient Harbour A mile Easterly of which up into the Countrey appears a long Mountain looking like double Land From the first Point of Palm Cape a ledge of Rocks shoot South South-East a mile into the Sea and before them a great Shelf two miles long between them the Tide runs very strong to the East having ten or eleven fathom Water Two miles more Eastward Gruway the Village Gruway stands seated at the end of the Grain-Coast This whole Shore is very full of Rocks for which reason the Ships which Ride there are in no little danger In February March and April here is fair and clear Weather with cooling Breezes and gentle Westerly Winds In the middle of May there begin South and South-East Winds The Air. which bring with them not onely stormy Gusts as Hericanes but also Thunder Lightning and great Rains that continue June July August September October November December and to the latter end of January During part of this time the Sun being in the Zenith or Vertical Point of the Heavens sends down its Beams perpendicular The Land here yields great plenty of Mille Cotton Rice Grain of Paradise or Melegette good Palmeto-Wine besides divers sorts of Grain especially that call'd of Paradise or Melegette The Plant that bears Melegette hath thick Leaves better than three inches long and three broad with a thick rib in the middle out of which shoot many Veins which have a Spicie-taste like those of the Seed The Fruit is but little of size cover'd with a poisonous tough Russet-colour'd or rather Pale-brown Shell and under that a Film fill'd with many smooth and pointed small Seeds white within biting as Pepper and Ginger The unripe Grains are red and pleasant in taste The greatest smoothest and Chess-nut-colour'd are the best and the blackest the worst No kind of Beasts are here wanting by which means there is all necessary Provision to be had for Seamen The Blacks in these Parts are very envious to all Strangers The kind of the Inhabitants and steal from them what ever they can lay their hands on so that it behoves all Dealers to have a circumspect eye over their Goods And in some places they must be careful of themselves for being Cannibals they eat whomsoever they can get into their power 'T FORT TACARAY ofte WITSEN and about half flood a fathom and a half deep but within very dry and narrow that it gives little advantage either to the Natives or Seamen At the West-side of it rises a Rocky and steep Hill full of Brambles and Trees but on the East-side a Sandy Bank by which as it were split it runs in two small Vills one to the North-west into the Countrey and the other North-east but as we said both dry and not Navigable Near St. Andrew's River the Sea-Coast bellies out to the South-east as far as the Red-Land Between the fourth and fifth Cliff some high Trees grow in a Valley whose edge is remarked with two little Vills the one named Tabattera the other Domera Having left behind you the Red Cliffs you come to Cape La-Hou Cape de Labou the utmost limit of this and the beginning of Quaqua-Coast which spreads it self to Assine the whole Land hereabouts low and poor over-grown with Brambles and Trees yet a mile and a half Eastwards lyeth a Village call'd Koutrou Koutrou or Katrou Five miles from this Cape stands the Village Jakke La-Hou in a very barren spot five miles farther Jak in Jakko and six miles beyond that the Bottomless-pit so call'd from its unfathomable deepness for the Seamen having Sounded with their longest Lines and Plummet could never reach the bottom This Hole is in the Sea not above a Musquet-shot from the Shore so that the Ships which come about this Pit must come to an Anchor betimes to prevent danger Three miles from this Pit on the Shore runs a small River Eastward into the Countrey From Cape de La-Hou to the aforesaid Pit the Coast spreads Eastwardly with double Land Sixteen miles Eastward bi La-Hou takes place Corbi Labou before which the Sea runs very deep for a stones cast from the Shore it has forty and fifty Fathom water Eight and twenty or thirty miles from the Cape La-Hou Assine is seated the Village Assine where the Guinny-Gold-Coast begins full of high Woods but the Land low the houses such as they are stand on the Sea-shore so that they may easily be seen in the passing by Two miles from Assine stands a Hamlet call'd Abbener or Albine Albine a little to the West of a four-square Wood. Then follows in order Taboe and two miles farther Cape Apolony Taboe being a rising ground and seeming to Sailers like three great Hills In Jernon a little Village scituate on the side of this Promontory the Netherlanders have a Storehouse All along this whole Coast grow many Palm-Trees nor is it destitute of other Conveniences yielding extraordinary variety both of Fruits and Plants The Inhabitants as we mention'd before are call'd Quaqua's because when they see any Trading-Ships approach they declare their welcome by crying aloud Quaqua These People by their Aspect seem the unseemliest of all the upper Coast but are indeed the modestest and honestest and most courteous for they esteem it a great shame either at meeting to Salute or at parting to take leave with a Kiss When they come to the Ships to Trade they put their Hands in the Water and let some drop into their Eyes by which they testifie as by an Oath their uprightness and hatred to all Cheatings or Knavish actions Drunkenness they not onely abstain from They shun Drunkenness but abominate for the avoiding which they will drink no Palmito-Wine but a smaller sort call'd De Bordon or Tombe and that also mixt with Water alledging that from Drunkenness proceed many Quarrels the two frequent occasions of Murders and other inconveniencies which are all prevented by Sobriety and Temperance The chief Merchandise to be had here Merchandise are Elephants-Teeth of a larger size than usually elsewhere but withall dearer Some Cloathes also sold here which the Europeans and other Traders from the Name of the Coast call Quaqua-Cloathes being of two sorts the one bound with five Bands or Strings the other with six from the number of the bindings giving denominations to the Places they are sold in Cape Lahou yields many of
Woods The Buildings not contemptible especially the Houses of the Gentry yet cover'd with Palm-Leaves and made up of gray Earth The King's Palace is built after the method of that in Benyn but much less The Air proves very unhealthful Unwholsom Air. not onely by reason of the great Heat but also from bad and unwholsom Mists whereof Strangers Trading in the River being ignorant and carelesly lying and sleeping in the Evening or in Moon-shine oftentimes die suddenly The Soyl is so barren Plants that Grass and Corn are strangers to it but it yields many fruitful Trees as those bearing Coco-Nuts sowre and sweet Grapes with divers others also a little Pepper Baranasses in great numbers and Mandihoka of which they make Farinha or Bread By reason of the barrenness of the Fields there are neither Horses nor Cows but Poultrey they have in abundance and very large being roasted eat well Fish also and Sea-Calves whose Flesh dress'd yields a pleasing relish Both Men and Women are of comely Stature and fair Countenances according to the account of Beauty in that Countrey and all marked with three Cuts each something more than an Inch long that is one in the Forehead above the Nose and one on each side of their Head by the Temples and may wear their Hair long or short as they please Their Habit resembles those of Benyn Habit. as to Fashion but commonly made of Silk which the other may not wear fastned under their Arm-pits with a curious Girdle Every one here Marriage as in other parts of Africa may take as many Wives as he will or as he can get and sometimes the King bestows some Widows as a mark of his Favor The Whites come and Trade in the River Forkado Trade with the same sort of Wares as in Benyn which they exchange for Slaves Jasper-Stone and Akori but they hold them in great esteem and will not sell them but above the value They are no quick nor expert Dealers but cheapen a Commodity a whole Moneth onely to beat down the Price but to little purpose because the Merchant rates his Goods according to the value set by the Natives upon their Commodities which he never recedes from The Portuguese us'd in former times to trust them always which the present Traders never do so that they now bring the Slaves when they fetch their Goods The King of Owerre Government though Tributary to Benyn Governs notwithstanding his People with full Power as an absolute Prince and hath a Council consisting of three great Noble-men whose Power and Command none dare oppose The King which Govern'd in the Year Sixteen hundred forty four was a Mulato by the Portuguese and other Europeans call'd Don Anthonio de Mingo whose Father by Name De Mingo was Married to a Portuguese Maid which he brought with him out of Portugal where he had been himself in Person and had this Son born by her He goes like a Portuguese wearing always a Sword or Ponyard by his Side Their Religion comes near that of Benyn Religion onely they do not sacrifice so many Men but esteem it a great abomination and delusion of the Devil so that by a little instruction they might be brought to the Christian Faith They alllow neither Conjurers nor Witches among them In brief both the Inhabitants and the King himself maintain in some measure the Roman Religion There is a Church with an Altar in the City Owerre and on it stands a Crucisix with the Pictures of the Virgin Mary and the Apostles and two Candlesticks besides them into which the Blacks come with Beads like the Portuguese and Read their Prayers They are in general very zealous and can Write and Read and are desirous of Books Pens Ink and Paper The Coast of the Cape of Formosa to the Highland of Amboises AT the East-end of the Kingdom of Owerre Cape of Formosa shoots a prominent Point into the Sea by the Whites call'd Cabo Formosa that is The Fair Cape perhaps for its fair and pleasant appearance at Sea It lieth in the heigth of four Degrees and eight Minutes North Latitude so low and plain that they can discern no Land at five and twenty Fathom Water The Countrey between the River Benyn and Cape Formosa appears a very low Land but full of Trees About a Mile to the Westward a small River takes its course and upon the Banks of the Sea stands a Village call'd Sangma and a sandy Bank Sangma dry at Low-water Between this Cape and Rio Reael or Calabare lie seven small Rivers with broken Land The first little and narrow call'd Rio Non Rio Non. about half a Mile Eastward of Cabo Formosa The second Rio Odo in the heighth of four Degrees and ten Minutes Rio Odo four miles from Formosa and three and a half from Rio Non. The third and fourth of a like bigness and not far distant from each other The fifth Rio St. Nicholas Rio St. Nicholas The sixth Rio de tres Jermaus Rio de tret Jermaus The seventh Sambreiro the next to Calabare and spreads North-West Rio Sambreiro All these Rivers are passable onely with Boats and that in the Good Time Are not Navigable as they call it viz. from October to June yet enter the Sea such force that they discernably penetrate it above half a mile In divers Maps and Sea-Cards some others are named as Rio di Tilana Rio de St. Barbara and Rio de St. Bartholomew The Territories of Calabare Krike Moko Bani c. THe Countrey of Calabare lieth near the River of the same Name The Countrey of Calabare and the next Westward to Sambreiro or Sombreiro being about sixteen miles from Cape Formosa This River in some places very shoal The River of Calabare and therefore onely Navigable for small Ketches spreading Northerly and hath within its second Point at the Western-shore a Hamlet Wine-Village call'd by the Whites The Wine-Village from the abundance of Wine there but by the Inhabitants Fokke Then dividing into two Branches one at the Westerly-end the other at the Easterly-shore In the Eastern you find a Road or Haven for Ketches which put into this River for Trade of about two miles and a half in bigness At the North-side of the aforemention'd Branch appears the Village Calabare The Village Calabare the chiefest Place of Trade surrounded after the Countrey manner for Defence with Pallisado's and on the North having a Moorish Ground Southward of this you discover a long low Island full of Trees separated from the Continent onely by a small Pool Eight miles Westward hereof lieth a Hamlet named Belli Govern'd by a Captain Fourteen miles Westward runs the Easterly Branch whose Banks are garnish'd with divers Villages Northward of Calabare Krike a Territory call'd Krike shews it self bordering upon another named Moko Moko Southward of which last Bani at
Apartments are Hang'd after the European manner with Hangings of Mats made with exquisite curiosity within the innermost Fence are some Gardens plenteously stor'd with variety of Herbs and Planted with several sorts of Trees within these are some Banquetting-houses whose Building though mean and sleight yet they esteem rich and costly The City boasts ten or eleven Churches that is one great one Churcher being the chief of all then the Seven Lamps Church the Church of the Conception the Church of the Victory or Triumph a fifth dedicated to St. James a sixth to St. Anthony and a seventh to St. John the other three stand within the Court-Walls viz. the Church of the Holy Ghost of St. Michael and St. Joseph The Jesuits have here a Cloyster Cloyster where they Teach and Instruct every day the Blacks in the Christian Faith in an easie and winning method Here are also Schools Schools where Youths are brought up and taught the Latine and Portuguese Tongues All these Churches and other publick Erections except the Jesuits Cloyster have the Foundations of Stone but cover'd with Straw and very meanly provided with Utensils for celebrating Divine Offices There are also two Fountains one in St. James Street Fountains and the other within the Walls of the Court both yielding good and sweet Fountains of Water A small River or rather a Branch of Lelunde call'd Vese The River Vese affording very good and well tasted Water flows in the East at the Foot of the Mountain close by the City to the great benefit of the Inhabitants for from thence the Slaves both Men and Women fetch Water daily to serve the Town The adjacent Fields by this River are made very pleasant and fruitful and therefore the Citizens have all their Gardens upon its Banks What Cattel they have are Pastur'd and kept for the most part in the City as Hogs and Goats a few Sheep but no Cows which lie in the Nights closed in with Fences joyning to their Houses Rivers which water this Kingdom Rivers descending from North to South are first Rio de las Borrenas Roxas that is The River of red Sand another at whose Mouth lieth a Street call'd in Portuguese Bacas de las Almadias that is The Gulf of Canoos Here lie three Islands the greatest and middlemost of them inhabited and provided with a convenient Haven for small Barques but the other without People harbouring onely Beasts After these The River Zair Southwards you may see the great River of Zair which according to Pigafet derives its Head out of three Lakes the first by the same Pigafet and others entituled Zambre the second Zair and the third a great Lake from whence the Nyle is supposed to draw his Original as out of the second Rise out of which the Lelunde and Coanze run but Zambre is the principal Head that feeds the River Zair being set as it were in the middle Point of Africa and spreading it self with broad Streams into the North whither according to common Opinion it sends forth Nylus to the East the great River Cuama and Coavo to the South those of Zeila Manice or Manhessen and lastly to the West this of Zair which dividing it self into several Branches moisten and pinguifies the Western part of South Africa Congo Angola Monopotapo Matamam Bagamadiri Agasymba and so to the Cape of Good Hope whereas the Nyle Cuama Coavo Zeila Manice spread over the whole Abyssine Countreys and all others on the Sea-Coast from the Mouth of the Red-Sea to the River Cuama and therein the Kingdoms of Melinda Barnacassus Quilor Mombaza Mozimba Mombara Membaca Mozambico and other strange Lands The River of Zair breaks forth with an opening above three Leagues in breadth in the Elevation of five Degrees and forty Minutes and with so great force and abundance of Water runs into the Sea that the fresh Stream coming out West-North-west and North-east and by North makes an impression therein above twelve Leagues and when you are out of sight of Land yet the Water appears black and full of heaps of Reeds and other things like little floating Islands which the force of the Stream pouring from high Cliffs tears out of the Countrey and throws into the Ocean so that the Sea-men without a stiff Gale of Wind can hardly Sail through it to get into the Road within Padron on the South-side of the River This violent and precipitate descent carries the Stream against you fourteen or fifteen miles It sends forth on both sides many Branches or Rivers to the great convenience both of the Inhabitants and foreign Tradesmen who thereby in Boats and Canoos pass from one Town to another In the Towns seated on these out-stretched Arms dwell People small of Stature probably Pigmies The Islands Bomma and Quintalla lie in the Mouth of this River In Zair Le several Islands and others higher upwards exceeding full of People who rebelling against the King of Congo set up peculiar Lords of their own That of Bomma has Mynes of Iron The Island of Bommo and though boasting many Inhabitants yet shews few or no Houses because of the Morassness of the Countrey which for the most part lieth under Water so that the Blacks with Canos go from Tree to Tree among which they have raised some places made of Leaves and Boughs on which they reside and rest themselves without any Coverture These Islanders appear strong yet well set live very beastially The Manners of the Islanders are great Sorcerers speak ore tenus with the Devil in doing of which at first they come together all on a heap and afterwards one of them runs about with a Vizard on this continues three days which expir'd they use another Ceremony and then the Fiend speaks through the vizarded Man They live in peaceable Times by bartering in time of Wars they deal in nothing but Weapons Arrows Bowes and Assagays or Lances They have no Marriages or Betrothing Marriage but from their Youth up go one to another as their Affections or Lusts lead them commixing meerly like Beasts without any Solemnity for they know Laws of no Chastity but take as many Concubines as they please nevertheless the first being the eldest hath the command and supervising over all the rest In the Island Quuntalla is an Idol made of Money which none dare approach An Idol of Money in Quuntalla but the Servants or Minister appointed to attend and take care to secure the Way to it from being discover'd themselves being obliged as often as they go thither to take a peculiar Path that no other may find Many Kings and People sacrifice to this Idol especially in Sickness several of their most costly and highest priz'd Goods which none are permitted to make use of but by length of time decay and rot for as soon as they are dedicated the Attendant carries them into a great Plain where the Idol stands surrounded with a
and hath fifteen and sixteen Foot Water so that the great Ships may come before it About the North Point of Katon-belle lieth the Good Bay Good Bay so call'd by reason of its ground of Anchoring The Countreys upon the Sea-Coast are fruitful and low but the In-lands high and overgrown with Woods A mile and a half from Katon-belle you discover a fresh River that falls into the Sea but in the times of Rain The Bay of Benguella having good Ground for Ships to ride at an Anchor reaches from one Point to the other a mile and a half in breadth On the North-side stands the Foot of Benguelle built four-square with Pallizado's and Trenches and surrounded with Houses which stand in the shadow of Bananos Orange Lemon Granate-Trees and Bakovens Behind this Fort is a Pit with fresh Water Here lie seven Villages that pay to those of Bengala the tenth part of all they have for Tribute The first Melonde the second Peringe both about a League from the Fort Under Benguelle are seven Villages and a mile one from another the other five are Maniken Somba Maninomma Manikimsomba Pikem and Manikilonde of all which Manikisomba is the biggest and can bring three thousand Men into the Field Here formerly lived some Portuguese which afterwards out of fear of the Blacks fled to Massingan but were most of them kill'd in the way On the West Point of the Bay of Benguelle is a flat Mountain call'd in Portuguese Sombriero from its shape representing afar off a three-corner'd Cap and by it an excellent Bay having at the South-east-side a sandy Shore with a pleasant Valley and a few Trees but no Water fit to drink Four miles from thence they have a Salt-Pan which produces of gray Salt like French Salt as much as the adjacent Countreys can spend In Bengala is a great Beast The Beast Abada call'd Abada as big as a lusty Horse having two Horns one sticking out in his Forehead and another behind in his Neck that in the Forehead is crooked but smooth rises sloaping before and very sharp but at the Root as thick as an ordinary Man's Leg being many times one two three or four Foot long but that in the Neck shorter and flatter of colour black or a sad gray but being fil'd appears white the Head not so long as the Head of a well-shaped Horse but shorter and flatter with a Skin Hair'd like a Cow and a Tail like an Ox but short a Mayn like a Horse but not so long and cloven Feet like a Deers but bigger Before this Beast hath attained the full growth the Horn stands right forward in the midst of the Forehead but afterwards grows crooked like the Elephant's-Teeth When he drinks he puts his Horn first in the Water for prevention as they say against Poyson The Horn they report to be an excellent Medicine against Poyson The Horn is good against Poyson as hath oftentimes been proved but they find more efficacy in one than another occasioned by the timely and untimely killing of the Creature The trial of their goodness the Portuguese make in this manner They set up the Horn with the sharp end downwards on a Floor and hang over it a Sword with the Point downwards so as the Point of the one may touch the end of the other If the Horn be good and in its due season or age then the Sword turns round of it self but moves not over untimely and bad Horns The Bones of this Beast ground small and with Water made into Pap they prescribe as a Cure against inward Pains and Distempers being applied outwardly Plaister-wise The Kingdom of MATAMAN or rather CLIMBEBE THe Kingdom of Mataman Name commonly so call'd took that Denomination from its King the proper and right Name according to Pigafet being Climbebe or Zembebas Its Borders Borders as the same Author Linschot Peter Davitius and other Geographers hold in the North upon Angola Eastwards on the Westerly Shore of the River Bagamadiri to the South it touches upon the River Bravagul by the Foot of the Mountains of the Moon near the Tropick of Capricorn which the chiefest Geographers make a Boundary between this Kingdom and those Mountains and the Countrey of the Kaffers to the West along the Ethiopick-Sea that is from Angola or Cabo Negro in sixteen Degrees South Latitude to the River Bravagul a Tract of five Degrees and fifteen Minutes every Degree being reckon'd fifteen great Dutch Leagues or threescore English Miles Two Rivers chiefly water this Kingdom Rivers viz. Bravagul and Magnice the first takes its original out of the Mountains of the Moon Linschot or the River Zair and unites its Waters with those of Magnice springing out of a Lake by the Portuguese call'd Dambea Zocche and falling in the South-east into the Indian-Sea The Places of this Kingdom coasting the Sea are these Next the Black Cape right Eastward you may see the beginning of the Cold Mountains Mountains of the Moon on some Places for the abundance of Snow with which they lie cover'd are call'd The Snowy Mountains Then you come to the Crystal Mountains Crystal Mountains that shoot Northerly to the Silver Mountains and to Molembo by which the River Coari hath its course and makes a Border to the Kingdom of Angola At the Southerly Coast of Cymbebas near the Sea Calo Negro in sixteen Degrees and sixty Minutes South Latitude appeareth Cabo Negro or The Black Point so denominated because of its blackness whereas no other black Land can be seen from the one and twentieth Degree South Latitude On the top of this Point stands an Alabaster Pillar with an Inscription but so defaced by the injuries of Time and Weather that it is hardly legible and formerly upon the Head of it a Cross raised but at present fall'n off and lying upon the Ground The Coast from hence spreads a little North-east and East-North-east The spreading of the Coast The Countrey round about shews nothing but barren and sandy Hills without green and high sandy Mountains without any Trees More Southerly in the heighth of eighteen Degrees you come to a Point by the Portuguese call'd Cabo de Ruy piz das Nivez or Cabo de Ruy Pirez having to the Northward a great Inlet with sandy Hills and the Shore to the Black Point but Southward a high-High-land altogether sandy and reacheth to nineteen Degrees Farther to the South in nineteen Degrees and thirty Minutes lies a Bay call'd Golfo Prio and Prias das Nevas with double Land and full of Trees afterwards you come to the open Haven of Ambros in the one and twentieth Degree then going lower to the Southward the Sea-Coast resembles what we mention'd in the North shewing high white sandy Hills barren Land and a bad Shore A good way to the Westward of Cabo Negro lies a great Sand in the Sea in Portuguese call'd Baixo de Antonia de Viava or The
The chief Places thereof lying on the Coast of the Mediterranean-Sea Comere are Comere lying close by three little Islands the first of which some hold to be Penon and the two other the Cliffs Tarfonelle and Nettegalle The City Terga by Marmol call'd Targa and built as Sanutus says by the Goths about twenty miles from the Straits of Gibraltar contains near five hundred Buildings Yelles Yelles a little Sea-Town two miles from Bedis hath a safe though small Haven Bedis Bedis by many call'd Bellis as cohering with the Spanish Name Velez is by the Inhabitants nam'd Deirath Bedis and by the Learned thought to be the Akrath of Ptolomy It stands between two high Mountains containing six hundred Houses an ill fortifi'd Castle and a small Dock on the Shore where commonly Galleys and other small Vessels or Boats are built About a thousand Paces from thence Penon de Velez upon a Rock in the heighth of twenty four Degrees and twenty Minutes Northern Latitude stands Penon de la Velez that is The Rock of Velez sever'd from the firm Land by a small Channel that affords a safe Harbour for ten or twelve Gallies It is a very strong place guarded with several Forts the chiefest of which is built upon the heighth of the Rock accessible by one onely cut way some stand in the middle and others at the foot so that it seems almost impregnable Gebba Gebba a small decay'd Town eight French Miles from Velez Near Point Oleaster Mezemme mention'd by Ptolomy Marmol places Mezemme or Megeime by some held to be the Teniolonga of Ptolomy seated on the side of a Hill on a great Plain nine French Miles long and three broad through which the River Nakor passing divides Errif and Garet But now so waste that the wilde Arabs desert it Towns more to the Inland are Tegasse a little Place two miles from the Mediterranean-Sea call'd by Marmol Tagaza and thought to be the Thalude of Ptolomy Seusaon Guazaval Then Seusaon and Guazaval remarkable for nothing but their inconsiderable meanness ¶ THe Mountains here have few Habitations The Mountains of Errif but poor Huts cover'd with Straw or Barks of Trees Such as they be take as followeth First Bentgarir or Beni Oriegan close by Targa three miles long and two broad Beni Mansor three miles long Bucchuia or Botoia in Length four and in Breadth three miles Benichelid or Beni Quilib in the Road between Bedis and Fez. Beni Jus four miles long and three broad Benizarval and Benirazin fronting the Mediterrane Seusacen or Xexuen reported to be the fairest Mountain of Africa The Beni Gebara high and craggy Beni Yerso and Hagustan well inhabited Benigualed and Beni Iedes high and almost unpassable Alkas twelve miles from Fez. Beniguazeual ten miles long and five broad shewing one City and an hundred and twenty Villages Guarga Beni Achmed or Beni Hamet four miles long and the like in Breadth Beni Egenefen or Beni Zanten Beni Mesgilda Beni Guamud all bordering on Fez from which divided by a River ¶ THis Province bears good The Condition and Quality of the Territory tall and streight Timber but little Grain of any sort Of Grapes Figs Olives Quinces and Almonds there is pretty plenty but no Cattel besides Goats Asses and Apes with a sort of Beeves no bigger than yearling Calves The Water abounds every where but in many places so muddy that it is scarce potable by reason whereof the People fetch their water to drink from Pits and Ponds without the City ¶ MOst of the Inhabitants of these Places have great Swellings under their Chins like the People in the Mountains of Savoy and Dauphine The Customs of the Inhabitants but the reason unknown except it proceed from the drinking that Water however it much deforms them They are blockish stupid and given to Jealousie and all other kinds of Beastiality These are not so curious of their Wives but in other parts of the same Jurisdiction they are as careless it being customary That when a Woman dislikes her Husband she will go presently to a Neighboring Mountain leave her Children and take another And this is the cause of continual Wars between them And if by chance at any time they make peace the Man who hath the others Wife is bound to give all the Expences to the first Husband during the time of their Cohabitation They fare very hardly living of Barley or Oat-Bread salt Sprats and Eggs accounting Goats Milk Bean-Broth and boil'd Mosch a great Dainty GARET GAret the sixth Province of Fez butting East on the River Mulaye West The Borders of Garet on the River Nakor on the North on the Midland-Sea and South on the River Mullulo and the Mountains close by Numidia is divided into three Parts The first compriseth the Cities and Plains the second It s Partition the Mountains and the third the Wildernesses The first containing the Cities is accompted sixteen miles in Length and forty in Breadth On the Mediterrane stand the Cities Tarforagello Fetis and Tarfoquirato with the Mountain Alkudie so call'd by the Arabians but Marmol takes it to be Abyle Alkudie one of Hercules Pillars at whose foot lies Cape Trident or The Point of three Forkes by Castaldus call'd Cabo de tres Forcas and by Oliverius Cabo de tres Orcas supposed to be the Metagonitis of Ptolomy the Metagonium of Strabo and Sestiana of the Antients It shoots far into the Sea with a Point from which Eastward lie three small Islands in form of a Triangle besides one great one nam'd Abusam in the heighth of thirty Degrees and twenty Minutes Melille formerly Ryssadirum or Ruisar Melille by the Inhabitants call'd Deirath Milila having a convenient Haven in the Midland-Sea was heretofore the Head-City of this Territory In the time of the Goths strongly wall'd and so flourishing under the Mahumetans that it contained above two thousand Houses But in the Year Fourteen hundred and ninety seven the Duke of Medina Sidonia won it and at this day it is one of the Spaniards Principal Strengths in Africa excellently Fortifi'd and commanded by a Castle well provided of all Habiliments necessary either for Offence or Defence About six miles from Melilla near Cape Trident or Metagonites lieth Casasa Casasa by the Portuguese call'd Cabo de Casasa where formerly because of the Conveniency and Safety of the Haven the Venetians drove a great Trade of Merchandise with the Inhabitants of Fez But by the Diligence of Ferdinand King of Aragon and Castile the Moors driven out he annexed it to the Kingdom of Spain Places further from the Sea Tezzote are Tezzote mounted on a Rock ascendible onely by Winding-Stairs Meggeo And Meggeo a small Town two miles Southward of the Midland-Sea and about four to the West from Tezzote ¶ BEsides Alkudie The Mountains of Garet and the Point of three Forks here are several
