The Encrease whereas the Moderns say that time onely is the Encrease which is between the least and greatest depth of Water and the other wherein the Water returns into his own Channel The Decrease The Nile then flows by degrees from the later end of June How long the Nile increases in Egypt At the first very little scarce rising up two or three fingers in twenty four hours nor much more any day after while the Sun remains in Cancer but when the Sun passes into Leo it rises first half a foot afterwards half a foot and a palm immediately a foot and lastly a whole cubit almost every day so continuing till the full height Thus the Grounds lying near the River are first moistened afterwards those afar off and at last all Egypt over Then the Earth which a little before was dry Land becomes Navigable and the River whose Channel in many places was scarce broader than a Furlong enlarges to * Above thirty English miles three hundred Furlongs nor would it stay there if the Hills on both sides did not curb and hinder it The Nile in this expansion at his height which ordinarily happens the Sun in the middle of Leo though sometimes when in the fifth or sixth degree of Libra doth not presently decrease but continues many times at the same depth twenty days and more till the Sun enters Virgo then by degrees lessening and running away before which time all the Dikes Ditches and Damms are opened to receive and detain the water Then may it easily be perceived how the Waters retire gradatim first from the Grounds of Upper Egypt that border upon Ethiopia afterwards from the High-grounds of Lower Egppt which naturally comes to pass for the Water glides through the High-grounds not running off indeed but kept up in Ditches that the Mud which improves the Land may be ready to be spread so much the nearer At length after the Autumnal Equinox the Water returns into its natural Channel and that which was thus long by Dikes kept up in the Upper-grounds let out by Sluices first in Upper and after in Lower Egypt And although sometimes there is a difference in the rising of the Nile according to the little or much rain falling in Ethiopia yet the whole Countrey is clear'd and the Water return'd to its Channel before our eight and twentieth of September whereupon immediately the Grounds are ploughed with small Coulters and made fit for Sowing and the Countrey-man when the Sun enters Scorpio The Nile almost always either increasing or decreasing puts his Seed into the Earth however though in its own Channel the River ceases not lessening till the end of May the next year It remains now that from this Overflowing of the Nile The Current of Nile sometimes swift and sometimes flow we shew the swiftness or slowness of his Current and how it varies at several times for the making which appear you are to know that in Ethiopia it flows up at least twenty days and sometimes a whole moneth ere it begins to rise in Egypt at the beginning scarce running a league in an hour whereas when the Water is come to the highest it passes so swiftly forward that if the Channel of the Nile be above four hundred and fifty leagues and more in length as by reason of its windings and reaches some running almost point-blank backwards it may well be upon an equal calculation it will appear that it may run three leagues in one hour we must confess it is not so swift in Egypt because the Channel is like a Sea about ten leagues broad which causes it necessarily to flow slower whereas it 's circumscribed and confined in narrow limits in Ethiopia and so consequently goes there more swift But now to return to our quest of the Head Sources or Fountains of this famous River The Head-Springs of Nile where as supposed Vossius Vossius gives us this account Although the Head-springs of other Rivers are not onely in places far distant from their mouths It receives all its water out of Ethiopia in regard where Rain falls Brooks and small Channels are usually found which by their confluence make the great ones full it is clear otherwise with the Nile being onely indebted to Egypt for a passage not receiving any addition of Waters there for all Egypt except where bordering on the Sea is altogether void of Rain but comes out of that part of Ethiopia that now is call'd Abyssine so that with reason there must we look for the Head-veins of Nile Among the many Heads ascribed thereto the farthest and most Southerly making the rivers Maleg and Anguet which joyn in the Countrey of Damut and make the West Channel retaining the name Maleg till after a course of fourscore leagues it falls into the middle Channel accounted the chief beginning in the Hilly Countrey of Sakala The Sea Bar-Dambea wherein also lies the large Sea Dambea eighty and eight leagues long and about two hundred over call'd Bar-Dambea by the Inhabitants first falling in the Countrey of Bagameder thence gliding forward through the Regions of Amaharam Olekam Gauz Bizamo and Gongos and increased by the addition of other Rivers turns towards the North visiting the Fields of Fasculo at last intermingling with the River Malegt where it borders upon Nubia The third Channel is the rich River Takaze rising from three Springs on the borders of the Kingdom of Angola whence after a Western course between Daganam and Haogam it winds towards the North by the Kingdom of Tygre and dividing the Region of Syre turns Eastward Afterwards falling into the River Mareb or Marabo which begins near Baroa they joyntly water the Countrey of Dengiri call'd by the Moors who enjoy it Ballai and unites at last with the Nile by the City Jalak There are the three Rivers which principally make up the Nile and enrich his Bosome with such plentiful Streams Thus far have we traced the opinions of Kircher and Vossius Now we proceed to declare what the Cataracts thereof be divers having written strange things thereof But first as to the name It is call'd by Pliny and other Latine Authors and by the people also who live thereabouts Catadupae and by the present Inhabitants Katadhi which in their Tongue signifies A Rushing Noise This happens at the Hill Gianadel where his even Current is broken by the sharp rocks through or over which it makes passage The place of this Fall according to the Antients contains * Above six miles fifty Furlongs filled up with huge and inaccessible rocks over which the Nile making his way falls with such an impetuous force and prodigious noise that as the Antients write the people who dwell thereabouts were all deaf by reason thereof But Experience now adays hath taught us that this Noise hath no such effect whilst the River keeps his usual stream but when he begins to rise the Noise encreases but yet is never so