Matgara beyond the foremention'd High-way There are many handsome Forts on the River Fez the chiefest they call Helet the Residence of the Governor who hath inhaunced the Customs of the Merchandise yearly to thirty thousand Ducats Retell or Arratama THe Dominion of Retell borders on Matgara and reaches Southward along the River Fez thirty miles distance from the River-Countrey of Sugulmesse on the East confin'd with an inhabited Mountain and in the West on a Sandy Plain which the Arabians make their Rendezvouz when they come out of the Desart There are many fortifi'd Places or Sconces Retell hath abundance of Dates yet covetous and narrow-hearted Inhabitants who by the Arabians under whom they submit are handled like Slaves Essuoihila Humeledegi and Ummel-hesen NOt far from the Territory of Sugulmesse are three small Forts or Holds Essuoihila the one is call'd Essuoihila or Zuaihilla a small place about three miles from the Jurisdiction of Sugulmesse to the South in a Desart close by which glides the River Ziz from thence going on to the Lybian Wildernesses The second Fort Humeledegi lieth about five miles from Sugulmesse Humeledegi also in the Desart The third Ummel-hesen is a place of small convenience Vmmel-hesen built by the Arabians upon a very barren Spot just in the way which leads from Dara to Sugulmesse The Walls seem to be all of Touch the Stones are so black But round about the first Castle are found neither Gardens nor Orchards nor any Ground that bears Fruit and nothing in prospect but Sand and black Stones The Fields about Humeledegi produce in great abundance a Fruit which at first sight seem to be Peaches Tebelbelt THe Countrey of Tebelbelt or Tabelbelt Tebelbelt lieth in the midst of a Desart about the Mountain Atlas and five and twenty from Sugulmesse to the South This Countrey hath also three populous Towns and twelve Villages The chief City lieth in three and twenty Degrees and ten Minutes Longitude and twenty Degrees and thirty Minutes Northern Latitude There are many Dates Their Food but they want Water and have few Cattel for the Inhabitants supply their Tables with Ostriches and store of Red-Deer They drive a poor Trade of Merchandise in negro-Negro-Land and pay Contribution to the Arabians Todga THe small Territory of Todga takes its Denomination from the River Todga Todga which confines it about ten Miles Westward of Sugulmesse It hath four Towns and ten Villages This Countrey abounds in Dates Peaches Figs and Grapes likewise all sorts of Grain Most of the Inhabitants are Husbandmen and Tanners Farkala THe Countrey Farkala or Ferkala Farkala a small River also conterminates about five and twenty miles from the Mountain Atlas to the South and five and twenty Miles from Sugulmesse Here are three small Towns and four Villages This Countrey affords Dates and other Fruits but little Grain and that bad The Inhabitants are poor and under subjection of the Arabians Tezerin TEzerin Tezerin which signifies in the African Tongue Cities yet shews no more than six small Towns and fifteen Villages and scarce seen two others long since demolish'd This borders on a River fifteen Miles from Atlas and eight from Farkala There is great plenty of Dates Beni-gumi THe Countrey of Beni-gumi 〈◊〉 skirted with the River Ghir about thirty miles to the South from Sugulmesse contains eight strong Towns and fifteen Villages This Countrey also yields many Dates but hath poor Inhabitants who for Wages undertake mean Service at Fez With the Money they so earn they buy Horses and put them off to the Merchants which travel to Negro-Land The Cities Mazalig and Abuhinam ON the Banks of the River Ghir thirteen Miles from Sugulmesse stand in a wilderness two small Cities call'd Mazaligh and Abuhinam Mazaligh in the Longitude of three and twenty Degrees and ten Minutes and in the Latitude of thirty Degrees and twenty Minutes The Tract of Land thereabouts produces no sort of Grain and nothing but a few Dates The Inhabitants are under the Jurisdiction of the Arabians Kasayr THere is also a small City found call'd Kasayr Kasayr which Sanutus bringeth with the foregoing under Sugulmesse and stands in a Wilde five miles from Atlas It s Tract of Land hath store of Mines of Lead and Tinn by which Mettal the Inhabitants carrying great store of it to sell at Fez maintain themselves Beni-Besseri THe Countrey of Beni-Besseri lieth at the Foot of Mount Atlas Beni-Besseri and hath three fortifi'd Places and some Villages They have store of all sorts of Fruits except Dates they have an Iron-Mine wherein the Inhabitants old and young do labour The Inhabitants are under the Lord of Dubu and the Arabians Guachde THe Countrey of Guachde lieth one and twenty Miles Guachde or thereabouts from Sugulmesse in the West and containeth three fair Cities near the River Ghir and many Villages It abounds in Dates but there is little Corn. The Inhabitants traffick in the Negroes Countrey and are Tributary to the Arabians Fighie THe Countrey of Fighie hath three strong Villages or Towns Fighie standing in the midst of a Desart thirty miles Eastwards from Sugulmesse Dates grow here in exceeding plenty The People are Ingenious The Disposition of the Inhabitants some Trading to Negro-Land others Commencing at the Schools in Fez. The Women make Woollen and Linnen-Cloth as Gramay affirms as fine as Silk or Lawn which they sell at Fez and Telensin and other places of Barbary at great Rates Tesebit or Tesevin TEbesit lieth in a Desart Tesebit sixty three Miles on the East from Sugulmesse and twenty five from Atlas comprising four Towns and eight Villages which lie upon the Borders of Lybia on the way which leadeth from Fez and Telensin to the Kingdom of Agadez Here groweth nothing but Dates and some Barley The Men are most of them Blacks and the Women are well featur'd and comely but brown They are a poor People Tegorarin TEgorarin Tegorarin or Taguriri a great and spacious Countrey lieth amidst the Numidian Desarts about thirty Miles from Tesebit to the East containing three and fifty Fortresses and above an hundred Villages The chiefest Seat lieth in eight and twenty Degrees Longitude and in thirty Degrees Northern Latitude This Countrey also abounds exceedingly in the Production of Dates The Soyl is barren and store of Corn-Ground which they water as we do our Gardens by reason of the Drought and though a barren Soyl yet are much improv'd by Husbandry and Manuring by which account Strangers which come with store of Horses and Camels pay nothing for their Lodging but onely their Dung which they leave there laying of it up with as great care as if a treasure Nay they take it very ill if any of their Guests happen to ease themselves without doors By the scarcity of Cattel Flesh is very dear there for the Ground is so dry that scarce any Grass will grow
the Densans are Stout and Warlike Borgia feeds many Artificers but more Husbandmen ¶ ONe part of this Territory stands under the Jurisdiction of the Arabians Their Government another under the Kings of Kouko and Labez the third the Turk lays his claim to But Paskare Anno Fifteen hundred sixty two was rent from the King of Tunis by the practises of one Tachea a Marabout who making himself Master they could never be reduced to the former Government THE TERRITORY OF BILEDULGERID BIledulgerid The Territory of Biledulgerid or Beledulgerid which is a single Province yet gives Denomination to all Numidia as we said before signifying Date-Land extendeth to the Realm of Tunis beginning at Teskare so reaching to the Coasts belonging to the Isles of Zerbes bordering on the East at Cyrene one Point shoots far from the Mediterrane for Tousar and Cafta two stretched-out Arms of the Province reckon seventy five Miles from the Midland-Sea This Countrey hath onely three Cities Teusar The first Teusar antiently erected by the Romans near a Desart and water'd by a small River replenished from the Southern Mountains is divided in two Divisions one stands possest by the Natives and the other by the Arabians since the Mahumetans deserted it having destroy'd the place The second Kafsa Kafsa also a Colony of the Romans stands in Longitude forty and in Latitude twenty seven Degrees and ten Minutes and hath a strong Fort with Walls of Touch or Black-Stone being five and twenty Cubits high and five broad There are also stately Mosques and spacious Streets pav'd with Black-Stone The middle of the City is adorn'd with several Fountains standing within a Quadrangular Wall The City Nefzara in Longitude forty two Degrees and fifteen Minutes and in Latitude thirty Degrees consisting of three inclos'd or wall'd Villages close together is very populous ¶ THe Air of this Province is generally hot and that of Kafza is so bad The Air. that the Inhabitants are always troubled with Agues and Feavers The whole Tract of Land of Tousart is befriended with a handsome River and that of Kafza onely by a warm Stream not potable unless it stands an hour or two cooling This Countrey also dry bares no Corn but abounds in Dates But the Kassan Countrey hath not onely the best but the greatest quantity of Dates and also Olives of all the adjacent Territories Neither want they store of Flax and are well provided with Potters Earth of which they make very fine Earthen War This Countrey as far as Tripoli is under the Government of Tunis Teorregu TEorregu borders on Tripoli nearest to the Desarts of Barka having three good Forts and six and twenty Villages The Inhabitants distanced far from other well-peopl'd places are very poor Jasliten or Jassitin JAsliten or Jassitin is a small Canton near the Mediterrane-Sea between Kafza and Trioply in Longitude two and forty Degrees and fifty Minutes and in Latitude eight and twenty This Countrey hath also store of Dates and is under the Jurisdiction of Tripoli Gademez GAdemez a Countrey Southward from the Midland-Sea sixty miles containing sixteen wall'd Cities and ninety two Villages Zieglerus the chiefest Seat is Gademez by Zieglerus taken for the Oasis of Ptolomy This Territory also rich in Dates is slenderly accommodated with Grain and Flesh The Inhabitants deal much in Negro-Land They were under the Kingdom of Tunis but now forsooth boast themselves a Free-State Fassen or Ferssen FAssen a great Countrey borders Agadez and the Lybick Desarts There is no other inhabited place in those Wilds but onely Augele but the whole Countrey contains eight and fifty Wall'd Towns and a hundred open Villages the chief Seat being in Longitude forty four and in the Latitude twenty six These want no Dates though Corn and Flesh which other places supply except Camels which there they make their usual Food They obey a Supream Authority who receives and pays all that belongs to the Publick Lybia or Zaara 305. Lybick Nun Towns Nun the Metropolis besides a Cape of the same Name Zenega Towns Zenega Anterobe Arquin Port Cavallero Rivers Rio de Oro or Golden-Stream Mountains Mountain of the Sun or Bojador Tagaza Towns Tegaza the chief with many Salt-Pits and divers Villages Zuenziga Towns Zuenziga Gogden Hayr or Terga Towns Terga Agadez Lempta Towns Iguidi Berdoa Towns Three fortifi'd and six Villages Augele Towns Three inclos'd with Walls besides many Villages Syrte Towns One onely nam'd Syrte and that in effect a heap of Ruines Algequet Towns Three inclos'd for defence besides many Villages LYBIA OR ZAARA THe Antient Grecians as Herodotus Diodorus and others Several meanings of the Name Lybia call'd all Africa Lybia but afterwards this general Name was contracted into a narrower Circuit and Signification Ptolem. Geogr. lib. 4. and appropriated onely to a small part of this vast Region and this also divided into the proper or Exterior and Interior-Lybia whereas some call onely the Exterior Lybia The peculiar Lybia was properly that part of Africa which reaches from Alexandria to Cyrene Procop. de Edit Just lib. 6. compassing the Countrey of Barka This is that part of the Countrey which Ptolomy expresseth under that Name whereas some as Philippus and also Cluverius call this proper antient Lybia Exterior Lybia taking in the Desart of Delphocat and Gaoga and place it on the West side of the Nyle and spread it to the Negro's Countrey ¶ LYbia Interior or Inward Lybia according to Ptolomy hath in the North The Borders of Inward Lybia the two Mauritania's that is the Caesarian Mauritania and the Tingitana Tangâ—ian-Moors Countrey the East a part of Marmarica and Ethiopia below Egypt in the South Inward Ethiopia and in the West the Atlantick Ocean But the Modern Lybia which contains a part of Interior Lybia agrees not with the Antient Lybia Bounds but is by the late Geographers included within other Borders as hereafter ¶ THe New Lybia hath for North Confines the Desart of Numidia The Borders of the Modern Lybia or Biledulgerid with a part of their Nun Eastward Egypt the City Elockat and the Kingdom of Gaoga conterminate to the South Negro-Land the West washed with the Atlantick Ocean along whose Coast it reacheth from that part of Nun which belongeth to Biledulgerid or Numidia to the River of Zenega or Niger which divides the Whites and Blacks A Partition between the Whites and Black But to set forth the Bounds thereof more accurately its Northern Confines range all along with that Negro-Land that hath the River Zenega which passeth on by these Countreys in the form of a long narrow Towel almost to the Nyle it is a Tract of sixty Spanish Miles ¶ THe original of the Name Lybia the Grecians derive from a Woman The original of the Name of Lybia Herodotus Aldrete Antigued lib. 3. cap. 6. a Native of that Countrey call'd Lybia some from a greater Lady Lybia the Daughter
or Boura Rio de Campo Rio Sante Benito and Rio Danger five miles from thence is a great Bay or Haven from which six miles Southward lieth a prominent Point call'd St. Johns Cape Fronted with a Ledge of Rocks About three or four miles Southward of St. Johns Cape lies the Island near the Main Land call'd Ilhas des Korisko that is The Island of Lightning Fifteen miles more Southerly under the Equinoctial Line runs the River Gabon or Gaba as Linschot calls it and not far off Point Santa Clare and eight miles Southward the Cape of Lopes Gonzalvez in six and forty Minutes of South Latitude Lastly the River Olibatta with the Cape of St. Katharine and Ferdinando Vaz Peter Davity Rotiere Jarrik Samuel Bruno Linschoten and other Geographers Limit this Coast of Guinee in this manner From the River Zenega to Cape Verde the East reaches with its Creeks about four and twenty miles Near to the Cape Verde and the Kingdom of Jalofs Rio de Barbazin falls into the Sea adjacent to which are the Barbasins or Berbisins Countreys and the Kingdoms of Ale and Brokallo the last of which lieth by the River Gambea fifteen miles from Cape Verde about which Kadamust and Sanutus place the small Kingdoms of Gambea and Mandinga and Southward of these appears Cape St. Mary from whence to the River Sant Domingo it is reckoned seventeen miles All which places are inhabited by two sorts of People call'd Arriareos and Faluppo's through whose Countrey the River Kaza Manca takes its course till mingling with the Sea having on its Northerly Shore the People Iahundas on the Southerly the Benhuns and in the East the Boramo's Before the Mouth of Rio Sante Domingo lie the small inhabited Islands call'd Byagosar and Bysegos Between these Islands flows Rio Grande or The Great River on the North-side lieth the Kingdom of Guinala whence you go directly to the Haven of Bigubia or Santa Cruix where the Portugals have a Fort All the Territory is inhabited by Negro's call'd Beafers Upon a separate Branch of Rio Grande by the Haven of Bolola live a People which the Portugals call Tangos-Maos or Lancados From the Southerly Point of Rio Grande to the Cape Virgen the Mallus or Malluces Vagai and Korolines inhabit and here begins the Countrey of Serre Lions wherein is Cabo Ledo and Rio Das Gamboas with three Islands call'd De Bravas and the Cape of St. Anne lying in seven Degrees North Latitude From Cabo Ledo to Cape St. Anne is about ten miles after which follows the River Das Palmes and somewhat farther Rio das Gallinas Hen-River From Serre-Lions to this place it is forty miles From hence to Cape de Monte eighteen and from that to Cape Mesurado sixteen and within two miles thereof Mata St. Mary where the Grain-Coast doth begin From Mata St. Mary to the River St. Paul are six miles where the Mountains of the same Name very high and craggy stretch themselves six or seven miles along the Coast From Rio de St. Paulo to Rio Junk are six and from that to Rio Cestos two miles whereto neighbors the Kingdom of Bitonin a Member and Subject to that of Melli. Opposite to these appears the little Island of Palmes close by which are Ilhas Blancos the two white Isles from which to Cabo Formoso is commonly reckon'd five miles Then going forward you arrive at the Cape de Baixas where Rio dos Genueveses and St. Vincents Stream flow into the Sea next which lieth Rio dos Escalvos that is The River of Slaves close by St. Vincents Cape Then Cabo dos Palmas in four Degrees of North Latitude and twelve miles from the Cape of Clement Next we come to the Rivers of Maio Sueryo de Costa Rio Bobra or Cobra and Mancum upon this last stands Fort Agem or Axiem near Akombene Ville at whose side lies the Cape of tres Puntas in North Latitude of four Degrees and a half The Ivory Coast reaches from Cabo de Palmas to the Cape tres Puntas where the Gold Coast begins comprehending many Kingdoms and extending to Rio Volta wherein first appears Anten a place rich in Merchandise Next Jabbe Chama formerly a Castle of the Portugals then the Village Agitaki by others call'd Little Commendo and not far off the Castle of St. George de Mine built by the Portugals as upon the Point of Cape de Curso the Hollanders have erected Nassau Fort in honour of the worthy Family of Aurange so famously Instrumental in raising them from the meanest degree of Distress to make them capable of assuming the High and Mighty Titles they now use Not far from thence lies Moree or Morre the chiefest place of Trade in the whole Kingdom of Sabou then comes the great and famous Fort of Kormentine or Karmandin with the places and Kingdoms thereunto belonging viz. First Biamba then Berku next Akara or Akkra the Principal Town of the Kingdom of that Name having in the North the Kingdom of Akanie whose Inhabitants go to trade for Gold with other Blacks far up into the In-land Rio Lagos comes next in order beyond which to Landward lies the Kingdom of Dauma from Rio Lagos to that of Benin is about twenty and five miles and thence to Cape Formoso as much Afterwards in five Degrees North Latitude you come to the Royal River vulgarly Rio Reeal from whence to Rio dos Kamarones is thirty miles near neighbor to which is plac'd the Territory of Ambosine whereon abuts the Kingdom of Capons that reacheth far into the South and lies one Degree and a half in South Latitude then the Coast shooteth from the East to the South to the River Angra From which to the Stream of Gabon or Gaba lying at the Equinoctial Line are nine miles From the River Gabon to the Cape of Lopez Gonzalvez lying one Degree Southward of the Equinoctial is about five miles and a little Southerly Rio de Pero Diaz or Poeradia wherein breed Sea-Horses and Crocodiles and lastly Rio de Ferdinando Vaz In short the Coast of Guiny as Peter Davity holds reacheth to the Cape of St. Katharine and from thence to two Degrees and a half South Latitude to the Borders of the Kingdom of Lovango Thus having in brief run over the Coast of negro-Negro-Land we shall hereafter describe at large the Kingdoms Countreys and Places lying more into the Land THE KINGDOM OF ZENEGA OR COUNTREY OF JALOFS Together with the Dominions belonging to it of CAYOR BAOOL IVALA ALE c. MArmol names this Countrey Gelofe and the Inhabitants thereof Gelofs Lib. 9. Jarric l. 5. c. 44. Marmol 9. Borders of the Kingdom of Zenega but others call it The Kingdom of Zenega By which Name in the common Maps or Charts it is set down This Kingdom reaching far into the main-Main-Land and bordering to the North on Guinee lieth between the two Arms of the River Niger the one call'd Zenega the other Gambea but by Ptolomy Darade and Stachiris It bordereth Eastward on the
Priviledges for now he may buy Slaves and Trade for other things which before he had no permission to do They take great care therefore about it although perhaps the acquiring cost them all they are worth and thereby are much poorer than before but he soon gets it up again by Presents brought him from others each according to his ability And now as soon as he hath gain'd an Estate again he bestows it upon Slaves wherein their Riches and Reputation consists These keep one among another a yearly time of Feasting where they make good Cheer new Paint the Cows Head and hang it about with Ears of Mille. Besides this the Nobility in general keep one Feast upon the sixth day of July where they Paint their Bodies with Stripes of red Earth and wear on their Necks a Garland of green Boughs and Straw as a Badge of their Nobility In the Evening they all come as Guests to the House of the Braffo where they are entertain'd with exceeding Mirth and Feasting even to Excess and Drunkenness These People are so conceited of their old Idolatrous Customs Religion or Worship that they deride as it were the Religion of the Whites under what Name or Notion soever Several times have the Portuguese and French by Jesuits sent thither endeavour'd to convert them to the Christian Faith yet never have been able hitherto to effect any thing worth relating And thus have we travell'd through the Gold-Coast The Coast from Rio Volta to Arder SEven Miles Eastward from Akara The River Rio da Volta on the Shore lieth a Town call'd Sinko twelve Miles from that the River Rio da Volta falls into the Sea Coming with Ships before this River the Entrance seems very little because of a Shelf which lies before it and closeth it up yet more within Land it may be discern'd to run with an open and wide Channel Between Sinko and Rio Volta standeth a Town call'd Ley whose Inhabitants maintain themselves by selling Cows wherewith though at a dear Rate they furnish themselves with Meat Three Miles from Rio Volta lieth a Point call'd in Portuguese Cabo Montego a low Countrey having little Wood and the Shore spreading East South-East From Cabo Montego Eastwards the Coast shoots out with a great Belly so that from one Corner to the other Observe Spanish Miles or Leagues as we said before such as twenty five make a Degree it is ten Miles Sailing The Countrey seems Craggy yet water'd with a small River whose Mouth is stopp'd with Sand and hath Trees on the East Quarter Beyond all the Land lies flat as far as Popo or Popou and shadow'd with good Boscage THE KINGDOM OF ARDER THis Kingdom of Arder contains about twelve Miles in length The Kingdom of Arder beginning four Miles Eastward of Popou and ending at Aqua Three Miles Eastward of Popou on the Shore appears a Town named Foulaen The Town Foulaen five Miles Eastward of which on the same Coast you come to Little Arder Little Arder three hundred Rods in length beyond which about fifty Rods from the Shore runs a River of brackish Water From Popou the Coast reacheth East and by South to Arda and for eight Miles low Land spotted here and there with Trees Two Miles Westward of Arder stand four Woods A Mile to the North North-East of Arder Jakkeins you may see Jakkein a Town so call'd from the Governor thereof The City is encompass'd fifteen hundred Rod about with an Earthen Wall and includes a stately Palace the Residence of the Governor and water'd with a small Rivulet Three days Journey from Jakkein lieth the Jojo Jojo and a quarter of a Mile farther a Town call'd Ba surrounded with a Mud Wall Ba. over which a Fidalgo Commands in the King's Name On the Sea-Coast stand two Gates and on the Land-side runs a fresh River which reacheth to Benyn About twelve Miles to the North North-East up in the Countrey lieth Great Arder an open Village and straglingly built but containing in circuit as the Natives report above three Miles They may conveniently Ride to Arder on Horseback or be carri'd in a Litter or Waggon there runneth so straight a Way thither from the Shore In the mid-way stands a Retiring place for Travellers where they brew Beer of Mille. The King hath his Residence in this Village and two Palaces but he dwells onely in one the other being reserv'd as a Retirement upon casualty of Fire Both these Palaces are environ'd with an Earthen Wall of four or five Foot thick with Coverings of Reeds and have several Chambers and Apartments within Here are no Wall'd Cities but open Villages in abundance fitly scituate for Merchandise and defensible for the Inhabitants The Air proves unhealthy to the Whites The air unhealthy for the greatest number of them that go to Land are quickly seiz'd by a Sickness which for the most part kill 's whereas the Natives are very fresh and sound and attain a great Age. This Tract of Land is every where plain and fruitful thin of Woods The conditions of the Land but full of fine Villages the Ways very convenient to Travel in and several full-stream'd Rivers that irrigate and with their Waters fertilize the Ground The Valleys are enricht with divers Fruits throughout the whole year Their Fruits as Injames Potato's Oranges Lemons Coco-Nuts Palm-Wine and such like The Injames are eaten either boyl'd broil'd or roasted with Butter for Sawce In the Marshes of Arder they make much Salt which those of Kuramo buy and carry away with great Canoos Here breed many Horses The Houses are meer Mud-walls two or three Foot thick Houses and cover'd with Straw Their Houshold-stuff no other than that before described on the Gold-Coast Houshold-stuff and as there also for Ornament hang on the Walls their Arms viz. Shields Assagays or Lances Bowes and Arrows In Places of retirement or as we may call them Inns Beer of Mille. between the Shore and Great Arder and in the Town Offer they brew Beer of Mille in this manner First they steep the Mille in Water till it shoots afterwards dry it in the Sun then stamp it to Meal in great Mortars and poure upon it boyling hot Water They know also to make this Mash Work with Yeast and to make it thick or thin as they please But this Beer by the heat of the Mille will soon sowre and drinking of it causeth the Scurvey but mixed with Water makes a good wholsom Drink Their Bread made of Mille they call Kanties and their other Victuals Kade Food being green Herbs Rice Beef Pork Cabrietes or Mutton Dogs and Hens The Men have three Habit. sometimes four Garments hanging about their Middles one shorter than another so that part of them all may be seen but the upper part of the Body and Feet up to the Knees remain naked The better sort have very sumptuous Cloathing of