Ammianus like Livy who said that it was a work becoming the most Excellent Wise and Provident Kings And Ammianus pathetically Among all the Buildings the Serapeum bad the pre-eminence wherein was that invaluable Library containing all antient Records of Memorable Transactions in seven hundred thousand Books by the diligence of the Ptolomies Kings of Egypt gathered together but in the Wars of Alexandria and Destruction of the City burnt by that most Pernicious destroyer * Caesar being the most eminent for Arms and Acts accounted this his greatest misfortune that he so great a Lover of Books should be the cause of such an irrepairable destruction Agellius Julius Caesar All the Books says Agellius were burnt in the fore-mentioned Wars of Alexandria when the City was destroyed not wilfully nor of set purpose but perhaps by the multitude of helpers to save it He excuses not onely Julius Caesar but also the Romane Souldiers and lays the fault upon the unruly crew of assistants But Dio and Plutarch speak clean otherwise Dio and Plutarch as may be read more at large in their Writings Thus had this never to be parallel'd Library its end in the hundred eighty and third * Not much above forty years before the Incarnation Olympiade after it had continued an hundred and twenty four years Another Library was after re-erected by Cleopatra in the Serapeum It is again rebuilt by Cleopatra which by the help of Mark Anthony who obtained the Attalian and Pergamenian Libraries was greatly adorned and enriched and in being to the time of Primitive Christianity and was there preserved so long as the Serapeum which was a Building of great Entertainment and wonderful Art continued And at last with the Serapeum utterly subverted which at length the Christians in the Reign of the Emperor Theodosius the Great as a Harbor of Infidelity threw to the ground Over against Alexandria stands the renowned Island Pharos The Island Pharos by the Inhabitants call'd Magraf or Magragh and by the Arabians Magar Alexandri that is Pharos of Alexandria and by Ortelius Pharion from the Lanthorn Tower which stands upon the Island and now call'd Garophalo In the time of Homer Alexandria and this Island were severed by a Part of the Sea about a days sayling from the Land whereof himself thus speaks Od. lib. 4. Pharos an Isle amidst the swelling Deep ' Gainst Egypt lyes from whence a nimble Ship May sayl 'twixt Sun and Sun with Sayls a trip 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hom. Od. 1ib 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. But now it is part of the Main Land the reason whereof is because the river Nile by his evomition of Soyl and Mud has constantly gained upon the Sea To this place of Homer Lucan alludes in his tenth Book thus Tunc claustrum Pelagi cepit Pharon Insula quondam In medio stetit illa mari sub tempore vatis Proteos at nunc est Pelleis proxima muris Then he took Pharos circled with the Main Where Fate fore-telling Proteus once did reign But now to Alexandria joyn'd Pinetus and others will have nothing lye between this City and Island but a Bridge but Villamont who hath searcht more narrowly saith Piuetus it is now united to the Continent and the Walls of the City in such manner Villamont that the Island makes two Points one Eastward another West 'T is united to the Main Land which almost meet in two other Points running from the Main Land into the Open Sea But makes two Haven leaving two Passages into the Havens one of which is call'd Porto Vecchio that is The Old Haven and hath no Defence as it is said but the Castle of the old City by the Italians nam'd Castel Vecchio But the other Haven hath two opposite Forts yet not so far distant but that they can answer and defend each other Two Castles nor can any Ship go in and out between them without leave The greater Fort is much the stronger having high Walls fenced with Towers besides a quadrangular Work of Defence And in it beneath is a Watch or Cour du Guâ—â—d for Security and above are Lights that give direction for Ships coming in to finde the Channel This great Castle on the right hand the Italians call Pharzion and that on the left Castelletto or The Little Castle Both of them are subject to great inconveniences by the want of fresh water which they are compell'd to fetch from the City every day on Camels backs The Soyl hereabout The nature of the Soyl in and about Alexandria as we said already is sandy bearing neither Bush nor Vine and so barren that it is unfit to be sown all the Corn that serves the City comes about forty miles off down the Artificial Channels of Nile There are some small Orchards but they onely produce Fruits so unwholesom that they commonly bring such as eat them into dangerous Feavers and other malignant Distempers They have abundance of Capers and Tamarisk-Plants and Hamala which is a Root they make Wine of like the Herb Anthillis by the Arabians named Killu or Kalli Kalli a Plant. and is of three sorts the two first are found in Europe but the third is peculiar to Egypt having few Leaves and very like Field-cypress but longer The Stalk is single and somewhat crooked out of which two or three small Branches shoot forth and grow upright each of which hath a Blade furnisht with five bending Leaves or more as appears ABOVE ENGRAVEN Venice Glasses made with the ashes thereof and other ingredients Out of these three sorts first dried in the Sun and then burnt Ashes are made from thence transported to Venice wherewith and a mixture of Soap and other Ingredients they make those most clear and chrystaline Glasses The Physical use of the Leaves and Juice so well known through Europe for their rarity It is also said that the Leaves beaten and taken in a convenient Vehicle cleanse Flegm and a dust Choller The same vertue is attributed to the strained Juice of them Thus much we have thought fit to say of Alexandria the Seat of the Antient Egyptian Kings and Birth-place of Ptolomy the Prince of Geographers and Astronomers from whence it must be concluded that all the state and ostentation of this City by Historians mentioned is to be understood of the time before its first destruction A great Staple of rich Merchandize still and therefore there are Consuls at Alexandria or Scanderoon at this day however notwithstanding the several desolations thereof yet always hath it driven on Trade and Merchandize by the continual coming in of Ships from several Countreys insomuch that divers European Princes have their Consuls there for the Management of Affairs and Deciding Controversies that may arise between their inhabitants and their Subjects to this day ¶ NExt Alexandria in the East lyeth the wasted City
others extend the Limits further Bulach by some supposed Babylon a Port belonging to Cairo on the East Bulach having formerly four thousand houses There dwell now Artificers and Tradesmen especially such as deal in Corn Oyl and Sugar The stately Churches and Palaces fronting the Nile yield a pleasant and delightful prospect although its beauty is much diminish'd and impair'd by the several Wars in which it had no mean share of Suffering Between Bulach and Grand Caire Lesbrechi lyeth a great place by the Inhabitants nam'd Lesbrechi frequently drown'd with the Nile which a little below Bulach divides into many branches whereof one runneth to Alexandria another to Damiata and others to several other places From Bulach to Grand Caire the Land is all flat and the way very pleasant being much frequented with Travellers but the most beautiful part is a place call'd Usbechia in the Suburbs near the City gate this Usbechia is a round piece of Land encompass'd about with Houses which yield a prospect infinitely pleasant not onely when the Fields are deck'd with Flowers but also when by the recess of Nile it seems like a drayn'd Pond full of various sorts of living Fishes Charaffa Charaffa otherwise Caraffar or Massar another part of the Suburbs lyes two Miles from Cairo it contained formerly two thousand Houses which extended seven Miles in circuit but long since this place where formerly the Sultans kept their Court hath lyen waste Here were many Monuments built with high and stately Arches and within adorn'd with several carv'd Images which the superstitious people worshipped as Consecrated Reliques of Saints covering the Floors with Tapestry Here also is a Custom-house whence the Wares which come from Sahid pay their Duties and there at this day Joseph's seven Granaries for Corn so suppos'd are shewed to Strangers Old Cairo stands conveniently towards the East Old Cairo but un-walled although Drusius bestows upon it a Wall of four and twenty Miles At this day as Belloon says there are scarce Houses enough to make a small Village which is inhabited by Greek