all other sort of Meat it being a delicate Food pleasant and delightful of taste There are also many excellent Birds with black Feathers and black Flesh either boyl'd or raw yet accounted no unwholsom Food The Haven swarms with Fishes which the Inhabitants call Marraxos and the Portuguese Tintoreas they are very ravenous after Man's-flesh for so soon as they see a Man fall into the Water by chance or go to swim they will immediately catch and devour him The Inhabitants are a mixture of Mestiffs Mahumetans and absolute Heathens yet all subject to the Portuguese The Natives of this Island are black of Complexion The Nature of the Inhatants and low of Stature with short Curl'd Hair like Wool they smell very ranck when grown warm they are by nature barbarous cruel and revengeful but withall timorous Both Sexes go naked Apparel onely the Men have a small Clout before their Privacies and the Women cover their Bodies from their Breasts half way to their Knees with course Cotton-Clothes Their Ornaments consist in three or four Strings of white Omaments green blue and red Beads about their Necks and ten or twelve Copper or Tin Armlets about their Arms. They make holes in their Ears wherein in stead of Pendants they hang pieces of Copper or Lattin cutting and carving the rest of their Skin for an Ornament Their common Food is Fish Food and Rice boyl'd in Water with Honey Their Drink is Palm-Wine and Water and a sort of Liquor call'd Arak made of Rice Their Skiffs Boats or Canoos consists all in one Piece as we often mention'd They speak generaly a kind of broken Arabick Language There are a certain sort of handsom Mats Trade made by the Inhabitants which are sent to Goa The Portuguese drive a smart Trade here with Spanish-Wine Oyl Cotton Skiffs red Beads and such like notwithstanding they have a quick Market at Sena Makuno Sofala Quamma and other places Their Arms are Bowes Armâ— Arrows or Lances but of late they have begun to learn the use of Fire-Arms The Portuguese have many years ago built a Fort supposed the strongest they possess in those Parts consisting of four Bulwarks from whence with their mounted Artillery they can defend and make good the Haven against any ordinary attempts It hath strong and well designed Flankers fortifi'd and surrounded with three double Walls and a broad Trench made about it in the Year Sixteen hundred and thirteen Several vain Onsets have the Dutch made upon this Fort but chiefly in the Year Sixteen hundred and six when after a formal Siege of thirty two days they were compell'd to withdraw first as an effect of their malice having burn'd many Ships Canoos Houses and Churches those two especially of St. Gabriel and St. Domingo beforemention'd Some of the Inhabitants by reason of the Converse and Trade of the Arabians on this Coast are drawn to Mahumetanism others are Christians but the most part of them are Idolaters The Kingdom of QUILOA THe Kingdom of Quiloa derives the Name from an Island Situation Plgaf 2. b. 8. H. lying in eight Degrees and fifty Minutes South-Latitude at the Mouth of the River Kuavo said to spring out of the Lake Zambre and according to Peter Alvarez posited so near the Main Land as if joyn'd to it and hath a stately City by some taken for the Rapta of Ptolomy with lofty Houses after the Spanish fashion all adorn'd with stately Halls Chambers and other Apartments furnished with costly Housholdstuff and accommodated both for Pleasure and Profit with sweet and fertile Gardens There lies on the Main Land of Quiloa another City call'd Old Quiloa Sanut lib. 12. built about six hundred years since by one Haly Son of Hacem King of Cyrus in Persia but yields nothing so delightful a Prospect as that mention'd before This Kingdom before the coming of the Portuguese thither spread it self along the Sea-Coast above a hundred and fifty Dutch miles for he Reigned formerly over Sofalo Quamma Angos and Mozambike but when Francois Dulmanda in the Year One thousand five hundred and five put in for this Coast with the Portuguese Fleet the King though invited to Friendship prepared for a Warlike Defence whereupon seven hundred Portuguese went on Shore who quickly took the City and put him to flight Sanutus saith this Countrey hath such an antipathy to the nature of the Europeans that the Portuguese found themselves necessitated to forsake the same notwithstanding they had built a Fort there and made no doubt but to have been the Masters thereof But later Opinions hold the Air since that to have grown more temperate for that some good and wholsom Fruits have been found growing there Osorius praises it as being water'd with many Fountains so enriching the Soyl that it produces all sorts of Grain and Fruits with little labor especially Maiz Rice Oranges Citrons and Lemons They have great store of Oxen and sheep many Hens Pigeons Beasts Turtle-Doves and several other sorts of unknown Birds divers sorts of wild Beasts in the Woods and on the Sea-shore variety of Fish Some of the Inhabitants draw their Original from Arabia such are brown some black others white Pigafet affirms them to be all white whereas on the contrary Pedro Alvarez maintains them all black Their usual Food is Maiz Rice and other Grains Carrots Food and variety of wild Fruits a fit Diet for such poor People The Merchants and better sort of Men go Habited in Cloth of Gold Apparel Silk or Cotton with Turbants on their Heads The Women wear also stately Apparel with Gold and Silver Chains on the Arms and Legs and costly Pendants in their Ears In brief they go Clothed after the Arabian or rather Turkish Mode They commonly speak Arabick but understand other Languages Language by reason of their Trading with Outlandish Merchants The Riches of the Quiloan Merchants consists in Gold and Silver Riches Ambergreece Pearls and Musk. The Inhabitants are under a peculiar King whom Linschot makes a Vassal or Tributary to the King of Mommugi They are partly Mahumetans Religion and the rest Pagans The Kingdom of Mombaza TO the Northward of Quiloa Borders on the Sea-Coast you come to the Kingdom of Mombaza so call'd from an Island in four Degrees and five Minutes South-Latitude which Sanutus makes in its Circumference to be twelve Italian miles but Jarrik onely a League or thereabouts The City being of the same Name The City Membaza built after the Italian manner bears a considerable bulk being situate on a high Rock The extent of the whole Dominion not very big bordering on one side at the City of Orgaba seated on the Banks of the River Onchit which poures her Waters into the Nyle by the Mountain Amara where the Kingdom of Melinde begins The Turks had formerly thrown up a Fortification at the Shore of this River so that none could come into the City
in former times the Red-Sea overflow'd all Egypt and by its Water took away the colour from the green springing Soyl but after the Water began to fall away and lessen it remain'd at length with so little moisture that the Sun-beams which shine down in that place with very great power make a reflexion of the red Sand from the bottom which seeming to give a tincture to the Water from its ruddiness gave the occasion of denominating it the Red-Sea though Pliny will have it from a King who Reigned here and in Greek was call'd Erithreos that is Red. To this Opinion inclin'd Pomponius Mela Aristotle and others But Quintus Curtius is of a contrary Judgment maintaining that this Sea was call'd the Red-Sea from the Egyptians who were drown'd in it when they pursu'd the Israelites in the Year after the Creation Two thousand three hundred fifty and four according to the computation of Michael Zapuler in his Description of the Holy Land Johannes de Castro formerly Vice-Roy to the King of Portugal in the Indies affirms that the red colour of this Sea ariseth from the great quantity of Corral growing at the bottom Others that the Rivers which pour into this in the midst of Winter having flow'd through Countreys of a red colour'd Earth make the Water seem red and consequently gave it the Name Certain it is that all the Water is like that in the great Sea and saltish In this Sea befell the Miracle which the holy Scriptures mention when Moses with his Rod commanded a Way for the passage of the Israelites to the number of six hundred thousand Men Women and Children not reckon'd and wherein Pharaoh in pursuit of them as he supposed flying twelve thousand Foot-Soldiers and fifty thousand Horsemen were swallow'd In this Sea are many strange and remarkable things as Trees growing Branches of Corral Mushroms Meremaids flying Fishes and other wondrous Creatures But how great diligence soever they have used none could ever take any of them although common and at all times seen along the Coast for the Egyptians believe that they and theirs by the killing such a Creature should die within a year as they say they have found by experience And out of that conceit when in the Year Sixteen hundred thirty one one was taken alive in the Nyle by the City Rosetta the Bey or Governor of the City commanded it presently to be put into the Water again though a Venetian had bought it for five and twenty Piasters and rather than incur the hazard return'd him his Money Gaspar de San Bernardino in his Journey to the Indies by Land saith the Entrances into the Red-Sea lie in twelve Degrees and forty Minutes being no other than two Points of Land one on Africa side call'd Rosbel and the other on the Coast of Arabia lying right over against it nam'd Ara. In the midst of the Passage lieth the Island Mium between which and the Main Land of Asia runneth a Channel nine or ten Yards deep and a large League broad as another on Africa side shoots down to the depth of sixteen Yards but useless because it hath no convenient Haven for Ships and many dangerous Shelves and Banks From this Port inwards the Sea widens all along till towards the end where it grows narrower and narrower the broadest part is not above thirty Leagues or Spanish Miles Petrus della Valla a Noble-man of Rome in the second Part of his Travels describes the Red-Sea as followeth In some places of the Red-Sea unpassable for its shallowness they gather up a finer sort of Corral than the common especially useful to be set in deep Caves and Grotts because it represents perfectly the shapes of little Trees with great delight to the Eyes of curious beholders In these Vegetables many times by varying colours or transparency Nature plays and sports it self with great curiosity The Inhabitants of these Parts pass this Sea in little Barques made of Planks joyn'd together not with Nails but certain Pitcht Towe Many Commodities are brought in these Boats to Cairo which the Proprietors take in pieces afterwards and sell the Planks at dear Rates and then return home by Land to their Houses This way of building Boats without Iron-Nails seems to be no Novelty considering Strabo the Geographer many Ages since speaks of Leather-Boats used by the Arabians for pastime in the Red-Sea As also of some other made of Osiers and Brush-wood with which the Egyptians passed over the Nyle I somewhat marvel'd says the foremention'd Petrus della Valla at the Name this Sea beareth for that it is not as the Black-Sea which is so call'd from the blackness or muddiness of the Water For the Water of this is so clear and pure that Men may see to the bottom and shews afar off like other Seas The Sand is also like that of other Seas so that it hath borrow'd its Name no otherwise than from the King Erithreos who as Strabo saith lieth buried in an Island of the South-Sea and hath given the Name of Red to the whole and not onely to the Arabian Gulf but whether so or no we will not dispute but content our selves that the holy Scriptures calleth it so in several places Upper-Ethiopia Or the EMPIRE of ABYSSINE Otherwise call'd PRESTER-JOHN'S-COUNTREY AByssine Name otherwise Prester-John's Countrey is by Marmol call'd The Kingdom of the Abixins or Abexin or rather Abassia or Abaxia and Habas or Elhabas as the Coast of the Red-Sea the Coast of Abex The name Abyssine derives its Original either from the Inhabitants by the Arabians call'd Abassi or Habasschi and by adding the Arabian Particle El comes to Elhabashi as that by the alteration of the guttural Letters makes Abassinia and Abyssines or from the people Abassenos which divers of the Antients among whom Stephanus in his Book of the Cities Davity placeth in Arabia Felix supposing they came from Africa over thither Some imagine that they took denomination from a Territory of Ethiopia nam'd Abyssi lying under the Jurisdiction of Prester-John under that Title including Ethiopia below Egypt mention'd by Ptolomy Terra Cinnamomifera or The Cinnamon Land of the Antients a great part of the Troglodytian Arabia with some of Libya AETHIOPIA SUPERIOR vel INTERIOR vulgo ABISSINORUM sive PRESBITERIIOANNIS IMPERIOR Notwithstanding all these losses and dismembrings the common Vogue stretches it to that vast magnitude as makes it exceed all Europe having in circumference above seventeen hundred Dutch and according to Pigafet four thousand Spanish miles but we dare be bold to aver that at this day it doth not exceed Spain alone in bigness and that in Africa are many other Kings which possess many more Kingdoms and are of greater power than this so much famed Abyssine To reduce then this unsettlement to some certainty Bigness the length taken from Egypt or rather from Bugia and Nubia to the Kingdom of Monomotapa Pigafet reckons to five hundred and Cluverius to five
which Seamen pull up and fetch for Fuel and Coloquintida which grows in so great quantities that it cannot be destroy'd There are many Tortoises very good in taste and so big that the Sea-men who touch at this Island for fresh Water are compell'd to hale them Aboard with Ropes They come every night in June and July out of the Sea to the Land when the Inhabitants casting them upon their backs by reason of their weight they cannot turn themselves again The Countrey hath many Rocks but little Water The Goats they kill for their Skins which they send yearly to Portugal in great quantities Their Inhabitants are Blacks who live there very soberly without Recreation fetching their Water in Leather Sacks made of Goats Skins in the Year Sixteen hundred twenty three they were onely nineteen persons eight Men seven Women and four young Girls Ilha de Mayo a Rocky and dry Land with little Grass affords onely some few Figg-trees which by the heat of the Climate and dryness of the Ground never bear any ripe Fruit for though the Figgs have a promising colour yet they are insipid or tastless But Goats or Cabriets or Sheep breed so numerously that above five thousand Skins are carry'd thence yearly They have also some little Horses Asses Oxen and Cows Turkeys and Hens of the bigness of a Pheasant with white and black mix'd and speckled Feathers but all wild and in a manner untameable There are many Salt-Pans which after they have let in the Salt-Water being shut up the heat of the Sun consolidates and brings to a Gray-Salt but 't is a toilsome work to gather it and yet more troublesome to get on Ship-board because the Boats are not without great danger of being swallow'd up by the Whirlpits The Inhabitants are Whites and Blacks usually sent thither from St. Jago In the Year Fifteen hundred and five they were two hundred and five and twenty Whites and Blacks Old and Young Exiles and Slaves but in the Year Sixteen hundred twenty and eight there were onely fifty besides Women The Inhabitants have neither Corn nor Clothing unless brought them from St. Jago but there are many Goats which the Portuguese and Blacks there resident catch up with Dogs partly for the Skins and partly for the Flesh St. Anthonio has many Woods and therein several sorts of Fruits as Oranges Lemons Dates Pomegranates Sugar-Canes Bakovens and Melons One Orchard lieth in this Island of which nothing can be seen from Sea but a high Palm-Tree which the people of the Ships in the Bay of St. Vincent discern plainly and commonly send their Boats to barter Knives and other such small Toys for Fruit with the people who have a Portuguese Governor their number generally about five hundred most of them Blacks who from another Orchard bring the Fruits upon Asses to the Shore side to sell to the Sea-men In the latter end of December they have great ripe Citrons Lemons and Oranges many Bananoes but unripe Potatoes and Melons very large and singular good The Island Goree THe Island Goree lieth in fourteen degrees and fifteen minutes North-Latitude about a Stones throw from the firm Land of Cape de Verd in South South-East about half a Canon shot in length and a Musket shot in breadth This Island hath one little Bay with a Road for Ships from whence the Sea-men go Ashore no other place affording that conveniency neither hath it any Brooks or Rivers of fresh Water but fetch all they use from Cape Verd. In the Year sixteen hundred and seventeen King Biram of Cape Verd gave it to the Netherlanders who in a little time erected a Fort there The Fort SNASSAO ORANGE upon the Island GOEREE Het FORT NASSOU van Binnen met ORANJE op â— EILANT GOEREE INSULAE CANARIAE alias FORTUNATAE dictae In the Year Sixteen hundred sixty three both these Forts together with the whole Island were taken by Captain Holmes so the Royal African English Company but the year following on the four and twentieth of October by Admiral de Ruyter regain'd It was at that time possess'd with about sixty English Souldiers under Sir George Abercromy Chief Governor of the Island all which with convenient Boats for their hire were carry'd to the River Gamboa Then both the Forts together with the whole Island was left possessed with about an hundred and fifty Hollanders Commanded by Johannes Cellarius who presently caus'd the fall'n Batteries to be made up raising the upper Fort with a Breast-Work of three Foot higher and fully repairing the lower The Canary Islands or Islands of the Canaries THe Canary Islands by the consent of most eminent Geographers are held to be the Insulae fortunatae or Fortunate Islands of Ptolomy and Pliny though Ptolomy placeth them not far enough to the North setting the most Northerly part of them but at sixteen degrees North-Latitude whereas they extend to the thirtieth degree and therefore we may suppose that they mistook them for the Islands of Cape Verd last before mention'd Some will that the Canaries receiv'd that name from the Spaniards who attributed to all the proper Denomination of the most Eminent which they call'd Canary from the many Dogs found at the first discovery thereof Can signifying a Dog in Spanish whereas the name of Canary was known a long time before by Pliny and Ptolomy the Moors of Barbary call it Elbard from the Pike-Mountain of Teneriff Ptolomy computes the number of these Islands to six and names them Gramage lib. 9. c. 3. Apropite Here or Autolala Pluitalia Casperia Canaria and Centuria Pliny makes the same number but differences their names thus Ombrio great and small Junonie Capraria Niraria and Canaria There are that make Ombrio and Junonie the same with Porto Santo and Madera Pluitalia for Lancerote Casperia or Capraria for Fuerte-ventura Canaria for the Grand Canary which still holds its name At this day the Canary Islands the Holy Haven and Madera being included are seven and known to all by the same names viz. As the Island of Palma Fierro or Ferro Gomere Teneriff Grand Canary Fuerta-Ventura Lancerota or Lanceroto to which number Purchas adds Lobos Rocha Gravosa Santa Clara Alegranca and Inferno by Sanutus reckon'd in this order Vecchio Marino Sante Clare Rocho Gravosa and Alegoranca Ortelius brings among them one that he calleth Selvaia or Savage the most Northerly of all plac'd in the same rank with that of Alegranca and besides Gravosa and Coro which Thevet calleth the Heart Island But these small Spots are of such little concern that many do not so much as name them These Canary Islands whereof Lasaretto Fuerte-Ventura Grand Canary Situation and Teneriff are the chiefest they have their scituation between six and twenty degrees and thirty minutes and twenty degrees and thirty minutes North-Latitude opposite to Cape Nun in Morocco seventy or eighty Miles from the main-Main-Land of Barbary and nine or ten distant from each other They were for many
beholden to Bosio Megisaer Hieronymo Alexandrinus de Naberat besides one a great Observer that long Inhabited there AN ACCURATE DESCRIPTION OF AFRICA The Induction THE Terraqueous Globe whereof Africa shares no narrow Limits seems but an Imaginary Point to the vast Expansions of the Universe though in it self of a Great Magnitude for its Girdle or Equinoctial Circle contains in length 21600 English Miles or rather such as 60 make * Concerning this see Mr. Norwoods Experiment or Sea-mans Practice As likewise Mr. Oughtred's Treatise of Navigation at the end of his Circles of Proportion a Degree And the Diameter or Axis of the Earth according to the same measure amounts to 6875 Miles The Semidiameter 3438. But the Superficies of this Mighty Ball if by a General Survey set forth in square Miles reckons up 148510584 of the like Miles which is the product of the Circumference multiplied by the Diameter not omitting its Fractional part The Earth is divided into three Parts or rather Islands remoted from each other by Circum-ambient Sea though their Largeness nominates them Continents The first contains Europe Asia and Africa the second America and the third Isle Magellanica The first being the then onely known World The Old World Antiquity confers on the three Sorts of Noah to Sem * Who some say though the eldest shared the least part being contented with his Patrimonial Improvements whilest his younger brothers roamed through settling their several Plantations in the un-inhabited world Asia to Ham Africa and gave Japhet Europe yet later Ceographers make of this onely two parts casting Africk into Europe supposing the †Gades or Hercules Pillars Mountains Calpe and Abyle now the Jaws of Gibraltar were opened by an Earthquake receiving then also an Inundation from the Atlantick which now makes the Mediterranean Sea being before all continued Land Others divide by the Mid-land Sea from the Straights of Gibraltar unto Tanais placing Europe on the North and spreading Asia on the other side over the utmost Extent of Africa Some double this again making four Divisions of this our first Part of the World viz. Europe Asia Africa and Egypt Others later have once more reduced them to three joyning Egypt to Asia yet very improperly making the Nile bound Asia and Africa so that Egypt striding the River extends her Limits into both But the most modern Geographers make the Arabian Gulf the Meer betwixt Asia and Africa casting Egypt into the last Concerning the several Divisions of this our old World much hath been said both by Greek and Latine Writers not pertinent in this place to be taken notice of The second Island of the Globe The New World call'd America from Americus Vesputius a Florentine who by a lucky hit * Or the gingle of his Name Americk with Africk though signifying no more in English than Harry Wasp obtained the Denomination of this New World from the first Discoverer Christopher Columbus a Genöese employed by Ferdinand and Isabel King and Queen of Castile and Arragon in the Year 1492. The Southern Parts Peru that vast Empire was after penetrated by Pizarro Anno 1525. Magellanica The Unknown World the Unknown World or third Island was so called from her first Discoverer Ferdinand Magellanus being found by him in 1520. Sir Francis Drake our Famous Navigator forty five years after made a farther Inspection and in 1557. Sir Thomas Candish next Oliver van Noord a Hollander but the latest and last who made a far deeper incision than all the rest was Ferdinando de Quier a Spaniard Thus much in brief concerning the Division and Dimension of the Universal Globe which we are hereafter to treat of henceforth we shall onely speak of Africa the chosen Argument of this our First Volume of which ere we particularize thus in general Africa in general AFRICA Names of Africa so called from the Grecians according to Festus and the most Eminent Geographers signifies wanting or devoid of Cold though by some the whole was taken for Lybia which is now but a single Province Also they call'd it Olympia Oceania Coryphe Hesperia Ortygia Ammonis Aethiopia Cyrene Ofiusa Cefenia and Eria but the Romans call'd it onely Lybia and Africa Lybia from Lybia Daughter of Epaphus son of Jupiter and Africa from Afer the son of Hercules The Moores if you consult Thebets Geography call it Alkebulan and the Indians Bezecath the Arabians who formerly over-ran the major part knew their Conquests by the Name of Ifriquia derived from the word Faruch which signifies Separation because it is visibly more separated not onely from theirs but from all other Countreys than any other part of the whole World for the Mid-land Sea parts it from Europe the Arabian Gulf from Asia and the Atlantick Ocean from our later Discoveries Some Arabians as Marmoll tells us call it Ifiriquia The West-Indies in honor of Melek Ifiriqui an ancient King of Arabia Felix who driven from his own planted here a New Kingdom which after grew great and populous The Turks as some write call it * The West Countrey as to the Arabians who penetrated that way Magribon from Magrip though this Name properly belongs onely to the Western Sea AFRICAE ACCURATA TABULA ex officina IACOBUM MEURSIUM As Claudian Tot mihi pro meritis Libyam Nilumque dedêre Ut dominam plebem bellatoremque Senatum Classibus aestivis alerent geminoque vicissim Littore diversi complerent horrea venti Stabat certa salus Memphis si forte negasset Pensabam Pharium Getulis messibus annum Frugiferas certare rates lateque videbam Punica Niliacis concurrere carbasa velis They gave me Libya De Laud. Stil Lib. 2. and th' Aegyptian Shore For my deserts that they might with their Store The People and the Warlike Senate feed And with contrary Winds supply their need Famine farewel if Memphis should deny Getulian Harvests will our Wants supply Freighted with Corn I saw the Punick Fleet And Ships from Nilus in our Harbours meet And Prudentius Respice num Libyci desistat ruris arator Frumentis onerare rates ad Ostia Tibris Mittere triticeos in pastum plebis acervos See if the Libyan Swain neglects to load In Symmach Our Ships with Corn and to the Ostian Road Sends Wheaten Mountains for the Peoples Food And Horace Illum si proprio condidit horreo Quicquid de Libycis veritur areis Gaudentem patrios findere sarculo Agros Attalicis conditionibus Nunquam dimoveas ut trabe Cypria Myrtoum pavidus nauta secet mare Perswasions him shall never charm Hor. Ode 1. Grown proud of his Paternal Farm Where Lybick Harvests thwack his Grange Not for King Attalus Wealth to change His plenteous state to furrow Brine And cross rough Seas in brittle Pine But next to those who derive the Name from the Hebrew word Epher or Aphar Festus seems to have hit the Etymology of the word Africa ¶ JUdea and the
Cities near the Atlantick Henry Duke of Viseo yongest Son of Henry the I. encourag'd by this good Success resolved to make this his Business and sparing no Cost invited from Spain and Italy expert persons for his purpose skilful in Navigation and Mathematical Sciences by whose help and diligence in 1420. he found Madera in 28. the Isle * These Names were all given by the Portugees at their first Discovery of the places Porto Sancto in 40. Cape de Verd and in 52. the Coasts of Guinee After this Prince laid open thus a new Way for Discoveries having gotten the honor to be the first that made the Portugees Sea-men being of a great Age he dyed in 1463. after whose death those Seas lay fallow twenty years which King John the Second afresh furrowed then up again and first discovered Angola and Congo St. Georges Isle conducted by Diego Cou in 1486. next year resolving to try further hoping to sayl round Africa and so finde a new Way to the East-Indies and assisted by Bartholomew Diar passing Cape Verd first found the Princes Isle thence steering South-ward reach'd the Great Southern Cape from thence either daunted by cross Windes rough Seas or mutinous Mariners they returned leaving the honor of this Great Enterprize to the fore-mentioned Vasques de Gamma for which imploy'd by Emmanuel King of Portugal after the Discovery of St. Johns Isle and St. Hellens he attempted the same Cape which Diar durst not then first calling it Cabo de Bona Esperanza there being first encouraged with hopes of finding the much desired way to the East-Indies Thence doubling this Great Point they steer'd northward Africk on their * The Left hand or north-side Larboard reaching the Coasts of Quiloa Mozambique Mombara and Melinde contracting an Amity with the Melindian King by whose assistance he found the Port Caliculo in the East-Indies from thence returning with unexpressible Joy and eternal Honor to Lisbon in 1500. The next year after Alvares Capralde with twelve Ships and fifteen hundred men prosecuted the Design but suffering Shipwrack on the Coast of Brazil desisted but the following year the former Vasques and his brother Stephen reassum'd the Undertaking with greater zeal and vigour afterward by Ferdinand Almeida and Alfonso de Albukerque and so from time to time by several of that Nation and last of all by the English and Hollanders By this means the Moderns were exactly informed of the particulars of Africa when the Ancients knew no more than the Limits of the Roman Empire and some parts belonging to Egypt hearing strange Stories of Beasts and Monsters whence arose this Adage Africa semper aliquid apportat novi Strange Monsters Africk always breeds ¶ THe Romans divided this Region into six Provinces The Roman Division first the Sub-Consulship in which were Carthage and Tunis called properly and especially by them Africa Next the Consulship of Numidia wherein was Cyrte now Constantine Bysacena being a part of that proper Africa which contained Adrumetum last the Tripolitan Consulship Tripoly being the Head City and two Mauritania's one Imperial containing Algier and Telesin the other Mauritania Tingitana the Realms of Morocko and Fez and Egypt which they also possess'd and these Inhabitants made no further discovery than what was known before so pinching up Africa that all was comprehended within Barbary excepting Egypt and some fragments of Numidia yet Plinie though a Roman mentions many other Nations as the Murri subdued by Suetonius Paulinus and Garamantes by Balbas the Romans also possessed Cyrenaica which they joyned to Creta Mela bounds Africa with the Nile and so also Dionysius scarce mentioning farther than Mauritania Numidia and Cyrenaica placing Egypt in Asia Strabo so shrinks Africk that he pities their ignorance that made it a third part of the World saying that Africa joyn'd to Europe would not both quadrary with Asia but Ptolomy knowing further did better swelling it to twelve Provinces as the two Mauritania's Numidia Cyrenaica Marmorica the inward and proper Lybia upper and lower Egypt Ethiopia under Egypt inward or south Ethiopia For by his Maps may be plainly seen that what lyes five or six degrees beyond the Equator he knew nothing of saying expresly that 64 degrees under the Southern Elevation were all Terrae Incognitae so the Ancients did not what they should in its Description Marmol p. 1. l. 2. cap. 2. 3. but what they could they contracting its Limits much more than Ptolomy taking Egypt and all betwixt the Nile from Africk conferring it on Asia Leo Africanus their most Eminent Author and curious Searcher of his Native Countrey in 1526. boasted that he had been through all yet makes no more than four Provinces as Barbarie Numidia or Biledulgerid Lybia and Negro-land giving Nile for its bounds not the Arabian Gulf with the Streights of Sues to the Mid-land Sea so bestowing a great part of Egypt upon Asia Eastward and as Marmol says not once mentioning upper Ethiopia or Abyssine nor the nether nor many other places discovered by the Portugues since besides all that is now called New Africa extending from the sixteenth degree of Northern Latitude to the Great Southern Cape discovered by Vasques de Gamma ¶ THe most apt and usual Division of Africk Africa as now divided with the unanimous consent of late Geographers is as we shall here in a short Survey present ye The Main Land not reckoning the Isles they divide into * Provinces seven Parts Egypt Barbarie Biledulgerid the Desart Sarra Negro-land Inner or Upper Ethiopia or Prester John and the Outward or Nether Ethiopia Egypt is divided into the Upper Middle or Lower Barbarie makes six Divisions as the Kingdoms of Fez Marocco Tunis Tremesa and Dara and Barka onely not Monarchical Biledulgerid contains three Realms Targa Bardoa and Gaoga The Land of Locusts and four Wildernesses Lempta Haire Zuenziga and Zanbaga the Desart Sarra makes no Division Negro-land boasts nineteen Kingdoms Gualate Hoden Genocha Zenega Tombuti Melli Bittonnin Guinee Temian Dauma Cano Cassena Bennin Zanfara Guangara Borno Nubia Biafra and Medra Upper Ethiopia makes also nineteen Dafela Barnagasso Dangali Dobas Which seven Regions contain in all fifty Kingdoms and but one Re-publick Trigemahon Ambiaucantiva Vangue Bagamadiri Beleguance Angote Balli Fatigar Olabi Baru Gemen Fungi Tirut Esabella and Malemba Nether Ethiopia contains Congo Monomotapa Zanciber and Ajan The Isles belonging to Africa in the Straights are Malta opposing Tripoli Islands belonging to Africa in number twenty four in the Ocean Porto Sancto the Maderas Canaries the Isles of Cape de Verd or the Salt-Islands the Isles of Ferdinando Poo the Princes Island St. Thomas St. Matthews Ascension Anbon St. Helens the Isle of Martin Var Tristan de Cunha the Island Dos Pikos St. Marie de Augosta and the Trinity all which lye west from the Main Land Northward from the Cape of Good Hope and towards the East of Africk are the Isles of Elizabeth
who had served the Malteses were put to the Sword and most of the Knights of Malta sent to the Galleys and the rest the Bashaw took and made Slaves After this Victory Sinan appointed Morat Aga to be Vice-Roy and ever since the Grand Seignior sends from Constantinople every three years a Beglerbeg or Bashaw thither to support his Conquests About the Year Fifteen hundred ninety eight Sidi Haga a Marabout or Priest designing to make himself a Master of the City and Kingdom with the assistance of the meaner sort began a notable Rebellion upon the first intelligence whereof Asan Bassa Admiral at Sea Sailed thither with sixty Galleys and some Souldiers from Tunis and Algier on a sudden fell into the Marabout's Quarters whose own Men finding their error in some measure to mitigate the fury against themselves set an end to their Mutiny by presenting their Captains Head to Sinan who sent it to the Grand Seignior De Stadt TRIPOLIS THE TERRITORY OF TRIPOLI NEar the Lesser Africa and Asfatus over against the Island Querquene The Borders of the Territory of Tripoli call'd by Ananie Ceraunia the River Capez takes its Course antiently call'd Triton Westerly of which this Province takes its beginning and ends at that of Mezellata in the East so that it hath for Borders on the West Tunis and on the North the Mediterrane on the South Numidia or Biledulgerid and Lybia with the Wilderness of Zara and in the East Mezellata a large Tract of Ground but altogether waste and unfruitful The chiefest Places thereof are Old and New Tripoli Kapes Machres Elhamma and Zoara Old Tripoli by some taken for the Antient City Naples in Barbary Old Tripoli and the Great Leptis of Ptolomy This was the Birth-place of the Emperor Severus first built by the Romans afterwards possessed by the Goths and at length destroy'd by the Mahumetans in the time of Hamor their second Kalif and ever since as Sanutus saith little inhabited New Tripoli or Tripoli in Barbary New Tripoli to distinguish it from a City of the same name in Syria call'd by the Turks Terabulus and by the Moors Trebeliz or Tarabilis seated on the Sea-side is not great but full Peopled with Turks Moors The Scituation and Jews surrounded with high and defensible Stone-Walls strengthened in several places with Sconces and Bullwarks yet having but two Gates one on the South-side going out to the main Land and one on the North by the Haven adjoyning to which Gates are two Forts that on the North securing the Haven which is very pleasant and beneficial and of capacity enough to contain many Ships The Houses like those of Tunis and the Streets very well pav'd with one large Prison or Masmora for Christian Slaves whereof there are always some here though much fewer than at Tunis or Algier besides divers Mosques and some Hospitals but for the greatest part sorely decay'd through the Cruelty of the Wars Kaps Kaps or Kapis or Kapis or Kafis by Marmol call'd Kasce and by the Moors according to Mercator Kabez being the Takape of the Antients stands near the Midland-Sea environ'd with lofty Walls and strengthened with a Castle Machres Machres or Mahara a Village about thirteen miles from the Isle of Zerby with a Castle for the defence of Kaps Bay Elhamma Elhamma a Roman Platform three miles from Kapes having Walls of Hewen Stone and Gates whereon in Marble Tablets may yet be read Latin Inscriptions Zoara Zoara or Zoarat taken by the Antients for the Haven Pisidon is an antient Town by the Mediterrane thirteen miles to the East of the Island Zerby There is one more little inhabited Rasalmabes and of as little fame onely for the Name controverted by Authors some making it Gichtis others Rasalmabes and Simlerus the Gita of Antoninus The Syrtes are two a greater and a lesser the lesser is an ill Neighbour to the Gulf of Kaps near Tripoli being very dangerous by reason of the Shelves Banks and Quick-sands lying round about But the great Syrtes in the Maps are call'd The Shoals of Barbary and in Spanish Baxos de Carthage which is the same over against Ezzab Syrtes is properly a Greek word The Syrtes signifying Shifting Sands sometimes having much and then little Water and sometimes almost none at all The greater of these Syrtes is in Nine and twenty Degrees North Latitude and Forty eight Degrees of Longitude but the smaller in Two and thirty Degrees Latitude and in Three and forty Degrees Longitude The Lake Tritonis The Lake Tritinis famous in Antiquity and often mention'd by Historians and Geographers lies in the very heart of Little Africa Volateranus says there are there of the said Name viz. this of Lybia thought to be the Birth-place of Minerva another of Boetia and a third in Thessalia Ptolomy places here two that is Tritonis by Marmol call'd Kapis and the other the Lake of Pallas Diodorus after all makes mention of another near the Atlantick Ocean ¶ THe Rivers of this Kingdom The Rivers are Karsarnaker Rasalmabes and Magro otherwise Cenifes all which take their originals from Mount Atlas and discharge their Waters into the Midland-Sea near the places from which they take their Names ¶ THe Countrey is all Sandy The Soyl. and so Barren that no kind of Corn by the best Husbandman be produced there so that the Inhabitants would almost perish with Hunger if Corn were not Transported thither from other places to supply their defective Harvests ¶ THere is in this City no fresh Water Their Scarcity of Water but that which runs from the tops of the Houses through Gutters Not far from Elhamma rises a great Spring to the Southward whose Waters being exceeding hot are conveyed by Pipes into the Bathes there which notwithstanding it s so distant Current yet retains the Heat so powerfully that few will adventure to go into it yet sometimes for pure necessity the Inhabitants are compell'd to drink thereof though in regard of its Sulphurous Quality it operates little towards the quenching of their thirst Lastly not far from the City is a Standing-Water call'd The Lake of the Melatson by reason of having a strange power to Cure the Leprosie Sanutus places here the Lotus-Tree which by some are call'd Mikakoliers or rather Alsiers of which Fruit being sweeter than Dates the Inhabitants make very pleasant Wine Lemmons Oranges and Dates grow here in great abundance but no other Fruits except Halbhazis which groweth under Ground to the bigness of a Bean it tastes like an Almond but is never chew'd onely sucked ¶ THe Inhabitants of Tripolis live chiefly upon Weaving and Merchandising Those of Kapes being poor Their Employment are generally Husbandmen and Fishers paying Tribute of all their Labors to the Bashaw Those of Elhamma are lazy poor and very Thieves The Zoarers burn Lime which they carry to Tripolis But all live hardly their Food being so scarce that he is
Libidinous The Disposition of the Inhabitants delighting much in dalliance and wanton Amours having no Laws or Customs prohibiting such Venerian courses nor ought elss following the dictates of their own Nature and what they are most inclinable to Betwixt those that follow Cattel roving up and down and those that live settled in Hamlets and Villages the disparity is great the last being naturally Affable affectionate in Friendship never failing those whom they profess kindness to extreamly hospitable to all Strangers still striving to endear them also valiant and faithful to their trust whereas those shifting Drovers relish altogether of their own beastial Employment worse than the Cattel which they feed for what Nature hath deni'd them viz. Science they though not incapable despise abominating Knowledge or Literature They are so far from Honesty or Honor that they will Hoot at and scorn to keep Company with such pitiful Fellows that will scruple in the least at Cheating Robbing nay Murdering if need be and for a small Gratuity nay sometimes gratis any of their Kindred Brother or Father such is their sordid baseness that they care not on the other side whoever vitiates or prostitutes their Sisters Daughters Mothers or their own Wives the word Cuckold or Wittal signifying nothing All their study whole endeavour and business besides a little Hunting is onely mischief either to Rob or Cheat their Companions and driving their Cattel into the Wilderness where they may never be found which done they makeit their May-game to laugh and jeer at one another Thus they spend the whole course of their lives not staying above three days in a place ¶ THese Their Food otherwise so vitious Churls are sober drinking little and that Camels Milk which in the Mornings they take warm in the Evening light Suppers onely a little dri'd Flesh Stewed in Milk and Butter of which every one eats a morsel then for their better digestion they sup in the Palm of their Hand some of the Broth closing all with a second Dish of Camels Milk which whilst they may have it abounding most in the Spring they regard not Water And also the Camels themselves whilst they find Grass drink no Water ¶ NEither are they proud Their Cloathing most of them going stark naked some accounting themselves very fine with a Lappet before them covering what modesty requires Some strut about thinking themselves very gay with pieces of black Cloth Sasge-wise foulded about their Heads But their Captains or Grandees look on themselves as Princes in a blew Cotton Jump or Jacket with wide Sleeves which they account good Truck from the Negro Merchants The People of this Countrey when they Travel are mounted on Camels sitting on a Saddle betwixt the Bunch and Neck and in stead of Spurs use a sharp Stick like a Goad with which when they grow slow they prick in the shoulders so making them mend their pace The Camels in stead of a Bit or Snaffle in their Mouths they manage with a Head-stall and Reins thrust through two holes which are made in their Nostrils Their Beds are hard being Matted-Bull-rush and Sea-sedges Their Lodgings Their Tents are made of course Camel-hair-cloth and some of course Wooll which they gather amongst the Dates Betwixt these Lybians and the Numidians dwell a sort of poor Arabs but stouter than the Lybick Arabs who follow Hunting their Game being onely Porcupines and Ostriches yet have a good Breed of Horses The Language they speak is that of Barbary rough like their Countrey Their Language Though these have no prescrib'd Laws or ruling Customs Their Government and all good manners banished from thence yet they are all subject to the Obedience of one Lord sole Monarch who by Arbitrary Power reigns and rules them as if one body at his pleasure That small Religion which they have is Mahumetane Their Religion The Desart Zanhaga or Zenega ZEnega also call'd by Marmol and others Zanhaga or Zenega The Desart of Zenega Leo Afric 6. Decl. is a Desart bordering the Atlantick Ocean from the Countrey of Nun one part belonging to Lybia the other to Numidia some places being inhabited to the River of Zenega which separates the Whites and Blacks The Limits between the Whites and the Blacks ¶ THe Borders are in the North the Countreys of Nun and Dara The Borders in the East the Wilderness of Tegaza in the South the people Benays and Jaloes and the Kingdoms of Gualata Geneva Melley and Tombut and lastly in the West the Ocean On the Sea Coast about three and thirty miles from Cape Nun The Cape of Bojador lieth Cape Bojador formerly call'd The Mountain of the Sun since The Point of the Canaries but as Mercator sets forth The Arsinarium Point of Ptolomy but others know it by the name of Cabo Verde or Green-Head What Bojador fignifieth But this Name Bojador signifies no more in Portugal than a winding or doubling Cape for the crooking Shore bended like a Bow in Sayling makes the Prospect of the adjacent Coast suddenly vary by opening and shutting in the Points one with another The Portugals at first durst not adventure beyond this Cape for the Stream hurrying swiftly over the Shoals being full of Whirlingeddies the Waves boyling like Liquor in a Cauldron being very terrible to behold stopped there their Voyage till one Gill Yanes also a Portugal sent out by King Henry in the Year Fourteen hundred thirty three went stoutly by it undaunted at such Chymera's and then gave it the Name which it bears at this day About seventeen miles Southward of Cape Bojador lieth a Space of Land on that Coast which the Portugals call'd Angra de los Ruvos so nam'd from the great abundance of Fowls that haunt there Eight miles farther is a Tract of Ground nam'd Angra des Cavelleros that is The Countrey of Horses Augres dos Cavelleros or Steed-Land Yet eight miles more Southward they find a River whose Current sets to the In-land but soon returning ends its short progress in the Sea it is by the Portugals call'd Rio do Oro The River of Gold that is The Golden Stream because the Inhabitants oftentimes redeem'd some of their Natives taken Prisoners by the Portugals The first Gold brought to Portugal paying there their Ransoms in Gold which was the first Africk Gold the Portugals were masters of Eight miles more Southward Angra de Gouzalo de Sintra is a piece of Land call'd Angra de Gonzalo de Sintra next that the Haven Kavallero and about seventeen miles farther Cabo Blanko or White-Head discover'd first by Nunno Tristan and Antonis Gonzales Anno 1441 Sanutus lying in twenty Degrees and a half North Latitude At this Cape beginneth the Coast of Anterote so call'd from a little Town there reaching to the River Zenega Cabo Blanko makes a Bay by some call'd The Gulf of Arguin named from a neighbouring Isle it is a wild and
Serre-Lions and Bangue Mountains Mesurado Guinee Rivers Rio das Palmas and Rio Galhinas Maguibba Rio Nova Mava Plizoge and Monoch Rio Junke St. Johns River Sertos St. Andrews River Towns and Villages Kings Village Little Sestos Zanwyn Bofow Little Setter Bobowa Sabrebon Krouw Wappen Drowya Great Setter Gojaven Garway Greyway Tabo Pelicaro Tahoe Berby Assin Albin Tabat Atzyn Takorary besides 50 others Zenega or the Countrey of the Jaloffs Towns Bcere Emdoen Jandos Emduto Endir Sanqueng Magar Emboul Embar Bey-hoarte Lambay Sangay Jamesil Borsalo Tubakatum the Royal Seat of the Great Jalaffe Geroep Jawesil Rivers and Lakes Zenega Gambea Borsalo Basseangamar Rio des Ostros or Oyster River The Lake Eutan Mountains Machamala where are Crystal Rocks Gambea Cassan Cantor and Borsalo Towns Barra Nabare Bintam Tankerval Tendeba Jayre Jambay Mansibaer Barraconda Tinda Joliet Munk-baer Jair Silico Little Cassan and Jongo Rivers Gambea Buramos Towns Jarim St. Domingo Katcheo Guinala and Biguba Towns Guinala Biguba Balola Mandinga and Sousos Towns Sango Sousos Serte-lions or Bolmberre Rivers Rio Pechel Rio Palmas Rio das Piedras Pogone Cangrama Casses Catocane Capar Tambasine Tagarine Bangue Towns Serboracasa Bagos Tomby the Seat of the English Os Alagoas Baga Quoya Towns Jegwonga Fachoo Figgia Cammagoerna Jerboeffaia Falyhammaya Flomy-Seggaya Rivers Magwibba Mavah Plizoge and Menoch Guaffe Towns Aguaki or Little Commendo Ampea Cotabri Aborbi Terra Pekine Great Commendo Fetu Towns and Forts Igwa Takorari Adia and Anemabo Castel del Mina or St. George Sabou Towns Moure Sabou Fort Nassau Fantyn Akara and Labbede Towns Fantyn Kormantin Soko Little Akara Great Akara Labbede Ningo Temina Sinko Pissy Adom Towns Mompa Wassa Wanguy Abrambor Kuyforo Bono Atty Akanien Inta and Ahim Akam Aqua Sanquay Aquumboe Abunce Kuahoe Tafoe Abotra Quaho Cammana Equea Lataby Akaradi and Insoko Arder Towns Foularn Little Arder Jakkeyn Joyo Ba Great Arder Benyn Towns Benyn a City Gotton Koffo and one onely River call'd Arbo Other in a manner unknown Territories are Isago Jabo Odobo Istanna Gabo Forkado Amboyses Highland Calabare Krike Moko Bani Korisko Rivers Rio Non Rio Odo Rio St. Nicholas Rio de tres Jermans Sambreiro Calabare Camarones Jamoce Rio de Campo Rio San Benito Rio Danger and Gabon negro-NEGRO-LAND Or the Countrey of BLACKS THis Countrey spreading from the North to the South that is from the Desart of Lybia to the Banks of the River Niger is at this day with a general Name call'd Negro-Land or The Countrey of the Blacks or Negro's which Marmol placeth in Nether Ethiopia withall adding that the Arabians call it Beledla Abid and Beled Geneva and the Africans of Barbary call it Geneva Sinch and Neuha All the Inhabitants of this Province were call'd by the Antients as Pliny and the Geographer Ptolomy Ethiopian Nigrites or according to the Orthography of Dionysius in his Book of the Scituation of the Earth calls them Negretes as some have call'd them in Greek Melanes which Stephanus de Vrbibus as the former Name signifieth Blacks perhaps derived from the colour of the Inhabitants or nature of the Soyl and because of the Desarts which spread from the Mountain Atlas to the River de Niger Callimackus Hym. in lic or else because Niger casts up a black or duskish Sedement some Rocks appearing amidst in the River which seem as if burnt The most will have it that the People have gotten their Name from the River Niger which moisteneth their Countrey however others have it yet some of the former Reasons seem to have great appearance of probability In this Countrey are placed also Ptolomy's Ethiopian Aganginers the Africans or Gamfasantins Perosers Matirers Ptoemfaners Nubians Atlanticans Garamantins and other antient People besides ¶ THis Countrey hath on the East for Borders the Nyle on the West The Borders the Atlantick on the North the Desart of Lybia on the South partly the Ethiopian Ocean and partly the Abyssine or Prester-John's Countrey being the old Borders of Congo as also the Kingdom of Lovango and other Countreys lying Southward towards the Equinoctial Line In this Countrey are many Kingdoms and Territories partly to the In-land In-Land places of the Negro's Countrey and partly to the South along the Sea-Coast the In-land Kingdoms every one having the Denomination from its Metropolitan are â—ualata Guinee Melli Tombut Gago Guber Agadez Kano Kasene Zegzeg Zanfara Guangara Burno Gaoga Nubie Bito Temiam Dauma Medra Gorhan Semen and the Desart of Seth and Seu. The first fifteen being Kingdoms lie for the most part on the Banks of the River Niger through which the Merchants of Gualata travel to Kairo and Alkair it is a long way yet commodious and without danger The other as Bito Temiam Dauma Medra and Gorhan lie far Eastward from the other The Dominions verging the Coast stretching from East to West Countrey lying at the Sea are the Kingdoms Zenega or Countrey of the Jalafs the Kingdom of the Barceziins the People Arriareos and Faluppos the Kingdom of Kasanga's or Kasamanse the People Burama's the Bisego's or Bigiohos Islands of the Kingdom of Guivale Biguba Mandinga Bena Sousas Serre-Lions or Bolmberre the Islands de los Idoles Bravas all Guinea with its Territories Coasts and Kingdoms belonging thereto as the Territory of Balm Cikon and Quiligia the Kingdom of Quoia the Green-Coast The most noted Tooth-Coast the Quaqua or Fowl-Coast five or six Bands-Coast and the Golden-Coast with the Kingdoms belonging to it the Kingdom of Arder Ulkami Beniin Isago Jaboe Odobo Istanna Gaboe Biafar Ouwerre or Forkado the Territory of Calcarien Krike Moko Bani the Territory of the Ambissines or the High-Land of Amboises and Corisco Every one of which shall here following have their peculiar place first beginning with the most In-land Countreys or Centre of all these vaste Dominions But the greatest Extent of Negro-Land from Cape de Verde The Length or Green-Head being the most Westerly Point lying at the Sea to Tangale a City in Lybia close by the Nyle 3430 English miles The Breadth reckons eight hundred fifty and five German miles or seven and fifty Degrees Longitude and accounts for its greatest Breadth being from the Kingdom of Gualata to the Cape of Lopez Gonzalvez three hundred and eighty miles and a half 1522 English miles or five and twenty Degrees and a half that is from the three and twentieth Degree and thirty Minutes North Latitude taken from the Kingdom of Gualata to the second Degree South Latitude near the Cape of Lopez Gonzalvez Amongst all the Rivers The River Niger which in great number cut through this Countrey the River Niger is the most eminent which by the Arabians is now call'd Hued Nigar Sanutus and by some is taken for the River Asana of Pliny or Asanaga of Solinus as also some hold Niger and Gambea to be one and the same River and others will have it that Niger is Rio Grande or The Great River both which opinions
acknowledge as their Supream Ruler over these fifteen Kingdoms in the In-land as Gualata Guinee Melli Tombut Gago Guber Agadez Kano Kasena Zegzeg Zanfara Guangura Burno Gaogo and Nubia besides the King of Burno reigns over another Moiety acknowledging no Superior the rest of the In-lands are subject to the Gaogo's but in times past they were all absolute Kings doing Homage nor Fealty to no other Also the whole Sea-Coast of Negro-Land from Cape de Verde to Lovango stands divided into several Monarchies The Religion of the In-land Negro's Their Religion most of them antiently worshipped one God call'd Guighime that is Lord of Heaven this Perswasion of theirs not being inculcated by any Priests who study Rites and Ceremonies imposing a reverential awe on their Disciples and Proselytes but Instinct and the meer dictates of Nature which brings as soon to the acknowledgment of a Deity something not subordinate but infinitely supream governing all After this they were instructed in the Mosaick Laws which they long and zealously observed till some of them being converted to the Christian Faith wholly ecclipsed the Jewish then Christianity flourishing many years till Mahumetanism at last over-spreading all Asia and these parts of Africa they being still greedy of Novelty fell into Apostacy drinking in the poyson of this new and dire Infection so that Christianity is in a manner extirpated some few Professors of the Gospel after the Coptick or Egyptian manner yet remaining in Gaoga But those Southern People that inhabit the Coast from Cape de Verde to the Kingdom of Lovango sticking to their first Tenets are still all Idolaters as hereafter in particulars shall be declared THE KINGDOM OF GUALATA THe Kingdom of Gualata whose Inhabitants are call'd Benay's hath received its Denomination also from its Metropolitan possessing three great and populous Villages and some delightful Gardens and Date-Fields lying twenty and five miles from the Atlantick Observe these and the forementioned are for the most part Spanish Miles sixty Southward of Nun and about thirty to the Northward of Tombut Fenced in on every side with the rising Banks of the River Zenega or Niger Sanutus sets down in this Dominion a place call'd Hoden lying in the In-land six days Journey from Cabo Blanko in nineteen Degrees and a half Northern Latitude where the Arabians and Karavans that come from Tombut and other places of Negro Land travelling through the same to Barbary stay and refresh themselves ¶ THis Countrey which produceth nothing but Barley and Mille The Plants or Vegetables hath also great scarcity of Flesh yet the Tract of Land about Hoden abounds with Dates and Barley and hath plenty of Camels Beeves and Goats but their Beeves are a smaller Breed than ours of Europe This Countrey abounds in Lyons and Leopards terrible to the Inhabitants and also Ostriches whose Eggs they account a Dainty ¶ BOth Sexes are very Black they are Civil and Courteous to Strangers The Constitution and Manners of the Inhabitants like their Neighbors in the Lybick Desarts the Inhabitants of the City Gualata live very poorly whereas those of Hoden live plentifully having Barley-bread Dates and Flesh and supply their want of Wine by drinking Camels Milk and other Beasts ¶ BOth Men and Women in Gualata have their Heads and Faces commonly cover'd with a Cloth Their Cloathing and the Men of Hoden also wear short white Jackets but the Women think it no shame to go stark naked covering their Heads onely with a Caul of Hair dy'd red Their Language Their Language is call'd Sungai These Arabs of Hoden also like others never continue long in a place but rove up and down with their Cattel through the adjacent Wildes ¶ THose of Lybia Their Trade so long as the Countrey of Negro's stood under their Jurisdiction had formerly planted the Royal Residence of their Kings in Gualata which brought great Concourse of Barbary Merchants thither but since the Countrey fell into the hands of a powerful Prince call'd Heli the Merchants forsook this place and settled their Staples at Tombut and Gago But the people of Hoden still drive a Trade in Gualata and resort also thither in great numbers with their Camels laden with Copper Silver and other Commodities from Barbary and other Countreys to Tombut and many places in Negro-Land bringing no worse Returns from thence than Gold The King of Gualata Anno 1526. being in Battel overcome by the King of Tombut upon Articles paying him a yearly Tribute was restored to his Throne ¶ THese People Their Government though govern'd by Kings are not under the Prescript of any Laws nor have Courts of Judicature in their chief Towns there to summon and punish Malefactors but live in a rambling manner promiscuously every one endeavoring to be his own Judge and Arbitrator their Will being their Law ¶ THe Gualatans onely worship Fire Their Religion but those of Hoden extracted from the Arabs are a sort of Mahumetans professed Enemies to Christianity THE KINGDOM OF GUINEE OR GENOVA THis Kingdom The Kingdom of Genova which many call Guinea though not the same differing from our present Guinee lies by the Sea which reacheth along the Coast from Cape Serre Lions to Cape Lopez Gonzalves by the African Merchants call'd Gheneva Leo 7. Decl. by the Arabians according to Marmol Geneua and by the Natives Geuni or Genii ¶ IT hath for its Northern Borders The Borders the Kingdom of Gualata where the Wilderness runs ninety Miles long on the East that of Tombut and on the South Melle and runs in a Point to the Atlantick at the place where Niger falls in the same Ocean along whose Banks another Angle runs above eighty French Leagues This whole Countrey notwithstanding the vasteness of its Extent boasts neither Cities Towns nor Fortresses but one single Village yet that so large that not onely the Kings keep their Courts and Royal Residence there but also there is a University where Scholars Commence and the Priests receive their Orders and several Dignities besides a settled Staple for the Merchants of this Kingdom ¶ YEt this Place of so great Concourse hath but mean Buildings Their Houses onely small Huts and Hovels of Loam and thatched rang'd in a round order the Doors or Entries so low and narrow that they are forc'd to creep in and out which we may suppose are no statelier built because they expect annually in July August and September to be under water with the overflowing of the Niger then in prepared Vessels and Boats made for that purpose in which the King first loads the Furniture and Houshold-stuff of his low-rooff'd Palace then the Scholars and Priests their University-Goods and next the Merchants and Inhabitants their Moveables and last of all the Water increasing themselves as if they entred the Ark and at the same time the Merchants of Tombut come thither and joyning Fleets traffick with them on the Water This