Christians and Armenians Pet. de la Vall. This Old Cairo Peter de la Valla supposes to be the antient Egyptian Babylon now lying full of ruinous heaps the Houses few and standing every where at distance one from another wherein now some few Christians inhabit here were according to the same de la Valla several Churches whereof one dedicated to St. Barbara with some Reliques of her and other Saints St. Barbara's and St. Georges Churches another of St. George built upon a Hill so as it may be viewed both from the Old and New Cairo and the Countrey round about with great delight Another was heretofore probably the Church of the Coptists built upon the ruines of a small House wherein they say the Virgin Mary dwelt a long time while she was in Egypt The Reliques of this Holy House are yet to be seen under the great Altar of this Church in a deep dark place with some small Pillars whereupon the Altar rests and some remainders of pieces of Timber Besides these Suburbs lying without Grand Caire there are three other Suburbs as Beb-zuaila or Beb-zuila Gemethailon and Beb-elloch The Suburb Beb-zuaila The Suburb Beb-zuaila otherwise Missuletiffe or Miffruletich lyeth at the going out of the Gate bearing the same name containing about two thousand Houses and from West to South about a mile and a half and towards the North about a mile to the Suburb Beb-elloch Here are many Mosques and fair Halls for Guilds especially one built by Soldan Hesen as also a Castle of the Soldans at this day the Court of the Turkish Bassa's lying at the foot of the Fountain Mochattan surrounded with strong and great Walls The Palaces being many and large are pav'd with various-colour'd Marble and the Rooms rarely Painted and richly Gilt. The Windows curiously made with Painted glass of several colours and the Doors of excellent Wood carved and wrought with all sorts of Artificial work and gilded Here formerly resided the Soldans Wives Children Attendants Waiters and Life-guard And in times of Feasting they shew'd here their Magnificence at the State-Receipts and Entertainments given to Ambassadors when brought to Audience or otherwise admitted to more private Courtly invitations The great Suburb Gemethailon The Suburb Gemethailon reaching Westward to some decay'd places of Old Caire was founded before the erecting of Cairo it self by one Tailon a Subject to the Califfe or Governor of Bagdet a Commander in Egypt who left the old City and came to dwell in this Suburb where he built a Stately Palace and a Magnificent Mosque Here also dwell Tradesmen and Artificers who for the most part are Moors of Barbary The Suburb Beb-ellock which is none of the least Beb-ellock Suburb stands about a mile from Grand Caire having in it near three thousand Houses inhabited severally by Artificers of all sorts In a void and spacious part whereof is a great Palace with a Court of Justice founded by a Mammalucke nam'd Jasbach then one of the Sultans Councellors from whom it took the name Jasbachia The common people hereof after the Mahumetan Publick * The Turks Divine Service Sahala is ended give themselves up to all lasciviousness and Debaucheries and seeing of vain Sights and idle Shews for out of the City Stage-players Juglers and Morrice-Dancers present themselves shewing many Camels Asses and Dogs in a ridiculous manner Dancing to make sport Fencing Masters also and Singers who by their Gestures and Songs seem to act to the life Egypt Conquer'd by the Arabians Grand Caire lyeth very near the middle of Egypt The scituation of Grand Caire about two thousand paces to the Eastward of Nile between the ruines of Old Caire and the Circassiers-street upon a plain below the foot of the Hill Elmucattant or Moncatun where is a strong Castle giving to the City the repute of a most remarkable Fortification In this City are and reside persons of almost all Nations How inhabited coming thither to Trade and Merchandise But the principal inhabitants are Moors Turks Jews Coptists Grecians and Armenians At this day it is the prime of all the Egyptian Cities exceeding in bigness Rome Constantinople Villamont It s compass and most others by us accounted the greatest being in circuit according to Villamont two and twenty Leagues so that a Horseman in full speed can scarce ride about it in ten hours but Grand Caire Old Caire and the Suburbs are three Dutch Miles long but Villamont says Old and New Caire together with Bulach and Chatafat are thirty Leagues long and twenty broad The City is Walled round except on the side next Nile The form of it Villamont Belloon Villamont says the form of it is Oval but Belloon Triangular of which the Castle lying upon a Hill makes one Angle whence the Walls are the second and thence going to to the North shapes
City are many old Buildings and some Ruines signs of its former Greatness and about half a mile distant from it a Triumphal-Arch built after the Roman fashion From the City they go to the River by steps cut out in a Rock within which is a Vault whose Roof Columns and Floor are all of the same Piece Not far off rises a Fountain of warm Water a little Eastward of which by a little Rill of fresh Water is a Structure of Marble garnished with Carved Images which the Common People imagine to have been an Academy and that the Master and Scholars for their wickedness were metamorphos'd into those Statues Sanutus placeth the City Chollo Kollo formerly call'd Kullu and now by some Alkol by others Kol and Kollo near Constantine being built by the Romans at the edge of the Mediterrane-Sea adjoyning to a high Mountain but open and without Walls It hath a Castle founded upon a Rock with a convenient Road for Ships formerly much frequented by Genouese and French Merchants Sukaicada Sukaicada about thirty miles from Constantine hath also a Haven full of Trading and a Street-way running from it a mile and a half in Length Five or six miles from Constantine The Village Estore not far from the Cape of Gigeri lieth the Village Estore famous for its Antiquity and a small but convenient Haven ¶ THe Mountains are many The Mountains of Constantine covering the whole Coast from the North to the West and so to the East beginning at the Mountains of Bugie and reaching alone the Mediterranean-Sea about thirty miles from whence arise many Fountains and Rivers that taking their Course through the Plains by their fertilizing Streams greatly enrich the Places through which they pass Here also appear scatter'd up and down many Ruines of Streets and Castles built by the Romans ¶ THe Land about Constantine is bountiful to the Countreyman rendring to his labour a thirty-fold return nor are the Mountains much behind yielding good Corn besides plenty of Olives Figs and other Fruits yet nevertheless through the insolency of the Arabians are but thinly inhabited In the beforemention'd warm Bath there is abundance of Snails with shells which the silly Women cried out upon for Evil Spirits and Devils attributing to them the cause not onely of all Diseases but other evil Occurrents As a remedy of all mishaps coming by them they use to kill a white Hen and thrust it with their feet into a Dish so bringing it with a Wax-Candle to the Bath and leaving it which is soon conveigh'd away and eaten I hope you will not think by the Snails ¶ THe Inhabitants of the City Constantine are rich proud and clownish but withall couragious those of Kollo friendly and courteous great Traders and Lovers of Arts and Sciences The Mountaineers are much Civiler here than in Bugie but ignorant in all parts of Literature however they learn and use many Handicraft Trades and without doubt would much improve themselves if they would leave off those continual Wars they manage among themselves about