the Rivers Maguibba or Rio Nova Mava Plizoge and Monoch in Portuguese call'd Rio Aguado In five Degrees and three and forty Minutes of Northern Latitude lies Kaboc Monte twelve miles Eastward whereof rises a high Mountain call'd Cape Mesurado adjoyning to which is the River Saint Paulo and ten miles from it Rio Junk or Siunk and Saint Johns River empty their Waters into the Sea six miles East from this River stands the Village call'd Tabe-Kanee Petit-Dispo and Diepe by the Blacks nam'd Tabo Dagroh Six miles from Little Diepe the River Sestus falls into the Sea And here begins the Grain-Coast being a Tract of forty miles in Length on the Easterly Part of which lieth Little Sestus and five miles farther Cabo Baixos and then Zanwiin a small Village distant thence three miles passing on toward the East you come to Bofou or Bofoe and so to Setter and Bottowa Cape Swine appears next in order with a Village of the same name and then at little distances you come to Crow Wappen or Wabbo Drowyn Great Setter Gojaurn Garway Greyway or Grouway and lastly Cabo de Palmas or Palm Cape Here at the Village of Grouway begins Tooth-Coast so call'd from the abundance of Elephants Teeth there to be had beginning two miles Eastward of Cape Palm and ending at Cape de la Hou making a Tract of fifty miles within which are not many inhabited Towns for the first is four and twenty miles from Cape Palm and call'd Tabo the next Petiero a mile farther and close by the Sea then Taho five miles from thence and at the like distance from that Berly in four Degrees and a half of Latitude close by which St. Andrews River enters the Sea where it makes a great imbowed Reach to the South-East towards red-Red-Land so call'd from its red Cliffs Beyond the Red Cliffs appears Cape'de la Hou the utmost limit of Tooth-Coast from whence Quaqua-Coast commences and extends to the Village Assine the first place of Gold-Coast a mile and a half upward in a barren place void of all shelter or Trees stands a little Township call'd Koutrou or Katrou and not far from thence Jakke La-Hou within five miles of which Jak in Jakko from whence you go directly to a place adjoyning to the Sea and commonly intituled The Pit or Bottomless Lake About sixteen miles Eastward of La-Hou lieth a place call'd Kerbe La-Hou in the Bants-Coast before which place the Sea is very deep for a Stones-throw from the Shore they have forty or fifty Fathom Water Eight and twenty or thirty miles from Cape La-Hou lieth Assine where the Guinee Gold-Coast begins being twelve miles Eastward of Kerbe La-Hou and ends at the plentiful Golden Village Akera making in all a Tract of fifty miles The Kingdoms upon the Sea-Coast are Atzin Little Inkassan Anten Guaffo Fetu Sabou Fantin Aghwana Akara Labbede and Ningo In Atzin are three Villages one of which is call'd Akombene but the chiefest is Atzin Little Inkassan contains no place worthy remark save Cabo-Das-Tres-Puntas Anten reckons within it self these following Villages Bothrom Poyera Pando Takorary or Anten Maque Jaque Sakonde and Sama. Three miles from Takorary Guaffo shews it self first then Aitako or Little Commendo two miles Eastward of Sama afterwards Ampea Kotabry Aborby and Terra Pekine In Fetu on the Shore there lieth a little Hamlet which the Natives call Igwa but the Merchant corruptly Cabo Cors from its near neighborhood to Cabo Curso On the Borders of this Kingdom of Fetu stands the famous Castle of Saint George or Del Myne built by the Portuguese on whose West-side lieth Dana or Dang where the Salt River Bensa entreth the Sea as the Sweet River Utri doth half a mile more to the East In Sabou you first discover the Township of Moure and by it the Castle of Nassau built by the Hollanders Fantin shews it self Cormantine Ville two miles Eastward of Moure then Anemalo and a Cannon-shot Westwards thereof Adja In Agwana are these places of name viz. Craggy Point Soldiers Bay The Devils Mountain New Biamba Old Biamba Great Berku Jaka the principal Sea-Town Corks-brood and Little Berku all which Places have strong Rocks before their Havens In Akara on the Sea-Coast stand Soko Orsaky and Little Akara being fifteen miles Eastward of Cormantine and the last place of the Gold-Coast Two miles Eastward of Akara in the Kingdom of Lebbade stands a Town of the same Name Lastly in Ningo are four chief Ports viz. Ningo four miles from Akara and two miles from Lebbede Temina a mile from Ningo Sinko the like from Temina and Pissy all naturally fortifi'd with high Cliffs Seven miles East of Akara on the Shore Sinko comes in view from whence Journeying on still to the East you arrive at a Village where the River Rio Volta runs into the Sea between these lieth Fishers Town and not far distant Cabo Montego in a Low-land with several small Woods about it From thence Eastward to the Village Popou the Countrey is very plain and even four miles below Popou begins the Kingdom of Ardez and ends at the Town Aqua within which Tract are contained the Hamlets of Foulaen and Ardre Southward of which lies Oost a Tract of Land eight miles long boasting a handsom City call'd Jackeyne three days Journey from thence stands Jojo another good Town and a quarter of a mile farther a City named Ba. Sixteen miles Eastward of Little Arder Rio Lagas runs into the Ocean and eighteen miles farther the River Benin with a broad and wide Mouth loses it self in the Sea Four and twenty miles beyond Rio Forcado having visited the Eastern Borders of the Kingdom of Ouwerre falls into the Sea by Cape Formoso in four Degrees and eight Minutes North Latitude Fifteen miles from Cape Formoso runs the River Reael or Calberine between which Cape and River seven others have their course into the Sea the first is call'd Riotton half a mile Eastward of Formoso the second Rio Odi in the Latitude of four Degrees and ten Minutes the third fourth and fifth are call'd Rio Saint Nicholas the sixth Rio de tres Irmaus the seventh Rio Sambreiro a mile beyond which is the little Territory of Bani Two miles from the Easterly Point of Calbarine the River Loitamba so call'd by the Inhabitants but by Seamen Rio Sant Domingo has its course all about which the Countrey is very plain even and full of Trees This Coast extends it self East South-East sixteen miles Rio del Rey a very wide and great River comes next in view then Camerones Pickereen very narrow both which have on each side plain Ground but full of Bushes Between these two last named Rivers lies the High-land of Amboises by the Spaniards call'd Alta Terra de Ambosi on whose West-side lies several Villages and among others Bodi or Bodiway otherwise Tesge and three small Islands call'd The Islands of Amboises In the next place come these following Rivers viz. Monoka Borba
Cross Haven which the Portuguese possess The Countrey by means of the clear and serene Air is very healthful and pleasant to live in The King always appears in great State and when he goeth abroad The King's State is attended with a strong and numerous Guard of Bowe-men He keeps also fifty great and fierce Dogs which he arms as it were in tann'd Skins of Sea-Cows that are so hard and strong they can scarcely be cut each Dog in the day time hath a Keeper but in the night they are let loose for there is no other Watch in this City but these Dogs and such is their fierceness no body dares stir in the Streets without the hazard of his life for they will fall upon every one without regard This Dog-Watch was at first set up against the Thieves who in the nights used to break open the Houses and steal the Blacks to sell for Slaves This King gives a Hat to his Governors which is an Ensign of Honour of whom he has under him seven which are not onely his Homagers but his Slaves When the King dies there comes into the Street twelve Men call'd Schiten When the King's Death is proclaimed and by whom cloathed in parti-coloured long Coats made of Feathers with as many Claromen or Pipers before them which sound mournfully yet shrill there they proclaim his Decease whereupon every one with a white Cloth thrown over them comes out of their Houses and do nothing all that day but walk about the Streets in a mournful posture his Friends Relations and Servants in the mean time assemble to chuse a Successor The Funeral Afterwards the Corps is washed and the Intrals burnt before their Idol but the Ashes preserved to be Interr'd with the Body which lies as it were in State for a Moneth at the expiration whereof prepared for Burial the Subjects bring out of all parts of the Kingdom Balsom Myrrhe Ambergreece Musk and other Perfumes to burn and smoke about the Corps which lastly is carried to the Burying-place by six of the most eminent persons cloathed in white Silk Coats followed in the first place with Musick playing mournful Tunes and after them with a great many people on foot some of which cry aloud other sing Funeral Elegies last of all the Princes of the Blood ride on Horseback in white Habit. By the Grave are his Women and Servants which in his Lifetime he most affected together with his Favourites and Horses which are all put to death and buried with the Royal Corps which is done to this end that he may be served by them in the other World as they believe and are taught This slaughter is performed in a terrible manner viz. after the cutting off their Fingers and Toes they break their Bones by stamping all to pieces and when it is beat enough they throw it out in the presence of all the others that are to undergo the same fortune for the avoiding which cruelty many Servants after they have sufficiently provided for themselves either leave the King's Service in his Life and fly away or else they retire and hide themselves in time when they see he is without hope of recovery ¶ THe King's Jurisdiction extends over six Kingdoms Their Power and Dominion besides those wrested from him as we said before and for the better and more orderly management of State-Affairs has a Privy-Council consisting of many Lords of which one who is the second person in the Kingdom is President ¶ THey worship Their Religion as the Cassanga's abundnace of Idols the chief of which they name China which is to say God although a long time since by the Preaching of some Portugal Jesuits they are said to have embraced the Roman Religion The King himself with a great number of Nobles in the Year Sixteen hundred and seven desired of Emanuel Alvarez a Jesuit to be Baptized which he upon farther examination finding their unstedfastness deni'd THE KINGDOM OF BIGUBA AT the Nether-Arm of Rio Grande The Kingdom of Biguba above the River Guinala lieth the Kingdom of Biguba The chiefest place thereof is the Haven of Biguba and a little higher the Haven of Balola inhabited by the Tangos-Maas but the Village of the Haven Biguba the Portugals possess The Beafers lead the same manner of life as the People of Guinala The Tangos-Maas are extracted out of the Portugal Blood but have united themselves with the Blacks and live now no less barbarously than they as if they had never heard of Christianity in some places going all naked and Carving their Skins after the manner of the Countrey ¶ THey live under a Monarch as those of Guinala after whose death the most powerful of the Family obtain the Crown but not without great contest so that in the interim they are all in Arms committing all kinds of extravagant outrages till by Conquest reduced under the obedience of him that lays the strongest claim They are like the Beafers Idolaters although some are already by the Jesuits brought to the Christian Faith THE KINGDOM OF MANDINGA ON both sides of the River Gambea live a sort of Blacks The Kingdom of Mandinga which have enlarged their Seat above a hundred and twenty miles up into the Countrey so that they command a Tract of Land that spreads it self in breadth from nine to eleven Degrees North Latitude which the Spaniards call Mandimenca after the Name of one of their Kings by others Mandinga by Marmol Mani-Inga and by the French and Dutch The Kingdom of Mandinga The chief City is Sango some miles more Easterly than the Cape de Palmas The Countrey is watered with many Rivers all which after long courses through several places at last contribute their streams to replenish and augment those of the more famous River Gambea ¶ THe Inhabitants of Mandinga are reputed the best of all Guinee The Valour of the Inhabitants yet are barbarous of nature deceitful and treacherous to Merchants and Strangers but among themselves and Neighbors thought expert Horsemen so that they go into divers Kingdoms to serve as Troopers not onely being readily entertain'd into Pay but for their Skill in Martial Affairs and tried Valour have the Van of their Armies admitted into the best Commands and allowed large Priviledges to oblige them to stay in their Service ¶ THe Arabian and other Merchants drive a great Trade here for Gold Gold-Trade which they say this Countrey abounds with besides other Commodities which at Tombut the chief City they are admitted freely to barter for ¶ THe King of Mandinga some years since was so puissant The Power of the King that almost all the Kings and People of Upper-Guinee obey'd and paid him Tribute especially the Cassanga's and the other Kingdoms lying at the River Gambea Heretofore he held the Seat of his Empire in the In-land and gave the lower Countreys lying on the West Sea to one Chabos and Faim Braso placing moreover
Serre-Lions This River taking its course Northward of the Point of Serre-Lions is at the Mouth twelve miles broad but on the North-side half way choaked up with divers Shelves of Sand which divide it into three Channels one runs along the North-side the other in the midst but the great Channel Coasts by the South which is the deepest of all The Portugals pass onely in the two small Channels with Boats for in the third or great Channel they dare not venture Also between the Island Tasso lying in this River and the South there be many small Currents passable with little Vessels but not with great Ships Another call'd Bangue glides on the South-side of Serre-Lions into the Sea as Mitombo on the North-side so that the Mountain by these two Rivers lieth inclosed in manner of a hanging Island and maketh the prominent Point call'd The Cape of Serre-Lions as we have often said Cabo de Serre-Lions but so narrow that the Blacks take their Canoos upon their Shoulders and carry them over On both Shores of this River lie several Towns and Countreys those to the North-side are call'd Bolm which signifies Low but they on the South are in their Language named Timna On the outermost Point to the Mouth stands the Town Serboracasa and on another Point lying on a yellow sandy Bay a mile and a half distant they have the first place where the Ships which frequent this Coast take in fresh Waters The Countrey about Serboracasa is call'd Serbore Serbora extending from the Sea to the Town Bagos A mile Eastward of Serbore beginneth another Dominion Observe the Miles on these Coasts are all Spanish or Potugal either formerâ—â— mention'd or hereafter following govern'd by one Semaura an ill natur'd man and for every small trifle picks a quarrel with the King of Serbora Eight or ten Paces within the Shore is the second Watering-place The second Watering-place where the Water drills easily down the side of a little rising Ground About two miles farther lies a flat Shore full of Trees and between them a small open place through which a Brook descends from above which at low Water runs away over the Beach A Musquet-shot distance thence into the Land stands a Town where Don Andreas Brother of the King of Bolm-berre resides here the River hath a strong Current which two miles and a half upwards splits it self into three Branches one to the North-East having red Sand hath Water enough to bear great Ships but the middlemost by reason of the shallowness Shelfs of Sand and Cliffs may onely be passed with Skiffs and small Boats Three miles from the first Watering-place appears Bagos Bagos a Town seated under the shadow of a little Wood and a mile and half Eastward upon a prominent Point you see Tomby a pleasant Seat Tomby where the English usually lie with their Ships at Anchor After that the Island Tasso is seen a far off seeming to be firm Land Thirty two miles up the River lieth the Kingdom of Mitombo The Kingdom of Mitombo on whose South-side the Village Os Alagoas is scituate Os Alagoas whither the Blacks will let no White People besides the Portugals come all others they anticipate with Skiffs and Floats The Islands De los Idolos Bravas c. ALong the Coast of Serre-Lions lie several Islands particularly twelve miles and a half Southward of the Cape de Virgen those of Tamara and Veu Usvitay commonly call'd Los Idolos which West and by South from the Point appear as joyn'd to the Continent but afterwards shew themselves as they are in truth Islands which afford all sorts of fresh Provisions to the Seamen and good Tobacco The people are self-will'd and mistrustful and will not suffer any Dutchmen to come into their Towns The most advantageous Commodities vented there are Salt and Brandy to for which they have in Exchange Elephants-Teeth and Gold To the South end of Serre-Lions near the Islands Banannes appears to Ships sailing by a very high Mountain raising his Head into the Clouds call'd Machamala whereof we shall have occasion to speak more largely in a short space Near the South-end of Serre-Lions half a mile in the Sea lie the Islands Bravas being a high Land full of Trees the biggest having a Spring of fresh Water Five miles from hence lie on the South-East against the Point three other little Islets call'd Sombreras Between the Sombreras and Bravas is the place where Jacob le Maire in the Year Sixteen hundred and fifteen found four Rivers among which the Westermost having large Banks had depth and breadth enough for great Ships The next running in between the Trees they might stand on either side of the shore and not be able to see Land on the other thereabouts it was wild and waste without any signs of inhabiting but they saw many wild Beasts as Elephants Buffles Boars Civet-Cats and such like The third had a Bank that hinder'd the coming in of Ships Three or four miles upward lay a low Land full of Lemon-Trees whose Fruits notwithstanding it was in the time of the Rain hung most of them ripe upon the Trees The fourth was a small River within the Point of the Island Sombreras whose Water is deep and Salt where the Sea-men coming on Shore found Crocodiles Turtles and Oisters on the Trees The afore-mention'd Bay here and there hath Shole-water Furna de Sante Anna. about five six seven or eight Fathom and muddy Ground which runs between the Sombreras-Islands Easterly and Furna de Sante Anna whence come many Rivers amongst which the chiefest is Gambea Twelve miles upward of Gambea being as far as it is Navigable with small Vessels lies a Place call'd Kancho in the height of seven Degrees being very low Land whereto adjoyn some Islands ¶ THis Countrey of Serre-Lions according to the Description of Jarrick many take for the healthfullest place of all Guinee and the Air much wholsomer than that of Portugal so that seldom any die by other infirmity than that of Old Age. The same Air as Jarrick adds is much better for a mans health than in many places of Europe being neither too cold nor too hot by reason of the cool Winds which blow there continually which is worth observation considering the nearness of its scituation to the Equinoctial And truly under the favor of that Author we may question his Assertion seeing in the Summer viz. in June and July it is there dark and close rainy Weather with South and South-West Winds as also because the Rain-water in all the neighboring parts of Serre-Lions and along the Sea-Coast is of so unwholsom a quality that where-ever it falls on the bare Body it causes Swellings and Blotches on the Skin and breeds a sort of strange Worms in the Cloathes besides the River-water in April is very offensive and dangerous to drink by reason the Ground through the Summer excessive heats and the stench of
Lords Government but own for their Superior the King of Quoia whose Predecessors subdued them by Arms by the Assistance of the Folgia's as hereafter we shall more fully declare Fourteen miles from Rio de Galinas to the South-East appears Cabo Monte in five Degrees and three and forty Minutes North Latitude THE KINGDOM OR COUNTREY OF QUOIA THis Kingdom scituate by Cape de Monte containeth especially two Countreys viz. Vey-berkoma and Quoia-Berkoma Vey-berkoma that is the Countrey of Vey Vey-Berkoma the Antient Name of the Inhabitants is that Tract which lieth at Cape de Monte near the River Mavah below which lieth Dauwala wherein the same River Northward of the Cape hath its Exit into the Sea The Antient Inhabitants as we said Vey are by Wars reduc'd to a small number possessing onely a parcel of ruin'd Villages or Towns insomuch that their Name is almost forgotten Another People nam'd Puy-monou Puy-Monou dwelt antiently before the Wars and Conquest of the Countrey by the Karou's in the Island Boebelech and along the Banks of the River Mavah But few of this Posterity are at present to be found being for the most part by Inter-marriages with the Karou's so united as if but one in Name and Nature Quoia-Berkoma begins at the Sea-Coast of the New-River or Rio Novo Quoia-Berkoma by the Inhabitants stil'd Magwibba and extends to Rio Paulo a Boundary between this and the Territory of Gebbe shooting out into the Land above twenty miles This Kingdom boasts great numbers of Towns and Villages most of them pleasantly seated on the Banks of the River Magwibba The first appearing in five Degrees and three and forty minutes-Minutes-North Latitude Cape de Monte. by the Inhabitants is call'd Wachkongo and by the Portugals Cabo Monte although the Countrey both on the West and East is low and over-grown with Bushes This Point to Ships sayling out of the West shews its self in the shape of a Helm but coming near it appears long with a gap in the middle Westward of this is the Road where the Ships Ride that put in to trade upon this Coast Half a mile upwards from Magwibba on the left side Jegwonga stands a Village call'd Jegwonga where the King Flamboere settled his Royal Mansion when he first left Tomvy but at present he resides on the Island Massagh in the Lake Plizoge whither he retired to avoid the hazards of the people of Dogo that invaded his Territories On the other side of the River stands the fair Town Fachoo Fachoo signifying I watch the Dead which Flamboere fortifi'd and retir'd to as a place of security upon intelligence that the Land of Folgia would make War upon him though afterwards he found it but a rumor A mile and half farther up Figgia on the same side Figgia discovers its self being formerly the Dwelling of Figgi one of King Flamboere's Brothers A mile beyond that Cammagoereia on the same Shore is seated Cammagoereia and half a mile from thence the handsome Town Jerboeffaia where the Prince of Quoia who commands the Countrey round about keeps his Court opposite to this last King Flamboere about a year since began to lay the Foundations of a new Town From thence going along the Sea-Shore lie dispersed some Salt-Towns where the Inhabitants boyl Salt out of Sea-Water In the Vales of Tomvy water'd by the River Plizoge stands a great Town or Village beset with Trees sprung up out of the Rubbish of its decayed Walls From thence to Cape de Monte lye some forsaken and wasted Villages On a Branch of the River Menoch or Aguado is scituate Faly-hammaia and two miles farther another call'd Flomy-Seggaya The Region of Quoia hath the benefit of four excellent Rivers The Countrey of Quoia is watered by four Rivers the first in the West Magwibba or Rio Novo the second Mavah the third Plizoge the fourth Menoch or Aguado The River Magwibba in Summer bears two miles and a half in breadth The River Magwibba but in Winter is broader and fuller of Water It runs from the Sea up into the Land taking a North-Easterly Course up into the Countrey in the Mouth of it are so many Banks or Shelves as great Bars that make it dangerous to be passed with small Boats although the English Portuguese and French have and still venture over it in their little Skiffs As far as Davarouia it may conveniently be passed with reasonable Vessels being very deep and four hundred foot wide but above that place by the interposition of divers Rocks which cause great Water-falls there is no passing The second call'd Mavah The River Mavah or Maffah on whose Shore formerly the Puy-monou dwelt springs from a Mountain four and twenty miles within the Countrey The Channel is wide and deep making its Exit into the Sea in the broken Land of Dauwala almost a mile Northward of Wach-kongo or Cape de Monte. Between these two Rivers along the Sea-Coast here and there they say stand certain Towns where the Inhabitants make Salt The third Plizoge meets with the Sea a mile Northward of Cabo de Monte. The River Plizoge This is sometime in dry weather very empty of Water but so continues not long being soon fully replenisht Three miles from this River appears a great Lake a mile and a half broad wherein stands the Island Massagh the Courtly Residence of the present King Flamboere on whose South-side flourish many stately Palmito-Trees The fourth Menoch or Rio Aqâ—ado The River Menoch cometh out of the Countrey above the Hondous and six or seven miles Eastward of Cape de Monte poures into the Sea It is a deep and wide River yet unpassable because of several Water-falls Cliffs and Shelves of Sand that choak it It hath on both sides Red-wood Trees Having thus given you the Scituations of Towns and Rivers in this Kingdom we will now proceed to describe the Vegetables or Plants Beasts and then the Customs or Manners of the People but by the way in regard Gala-Vy Hondo Konde Quoias Manou and Folgia lying round about participate of the same qualities with Karou already mention'd or at least with very small difference we will give you a cursory glimpse of these in particular and then carry on our intended method Gala-vy a member of Quoia shews the original source of Mavah Gala-vy near a great Wood of eight or ten days Journey in length It bears the Names of Gala-vy from its Inhabitants sprung at first from Galas but being driven out of their Countrey by the People of Hondo sought new Habitations in those places whence they were neither call'd Vy as those with whom they intermixt nor Galas their old Name but Gala-Vy that is half Galas and half Vy On the Borders of Hondo and Manoe beyond the fore-mention'd great Wood dwell the right Galas who are under the Jurisdiction of the Kingdom of Manoe and have a Prince
Garrison were refus'd Articles of Agreement but those accepted that the Beleaguerers propos'd being to this effect They shall all with their Wives and Children without reproach or abuse go forth safe with Life and Limb. Every one shall take their Apparel but no Money either Gold or Silver The Victor shall retain all the Merchandise and Slaves except twelve which the owners may keep All the Church-Ornaments and Utensils except of Gold and Silver they shall take away with them The Portugals Mulattoes and all their Housholds provided with necessary Sustenance shall be carried to the Island St. Thome The Governor of the Fort and Souldiers shall forthwith depart out of the Fort and leave all the Ammunition for War and the rest of the Merchandise to the Victor The Souldiers shall depart without Colours or Sword and neither have lighted Match nor Bullets Thus was this renowned Castle won and lost in four days The Booty The Booty of Ammunition and Arms found therein were thirty Iron Pieces of Ordnance nine thousand weight of Spice eight hundred great Iron Balls ten Fat 's of small Bullets and three hundred Stone Bullets six and thirty Spanish Swords besides Bowes Arrows and other Utensils of War As soon as the Garrison was drawn out and come over to the Island St. Thomas the Dutch took possession with an hundred and forty Men. A former attempt had been made against this Castle but succeeded unluckily the manner this The Dutch Admiral with his Fleet on the six and twentieth of August The fruitless attempt upon the Castle of Myne One thousand six hundred twenty five came into Serre-Lions to refresh his Men being most of them sick of the Bloody-Flux where he found three other Ships who had lay'n there two Moneths undergoing great Misery Sickness and other Calamities The People of both the Parties being refreshed and cured determined to win the Castle of Myne being about fifteen Ships and Ketches with which they set forth the five and twentieth of September from Serre-Lions and were the ninth of October upon the Grain-Coast between Rio St. Paulo and Rio Junk in five Degrees and an half North Latitude where they sent a Ketch to the General for the Netherlands West-India Company at Moure to acquaint him with their coming and that they intended to come with their Fleet before Kommony and to Land there Being come on the twentieth of the same Moneth before Kommony The coming to Kommany they understood that the General was gone to Akra the uttermost place of the Gold-Coast and not expected back again for three or four days This delay the Admiral and his Council of War thought would give too fair opportunity to the Enemy and therefore resolved to Land the Soldiers but this resolution was deferr'd by advice of those of the Fort of Nassau till the coming of the General because of his great Interest with the Kings of Fetu Sabou and Kommony in whose Favour much did consist But immediately after his arrival which was on the four and twentieth it was concluded the next day to go on with the Design Four Ships therefore were order'd to lie close before the Castle of the Myne to amuse the Enemy by continual Shooting for three days They Land at Terra Pekine till the other Soldiers might in the mean time draw up without interruption The five and twentieth they Land in Terra Pekine about twelve hundred Soldiers and Mariners with an hundred and fifteen Blacks brought from Maure with the General who about Noon came within a mile of the Castle of Myne and from thence after two hours rest drew within shot of it where they were saluted presently with some great Guns but without hurt and so sate down before the Castle behind a Hill with resolution that night to Entrench and make their Approaches In the mean time while the General went to the pitch of the Hill to view the Castle the Soldiers being tir'd with heat and thirst ran from their Arms and gat themselves to rest without suspicion of any Enemy Were fallen upon by the Enemy but as soon as the Commanders were come upon the top of the Mountain they were unawares fall'n upon by about two hundred Blacks who like mad furious Men fell in and made great slaughter and destruction amongst them which bred such a terrour and consternation amongst them that they threw away their Arms and leaping into the Water were drown'd There remained slain The number of the slain together with those that were drown'd three hundred seventy three Soldiers sixty six Mariners and most of the superior and inferior Officers The General wounded the General himself wounded came to extream distress and carried out of the Fight the rest fled to Kommany whither also the Ships steered their course and by this means was that Design utterly overthrown But now we return to the remainder of the precedent success Presently after the taking of this Castle the Victors sent a Canoo with Letters to the Portugal Governor of Atzin thereby requiring him to surrender that Place But he well knowing they could not come up to him in that season of the year answer'd That he would keep the Fort for the King and expect our Forces Then by advice of the whole Council of War the Redoubt upon St. Jago was repair'd as also a Battery that was fall'n adjoining to the Works of the Castle from whence they may scowre the Shore of the River and relieve the Sea-Battery On the West-side of the Castle stands a pretty large Town The Town Myna at the Myne close built by the Portugals call'd Del Myn but by the Blacks Dana or Dang extending far in length but lieth so low that at a Spring-Tide the Sea in some places runs through the Streets And on the other side runs the Salt-River Benja which not onely hinders the passage out of the Town but makes the adjacent Countrey very Moorish This River formerly was ten or eleven Foot deep at low Water but now so shallow that it is not passable for Ketches which draw four Foot Water This Town is naturally very strong being as we said shut up between the River and the Sea so that the Enemy hath no other approach than at the end of Kommany where the Portugals as a Security from the Blacks had rais'd a Stone-wall from the Sea to the River and made a Battery About half a mile from St. The River Vtri Jago floweth the River Utri but full of Cliffs and altogether unpassable yet affords this Commodity that not onely the Blacks from the Town daily fetch thence their Water but also the Ships there being within two miles no Springs to be found The Countrey hereabout yields little Fruit The constitution of the Countrey therefore most of their Food is Mille to make Bread of Safoe or Wine of Palms Sugar Ananae's Injame's Potatoe's Wine of Bordean are brought to them from Fetu Abrembe Commendo Akane
related the Gold-Coast is reckon'd to end Thus much we have thought fit to speak of the Maritime parts of the Gold-Coast want of knowledge not affording farther Discoveries We now go to the In-land Countreys beginning with Igwira lying on the West of the Gold-Coast THE KINGDOM OF IGWIRA THe Kingdom of Igwira borders on the South The Kingdom of Igwira on Atzin and Small Inkassia on the North upon Great Inkassia and on the East on that of Mompa It is reported to yield great quantities of Gold for the Blacks say It is full of Gold that the Gold which comes from Assine and Albine fifteen miles Westward of Cape de tres Puntas is all Igwira's Gold At Little Commendo liv'd for some years two Citizens which had with a small stock of Merchandise so manag'd their affaris that they return'd back very Rich but the Ways are somewhat dangerous by reason of Thieves In this place the Portugals had a Fortification wherein they Traded and brought their Merchandise in Canoos up the River which flows through Igwira but after the Netherlanders began to frequent it the Portuguese soon deserted the place THE KINGDOM OF GREAT-INKASSIA OR INKASSAN GReat-Inkassia or Inkassan hath on the South Igwira in the East Great Inkassia Wassa and Wanquy These People are little esteem'd for Trade There is little Trade but they come sometimes and take their way throw the Kingdom of Adom and bring some small quantity of Gold especially if there be no Shipping before Assine and Albine The DOMINION of INKASSAN-IGGYMA THis Territory hath on the South great Inkassan Inkassan-Iggyma and on the East Wassa and Wanqui Little Commerce have the Whites in matter of Trade with these People The LORDSHIP of TABEU TAbeu a small Tract Tabeu borders on the South at the Kingdom of Anten lying at the Sea on the West and North on that of Adom and on the East on Guaffa where a small River makes a Boundary to both Men Women and Children drive altogether a Trade with Hens Mille and other Wares to Sama where the Hollanders have a Fort formerly all this used to be brought up by the Portuguese and sent to the Myne THE KINGDOM OF ADOM ADom lies Eastward of Tabeu and Guaffo Adom to the North of Wassa on the East North-East of Abramboe The Inhabitants come sometimes and bring Gold on the Shore by Small-Commendo to the Merchants there Dealing but this onely if the ways of Ante be not obstructed by Wars Mompa MOmpa hath on the West Igwira Mompa on the North Great-Inkassia Wassa and Adom and on the East Anten towards the Shore VVassa THe Countrey of Wassa hath for Borders on the North Wanque Wassa in the East Abramboe and Kuiforo on the West Great-Inkassia on the North-West Inkassia-Iggoma Full of Gold It hath the repute to yield great quantity of Gold insomuch that the Inhabitants are always at Work upon it neither caring to Till or Ear their Land that single Commodity bringing from their Neighbours store of Provision Most of these People come with those of Adom to Traffick there for Gold at the Sea-shore with the Whites for European Wares VVanquy WAnquy hath on the West Kassa Iggyma on the South Wassa Wanquy and on the North Bonoe It hath Gold and good Cloth which the Inhabitants who drive a Trade with the Akanists in the Countrey know how to make very Artificially Abramboe THis Territory borders on the West at Adom and Wassa Abrambe in the South at the Kingdom of Guaffa or Commendo lying at the Sea in the North at Kuyforo in the North-East at Akamy in the East at Atti and in the South-East on Fetu It is a very populous Countrey Trade and most of the Inhabitants maintain themselves by Husbandry yet many come also every Week to Moure to the Whites to barter Gold for Cloth and Linnen but especially Iron They are a Warlike People and no great friends of the Akanists because long since in the Wars with them many of them were Slain and most of their Towns Burnt yet they were afterwards united again in a new League of Friendship Kuyforo IT hath for Borders on the West Wassa on the South Abramboe Kuyfora on the North Bonoe and in the East Akany The Land wholly without Wood and the People mean and simple with whom Forreigners have little Commerce Bonoe BOnoe lies encompass'd on the West with Wanquy Bonoe on the South with Kuyforo on the East with Akany and Inta A Place little known and of small Trading Atty THe Territory of Atty is circumscribed in the West by Abramboe Atty on the South by Fetu Sabou and Fantyn and in the North by Dahoe The Inhabitants maintain themselves most by Tillage but us'd before the Wars with those of Sabou to trade with Forreign Merchants which the Akanists have taken from thence Here is held a great Market or Fair extraordinarily crowded with a full concourse of People from far distant places who come thither to Purchase Iron and other Wares bought of the Whites Akanien THis Kingdom Akanien whose Inhabitants are known to Traders by the name of Akanists hath for Boundaries in the West Kuyforo and Bonoe in the South Dahoe Atty and Abramboe on the North Inta and in the East Akim or Great-Akamy The Akanists are a plain-dealing people The Custom and Nature of the Inhabitants just and honest in point of Trade and to defend their Priviledges stout in the Wars knowing well how to use both Shields Azagians and Swords Their Language holds great affinity with that of Fetu Language Atty Sabou Commendo Abramboe and Attyn but more pleasant and consequently more acceptable Such as Trade on the Sea-shore besides their own usually speak Portugals They are Rich in Gold They are rich and great Traders and Slaves and so great Traders that two Thirds of the Gold which the Whites fetch yearly from the Gold-Coast comes from their hands For they come to the Sea-shore to Little-Commendo Kormantyn and Moure where many of them dwell with their Wives and Children They shew great Industry and Diligence Travelling with the Goods they Buy from the Whites carry'd by their Slaves to divers Markets up in the Countrey and passing through the countreys of Atty Sabou and other Neighbouring Regions without hindrance enjoying every where much Freedom and for their Merchandise are courteously entertain'd by the People Inta and Ahim. INta hath in the South Akany in the West and North Unknown Land Inta in the East Ahim and Akam Little can be said of this Place as to matter of Trade Ahim otherwise call'd Great-Akany hath on the West for Limits Akany on the South Aqua and Sonqua on the North Inta Akam Kuahoe and in the East Aqumboe The Inhabitants are naturally Stately and Proud Their Nature which proceeds from their Wealth consisting chiefly in Slaves These come very seldom to
lie three small Islanâ—â— the Sea call'd also Amboises of which the Eastermost is the biggest almost as Towring as the High Land of Amboises being very populouâ— Within these great abundance of Provision good Palm-Wine and 〈◊〉 may be had but little Trade and for that reason as little frequented 〈◊〉 before it the Ships Ride at Anchor to buy Slaves and Elephants Teeth brought thither from Kamerones The Inhabitants Inhabitants which for the most part speak Portuguese live on the middlemost Island of the three from whence they go often to the main Land 〈◊〉 get Provision and Fruit. About five miles from Amboises River of Kamarones the River Jamoce glides in a narrow Current In the middle of which Buffels Island towards the South Wall a small Island call'd Buffels Island discovers it self from which spreads a Bank of Rocks South Easterly so steep that one side of a Ship touching it on the other side may find six Fathom water Two miles within the third Point Yeeth Hole or Monoka you arrive at a place by the Whites call'd The Teeth Hole but by the Natives Monoka and opposite to that another nam'd The Monombas Hole whereto adjoyns a Village the usual Trading place At the North live the Kalbangas whose Governor nam'd Moneba hath the repute of one of the powerfullest of the adjacent Princes The Town where he keeps his Seat Royal stands scituate on a Hill very neatly Hedg'd about with Trees so that they account it the pleasantest place in all that Tract and not onely so but exceedingly stor'd with abundance of Provision as Injames Bananassen Palm Wine and Bordon Wine both of the same species but the latter the worst as growing in Fenny places The Houses are built in Quadrangular form Little Ivory can be gotten here and less Akori but many Slaves Trade which makes them cheap The Commodities desir'd there and carry'd thither by the Netherlanders are Thin beaten Bosses which they use in stead of Money Bars of Iron Copper Bars Copper Pots Hammer'd Kettles Violet Beads Paste of Oranges and Lemmons Cows Horns And such like The People which live by the River Kamerones are strong fat and lively smooth Skin'd from the top to Toe and generally of as large a stature as the lustiest Englishman Next Kamerones on the Sea Coast follow the Rivers Monoka Borba or Bourn Rio de Campo Rio Sante Benito and Rio Danger Rio Sante Benito lieth in two degrees Northern Latitude Rio Santo Benito and the Coast spreads South and North. Seven miles Southward in one degree and five and thirty minutes you come to another River and four miles farther a third abounding in Water Five miles from the last opens a Bay bearing eight Fatnom Water Six miles below which a prominant Point stil'd Cape St. John Cape of St. John fronted with a ridge of Rocks None of these Rivers are much frequented for Trade except that of Danger in one degree North Latitude The People prove ill Neighbours to each other being never free from Animosities Feuds and Quarrels upon every trifle The Island KORISKO THree or four miles Southward of Cape St. John appears an Island The Island Korisko to which the Portuguese have given the name of Ilhas des Korisko that is The Island of Lightning from the more than usually frequent Lightnings happening there when they first discover'd the place The Land towards the Sea Coast is generally Sandy Nature of the Countrey except on the North West where Stony But more within overgrown with high Trees whose Wood is Redder if Sanutus say true than that of Brasile perhaps it may be the Red Wood which the Inhabitants call Takoel The Road for Ships lieth in five and forty minutes Northward of the Line The Road or Harber and convenient for Shipping According to Sanute the Island not inhabited being indeed not above half a mile in compass but the propriety of the Benyan King The Countries lying about the River Gabon and the Cape of Lope Gonzalvez THe River Gabon The River Gabon by Linschot call'd Gaba and in some Maps Gabam lyeth under the Line The North Point of which the Seamen call the Cape of St. The Cape St. Clare Clare much resembling that of St. John and in a manner differenc'd onely in this that coming out of the Sea and approaching near the Shore they see a white Spot against it as if it were a Sayl which is not to be seen at the Cape of St. John In the Mouth this River is four miles wide but grows afterwards smaller and narrower The Island Pongo so that it is not above two miles over at the Island Pongo It s South Point is low and overgrown with Trees but the North Point almost choak'd up with Flats and Sands At the South Shore about three or four miles inwards another Point discovers it self known by the name of the Sandy Point many Crocodiles and Sea-Horses breed herein to the great damage and hazard both of the Natives and Strangers Five miles more inward you come to two little Islands the one the Inhabitants call Pongo and the Whites Parret Island The King's Isle because he keeps his Court there and the other Parrets Isle from the great abundance of Parrets breeding within it which last yields also great plenty of Bananasses Injames Oranges and other Fruits The King of Pongo hath the report of a powerful Prince they entitle him Manipongo that is Lord of Pongo as the King of Kongo Mani-Kongo 'T is true two other Princes claim a great Jurisdiction near him viz. one at Majombo and another at Gabon yet neither dare resist he Pongian and his Palaces nam'd Goliparta exceed in magnificence and extent all the rest of the Buildings which pretend to Beauty or State The Men naturally incline to Cheating and Thieving The nature of the Inhabitants but not so much among themselves as towards strangers to whom also bloudy barbarous and unnatural but the Women shew great courtesie and affability accounting it an honor to make acquaintance with them In Marriage they have no respect to neerness of Relation Marriages for the Mother may Marry her Son and the Father his Daughter The Houses have no other Walls or Partitions than Reeds Houses very neatly order'd and fastned together and cover'd with Leaves of the Bannana-Tree They lie all along on the ground when they eat Food the common People using Earthen Vessels but more eminent persons Dishes of Tin Their Food chiefly Potatoes and Injames Roasted or Boil'd and many other Roots Also Fish and Flesh mixt together but first either smoak'd or dry'd in the Sun During the Meal they never Drink but having done Eating swallow great Cups full of Water or Palm-Wine or a sort of Mead which they call Melaffo For Apparel they wear Cloth made of Mats Habit. and the Shell of the Matombe-Tree over which some hang the Skins of Apes or Sea-Cats
full of winding Reaches by reason whereof from the Mouth to Motahoama is thirty Leagues Sailing whereas the direct way is but twenty In Sailing by it the opening can hardly be seen at the Sea by means of a black and woody Island lying right before it Several Islands discover themselves herein The Island Massander for about nine miles up it divides into two Arms which include an Island about four miles long and half a mile broad call'd Massander or Massandera This Island produces many sorts of Fruits especially Mandikoka which planted there grows extraordinary thick of which they make great quantities of Tharinka or Maiz also Mille three times a year besides Palm-Trees and a Fruit nam'd Gojaves Ten or twelve miles above this Motchiama lieth another intituled Motihiama three miles long and half a mile broad very low ground excepting two Mountains beset with all sorts of Plants and Herbs and Feeding there are many Goats Sheep Hogs and Hens Some years ago five or six Families of Portuguese liv'd here who had many Slaves and maintain'd themselves chiefly with Mandihoka Lucala The River Lucala by Pigafet call'd Luiola comes out of Amboille having its head near the rise of the River Danda and running South Westward till about six and twenty miles from the Sea joyning with Quansa and by that mixture loosing its name The small River Kalukala runs cross the Territory of Ilamba with such extraordinary Creeks and Meanders that there is hardly one of the two and forty Dominions wherein this Kingdom is divided that lieth above an hours walk from it Some Lakes appear at the corners of Quansa or Bengo the chiefest whereof may be seen in the Lordships of Quihailo Angolome and Chame Angola containeth divers inferior Ditions Territories of the Kingdom of Augola as Lovando Sinso Ilamba Ikollo Ensaka Massingan Embakka Kabamba every one of which comprehends several Provinces rul'd by particular Jovassens or Governors viz. Lovando contains nine and thirty Ilambas forty two Ikollo and Ensaka divers but uncertain Massingan twelve which some bring under Ilamba Kambamba sixty and Embakko sixty In Lovando The City Lovando Saint Paulo stands the City Lovando Saint Paulo on the rising of a Hill by the the Sea-Coast On the Northside of this appears another Mountain call'd Mora Saint Paulo somewhat higher than that of the City and so steep that its with much difficulty ascendable yet on the sides thereof the Jesuites have erected a Cloyster neighbour'd by three or four adjoyning houses LOANDAâ—â— S. PAULâ—â— This City was built by the Portuguese in the Year Fifteen hundred seventy eight when Paulus Dias de Nevais was sent thither to be the first Governor for them in this Countrey The City takes in a great compass of Ground being built with many fair Houses Churches and Cloysters but neither Wall'd nor Fortifi'd Some Forts are raised at the Water-side for the securing of the Haven Before the subduing of it by the Netherlanders in the Year Sixteen hundred forty one the Portuguese had six Churches there two greater one call'd Saint Maria de la Conception and the other Corpo Santo and four lesser one for the Jesuits nam'd Saint Antonio one for the Blacks stil'd Saint Gosce one Cloyster and Church for the Franciscans and an Alms-house with a Church intituled Misericordia Over this Alms-house besides the Receptions for Poor are four and twenty Chambers for the Governor and other Officers viz. a Steward a Doctor a Barber an Apothecary and others This House hath some Revenues of Land which being but mean hath been augmented by a Rate upon Ships for every Ship which puts in there must pay two Rees to the Treasurers of this House Sinso is the Countrey situate to the North of Lovando Sante Paulo up the River Bengo Ilamba or Elvama a large Tract of Land above an hundred Miles in length Ilamba beginning South-East and East-South-East from the Territory of Ikollo and spreading from the River Bengo to Quansa and from Kalumba to Massinga still growing wider the further you go and every where so well Peopled that in two or three Miles distance is a Village which proceeds from the Negroes separating themselves from each other by peculiar Marks So that the whole stands divided into two and forty Dominions The first of these neighbouring Ikollo is call'd Chonso Dominions of the Territory of Ilamba and afterwards the rest lie one behind another according to their Order viz. Namboa Quolomba Bamba Golungo Makea Kombi Quitendel Etombe Quitalla Kambkaita Andalladongo Quiambatta Nambaquiajamba Kangola Quihaito Chombe Angolome Gumbia Massingan or Massagan Kaoulo Kahango Karanga-Pase Guenka-Atombe Hiangonga Quilambe Quapanga Kabanga Kabuto Kandalla Gongue Kahonda Kunangonga Mossunguapose Kamanga Kalunga Bagolunge Quibilacapose Koslakase Nambua Kallahanga Nimenesolo These are the chiefest which make up Ilamba and wherein may be rais'd ten or twelve thousand Fighting Men arm'd with Bowes and Arrows The Sovasen maintain the Boundaries so exactly that never any Complaint is heard of one wronging or incroaching upon another unless it be in open Wars and then the Conquerer becomes wholly Master of his Enemies Countrey This Territory can shew neither Artificial Forts or Natural Fastnesses of Woods for a Defence against their Enemies some little Groves may be seen upon Hills but so inconsiderable as hardly worth mentioning Yet these People cannot easily be conquer'd because they use such good Discipline shooting their Arrows either lying upon the ground or kneeling From Ilamba North-west and West-north-west lies Ikollo Ikollo Ensaka takes beginning six or seven Miles Eastward of Lovando Saint Paulo Ensaka and situate between the two Rivers Quansa and Bengo 'T is but a small Jurisdiction and may be travell'd through in half a day Here in some few Places the Inhabitants Till their Ground Two or three Miles in the Countrey on the Hills stands a Wood enclosed about with Bushes and Thorns to the great accommodation and strengthening of the whole For if the Inhabitants should retire thither it were impossible to force them out save onely for want of Water there being none but what the Rivers Quansa and Bengo bring thither Nine Miles Eastwards Massingan and above the Island of Motchiama in the Province of Missingan or Massagan stands a small Town of the same Name where the Portuguese have a Fort erected between Quansa and Sunda the last of which environs it on the North as the former on the South And about the distance of two hours walk intermingle their Streams from which Conjunction the Town derives its Appellation Massingan signifying A mixture of Waters It was at first an open but pretty large Village but since augmented with many fair Stone-Houses whereby at length 't is become a City The first Portuguese Governor of Angola in the Year Fifteen hundred seventy eight by command of his Master erected this City of Lovando Saint Paulo and also the Fort there when by the help of the Congeses he
Cazado dangerous to Sailers being sometimes cover'd with Water The Air bears a good temper and the Earth though sandy towards the Sea yet affords all things necessary for the use of Man The Mountains rich not onely in Crystal but other Minerals Northerly it becomes more full of Trees to the heighth of two and twenty Degrees South Latitude from whence there drives into the Sea a hundred and fifty Miles from the Shore certain green Weeds call'd Saigossa and seems as a Mark to Sea-men whereby they know how near they are to the Main Land of Africa At a great distance also are seen many Mews or Sea-Pies with black Feathers at the end of their Wings which assure the Mariners by their appearance two or three together that they are infallibly near the African Continent The Government of this Jurisdiction rests in the hands of a King Government who as an absolute Monarch Commands all at his pleasure yet some Lords whose Commands lie by the Sea-shore pride themselves with the empty Title of Kings while they neither possess Wealth or Countreys whose Products are sufficient to make them known to Foreigners of the least esteem Kaffrarie or the Countrey of Kaffers otherwise call'd Hottentots KAffrarie The Countrey of the Kaffers or according to Marmol Quefrerie took Denomination from the Kaffers the Natives thereof which others name Hottentots by reason of their lameness and corruption of Speech without either Law or Religion Maginus spreads this Countrey along the Sea-Coast from the West-side of Cabo Negro lying in sixteen Degrees and fourteen Minutes to Cape of Good Hope or Cabo de bona Esperansa and from thence up Northward to the River Magnice otherwise call'd St. Esprit but with what ground of reason we must leave to de determin'd Sanutus begins Kaffrarie at the Mountains of the Moon near the Tropick of Capricorn in three and twenty Degrees and a half South Latitude so along the Western Coast to the Cape of Good Hope This beginning of Kaffrarie according to most Authors Davitii Lahasse Ethiopie p. 475. from that remarkable Boundary the Tropick of Capricorn hath been indisputably setled but they spread the end of it as we said to the Cape of Good Hope and Zanguebar Between which Northward along the Sea-Coast are none or very few distinct Kingdoms and therefore this being the outermost Southern Borders may not inconveniently be extended to Zanguebar so that the whole Tract lying Southward of Zanguebar and the Kingdom of Monomotapa are to be understood in the general Name of Kaffrarie So then according to this last limiting it hath on the East and South the Indian and in the West the Ethiopick-Sea which meet together to the Southward of the Cape of Good Hope and on the North at Mataman and Monopotapa This Countrey so Bounded lieth encompassed in the North with those high cold bushy and sharp Mountains of the Moon always cover'd with Snow nevertheless it hath about the Cape in some places several large and pleasant Valleys into which flow divers Rivulets from the Hills It is not divided into any particular or known Kingdoms yet inhabited by several People some Govern'd by Kings others by Generals and some are without any Government at all We will give you a glimpse of them in their Customs and Natures as far as any Discovery hath hitherto given us any information and that from the hands of such as for some time lived on the Spot The chiefest People hitherto discover'd in this Southerly part of Africa are the Gorachouqua's Goringhaiqua's Goringhaikona's Kochoqua's Great and Little Kariguriqua's Hosaa's Chaniouqua's Kobona's Sonqu's Namaqua's Heusaqua's Brigoudins and Hankumqua's the eight first neighbor the Cape and the farthest not above threescore miles from it The three first viz. Gorachouqua's and Goringhaiqua's have their Dwellings within four or five hours Journey of the Great Cape but the Gorinhaikona's or Water-men are within a quarter of an hours walk from thence GORINGHAICONAS THe Goringhaicona's or Water-men have a Governor call'd Demtaa who was once taken Prisoner by the Hollanders but was afterwards by carrying himself with Civility released and setled in his old Dominion Their best Seat contains scarce five Houses and not above fifty People with Women and Children living in a condition of Poverty below all the rest of the Hottentots GORACHOUQUAS THe Gorachouqua's are about three or four hundred fighting Men besides Women and Children and maintain themselves by Pasturage and Profit of good Cattel as Sheep and Cows Their Governor call'd Chora hath a Brother call'd Jakin both going in tallow'd Skins but they have great store of Cattel GORINHAIQUAS THe Goringhaiqua's or Cape-mans by reason that they always lived nearest to it are more than equal in People to those last mention'd for they can between both raise about a thousand fighting Men yet all their Towns and Villages make up but ninety five poor Huts cover'd with Mats These People obey a Governor whom they call Gogosoa who was in the Year Sixteen hundred sixty two according to the averment of such as had been there a hundred years of age and had two Sons the eldest nam'd Osinghiakanna and the other Otegnoa both which alway sought to over-Rule their Father but chiefly the eldest by inventing all means to make him away In the Year Sixteen hundred fifty nine The original of the War between the Gorinbaiqua's and the Notherlanders there grew between these People and the Hollanders a Dissention for the possession of the Countrey about the Cape where the Natives endeavor'd to turn them out alledging they had possessed it beyond all remembrance and with such malice did they manage it that they slew many of the Dutch when they saw opportunity at the same time robbing them also of Cattel which they drove away so swift that they could not be shot always chusing to Fight in stormy and rainy Weather as well knowing that then they could do but little Execution with their Arms. These upon information received by advice of one of their own People by them call'd Nomoa and by the Netherlanders Doman who went from thence to Battavie in one of the Companies Ships and stay'd there five or six years observing their actions with such inquisitive diligence that he remembred no small part thereof Doman being come again to the Cape in those Ships which were order'd for Holland kept a great while amongst them in Dutch Habit but at last betook himself to his old Companions informing and instructing them in all the actions and intentions of the Netherlanders as also the manner and use of their Arms. He together with another stout Soldier by the Hottentots call'd Garabinga were always their Captains and with great skill and conduct led on and brought off their followers always with success After the War had continued three Moneths A Skirmish between five Hottentots and five Netherlanders in August Sixteen hundred fifty and nine on a Morning went out five Hottentots one of
Island of that name exceeding those her two neighbors of St. James and St. George living all three near at the Mouth of the River Meginkate Over against St. Georges Island but at the distance of an English mile you may see a Point call'd Cabo Ceira being a hanging Islet joyn'd to the Main-Land of Africa by a small Istbmus overflow'd at High-Water but at other times passable on Foot The Countrey of Mozambike is very fertile in producing many sorts of Fruits Plants as Rice Citrons Oranges and Mille which the Blacks are compell'd to guard and defend against Elephants by the kindling of Fires whereof these Beasts are very much afraid There groweth also a certain Plant call'd Pao or Wood of Antak which creeps along the ground and is very like the Herb Aristolachia or Heart-Wort The Fruit is long small with green Seeds or Grains The Roots have a strange vertue in curing a Disease call'd Antak which seizes on the Foreigners by conversing with the Blacks and can be expell'd by no other Medicine The Inhabitants make Wine of Mille which they call Huyembe or Pembe Here is no want either of tame or wild Fowl Animals nor of Stags or Harts wild Hogs Cows Oxen and Elephants which last are so numerous that the Inhabitants dare not travel without fire to defend them from their assaults Wild Hens breed in the Woods being speckled with many small white and gray spots their Heads are much less than our common Hens with a short Comb but thick and of a high colour and not onely the upper part of the Head but also part of the Neck cover'd with a blue Skin like a Turky Many Silver Gold and other Mynes are found in the Countrey The People have short Curl'd Hair The Constitution of the Inhabitants great Lips long Visages and very large Teeth They go stark naked onely a blue little Clout before their Privacies They Paint ther Bodies with divers Colours but account it the greatest Ornament to have streaks of a certain red Earth They make in each Lip three holes in which they hang Bones Jewels and other things But this Fashion and Trimming eminent People onely use They feed in general upon all sorts of Fruit Food and Flesh of Beasts yet they eat also the Flesh of Men taken Prisoners in the Wars but they esteem the Flesh of Elephants as the choycest Dainty They are revengeful and treacherous dull of understanding and inured to labour like Beasts not grutching to be Slaves Every Lordship or Province produces a several Language Language yet it proves no hindrance to their converse one with another Their Riches consist in Gold Riches found in the Rivers Ivory Ebony and Slaves yet are so fearless of any attempts to be made upon them that they debar no Foreigners to come into their Havens the Portuguese onely excepted Their Weapons of War are Arrows Battel-Axes but can neither boast any number of People nor extent of Land The Inhabitants are according to Linschot some Heathens and some Mahumetans but Pyrard averrs they have neither Religion nor Laws but that they are onely Kaffers The Island MOSAMBIKE THe Island Mosambike half a Mile from the Main Land contains about three quarters of a League in length a quarter in breadth the whole compass not exceeding a League and a half with a white Shore It extendeth South and North along the Main Land between which and this Isle and Fort appears the Bay serving for a convenient Haven Land-lockt from all Winds being very large and carrying eight or ten Fathom Water Within a Stones-throw of which the Ships ride at Anchor This Island hath the Main Land on the North and two other uninhabited small Islets on the South the one nam'd St. James or Jago and the other St George but neither affording any conveniency not being inhabited being wholly overgrown with Shrubs and Bushes Some place two Cities upon Mosambike-Isle affirming the one to be plentifully peopled by Portuguese and the other with Blacks but Pyrard makes the whole so fully inhabited that it seems but one Town comprehending within its Circuit a very large and strong Fort together with five or six Churches Chappels and Cloysters From the Description of the Navigation to the East-Indies made by Verhoeven in the Year Sixteen hundred and seven it appears that the City of Mosambike is very large having good Walls fine Houses and some Churches and Cloysters wherewith agrees Paul van Caerden in the Journal of his Voyage to the East-Indies Moquet allots to the City not above two hundred Houses but Linschot leaves all the places open and unwall'd except the Castle where the Portuguese Governor with his Soldiers have their Residence Garias de Silva Figueora in his Persian Embassy comprises in the City an hundred and fifty Houses but most of them built of Wood Straw and Palm-Tree Leaves For the deciding these different Relations we may suppose that the first Writer who placeth two Cities here mistook two Villages for Cities and Linschot himself mentions the Dwellings severally making one part of the old Fort commonly call'd Fortarez a Velha and another of some Houses close by it Others may have taken a great number of Houses standing close together to be a City however it is we may modestly guess that at the time of these Writers things were found thus There is a Cloyster of St. Domingo with a rich Hospital said to have been a Castle in former time built by the Kings of Portugal into which those of that Nation are put coming sick from Sea Besides St. Anthony St. Dominick and St. Gabriel's Church all lying without the Fort they have another Nossa Seniora do Balvarte built close under the Fort. The Air being generally more than warm proves very unwholsom Air. insomuch that few live there any while free from dangerous Distempers which no doubt are much augmented by the want of fresh Water there being onely one small Spring of little consequence in a Thicket of Palm-Trees so that most of them drink salt Water mingled with a little of that fresh This great Drought sufficiently declares that the Land proves barren Unfruitfulness of the Soyl. and unfit to produce any thing Yet provident Nature hath recompenced the want of all other Provision with Coco-Nuts Oranges Citrons Ananassed-Figs and other Indian-Fruits but these onely in manured and well cultivated Gardens They have neither Wheat nor Rice growing but all brought from the Main Land or from Goa and the East-Indies so also Raisins or Grapes and Spanish-Wines with several other Necessaries both for benefit and sustenance so that it is much dearer living here than in any other Place possessed by the Portuguese in this Coast Here breed great Herds of Oxen Cows Sheep Beasts with Tails as big as a fifth part of their Bodies Bucks Goats and Swine whose Flesh hath gain'd such an esteem that the Doctors oftentimes order the Sick to eat it and forbid them