their Wives which often run over from one Mountain to another to get change of Men. By this means generally the Men are Souldiers so that they can bring into the Field forty thousand Men of the which perhaps four thousand Horse The Citizens of Constantine Kollo and Gigeri yea and the Alarbs come to their Weekly Markets to whom without exception they equally sell what Fruits or other Commodities they have ¶ THe whole Government is Commanded by a Provincial Lieutenant It s Government Residing in Constantine Heretofore they had Kings of their own but in the Year Fourteen hundred and twenty becoming subject to Tunis the Kings thereof bestowed it as a Principality on their eldest Sons but at last in the Year Fifteen hundred and twenty after Cheredine Barbarossa had taken Kollo those of Constantine weary of the Trunsian yoke voluntarily yielded themselves up into the hands of Barbarossa since which they have remained free from Tunis BONA PLiny and Ptolomy call'd this Countrey The Royal Hippon Its Borders for distinction from Diarrython Hippon but the Inhabitants in the Moorish Tongue name it Bederna now a Member of Algier though heretofore computed under Constantine It lies encompassed with Mountains on the West and South and which reach about twenty miles that is from Bona to Begge and in breadth eight miles ¶ THe City Bona famous for having been the Episcopal See of St. Augustine The City Bona. is said to be built by the Romans upon sharp and very high Cliffs on the Mediterranean Sea having both within and without many Wells and Springs Sanutus and John Leo say that Bona lieth at present waste and depopulate and another City call'd Beldelhuneb or Beledel Ugneb built out of its Ruines whereas yet Marmol a Writer worthy of belief averrs that the City which the Europeans call Bona got the Name of Beledel Ugneb from the Moors so making them both one as indeed they are The compass thereof is small and the Streets very narrow so that it hath kept nothing of the former Beauty and antient Glory which it boasted of in the time of the Antient Father St. Augustine having been several times destroy'd by the Moors and Saracens particularly in Four hundred and Forty the very year wherein St. Augustine died A small Quarter of a Mile Southwards from the City lieth a remarkable Plain where yet are to be seen the Marks and Monuments of the Monastery and Cloyster which that Father caus'd there to be built which by the Foundation may be judg'd to have contain'd about an hundred Paces in Length and thirty in Breadth Near the Ruines of this Structure is a very fair and large Fountain which the Moors of this place do to this day call Saint Augustines Well Eastward of Bona lieth a handsome Cittadel built by the King of Tunis wherein the Governor keeps his Residence it is strongly fortifi'd and well provided with great Cannon and other Ammunition as well for fetching the Revenue from the Alarbs as to keep the Countrey in awe The usual Garrison two hundred Janizaries Mele or Mile Mele. formerly Tenare stands also near the Sea yielding Obedience at present to the Algerines but before subject to Constantine from which distant three miles The Walls are old and ruinous the Houses sometime three thousand now very few and those thinly inhabited yet the great Conduit in the very heart of the place is no little advantage to such as dwell there Tabarka Tabarka seated on the Sea-Coast and famous onely for the Coral-fishery close by it opposite thereto lies an Island of the same Name between which and the main Land is the distance of a mile and half ¶ THe Soyl of this Territory well deserves the Attribute of Bona The Soil of the Country Good abounding with fresh Valleys rich in Grain and delightful in the shadow of Jujuben-Trees whose Fruit the Inhabitants gather in
accounted a rich Man that can lay up two Tunns of Corn for his own use ¶ THe Revenue Tributes and Customs The Revenue and Trade which the Bassa receives yearly amounts to a hundred and eighty thousand Ducats Gramay all which come from the Customs set upon Exported and Imported Commodities the Poll-Money or Tribute of the Jews and the Contributions fetcht in by the Flying Armies of Dragoons from the Moors and Arabians in the Countrey The Venetians used formerly to Trade hither with their Galleys but have long discontinued going farther to Alexandria or Scandaroon there being no City of note between that and Tripolis The chiefest Trade now is in Blacks or Negro's which formerly were sold in Sicilia but now in Turky But when we have said all we must conclude that their Pyracies at Sea brings in their greatest Gain for though it be the most inconsiderable of all the Corsaire Towns yet they do much mischief which the fitness of their Scituation doth exceedingly promote though it is a place that usually all Christian Ships Laden with Merchandise to Alexandria Siorte or Seide Aleppo and other Ports that way must pass by THE ISLAND OF GERBES OR ZERBY THe Island of Gerbes The Names Ptolomy calld Meninx or Lotofagites Antoninus Gerba Mercator Zetha Thevet Glaukon the Spaniards Gelves the Arabians formerly according to Ananie Gezira and at present Algelbens and the now Inhabitants Gelbens Pliny saith it lies two hundred Paces to the West Entrance of the little Syrtes and so close to the Shore of the Main Land that it was formerly annexed by a Bridge which the Inhabitants upon the Report of an intended Invasion pulled down Leo Africanus Bigness and Gramay give it four Miles in Compass but Pliny inlarges its Length to eight Miles and its Breadth to six scituate in two and thirty Degrees Northern Latitude Ptolomy places two Cities on this Island Places Meninx and Gerra but Pliny three namely Meninx on the side next Africa Thoar on the other side and Sibele between which they say was overthrown in the Year Eleven hundred fifty nine and the whole Island wasted by the King of Sicily But at the present there are no Cities nor any thing else but some Huts scatter'd here and there far from one another onely on the North side there be some Villages under the Protection of the Fort wherein lies a Garrison of the Turks Thevet tells us there sometime were here Zadaique Zibida Camusa Agimur Borgi Rochere and Kantare but little remains of them besides the Names ¶ THe Ground The Soyl. though plain and even yet is sandy and barren so that the Inhabitants notwithstanding they use great care with all their industry get onely a small pittance of Barley But Dates Figs Olives and Grapes grow here without Cultivating The Island and the neighboring Shore Lotus-Tree produceth also the Lotus whose Fruit grows to the bigness of a Bean at first yellow but often changing Colour before it be perfectly ripe This Fruit is of so sweet and pleasant a Taste that the People from the eating thereof are call'd Lotofagi that is Lotus-Eaters This Name the Greeks imposed who for its extraordinary Deliciousness feigned that Forreigners after the eating of it forget their Native Countrey which Homer taking notice of recites that some of Ulysses Fellow-Travellers in their wandring falling in here inticed by the sweetness of this Fruit Homer would not return again His words are these 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Tost with cold Winds upon the raging Main The tenth the (b) The Ancients agree not on the Seat of these Lotophagi Artemidor◠says that they inhabited the Desarts of Africa South of Mauritania from the Atlantick Ocean even to Cyrene Others say that it is the Island Meninx which lies before the lesser Syrtis which is here denoted because there is abundance of those Lotus-trees in that Island which bear a very pleasant fruit and an Altar of Vlysses's still remaining Lotophagian Coasts we gain Who feed