their Ancestors brought with them Madagaxo or Magodoxo AS you Travel more Northerly towards the Red-Sea you come to the Kingdom of Magadaxo which hath been formerly so powerful that all the Mahumetans on this Coast were subject to it The Countrey spreads it self according to Urette betwixt ninety and a hundred Leagues in breadth but he seems to include therein the Kingdom of Adea This Territory produces great abundance of Barley with variety of Fruits and feeds huge Droves of Horses and other Cattel Some of the Inhabitants are brown some black and some white yet notwithstanding this difference of complexion they agree in Language all speaking Arabick The Head City Madagaxo hath gain'd the repute of great Wealth by the Trade of the Kambayan and Aden Merchants bringing thither all sorts of Clothes Drugs and Spices and receiving from thence in Barter Gold Ivory and Wax They use in their Wars no other Arms but poyson'd Arrows The Kingdom of Adea THe Kingdom of Adea begins in the middle of Adel on the Main Land Borders bordering in the South at Madagaxo in the West at Oyja belonging to Abyssinie in the North at Adel and Eastward border'd with the Indian-Sea The most famous Place of this Realm hath the Name Barraboa that is The good Shore though it be somewhat distant from the Sea and in passing to it you go up against the Stream in a Skiff by an Arm of the River Oby or Quilmanzi The Dominion of Granze comes next having for Limits the Kingdom of Oyja Xoa and Gorage then Barra Maa which is Bad Shore because no Ships can come near it At last upon the Skirts of this Realm you find a Place call'd Ogabra Ograbra This Countrey hath many great Woods insomuch that the Inhabitants are forced to cut down the Trees to make the Ways Nature hath served them with a plentiful hand so that they want no Provision having extraordinary Herds of Cattel They have a peculiar Mahumetan Prince Government but dependent upon the Abyssine Emperor to whom he pays Tribute The Inhabitants in general are zealous of Mahomet's Superstition Religion but those of Granze are partly Idolaters and partly Christians Adel or Zeila THe Kingdom of Adel Borders so call'd by the Portuguese but by the Natives Zeila lying at the Sea-shore borders in the North at the Beglierbeyat or Provinces of the Bassa of Suaquen near the Straits of Meche in the South at Adea in the West upon Fatigar in Abyssinie and in the East at the Indian Sea Pigafet makes the Southermost Places of this Kingdom to be Meth and Barbosa together with a part of the Arabian Gulf and the Cape of Guardafu It extends in length from Zeila to the Cape of Guardafu Bigness along the Sea-coast seventy two Miles and from Guardafu along the Eastern Coast about eight and forty but in breadth fifty six The Chief City of this Kingdom is Ara situate in nine Degrees North Latitude by some call'd Arika Gurrele but by Marmol Arat who places the same eighteen Miles from Zeila he settles also here the Royal City Adel and the Towns Orgabra Migiate Sequeta Bali Mautra Doara Komizara Novecara and Soceli On the Sea-coast Pigafet tells of a small Place nam'd Asuin or Affion well stored with Provision but wanting a Haven and so consequently little frequented by Merchants Then follows the Cape of Guardafu or Guardafuy by many taken for the Aromata of Ptolomy lying in twelve Degrees and a half North Latitude and very famous because the Easterly Coast of Africa ends there It lies almost at the entrance of the Arabian Gulf so that the Ships which come out of India and will go to Aden and Ziden or to Zeila and Barbara Sail close by it On the Coast of Adel appears a Place call'd Salie which Sanutus takes for that which Ptolomy denominates Mosilon Next to Salir follows Barbara and Meth the first lieth to the North on the Shore of the Red Sea eleven Miles from the City Zeila the latter according to Sanutus a small City Afterwards cometh Zeila one of the best Places on this Coast being in eleven Degrees and twenty Minutes North Latitude six and twenty Miles saith Marmol from the Straits of Meche This City though built on a low and Sandy Ground boasts not onely a large Extent but a very convenient Haven for Ships It stands within the Kingdom of Adel in the Province Baragian which includes the two other small Jurisdictions of Dalacha and Malacha all under the Obedience of the Turks The Houses in Zeila are built of Stone and the Streets curiously Pav'd and daily frequented with Swarms of People The In-land Countreys of Adel lie even and plain The nature of the Soil onely here and there some easie and pleasant Ascents The Plains yield plentiful Returns to the Labouring and Industrious Husbandman answering his Expectation in the abundant Product both of Plants and Beasts having withal the River Haoax which takes its original out of that vast Range of Mountains on the Borders of Xaoa and Ogge and feeds the lesser Stream of Mach with Water Some have not stuck to aver it to be little inferior to the Nile but nothing near so long because it overflows not above six thousand Paces Neither doth it reach how full of Water so ever it be to the Sea but is quite drank up by the dry and thirsty Earth before it cometh so far The City Zeila hath no fresh Water within two days Journey nor other Ground than Sand but the Fields at further distance afford such Plenty of all things that out of this Haven and that of Barbara on the same Coast Ships Transport Provisions to feed Adom and Ziden especially Corn Beans Barley and Oyl not press'd out of Olives but extracted from the Seed of a Plant call'd Zerzelin or Gerzeluin or Grugioline but indeed no other than Sesamos Beasts breeding here are Sheep of two sorts Beasts one with Tails of twenty five pound weight black Necks and Heads and the remainder of their Bodies white the other quite white with Tails as long as a Mans Arm and crooked as a Vine-Branch Some of their Cows have Horns like a Stag black Hair and wilde others are red but with one Horn on their Foreheads of a Span and a half long but turning backwards The Inhabitants as far as Barbara are Olivaster-colour'd Nature of the Inhabitants but from thence more to the North about Zeila and Barrazan they grow much blacker naturally quarrelsom and apt to make Wars upon any trivial occasion They go cover'd from their Navel to their Knees with Cotton but the upper part of their Bodies remain naked onely Persons of Quality wear Coats which in Arabick they call Bernuz This Dominion possesses much Gold and Ivory besides such a liberal Provision of Victuals that they feed their Neighbors of several other Countreys They vend also Clothes Myrrhe Pepper and Slaves The Merchants of Cambaya and
cold Next Adel to the side of Mombaza you arrive at Bahali or Bali Daâ—ali or Bali then to that of Oecie shooting inwardly to the main-Main-Land then to Ario or Aro limited in the North by Dunkala and in the West by the Territory of Oifate Fategar hath in the North the River Aoaxe in the West Fategar the Kingdom of Oge and in the South the Territory of Gamat Sanutus places at the utmost borders hereof Adel and adds also Xaoa In this Kingdom on the Borders of Adel stands the Ague-Mountain near a place by the people of Europe call'd The Market because the Inhabitants of both Realms come thither to Trade Then you come to the Mountain of the Lake whose sides boast the Ornament of many Churches and Cloysters and the top shews a Lake three miles in circumference Zengero comes next and after that Rozenagus Zengero from thence travelling Northerly into the Countrey you come to Roxa or Boxa bordering upon Zingero and Eastwards on Goiame Close to Narea lieth Zeth or Zesta deep into the Countrey upon which the Kingdom of Konche borders as that upon Mahaola Faskulon takes place between two Branches of the Nyle Eastward of Goiame and Dambea and Southward of Bizamo Jarrik reckons from Dambea to Faskulon five days journey Thus we have handed you through the Kingdoms we will now set out the Provinces remaining and so proceed to other matter The Territory of Magaza the Northern part of this Kingdom Territories scituate between the River Mareb and Takasa borders towards the North upon Nengini and in the West touches Fungi or Bugihe Seguede the next borders North-East upon Magaza North with Fungie West at Olkait and South at Semen and Salait Olkait conterminates in the East Sequede in the North Fungie in the West Dambea and in the South Salait Salait hath for limits to the North the Territory of Seguede in the West that of Seinen and the Kingdom of Dambea and in the South Abargale Cenen or Semnen so call'd by Balthazar Tellez in stead of Ximench or Ximen but by Sanutus Terra di Giudei jewen-Jewen-Land and by the Abyssines themselves Xionenche borders in the North at Seguede in the East at Salait Sanutus saith this Jews Countrey lieth Inclos'd between Mountains and Wildernesses which in the East spread towards the Nyle and Abyssine and South to the Equinoctial from whence they shoot to Congo in the West are unknown Mountains and Wildernesses towards Benin and in the North a ridge of great Hills over-topping the edges of Dauma and Medra Abargale stands bounded in the North by Salait in the East by the River Takara and in the South by the Territory of Salaoa The limits of Salaoa are in the North at Abargale in the East at the foremention'd River Takaze in the South Bagameder and in the West Dambea Ozeka hath the neighborhood of Amaza North Marabett East Upper-Xaoa South and in the West Goiame Doba lieth in the middle of Bagameder all the other Southern Territories formerly belonging to Abyssine the Gala's possess as the Turks do the Eastern Countreys towards the Red-Sea Most Geographers have plac'd in Abyssine two Arms of the Nyle The Island Meâ—â—e anciently by Ptolomy nam'd Astapus and Astaboras The first of these two at present Niger calleth Abani Barros Abansi and Vossius Mareb The other being Takaze or Takassen lies in fifteen Degrees and twenty Minutes Northern Latitude and fifteen days Sail from Siena wherein lies the Island Meroe often remembred by ancient Greek and Latin Writers Diodorus thinks it took that Name from Meroe the Mother of Cambyses King of Persia But Strabo from his Sister which died there The Inhabitants denominate it Naulebahe that is The Mother of Good Havens and Marmol Neuba Some differ from all before and will have it nam'd in the Countrey Idiom sometimes Saba then Bed Amara and anon Tevet Many others intitle it Gueguere which Jovius denies maintaining Gueguere to be the same with Syene Sanutus reckons the length of this Island to be three hundred and fifty Italian Miles or seventy Dutch Miles But Jovius makes it bigger than England though without any Reason and contrary to the Vogue of all Ages and Authors Some Modern Writers seem to make the Kingdom of Goiame Balthazar Tellez almost surrounded by a Branch of the Nyle to be this Island Meroe but Vossius contradicts both the first and last Opinions affirming That the Ancients never had any true knowledge of this Island but have made one in Imagination where never was any contrary to Strabo and many others The City Meroe situate by Ptolomy at the North end of the Island Pliny and others set seventy thousand Paces more to the South and Vossius thinks that 't is the same at this day call'd Beroa or Baroa the Head-City of Barnagas and adds moreover That the Netherlanders have greatly mistaken in setting it so far from the Red-Sea an Error caus'd as he imagines by the tedious uncouthness of the Way For the whole Coast lies so full of craggy and high Mountains as makes it almost unpassable and their Backs so chain'd together that you have no way to it but by the Haven of Ercocco and Suachem and that so troublesom that Travellers can scarce ride above three or four thousand Paces in one day And therefore saith he it is no wonder Ancient Geographers who in a few known Countreys were necessitated to take the Distance of Places by the Days-Journey should extend the Countrey between Meroe and the Red-Sea so far This Empire of the Abyssines may justly claim the advantage of divers good Rivers especially the middlemost and principal Channel of the Nyle Rivers and other fertilizing Branches thereof as Mareb or Morabo Tacaze Anquet and Malegh The River Mareb takes its Rise in the Kingdom of Tigre The River Mareb two small Miles from Baroa on the West-side and runneth on to the South passing into the dry Countrey of the Caffers where one Branch burying it self under ground for a while and afterwards re-appearing with an inverted Course turns back towards its Head till at last it shoots in a direct Line to the Kingdom of Denghini and so at last unites with the River Tacaze Tacaze which Mercator according to Tellez holds to be the Assabaras mention'd by Ptolomy hath its Head-Fountain in the Borders of Angote The River Tacaze in the Mountains of Axgua near Bagameder from three Head-springs about a stones cast one from another whose Waters conjoyn'd make this River It takes a Course a days Journey to the West between the Precinct of Dagana and Hoaga running from thence beyond the Kingdom of Tigre then cuts through the Territory of Sire having on the East-side Fruitful and Tilled Grounds and on the West the Wilderness or Desart of Oldeba formerly boasting many Cloysters like Egyptian Thebes from thence taking a view of Holcait it falls through the Caffers Countrey with a great contribution of Water
Valetta Citta Vecchia or Old Malta Burgo St. Angelo or Citta Vittoriosa and the Town of St. Michael besides 60 good Villages Comin and Cominot Onely one Fort. Goze or Gozo One Castle and a good Fort and about 5000 Inhabitants Lampadowze Altogether desolate Linose Lies desolate Pantalaree Towns Pantalaree An Abyss call'd Fossa AN EXACT DESCRIPTION OF THE AFRICAN ISLANDS AS Madagascar or Saint Laurence Saint Thomas the Canary-Islands Cape de Verd Malta and others With their Names Scituations Cities Rivers Plants Beasts Manners Habits Languages Riches Religions and Dominions AFter the Description of the Main Land of Africa the Subjected Islands belonging to the same must be taken notice of and they are found partly in the Atlantick Ocean partly in the Mid-Land and partly in the Red-Sea The Isles in the Atlantick on the East of Africa are these Zokotora Madagascar or St. Laurence the greatest of all Nossihibrahim or St. Mary Bouebon or Maskarenhas or Maskareign Almirante St. Francis As Sete Jemanas Os tres Irmanas Roque Piz do Natal do Arko Don John of Miz Pemba Monfia Zanzibar Anisa Quezimba Mozambike Don John of Castro Cosmoldo As doze Ilbeos John da Novo Ilhas Primuras Angoxas Galaga Comoro or Thieves Island Aliola St. Spirito St. Christophano Mazare dos Gorajos St. Brandaon St. Apolonu Mauritius or do Ciene Diego Rois John of Lixbon dos Romaros dos Castellianos By the Cape of Good Hope lieth the Island St. Elizabeth Korwli or Robben and Dassen Island South-Westward from the Cape of Good Hope lieth the Island of Tristano Kunha but more Southerly are the Islands dos Pikos Martyn Vaz St. Maria de Agosta de Trinitad Ascension St. Helen New St. Helen Annoban St. Thome Rolletjes Princes Island Carakombo Ferdinando do Po St. Matthias Ferdinand Noronho Penedo de St. Paulo the Salt or Cape de vard Islands the Canary Islands the Islands of Borodon Madera Porto Santo The Islands in the Mediterrane are Galatha Tabarka Pantalerce Malta Goze c. In the Red-Sea Primeiras Delacca Masuan Magot Mirt Suachen c. But here we must observe that some of these being close by the Main Land of Africa are already describ'd in the foregoing part such be Zokotora Quirimba Zanzibar Mozambike Robben and Dassen Islands Corisco the Islands Amboises Bisegos De los Idolos Bravas c. The Island of MADAGASCAR or St. LAURENCE THe Island commonly by Geographers call'd Madagascar and in the Countrey Language Madecase by Theuck Albazgra by the Persians and Arabians Sazandib by the Portuguese Ilha de sam Lourengo from the first Discoverer Laurence Almeide Son of Francois Almeide Viceroy of the East-Indies for the King of Portugal who in the Year Fifteen hundred and six put with eight Ships first of all into this Island of St. Laurence Gaspar de St. Bernardino in his Journey through India by Land affirms That in the Year Fifteen hundred and eight with whom agrees Damianas de Goez it was discover'd on the outside and a little afterwards the inside scarifi'd by one Ruy Pircira de Kontinho and afterwards by Tristano da Kunha who Sail'd quite round it upon the Command of Alfonso d' Albuquerque There are that report this Island was known to the Antients Merkat Magin Ortel and that Pliny call'd it Cerne Ptolomy Menuthias and Diodorus The Island of Merchant Jol but this cannot be because they never had any knowledge of the Countreys lying Southward above Serre-Lions It spreads in length North North-East Situation Flakkourt Fraxscis Canche and South South-West Southward of the Equinoctial Line and begins with its North end from the eleventh or twelfth degree and odd minutes or according to Pyrad from the fourteenth degree and ends with its South end in the six and twentieth that is from the Cape of St. Sebastian to the Cape of St. Mary Linschot places it a hundred six and twenty Leagues from Cabo das Corinthas on the Main Coast of Africa a hundred and ten from Sofala and four and forty from Mozambike It is one of the greatest Islands in the World for the length from South to North hath been reckon'd to twelve hundred Spanish or two hundred Dutch Miles though Linschot says two hundred and twenty the breadth seventy and the Circumference nine hundred The Sea between the Island and the Main Land towards that side of the Cape of Good Hope sets with a strong Current and goeth with a mighty Tide of Ebbing and Flowing making a Channel at the Westerly entrance eighty five Miles broad and in the middle where it is narrower over against the Island Mosambike four and forty Dutch Miles but it grows wider again towards the East The Ships which go from Europe to the Indies and from thence back again Sail commonly through this Channel unless Storms and Tempests force them to Steer another course This Island hath been Canton'd into many Divisions Divided into Territories whose names we will endeavor to give you viz. Anossi or Karkanossi Manatensi or Manapani the Valley of Amboulle the Countrey of Vohitsbang Itomampo Ikondre Vattemahon Manamboule INSVLA S. LAVRENTII vulgo MADAGASCAR Anachimonssi Gringdrane Vohitsanghombe Manakargha Matatane Antainare Galemboulou Tametavi Sahaveh Vouloulou Andouvoche Manghabei Adcimoi Mandrerci Ampatre Karemboule Mahafalle Houlouve Siveh Ivoronheok and Machicore All large Territories but the biggest is Machikore being seventy French Miles long and forty broad and the most populous are Vohitsanghombe and Erindrane We will give you a particular account of each with what is remarkable therein Beginning first with Carkanossi and from thence will run up Northward to the Bay of Antongil so turn back to the South from Carkanossi to the River Ongelahe To the Northward of this great Island two or three smaller as Nosey Ibrahim or Abraham's Isle by the French nam'd St. Mary and another to the South call'd Maskarenhas or Maskareigne and by the French Bouchon The whole Coast of this Island on the East-side The spreading of the Coast spreads due North North-East and South South-West that is from the Cape of Itapere otherwise call'd Fitorah in five and twenty degrees and six minutes South-Latitude to the Bay or Inlet of Antongil and from thence to the Lands-end due North from the Cape of Itapere to the Island of Karenboule Westerly From Karemboule to the Mouth of the River Sakalite the Coast runs North-West and from thence to the seventeenth degree South-Latitude North North-East and thence to the fourteenth degree being the Road of the Island due North. The whole extent comprehends many beneficial and large Rivers that having their heads within the Land irrigate the same to a rich fecundity and at last emit their Waters into the Sea by which means there appear divers fine Bays which make convenient and safe Roads for Ships The South-side from the Cape of Itapere to Karemboule the People of Europe best know by most of whom frequented but especially by the French who have to the chief Bay assign'd the Name of Dauphin
Fort stand several Habitations among which the House of the French Governor with a great Garden planted with all sorts of Pot-herbs and Fruits But in the year Sixteen hundred fifty six this Fort was burn'd down by accident yet immediately rebuilt and a good Garrison plac'd therein The French maintain great Wars against the Inhabitants of the neighboring Territories marching into the Mountains burning down their Huts and Villages and taking away their Cattel In the year Sixteen hundred fifty one Flacourd being then Commander in Chief for the French King with forty French and as many Negroes arm'd with Shields and Lances destroy'd the Countrey of Franhere and laid all the Huts and Houses in Ashes carrying away many Cows and Oxen and both Men and Women so that by this means all the Glory of the Roandrians came to nothing This cruel Usage rais'd in the Inhabitants a mortal hatred against the French Hatred of the Inhabitants against the French increased afterwards by the selling of some Men and Women Slaves by their Governor Pronis to the Netherland Governor of the Island Mauritius The Territory of MANATENGHA or MANAMPANI and the Valley of AMBOULLE THis Territory of Manatengha or Manampani so call'd from the great River of the same Name running through it lieth in three and twenty Degrees South Latitude being a very delightful spot of Land A little more to the Northward at the Mouth of the foresaid River the Valley of Amboulle shews it self This River The River Manampani lying with its Mouth under the Tropick of Capricorn takes its original out of the Valley of Amboulle and receiveth out of the Mountains Encalida Hiela and Manghaze additional Streams sending its Current afterwards into the East In the Valley of Amboulle stands a great Town also call'd Amboulle This Valley produceth many wholesome Roots and Plants especially white Ignames and Sesamos whereof the Inhabitants make Oyl which they call Menaehil They have very good and fat Oxen and Cows besides some considerable Mines of Iron Near the Town Amboulle rises a Hot Bath whose Water they have reported to bear a heat sufficient to boyl an Egg hard in four and twenty hours and by the Inhabitants accounted a powerful Remedy against the Gout or Sciatica The Natives employ their time in Forgeing and Making Asagayes Employment Lances or Darts and other neat Iron-work The People of Amboulle are Govern'd by a Voadziri that is A great Lord call'd Rabertau being rich in Cattel and all necessary Provision of Victual But his Authority seems small for upon a scarcity of Provision his Subjects will tumultuously force him to supply their Wants But afterwards when the Crop in the Field comes to be cut he repays himself four-fold All the People of this Valley live in so great liberty that their Countrey is a Refuge and Shelter for all Rogues and Vagabonds Westward of Amboulle lieth Izame The Territory of Izame a small place but rich in Iron-Mines and Menachil or Oyl of Sesamos The Inhabitants being about eight hundred are the most undaunted and Warlike of the whole Island yielding Obedience to a Voadziri related in Blood to the forsaid Robertau VOHITSBANG THe Territory of Vohitsbang reacheth from the River Manatengha in three and twenty Degrees and a half to the River Mananghare and Borders upon Anradsahock and Fangaterre containing within it a Lordship call'd Manacaronha lying at the River Mambondrou This Countrey boasts several Rivers as first Manatengha Rivers which with four Mouthes viz. Vinangadsimo Manamaza Sagandacan and Vinangavarats pours it self into the Sea D' Aviboule by the French call'd St. Giles four French Miles from Manatengha D' Andraghinta two Miles higher Sandrivinangha a Mile further issuing out of the Mountain of Viboullo Monambondrou three or four Miles from thence Massianash fifteen French Miles from Aviboulle where they find a good Bay for Barques by the French call'd Ance de Borgne that is The crooked Bay Four Miles more Northerly lies Mananghare which hath seven Mouthes but all stopp'd up with great Rocky Cliffs It cometh out of Itomampo lying towards the West but augmented by three other fair Rivers Janghainou Itamampou and Mangharak all which uniting with this lose their Names This Coast from the River Manhafia to Sandravinangha stands inviron'd with the high Mountains of Viboulle full of Woods Dates and Honey and affording some Gold And indeed the whole Tract though very Mountainous yet produces abundance of Honey Oxen Sugar-canes Ignames Rice and other Provisions for Food besides many Iron Mines The Inhabitants are all Black of Colour The Constitution with bushy curl'd Hair upon their Heads living in a perpetuated Contention upon ancient Feuds or old Quarrels Manners intayl'd both to Memory and Revenge from the Parents to the Children They are so great Thieves that sometimes they will take away the Children and Slaves of their Neighbors and nearest Kindred in Blood to carry and sell them in far distant Places They have an innate Enmity to the Zafferamini as believing That by their Skill in Writing certain Characters they can bewitch bring Sicknesses upon and at last kill them At the Mouthes of Manatengha live none but Ompizees or poor Fisher-men They make their Clothes for the most part of peelings of Trees Cloathing which they call Fautastranou and Avo or else they buy Cotton Clothes in Carnossi or Ampatre Their Arms are Wooden Shields cover'd with an Oxes Hide Arms. and an heavy Assagay or Lance. They have as many Governors as Townships Religion but none of them have any Religion yet they eat no Swines Flesh by Custom and are Circumcis'd The Dominions of ITOMAMPO IKONDRE VATTEMANAHON MANAMBOULE and ANACHIMOUSSI ITomampo lieth in a Valley surrounded with high Mountains Itomampo about three small Miles in compass where they Forge excellent Steel Ikondre Ikondre a small and Hilly Countrey in twenty two Degrees and thirty Minutes South Latitude stands in the East and East-North-East divided by high Mountains from Itomampo and borders in the South upon Vattemanahon and Michicore and on the North and North-West touches Manamboule Vattemanahon borders East and North-East-wards on Ikondre Vattemanahon and on the Head-springs of the River Itomampo and Madreri West and South on the Countrey of Machicore It appears a wild Countrey having been laid waste in the Wars Manamboule hath Limits in the East and East-North-East on the River Itomampo Manamboule in the North on Anachimoussi in the West at Alfissack in the South on the great Mountains where the River Jonglahe takes its Rise from thence running Westwards from Mozambike into the Sea Anachimoussi Anachimoussi a Tract of about four small days Journey in length abutteth in the East at the River Jonghaivou which cuts it through the middle in the South on Manamboule in the West on the great Mountains in the North on the River Mangharak and the Lordship of Eringdrane Several Rivers glide through and