on Flowr's we din'd and water'd there When Thirst and Hunger satisfied were Two then to make Discovery I sent Of our prime men with them a Herald went Who found the Lotophagi planted there They pleasant Lotus for them did prepare Not meaning Harm now they who Lotus eat Ne'r mind returning to their Native Seat These whilst they shreek acting distracted Pranks I forc'd aboard and fasten'd to their Banks Then shipt I all the rest lest they should eat Sweet Lotus and their Native Soyl forget Most of the Inhabitants are Merchants carrying Cloth to Alexandria Leo 6. d. Sanut 5. b. and Raisins not onely thither but Barter with them to several other places Their Language the Morisk or antient African ¶ FOrmerly this Island had a particular Xeque but now is wholly under the Bashaw of Tripoli who raiseth from hence a great Revenue The Emperor Charles the Fifth Conquered it at the same time with Tripoli and put it under the Jurisdiction of the Vice-Roy of Sicily who kept it not long being deprived thereof by the Dukes d' Alva and Medina Coeli EZZAB EZzab or rather Azzab containeth the Countreys of Mecellata Mesrata Taurka and the Mountains Garian and Beniguarid This Territory begins at the Westerly end of the Mountains Garian and Beniguarid and ends at the outermost Borders of the Territory of Mesrata on the East Sanutus makes Ezzab to contain Ras Axara Tessuta Rasamisar Lepida formerly Eoa and Ruscelli Commenting upon Ptolomy believes it from the similitude of the Name Leptis out of whose Ruines Tripoli rose ¶ GArian a high and cold Mountain three Miles in length The Mountain Garian and as much in breadth lieth Northward of Great Atlas about four Miles from Tripoli and notwithstanding the sharpness of its Air is yet well inhabited containing by common repute a hundred and thirty Villages Beniguarid eighteen miles from Tripoli and a part of the Great Atlas boasts above an hundred and fifty inhabited Villes This Countrey affords little Corn but abundance of Dates Olives and Saffron held to excell all in these Parts both for Colour and goodness and is Transported to Gran-Cayre where it is sold dearer by a third part then other Saffron The Inhabitants of Mount Garian are faint-hearted and continually molested and Cow'd by the Arabs but those of Beniguarid are so Warlike that they not onely preserved their Liberty but kept both the Kings of Tripoli and
unsafe Road not onely lying open to the Sea-winds but full of blind Rocks and shifting Sands and a sprinkling of small Isles like Warts upon the Sea Beyond this Southward The Islands of Arguin opens another Bay in which are the Isles of Arguin and the Seven Cliffs which had once peculiar Names but now call'd onely Arguins from a Fort built on the chiefest of them by Alphonso first King of Portugal Its Names Anno 1441. But these were their former Names The White Island that the Portugals call Blanca because of the white Sands The Island of Skins by the In habitants call'd Adeger lying about two miles from the main Land Ilheo or Little Island otherwise call'd The Island de Las Garcas or Crane Isle not far from the main Land Nar and Tider two more near the Coast and lastly Arguin which now gives the denomination to all the rest long since possessed and fortifi'd by the Portugals Castle of Arguin whose Fort lies on a commanding Point strong built all of Stone four hundred and five and twenty Foot in circuit defended on the Land-side with a Wall or Out-work of eleven Foot thick and four and twenty high It hath also three Batetries two towards the Land and one to the Sea This Fort hath more than ordinary accommodation sixteen handsom Rooms of State and Address with their Apartments a large Kitchin good Cellars and other Offices and close by accommodated with a Fountain of fresh Water But in Sixteen hundred thirty and three on the nine and twentieth of January onely with three Ships of the Netherland West-India Company though so defensive the Portugals surprized with a pannick fear delivered it up to the Hollanders The Main Land Coasting this Bay is dry and barren but about five miles there are some Shrub and Heathy Grounds from whence those of Arguin fetch their Fewel Formerly there dwelt upon this Isle some Moors call'd Sebek-Moors who liv'd by Fishing and some Trade giving the fifth part of their Gain to the Castle Also the French Fisher-men yearly in December January and February using large Nets above fourscore Fathom long Fish up and down this Bay for Grampos's which they cut up at Land and dry in the Sun making Train-Oyl of them And also hereabouts the Portugals drive a notable Trade with the wild Arabs and the Whites bartering their Woollen and Linnen Cloth Silver course Tapestry but most of all Corn for Blacks Gold and Ostrich-Plumes They bring thither also Horses which yielded them a dozen or fifteen Slaves Under the Desart of Zannaga is also contained The Wild of Azoat The Desart of Azoat so call'd because of the general dryness and infertility reaching from the Pool of Azoat to that of Azoan near thirty miles distance from Tombut Here are to be seen two Stone Monuments with Inscriptions upon them signifying who were there Interr'd and the cause of their lying there which was thus One of them a wealthy Merchant travelling through those Defarts over-power'd by invincible Necessity suffering strangely by Thirst met by chance with a poor Carrier who had not yet spent all his Water though under the same calamity with whom he contracted at no less Rate than ten thousand Ducats which he laid down upon the Spot for the Moiety thereof but so it happened that neither of them had any great purchase for the Water being divided was soon exhausted and proved not sufficient to save either so that languishing with extream drought they both lost their lives and were there Interr'd The Desart of Zenega inhabited by the People Zanaga's is wondrous hot and hath little or no Water but what is bitter and brackish and those Pits or Wells are at least twenty miles one from another But the Wild of Zenega is destitute of all Water seldom or never raining there having but one Pit in all the way of thirty miles This Soyl is all Sandy and utterly unfruitful being a vast Plain so flat and level that the Traveller hath no mark to find his way or know where he is but is forced to steer his Coast by the Sun and Trade-Winds which blow always Easterly and other little knowledges they gather by former Prints from the Claws of Fowl as Crows Ravens and such like which always wait upon the Caravans as on great Armies expecting Prey for none ever travel through this Desart but with great Company This Countrey produces a kind of Grain like Wheat Plants or Vegetables which grows of its own accord without Sowing But those near the Banks of the River Zenega reap Barley not wanting Dates having also good store of Camels Goats and other Cattel The Inhabitants of these Desarts are Breberians Ludays Duleyns and Zenega's or Zanaga's by Sanutus call'd Azaneghes and some Arabs Sanutus who live upon others sweat and labour stealing their Cattel which they convey to Dara and elsewhere there bartering them for Dates Sometimes the Arabians of Beni-Anir pillage this Countrey between Nun and the City Tagaost Tegaza THe Desart of Tegaza so call'd from the chief Town Tegaza The Desart of Tegaza which hath also this denomination from the great quantity of Salt which is brought thither and from thence convey'd through this Wild to other Countreys This populous Dominion Borders Eastward on Zanaga's This Countrey though well inhabited is vexed in Summer with a dangerous South-Wind whose scorching blast strikes many blind and it hath also great scarcity of fresh Water Here are many Pits of pure white Salt round about which the Salt-boylers The Salt Pits being Strangers pitch their Huts and Tents and their business being done return with the Caravan to Tombut and there sell that Commodity being there very dear Those of Dara also send their Tivar Gold to Tombut The Gold of Tioar dispersing it from thence to Taragbel and Morocco Zuenziga THe Desart of Zuenziga Zuenziga beginning Westward on the Borders of Tegaza reaches Eastward to the Wilds of Haya Northerly confin'd with the Desart of Sugulmesse Tebelbelt and Beni-horai on the South with the Wilderness of Ghor lying near the Kingdom of Huber belonging to negro-Negro-Land The Desart of Gogden is compris'd under that of Zuenziga The Inhabitants of the Desart of Zuenziga are call'd Guaneziries and Zuenziga's The Merchants which travel out of these Parts and from Tremecen to the City Tombut and the Kingdom of Isa must cross this Desart and that of Gogden This Zuenzigan Wild is much dryer and worse to be travell'd through than Zanaga very many being often choak'd for want of Water And that of Gogden hath in nine days Journey no Water except what falls from Heaven in sudden showers and onely in one place where Lading their Camels every one supplies his own private store There grow also many Dates in the Desart of Zuenziga on these Borders of Numidia ¶ AMongst the Inhabitants of this Countrey there are also Arabs call'd Hemrum The Inhabitants who take Tribute of Sugulmesse for
and by the receiving of many other Streams becomes full of water and gliding also easier by reason of the breadth to the great ease of all Vessels that go up against the Stream By the Village Tinga the River is fordable but none dare venture to wade through it but the Blacks for fear of the Crocodiles however on both its Shores are many Villages and within its bosome divers small Islands Twelve miles upwards of Tondebu half a mile above the Creek Jayre on the left hand lies a little Island betwixt the which and the main Land the Stream is no broader than a Musquet-shot shallow and runs in many Meanders but higher on the left side is four or five fathom deep About two miles about Mansibaer lies another Island that so straightens the passage that without great trouble they cannot go through it Not far from Nabare half way between the Mouth of the River and the Gold place of Cantor or Reskate lieth Elephant-Island so call'd for the great number of Elephants which breed there ¶ THe Air in this Countrey is continually hot The Air. though with some little variation from the beginning of June till the end of September in which time it rains every day at Noon and at Night from the East and South-East continual Lightnings and Thunder But the greatest Rains falls from May till the beginning of August which causes the Rivers to swell and overflow their Banks and that proves a very unhealthful time for the first Rains falling upon the naked people cause blotches and spots and on the Clothes of the Whites it breeds Worms but after a little time that inconvenience vanishes ¶ ALl along the Banks of Gambea and about Cassan Vegetables or Plants Tobacco grows plentifully which the Portugals fetch with Sloops both green and dried without making up in Rolls Cotton also with Mille Rice Lemons Oranges Apples and Ananasses but not in such abundance as some have written On the Sea-Coast are Trees above seventeen Paces in compass and not twenty in height whereas further into the Countrey they are tall and slender ¶ BEasts fit for labour and service breeding here are Camels The Beasts small Horses and Asses But they have besides many Cows and Oxen as appears by their Hides yearly brought into Europe as also Goats Sheep Deer red and fallow with divers others besides the Wilde Beasts found in the Wildernesses viz. Lyons Tygers Baboons Otters Elephants and the like This plenty of Cattel makes Provision in those places so cheap that about Gambea you may buy a Beast of three or four hundred weight for a Bar of Iron although at Cape de Verde they pay four or five Bars for the like ¶ THe people heretofore were savage and cruel but since they have in some sort by the Converse of Christian Merchants received some notions of Religion they are become tractable and courteous The Kings as we said keep a Majestick Port according to their manner of State seldom appearing in publick to their Subjects They are all great lovers of Brandy and will drink thereof even to excess Their propensity to Brandy And if any Forreigner Merchant or other desires Audience of the King he can by no means sooner effect it than by presenting him with a Bottel of Brandy The King of Great Cassan call'd Magro who spoke the Portugal Tongue The King of Cassan a great Sorcerer yet could not be won to Christianity was well skill'd in Necromantick Arts whereof one Block in a Journal of his Travels gives a particular account We will onely instance in one or two of his prestigious actions He commonly wore as many inchanted Chains without trouble as would have over-loaden a strong Man One time to shew his Art he caused a strong Wind to blow but confined it onely to designed limits so that the next adjoyning places were not sensible of any violent motion Another time desiring to be resolved of some questioned particular after his Charms a smoke and flame arose out of the Earth by which he gathered the answer to his demand ¶ MOst of the Wealth of the Inhabitants consists in Slaves Their Riches though some have Gold for among them are few Artificers and those that are onely Weavers and Smiths Artificers who are ill provided of Tools for their Work yet make shift therewith The Smiths make short Swords and knowing how to harden the Iron form the Heads of their Assagay's or Lances Darts or Arrows and all sorts of Instruments with which they Dig the Earth Their Bellows are a thick Reed or hollow piece of Wood in which is put a Stick wound about with Feathers which by the moving of the Stick makes the Wind. The Iron which they Forge is brought over out of Europe thither in Bars in Pieces of eight or ten Inches long and are exchanged with great gain in barter for their In-land Commodities The Weavers make Cloathes of Cotton which by the Merchants are carried to Serre-Lions Serbore and the Gold-Coast and there barter'd for Ivory red Wood and Gold These Cloathes because made also about Cape Verde are call'd Cape de Verde Cloathes being of three sorts the best and chiefest call'd Panossakes are two Ells and a half long and an Ell and a half broad whitened upon the Ground and with Lists commonly of eight Bands sew'd together the second Bontans two Ells long and an Ell and a half broad very neatly Strip'd having six Lifts sew'd together but the third sort named Berfoel are great Cloathes made with blue Stripes all which are commonly bought for Iron that is one Panossakes for one Bar of Iron three Bontans for two Bars and two great Barfoel Cloathes for one Bar. ¶ EVery one Their Tillage be he Spiritual or Temporal old or young must Till his own Ground if he intends to eat the King onely and some chief Nobles and antient decrepid people excepted for the doing whereof they use no Ploughs but dig the Earth with a kind of Mattocks in the time of their Rain because then the Ground is softened ¶ THeir Food is Mille Their Food Shell-Fruit Milk and some Flesh They Bake no Bread but boyl it as we in these Countreys do Puddings which they eat hot Their Drink is Palmito-Wine and for want of that Water but the Priests with their whole Families drink no sort of strong Drink but only Water ¶ THe Houses Their Houses like those in Zenega are onely round Huts with Walls of Reed Lime and Earth covered with Canes and environ'd with a Pallisado or Hedge of Canes ¶ THe Habit of this People Cloathes Sanutu◠as well Men as Women is onely a Shirt that reaches down to their Knees with long wide Sleeves a pair of Cotton Breeches and little white Hats with a Plume of Feathers in the middle The Maidens cut and prick their Breasts Thumbs Arms and Necks with Needles in fashion of Embroidery and burn in these marks that they