small Rivers lying two Miles distant from each other and take their original out of the neighboring Mountains The Faroan three Miles from the Itapaulominthiranou is a great River and Navigable for a Bark on whose Banks the Whites of Manouffi have seated themselves Lamohorik or Morombei three small Miles from Faraon comes out of the High-Land six or seven Miles towards the West Manataraven a small River lieth about six Miles from Morombei The Territory of Antavare Manouffi and Vobitsmene NOrthward of Matatane followeth Antavare scituate in one and twenty degrees and an half South-Latitude and extending to the Cape Manouffi delightfully Water'd by the Mananzau a large and fair River issuing from the steep Ascents of Ambohitsmene or the Mountains lying North and by East The Territory of Manouffi reacheth from the Cape of the same denomination to the River Mananghourou fifteen Miles more Northerly between which Cape and River lie three other Rivers Andredi Tenasatamamou and Tentamimi Antavane produces plenty of Rice Ignames Bananoes Sugar-Canes Honey Oxen Goats with all sorts of Fowl and Victual The Territory of Ambohitsmene lieth North and by West from Antavare and takes name from the aforesaid high Red Mountain in nineteen degrees and a half or twenty South-Latitude which may be seen fifteen Leagues off at Sea resembling Table-Mount at the Cape of Good Hope This ledge of Hills runs fifteen French Miles to the In-land between which and the Sea the Land appears very low Marshy and full of Lakes among which one of above fifteen Miles long and broad Upon these Mountains the people of Famantara have Zaffarahong for their place of Residence which place abounds with Gold Iron Cattel Rice Sugar-Canes Ignames Silk Clothes and other Necessaries Twelve Miles from Mananghorou Avibaha enters the Sea The River Avibaha being perhaps an Out-let of the aforesaid Lake Three Miles from thence the River Tsatsack and three other Foutchurao and a Mile and half onward Ivorhon pours down into a Bay by the Inhabitants call'd Tametavi but by the French Mariners Port aux prunes that is Plumb-Haven The Territory from Tametavi to the Bay of Antongil that is to the Countrey of Vouloulou the Long-Point the Lordship of Andouvoulhe with the Bay of Manghabei or Antongil THese Countreys begin at the Haven of Tametavi or Plumb-Haven lying in eight degrees and a half and spreading by the Sea Coast to the Bay of Antongil in the Language of the Countrey call'd Manghabei in fifteen degrees South-Latitude to the Land-wards inclos'd with the Mountains of Vohits-anghombe and Ansianach After the Plumb-Haven they have four small Rivers Fautack Faha Faho and Maroharats distant a small mile each from another After that Anacchinquets making a deep Haven with a good Sandy bottom but open to the North-East East and South-East Winds Three small Miles Northerly The Territory of Voulouilou you discover Longue-Point The Countrey about moisten'd by the River Voulouilou Five Miles further The River Ambato lieth the great River Ambato famous for the Rocks and obscure Cliffs but never comes to the Ocean Two small Miles more Northerly you come to Galemboulou in seventeen degrees and an half a large receptacle for Barks but very dangerous because of the blind Rocks and boisterousness of the Sea near which stands a Town call'd Ratsimelone but by the French Mariners St. Mala. Three Miles from Galemboulou a very fair and great River pours its self into the Sea wherein they say the small Island Ambouluossi shews it self The River Manangharou running from West to East The River of Manangharou divides its self near the Sea Coast into four distinct Channels of which it self being one retains its name from the Original to the Mouth The other three are Manansatran the second Marinhou opposite to the Island Nosti Ibrahim or St. Mary and lastly the Stream Jamiami a great and spacious River which at its Outlet into the Sea always holds seven or eight Foot Water After this followeth the River Mananghare fronting the North Point of the Island St. Mary and the South Point of Antongil Bay entring the Sea with so commodious an opening The Countrey of Audouvouche that a great Bark may easily come in or out Following along the Western Coast the Countrey of Andouvouche cometh to view that is The Bay but because of the many other as Antongil by the Inhabitants formerly call'd Manghabei for Antongil is a Portugal name proceeding from a Portuguese Sea-Captain Antonio Gillo who discover'd it It lieth in fifteen degrees South-Latitude stretching Northward and about six Miles broad In the deepest part of the Bay lieth an Island very high out of the Water two large miles about delightfully green fruitful in all sorts of Provision compleatly stor'd with fresh Water Hens Honey and Bananoes Seamen esteem it a most convenient refreshing place At the entrance of the Bay are three or four other small Islands either Sown with Rice or full of Weeds On the North side are three populous Towns with several other along the Shore neighbor'd by a great River which divided into two Arms the one running to the North the other to the West making in the middle at the parting an Island Further on to the North appears another great Town call'd by the Portuguese St. Angelo surrounded with a strong Pallisado Opposite to which on the left hand another which the Netherlanders in their first Voyage to the East-Indies in the Year Fifteen hundred ninety five named Spakenburgh consisting of about a hundred and eighty Houses West South-West from the foremention'd Island glides another River upon which a Town lieth The Grounds are exceeding good and fat well water'd and full of Grass The Condition of the Land but not over-stockt with Cattel the richest Person having scarce a Herd of four and twenty Beasts The Towns here shew more of Architecture than usual in these parts and advantageously Seated either upon the Mountains or along the River Fenced with Stakes with two Entrances or Doors onely the one to the Water the other to the side of a Wood for their flight thither when set upon by the Enemy and worsted All the People from the Plum-Haven to Antongil-Bay Customs observe the same Customs and all name themselves one among another Zaffehibrahim that is The Generation of Abraham or Nossi Abrahim from the Island Abraham whence they are sprung By their keeping holy the Saturday their whiteness of colour and some other particular Customs Flaccourt thinks them to be descended from the Stock of the Jews and Arabians who fled thither many years ago Both Men Women and Children are whiter than those of Matatane and Androbeisaha with smooth Hair hanging down at length being good natur'd mild and hospitable not inclin'd to Robbery or Murther In Dancing and Singing they seem to use some kinds of measures Footing it in pairs sometimes making distinct stops and stretching out their Arms. All their Songs consist of Epithalamiums in the Chanting whereof
impossible to come into them but through the Gates The Natives addict themselves extraordinarily to Robbing and Pillaging of their Neighbors not onely of Goods but also of their Wives for which reason great Feuds arise amongst them which oftentimes break into an open Hostility This Province can bring three thousand men into the Field Every Village here as in the former hath a Lord amongst which one hath the preheminence of Command over the other The River of Mandrery parting Carcanosse and Ampatra glides very swift but lies for the most part stopt up It takes original out of the same Mountain with that of Itomampo and falls at the last by the South into the Sea Many Rivers bring hither their tributary Streams as Maropia taking his course by Icondre Manamaboulle and Mananghare Manamboulle descending from the Mountain Hiela and Mananghare issuing from the same on the South-west side Mananghare is inhabited with a People so unaccustom'd to War that every Great Man appropriates his Neighbors Countreys to himself as if he were the rightful Owner whereupon none will either Till or Manure the Land but let it lie waste and become a shelter for wild Hogs and Oxen. The Mountain Hiela towres up with a lofty heighth sending from its sides the River Manampani This Hill boasts a great number of Inhabitants and divides the Valley of Amboulle Machicore and the Carcanossi one from another Westward of which last appears a Territory call'd Encalidan between which also and the Valley Amboulle a small Tract styl'd Caracarack Caremboulle The Territory of Caremboulle a small Countrey about six Miles in length and three or four in breadth borders in the South on the Sea Westwards on the Bay of Caremboulle and East at Ampatre where also the River Manambouve gives it a limit The River Manambouve hath a full Stream about thirty French Miles from that of Mandrerey beginning in Machicore and running to Caremboulle a Course of fifteen or twenty Miles Twenty French Miles Westward the small Rivulet Manamba joyns with the Sea Menerandre another small River two Miles from Manamba poures down out of Machicore and runs South-South-west Four Miles from that are two other little Brooks that fetch their original out of a small adjacent Mountain The Coast of Caremboulle the outermost South-side of Madagascar stretcheth East and West but beginneth from the River Manamba to run North-west to that of Manerandre and from thence to Manamba and Machicore The Land of Caremboulle is dry and parched yet hath some few good Pastures stock'd with Cattel In Ampatre grows abundance of Cotton whereof they make Clothes and some Silk The Territory of Mahafalle Houlouve Siveh and Youronhehok MAhafalle seated farther to the West with the Sea-coast reacheth to the Salt-River call'd in Portuguese Sacalite about fifteen French Miles from Manomba and Hachicore This River lying in five and twenty Degrees South-Latitude cometh out of the Region of Houlouve beginning at the Mouth of the said Sacalite and shooteth into the Countrey two days Journey Siveh runneth along the Sea-coast about four Miles in length After Siveh followeth Youronhehok wherein appears the Bay of St. Augustine Yonglahe a great River receiveth on its North-side The River Yonglahe besides many petty Brooks the Water of three larger Streams viz. Ranoumanathi Ongehahemassei and Sacamare It riseth out of the Mountain of Manamboulle and runs to the West having its outlet Southerly into the Sea by a very fair Bay call'd by the Portuguese St. Augustine but by the Inhabitants Ongelahe It lieth in three and twenty Degrees South-Latitude defended from hurtful Winds and from the South to the North-west passable for great Ships yet hath some Cliffs lying on both sides dangerous for their coming in On the South-side of the Bay the French have erected a Fort resembling four small Bulwarks surrounded with Stakes or Pallisado's and a Trench of three Fathom broad and two Foot deep in Water having on one side a Way in the Trench above ten Foot broad by which they enter into the Fort. About the Year Sixteen hundred forty and four the English Landed here four hundred Men but near three hundred with the Captain dy'd by the Feverish malignity of the Air and Hunger at last the remainder were deliver'd from the jaws of Death by means of a Ship that Touched at this Place and carry'd them from thence for all usually in their Voyages to the East-Indies make some stay here for refreshing and bring their Sick there to Land to recover their health The Territory of Machicore THe Territory of Machicore a great Countrey stretcheth the whole length of the River Yonghelahe that is East-North-East and West-South-west seventy French Miles and the like difference from East to West but from the North to the South not above fifty that is from the aforesaid River to Ampatre and Mahafalle but lies utterly waste This Province as also those of Concha Manamboulle Alfissach and Mahafalle stood formerly under the Government of one Lord call'd Dian Balonalen that is Master of a hundred thousand Parks Then was the whole in Peace and flourished in happiness and Riches even to excess But after the death of Balonalen who left several Sons they fell into Wars for the Inheritance in such a measure that they were all extirpated From Onghelahe right Northwards appear two great Rivers the one call'd Ranoumanithi spoken of before and Ranoumene which comes out of Anachimoussi and poures its Water in two and twenty Degrees South-Latitude into a Bay near the Sea and a third less known by the name of Ranoumanithi running towards the West-South-west into a Bay in twenty Degrees South-Latitude This Countrey the Portuguese call Terra del Gada that is The Countrey of Cattel from the vast Herds thereof breeding in it There are three other Rivers run towards the West the one Sohavianh the other Soumada and the third Manatangh all flowing into a great Bay in nineteen Degrees Higher to the Northward the French have hitherto little knowledge of this Island and the Portuguese have for these many years discover'd all upon the Sea-coast except some few Places as the Countrey or Bay of Paxel of St. Andrew Cabo di Donna nostra Cunha Rio de St. Andreas Rio de Diego Soares and lastly the Cape of St. Sebastian the uttermost North-west Point of this Island We will proceed now to give you some account of the general state of the Island They find Iron and Steel in great abundance which they work and cleanse with more ease and less labour than with us for the Smiths take a Basket full of the Mineral as they find it ready and lay it upon red hot Coals between four Stones set and closed about with Clay and blown up with a pair of Bellows made in manner of a Wooden Pump with which blowing the Mineral within an hours time melts and so drawn off and forced into Bars or Staves of three or four pound There are also as they say Mynes
ones Fist the longer the Flesh is boyl'd the harder it grows except it be the Breast which is very good to eat The Sea-men that first saw them gave them the name of Loathsom Fowls Bats as big or rather bigger than Pigeons with a Head like a Cat flie there in great numbers hanging in the Trees and doing much hurt to other Fowls Another sort of these are hairy all over their Bodies like Monkies or Cats and therefore some have call'd them Flying Cats for they are as big as a Hen or Goose such as these are found in several places of Asia as in the Kingdom of Mogor in the Territory of Casmir in Suratta and neighboring Islands and likewise in Brasile they keep in the closest Woods and hang with their Claws in the day-time on the Branches of Trees and shew more like hanging Bags than Beasts or Fowls The China's in the Province of Xensi eat their Flesh with a great appetite and report it better and more savoury than that of a Hen in the nights they miserably torment Cows Goats and Sheep by sucking out their Blood Fish may be plentifully taken in the Rivers within the Countrey as without in the Sea with little pains two or three Tubs full at one haling among which the ignorant Sea-men sometimes catch a sort of Fishes of a red colour but so poysonous that he that eats of it hath for some days together a most intolerable pain There are also Sea and Land-Turtles but the best not pallatable and of an uncouth aspect but of the first some have three hundred Eggs in their Bodies as big as Hen-Eggs and Shells wherein ten or twelve men can stand and one of them alive as they say can carry seven men The Island of Diego Rodrigue or Diego Rois and the Islands Primieras Angoxos or Angoises and Veiques THe Islands of Diego Rois and according to the Portuguese Diego Rodrigue or Rodrigo lieth in the Altitude of twenty Degrees two and twenty Miles from Madagascar in the East and not inhabited The Islands in Portuguese call'd Ilhas Primieras that is The first Islands lie over against the Coast of Sofale in sixteen Degrees South-Latitude and the Islands of Angozas to the number of four hard by the Coast of Mozambique Beyond the Cape of St. Sebastian on the Coast of Sofale towards the North in four and twenty Degrees South-Latitude appear several Isles some bigger some less but all call'd Veiques nine Miles from the Continent and eight ten and twelve Miles distant from each other These yield Rice Mille and a great many Cattel The Sea-shore offers Ambergreece which the Moors carry to sell to other Places and likewise great and small Pearls which the ignorance of the finders spoil with boyling The Inhabitants drive a Trade with those of the Main Land and are all Mahumetans The Islands of Comorre or Comarre and Gomara THese by a general Name call'd Comarre or Gomara and by Vincent de Witt taken for the Thieves Island lie between Madagascar and the Main Land of Mozambique Linschot saith there is onely one Sanutus averrs them to be three Pyrard and the foremention'd Vincent five others eight and some for four as Molaloa or Molaile Angazesia or Augazia Ivany or Amtuane Sir Thomas Rot. and Maota or Majotta which last three lie close together but Angazesia somewhat Northerly and Molaloa in twelve Degrees and twenty Minutes Angezia lieth North-west five Miles from Molaloa with its farthest Point in eleven Degrees and five Minutes and with the nearest in eleven Degrees and six Minutes The South-side lieth very high out of the Water Ivanny hath its situation Eastward of Majotta and Molaloa both which have a good Coast All these Islands but chiefly Molaloa have abundance of Cows Oxen Goats Sheep with great and broad Tails Coneys Hens and other Fowls several sorts of Fruits as sowre and sweet Oranges great and small Citrons Coco-Nuts Bananossen Honey Betel-Leaves and according to Sanutus Ginger Sugar and Rice which boyl'd gives a Violet-colour Moors Angazesia which drive a Trade with Beasts and Fruits in many places on the Coasts and the Eastern Islands in exchange for Calico's and other Clothes and Cotton Stuffs Their Bread is made of Chesnuts Baked in an Oven with a little Honey and their Drink Palm-Wine and the Juice of Coco-Nuts They never let their Women be seen with any Strangers but with permission of the Sultan Many amongst them can Speak and Write Arabick some also Portuguese which they learn at Mozambique where they come to Trade with Barks of thirty or forty Tuns apiece The Houses in Molaloa are built of Stone and daub'd over with Mortar with low Roofs cover'd with Boards and Leaves over them Angazesia stands divided among the several Lords that of Ivanny one peculiar Governour claims by the Title of Sultan who gave Molaloa to his Children viz. two Sons and one Daughter each of whom during their lives held their parts severally The Sultan keeps a great Train according to his manner being continually attended by fifty Men and his Habit a red and blew Cloth hanging over his Knees down to his Feet wearing a Turbant from which his Subjects vary little Both the Grandees and meaner sort of People chew continually a mixture of Oysters-shells and Nuts Areka with Betel-Leaves which cleanseth and fastneth the Teeth The Island of Ferdinando Po. NOt far from Guinee lie four Islands viz. of Ferdinando Po Princes Island St. Thomas and Anobon The Island of Ferdinando Po the Name of the first Discoverer who himself call'd it Ilhas das Formosa that is The Fair Island lieth in three Degrees and a half North-Latitude between the high-High-land of Amboyses and Rio des Camarones about four Miles and a half from the Main Land It seems the biggest of all the four although St. Thomas come near it rises very high and produces the Root Mandihoka Tobacco Rice and Fruit-Trees The People are wild barbarous and deceitful Govern'd by seven Lords continually Warring one against another No People of Europe come thither to Trade because the Inhabitants upon their Landing make away with all speed so that they onely put in there for fresh Water The Princes Island THe Princes Island or Ilha de Principe so call'd in Portuguese because a Portuguese Prince did find it out first of all being the smallest of the four it lieth in two Degrees North-Latitude thirty Miles from the Main Land of Africa and about four and twenty Northward of St. Thomas On this Island blows a more serene and wholsomer Air than on that of St. Thomas On the Shore appears a little Town containing about two hundred Houses and defended with Breast-works three Foot high against any Onset within which stand four small Cannon which the Inhabitants have formerly gotten from some Shipwrack The Countrey hath many Trees most of which produce Oranges Lemons Banano's Coco-Nuts and such like There are also Sugar-Canes and Cotton of which the Women Weave their own wearing Clothes
Ages known to the Antients When found in the time of Pliny Mela and Strabo but by negligence of Posterity the places lost as to knowledge though Geographers had preserv'd their memory by Recording their Names which gave the curious cause of enquiry Some Centuries they continu'd forgotten till in the Year Four hundred and five John King of Castile transferr'd all his Right therein to a French Nobleman of Chaux in Normandy by name John of Betancourt who provided with Ammunition and Victuals Sailing thither at their first coming took in the Haven of Lancerota and the Castle and having built the Cloyster of St. Francis together with a Church return'd victorious to Spain where according to Grammay for a Sum of Money he tranferr'd his Right to Diego de Herrera who subdu'd the Island of Fort-aventure to which he first gave the name of St. Bonaventure But Sanutus writes that Betancourt took in the Island of Lancerota and Fort-aventura by the Consent and at the Charge of the King of Castile to whom he sold the Inheritance thereof after his death Grammay affirms That Diego de Herrera made himself Master of Ferro and Gomere but not able to defend his Conquest he sold his Interest in the whole to King Ferdinand who after a doubtful and hot dispute with the Inhabitants overcame the Grand Canary Afterwards Alphonses and Bartelt de Lugo sent thither in the Year Fifteen hundred and twelve subjected Ferro and de Palma Sanutus on the other side mentions That Gomere and Ferro with the three other Grand Canary Palma and Teneriff were found first by Alphonses de Lugo and Peter de Vera Noblemen of Xeres and by order of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella and that Palma and Teneriff were subdu'd by Alphonses de Lugo and the three other by Peter de Vera and Michael de Maxica If we enter into a serious scrutiny of the quantity of those Islands in general The quantity of the Islands in general we shall find that in respect of their Scituation being near the Tropick of Cancer they are subject to great heat sufficiently testifi'd by the early Harvest in March and April The Grounds boast a more than ordinary fertility but especially they carry Repute and Glory for the Delicious Canary-Wine wherewith they furnish the whole world Sanutus avers That formerly but one of them brought forth this Wine and Corn but now all are equally productive of both There are also Figgs Oranges Pomegranates Citrons Peaches and other Fruits besides many Sugar-Canes Palm-Trees and Pepper-Trees which grow on the Banks of the Rivers There grows also a Plant commonly call'd Oriselle held by most Herbalists to be the Phalaris of Dioscorides and by De la Champ upon Pliny for the Gierst of Theophrastus from whence grows the Canary Seed which the Inhabitants propagate diligently to feed Canary Birds They have also a black Gum or Pitch stiled Bre but principally in Teneriff burn'd out of Pine in the following manner They cut the Trees in pieces which they lay cross one upon another over a Trench whereinto the Pitch dissolving by the heat of the fire falls They are competently rich in Cattel Cattel as Oxen Goats Wild-Asses Roe-Bucks with many sorts of Fowl amongst which Canary-Birds which sing very clear and pleasantly The Inhabitants are a sturdy and strong people The constitution of the Inhabitants neither White nor Black but Tauny with flat and broad Noses lively and nimble Spirited stout-hearted and inclin'd to Wars There remain yet some few of the antient Barbarous People call'd by the Spaniards Guanchas but they have in some measure laid aside their Native rudeness Some of them seem to have a Caninus Appetitus an unsatisfi'd Voracity so that one of them will sometimes eat up twenty Rabbets and a whole Goat at a Meal By continual converse most of them besides their Lingua Vernacula or Mother-Tongue speak good Spanish In Grand Canary the chiefest of the whole knot Government the Bishop and Inquisitors have their Seat and the Chief Governor a Spaniard his Residence attended by all inferior Ministers of Justice for the deciding of differences arising between the Inhabitants And by the equal care both of the Ecclesiastical and Civil Power Christianity hath gain'd so firm a footing Religion that admits of no Opponent or Rival those obstinate persons that fled into the Mountains being utterly extirpated The Merchandize brought from thence are Canary-Wines Goat-Skins Sugar and such like The Grand-Canaries THe Grand-Canaries according to the common opinion is the same with the Ancients so lying Westward of Lancerote near the Cape of Bajader but more Northerly seven and twenty degrees and thirty minutes from the Equator the length accounted thirty French or eighteen Dutch Miles though Thevet shortens the length and in breadth gives it no more than twelve French Here stands the Metropolis of the whole being the Bishops See containing the Cathedral and some Cloysters of St. Francis and others They have besides the Cities of Galdar and Guia with divers dispers'd Cloysters built by the Munificence and Generosity of the Genoese Merchants It excells in grandeur and fertility all the rest being inhabited by nine or ten thousand Souls holding a Jurisdiction over them as well in Spiritual as Temporal Affairs Fortaventure or Fuerteventura FOrtaventure or Fuerteventura by some taken for the Casperia of Ptolomy Gramay lib. 9. c. 3. and Capraria of Pliny lieth close to the Main Land of Barbary in eight and twenty degrees North-Latitude Northward of Lancerote and Westward of the Grand-Canaries fifteen Miles in length and three in breadth strengthen'd with three Cities on the Sea-Coast namely Lanagla Tarafalo and Pozo Negro On the North side opens a Haven call'd Chabras and another on the West side very convenient Lancerote LAncerote Bacchius or Lancerota as some imagine the Pluitalia of Ptolomy and Pluvalia of Pliny though more probably it might be Ferro which lieth Northerly of Fuerteventura and Westerly of the Grand Canaries in nine and twenty Degrees and thirty Minutes of North-Latitude twelve Miles in length and seven Miles in breadth Gramay placeth in it the City Cayas which in the Year Sixteen hundred and eighteen together with the Island was Plunder'd by the Tukish Pyrates of Algier who carry'd away Captive fourteen hundred and sixty eight Men. Teneriff Teneriff or Tenarife supposed to be the Nivaria of Pliny lieth to the West six Miles from the Grand Canaries in seven and twenty Degrees and thirty Minutes North-Latitude Thevet and Sanutus make it the biggest of all the Canary Isles extending the length of it to fourteen Legaues but Gramay will not allow so much It hath on the North-side the Haven of Santa Cruize and three fine Cities Lagana Ortone and Garrico together with St. Christophers Here stands the so fam'd Mountain by the Moors call'd Elbard by the Spaniards El Pico de Terrairo and by us The Pike of Teneriff thought not to have
amongst the People who all cry'd Vive le Grand Valette that is Long live the Grand Valette The Charges to the Workmen amounted daily to the Sum of fifteen hundred or two thousand Crowns but to ease the Payment and to make good the Charges the Grand Master caus'd Copper Money to be made One Piece to the value of two Tarins on the one side with the Arms of the Order and the Grand Master and on the other side with the Mark or Ensign of his Dignity with these Words about the Border Non Aes sed Fides that is Not Coyn but Fidelity The Island of Pantalaree THis Island which Mercator holds to be the Cossyra of Ptolomy but others the Pacinia of the same Author lieth between Sicily and the Main Land of Africa or between Malta and Tunis two or three Miles from the City Mahometa right over against Susa a City in the Kingdom of Tunis in five and thirty Degrees North Latitude according to Hues It comprehends in Circuit about seven or eight Miles and in breadth three or four On the Sea-shore toward the North side lieth a City of the same Name with the Island Fortified with an unaccessible Castle built upon a steep and pointed Rock The most part of it appears Mountainous full of great Rocks and Cliffs yielding a glittering black Stone In the midst of the Island may be seen an Abyss or Bottomless-pit call'd Fossa The dryness of the Soil makes it uncapable to bring forth Rain But it affords variety of Pot-herbs abundance of Cotton Annise Capers Figs Melons and excellent Grapes There grow also little Trees by the Moors call'd Ver and by those of Sicily Sinko which bears a round sharp and red Fruit but becoming black in ripening of which the Inhabitants make Oyl useful not onely to burn in Lamps but to eat wherewith the Women anoint their Heads and Hair both for Ornament and to make it grow thicker There are no Horses but Oxen in great numbers with which they Till the Ground These Islanders live hardily and are dexterous in Swimming and although they use both the Arabick Habits and Language yet they have approv'd themselves to be good Christians Thus having penetrated the Center and Inmost Parts of Africa till of late altogether unknown and accurately set forth the Circumference and Coasts of its vast Dominions Describing exactly and by good Authority large Tracts of Land hitherto not so much as once heard of or in the least surveyed by the most Modern Authors Our next Voyage by Gods Conduct we intend for America hoping to receive that good Encouragement that shall enable us to lead you through that New and Golden World where you shall meet with the like or more Variety of Wonders than hitherto hath pierc'd any English Ear. FINIS Directions for placing the Maps and Sculps in AFRICA THe Map of Africa Fol. 2 Aegypt Fol. 35 Alexandria Fol. 55 Cairo Fol. 65 The Caravan Fol. 69 Balzom Boome c. Fol. 74 The Aegyptian Pyramids a whole Sheet Fol. 77 Another half Sheet of the Pyramids ibid. The inside of the great Pyramid ibid. A half Sheet of the Mummies Fol. 84 Datura Cassia Plants Fol. 101 The Map of Barbary Fol. 146 Fez and Morocco Fol. 158 The Royal Palace with part of the City Morocco Fol. 164 Salee Fol. 178 La Rache Fol. 195 Arzilla Fol. 196 Tangier Fol. 197 The Fight and Relation of it Fol. 219 Algier or Alzier ibid. Gigeri or Gigel Fol. 244 Tunis Fol. 251 Tripoli Fol. 273 Nigritarum Regio Fol. 315 Guinee Fol. 376 The Fort Tacaray Fol. 416 Castel del Mina Fol. 424 Castel del Mina as in the Portuguese time Fol. 425 Castle Cormantine Fol. 431 The City of Benyn Fol. 470 Aethiopia Inferior Fol. 489 The City of Lovango Fol. 491 Regna Congo Angola Fol. 522 Bansa or the City Salvador Fol. 524 Lovando St. Paulo Fol. 552 Cabo de Bona Esperanza Fol. 584 The Hottentots and their Clothing Fol. 590 Aethiopia Superior vel Interior Fol. 632 In the ISLANDS INsula St. Laurentii vulgo Madagascar Fol. 660 St. Hellena Fol. 727 Insula Promontorii Fol. 728 The Fort Orange and Nassau upon the Island Goree The Fort Nassau within Fol. 732 Insula Canaria Fol. 733 The Pico of Teneriff Fol. 736 Melete Insula vulg Malta Fol. 745 Disegno della Citta Valette Fol. 746 The half Sheets whereon are two Plates are to be plac'd according to the direction of the first