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
lying in a Lake of the River Plyzoge whither the Dogo-Monou with Fleets following to Attaque him were in a manner totally subdu'd by Flansire's people The Coast from Cape de Mesurado to the Grain-Coast ABout twelve miles Eastward from Cape de Monte lieth Cape de Mesurado Cape de Mesuâ—ado a high Mountain at the North Point A mile and a half The River St. Paul or two mile Eastward of which the shallow River of St. Paul falls into the Sea passable onely with Boats and Sloops The Land about Cape de Monte and this River containing about ten miles and a half is low over-grown with Bushes and Brambles but the Cape a high Mountain and runs with the South Point steep down in the Sea and seems to Sea-men coming from the South an Island because the low Grounds on the other side cannot be seen The Countrey about the Cape de Mesurado is call'd Gebbe Gebbe and the People Gebbe-Monou subjected and conquered as in the manner newly related Nine or ten miles from Cape Mesurado lieth Rio Junk Rio Junk also in Portuguese call'd Rio del Punte having a violent Stream yet at the deepest not above eight Foot Water by which impediment made passable not without great labour and difficulty The Land hereabout over-grown with Bushes and Brambles yet standing higher may be farther seen to the Sea On the South-end of Rio Junk some little Groves appear upon a rising Ground beyond which to the In-land three swelling Hills raise heads to a heighth discernable far off at Sea Eight miles from Rio Junk St. Johns River empties its Streams into the Sea The River St. John being shaded with lofty Trees The Coast reacheth betwixt both South-East Easterly Eastward of this River within the Countrey a high Mountain shews it self in the shape of a Bowe being high in the middle and low at both ends Six miles from it lieth a Village call'd Tabe Kanee and a little forward to the Sea a Cliff where the Land begins to grow low and so continues to Rio Sestos In the mid-way between Tabe Kanee and Sestos stands a small Village call'd Petit Dispo with an adjoining Cliff like the former Three miles from Del Punte you meet with the Brook Petit or Little-water by the Blacks call'd Tabo Dagron perhaps from the Name of the King who has the Command there The Grain-Coast THe Grain-Coast so call'd by the Europeans The Grain-Coast from the abundance of Fruits and Grain there growing the chief of which named by Physicians and Apothecaries Grain of Paradise takes its beginning at the River Sestos and reaches two miles beyond Cape de Palm being a Tract of forty miles though some make it begin at Cape de Monte or Serre-Lions and end as before Divers Geographers make this whole Coast one Kingdom The Kingdom of Melli. and name it Mellegette or Melli from the abundance of Grain of Paradise there growing which the Natives call Mellegette And they not onely give it the Grain-Coast but further include within it the Jurisdiction of Bitonen But Leo Africanus circumscribes it with other Limits Other Borders of the Kingdom of Melli. for in the North he bounds it with Geneva or Genni below Gualata on the South with certain Wildernesses and Mountains in the East Gago and in the West divers great Woods adding further that the chiefest City named Melli lying thirty days Journey from Tombute contains above six thousand Houses and gives Name to the whole But we will not farther dispute this matter but proceed to set before you the Places and Rivers lying upon and within this Coast Six miles from Petit Brook The River Sestos and nine from Rio Junk the River Sestos glides with a smooth strong Current between high Cliffs on either side Westward of which the Countrey appears woody Here the Grain-Coast takes its beginning Three miles up this Water stands the King's Village where commonly the Ships lie at an Anchor to Trade A mile and a half Eastward you come to Little Sestos Little Sestos a Village neighbor'd by a Cliff extending into the Sea and having one Tree upon it as a Land-Mark Five miles forward lieth Cabo Baixos Cabo Baixos that is Dry Head by reason of the Shelf lying before it in the Sea It is a round Hill a mile and a half from the Main Land Eastward of Cabo Baixos you may see a white Rock appearing far off coming by Sea out of the South like a Ship with a Sail. And farther into the Sea many others which threaten great danger to the ignorant Sea-man and the rather because most of them are cover'd with Water Three miles from hence the Village Zanwyn shews it self Zanwyn with a River of the same Name on whose Banks stands a great Wood where are many tall and lofty Trees A mile Easterly lies the Hamlet Bofow and half a mile thence Little Setter distant from which three miles you may view the Village Bottowa seated on the rising of a high Land near the Sea-Coast opposite to Cape Swine and to the Southward a Village of the same Name by a small Rivers side Four miles more Eastward you discover the little Town Sabrebon or Souwerobo then to a place named Krow which directs you presently to a prominent Cape with three black Points From Bottowa the Coast reaches South-East and by East for five miles with low and uniform Land little known to Sea-men onely before Setter and Krow some high and bare Trees raise themselves into the Air like Masts of Ships laid up Passing four or five miles from Krow you come to a Village call'd Wappen Wappen or Wabbo in a Valley with a Stream of fresh Water adjoining and five or six streight Trees on the East-side Before Wappen lieth an Island and by it the greatest Cliff in all this Coast besides many smaller and farther on the right hand another Cliff united on the East with the Land at whose Edge lieth a Pond whereinto the fresh Water falls out of the Woods Hither the Sea-men bring their Casks commonly into the Village which the Blacks fill with Water receiving for their pains Cotton-Seed or Beads The like Pond is by Krow behind the Cliffs whither also the Sea-men commonly go with their Boats to fetch fresh Water which the Blacks bring them in Pots out of the Woods and receive the like reward From Wappen you come next to Drowya thence to Great Setter Great Setter by the French call'd Parys adjoyning to which rises a large Pool of fresh water This Tract runs South-East and by South About three miles from Great Setter you may discover the Township of Gojaven and two miles more forward Garway Goaven Garway Greyway close by Cape de Palm and two miles to the East another Village call'd Greyway or Grouway Here a small River passes but full of Rocks and Sandy Banks yet passable enough with Boats along the Southern Shore
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
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
of Turks Mahumetans and Arabians The Haven of Arquico or Ercocco THe Haven of Ercocco otherwise call'd Arquico and by Jarrick held to be the Adule of the Antients lieth against the Island of Mazuan five or six miles from Mount Bisan in fifteen Degrees and a half It was formerly a Port belonging to the Abyssines but since that taken from them by the Turks to whom at present they are subject The heat of the Air causeth an infertility in the Soyl as to Corn and Grain but as well those as the Maritime Parts afford several sorts of Trees as Willows Jujubes and Tamarinds which two last are no despicable Commodity to the Europeans The Inhabitants are Blacks and go all naked with a Skin onely before their Privacies As well Men as Women have upon their Heads Coverings resembling a Coronet and the Hair bound up round The Haven submits to the Commands of a Turkish Bashaw Sanutâ—â— and by that means inhabited principally with Mahumetans taking up the rooms of Christians by them dispossess'd In the Red-Sea lie the several Islands of Mazuan Paimuras Delacca Mayot Suachem and some other The Island of Mazula ON the Coast of Habex in the Red-Sea you discover the Island Mazua or Mazuan possessed by the Turks at this day who in the year Fifteen hundred fifty and seven did take it away from the Abyssines Thevet places it half a French mile distant over against Ercocco in fifteen Degrees and forty Minutes North-Latitude Between Mazuan and Donkale the Turks had formerly a Castle call'd Dafalo which the Abyssines took and sleighted When the South-winds blow hard no Ships without danger can approach the Coast The Islanders are good Soldiers but the Women give themselves over to loose living accounting it no dishonor to have many Gallants while they remain unmarry'd nor is their profession of Mahumetanism a small encouragement thereto the greatest promises of their Prophet aiming at no higher satisfactions The Island of Dalaca THevet calls this Island Dalaca others Dalaccia Delaqua Delalaca Dalaqualacari and Daleck It lies below Mazua a little more Southerly but by Sanutus set opposite to Mazua five miles from the Main Land of the Abyssines in sixteen Degrees North-Latitude saith Andrew Corsali but according to Huez in fourteen Degrees and twenty Minutes Marmol placeth it it eighteen Miles from Mazua and gives it one City of the same Name with the Island Sanutus extends it in compass to eighty Italian miles four reckon'd to one of the Dutch but Corsali accounts it twenty French miles This Island boasts a healthy Air and plenty of fresh Water which happening very seldom in these Countreys invites many People thither 'T is high and barren but pleasant for both the Hills and Dales have lovely Groves of Trees yielding a delightful shadow but no Fruit contrary to Thevet who makes this Island abound with Oranges and Lemons adding moreover that in March the whole Air is perfum'd with a most delicious scent There grows little Corn or Grain but what they have as also Honey Barley and Butter they fetch from the Abyssines yet they have very fair Pastures and full of Grass which feed Cows Camels and many Goats The Inhabitants an expert and Warlike People are either black or tawny of Colour sowre of Countenance treacherous and inveterate Enemies of the Turks against whom they hold Wars continually They speak distinctly bear no regard to foreign Merchants from whom notwithstanding their most serious engagements they steal whatever they can meet with Their Language is more difficult and obscure than the Turkish Persian or Indian but their Habit if so we may call it differs not from the last before-mention'd Their Government seems Monarchical Government one Person giving the Rule both to this and the adjacent Islands Their Religion is as great a mixture as their People Religion of whom most take Christianity from the Abyssines some are Mamalukes fled thither after the loss of Egypt besides Arabian Mahumetans of the Persian Sect and others pretended Musselmans professed Enemies to the other The Island of Bebel-Mandel PAssing from North to South you arrive at an Island now known by the Name of Bebel-Mandel but antiently call'd The Island of Diodorus situate in the midst of the Red-Sea which it divides into two Channels not above a mile from the Main Land of Arabia and the like distance from Abyssinia towards the Cape of Zeila so that the King of Egypt formerly shut up this Passage on his side with an Iron Chain drawn from one to the other Pigafet will have one of the Channels towards the West-side to be five and twenty Italian miles or five Dutch miles wide with a good Bottom and the common Passage for great Ships but the other scarce a large Dutch mile wide full of Rocks Shelves and Banks of Sand. It lieth in twelve Degrees and fifty Minutes North-Latitude Thevet calls it Muim and makes it two French miles in compass having some few Trees but otherwise wholly barren Formerly the Abyssines and Arabians of Aden made great Wars against the Possessors thereof by which it became subject sometimes to the Christians and then to the Moors till at last the Portuguese utterly laid it waste and so left it without hope of re-peopling The Island Suachem or Suaquem by Marmol call'd Suaquum standing according to Thevet East and West contains fifteen or sixteen French miles in compass but Rosaccio makes it much less and divides it almost from the City of the same Name beautifi'd with many fair built Houses Maginus supposeth the Haven of this Place to be the Sebastian Mouth mention'd by Ptolomy Over against Adel in the Red-Sea lieth the Island Barbora already mention'd About Suez inhabit two sorts of Christians one Circumcised nam'd Jacobites the other Uncircumcised commonly call'd Melaquiters The Inhabitants of these Islands and the Places on the Coast of the Red-Sea Trade with the Arabians over against it Sanutus saith that in the Haven of Chessir they have many Huts made with Mats wherein they stow the Wares carry'd from Cairo to Mecha The Moors of Ziden convey to Suez all sorts of Spicery Drugs precious Ambergreece which they bring from the Indies and transport from thence upon Camels to Cairo In like manner the Merchants bring from Cambaya into Asia and from all Arabia to Barbora all sorts of Clothes Beads or Motamugo's Elephants-Teeth and other Commodities The Red-Sea by the Moors call'd Bahar Queizum by others The Arabian Bay Red-Sea Gaspar Sam. Bernardino and Streights of Mecha the Burial-place of Mahomet lieth between the Coast of Ethiopia and Abyssine in Africa so that it parts Asia and Africa At the entrance of this Sea lie two Harbors the one call'd Guardafuy and the other Fartague The breadth between them is sixty Leagues or Spanish Miles and the length five hundred that is an hundred to the Straights of Bebel-Mandel and four hundred from thence to Suez where it ends Geminiano a Jesuit averr'd that
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
reach'd to such a height For Angels onely with Sun-beams to write No mortal Hand less my unworthy Pen Fit to Display the best of Kings and Men. This Work thus settled and so well resolv'd upon to be the Pride Divertisement Business and sole Comfort of my Age that day annually so fatal to the Royal Party swallow'd in that devouring Deluge of Fire with most part of the City that and my whole Estate Thus fall'n into a low condition groaning under a double burthen of Sickness and Poverty and almost quite despairing the Work that might have Boy'd me up once more thus irrecoverably lost and reminding that many of my Friends and Worthy Patrons were more favorable to my Endeavors when under a Cloud than after Shining in full Lustre and that since his Majesties Restauration the minds of those restor'd to former Fortunes or rais'd to several Advancements were more abroad and not at leisure to look on such private Divertisements at home so that those later Volumns which in course were Printed to perfect the former remain'd a Drug until the insatiate Flames at once and in one bad Market clear'd me of my Store and House also Besides grave Poesie in which Homer and Virgil's Heros spake Honor and the greatness of their Souls comprizing in few Lines by Example more Rules of good Life than Phylosophers in many Volumns loosing place and former Lustre Rough Satyr Rude Travestee and Rhime Doggerel gotten above assisted with such that confidently avouch that we in this more Refin'd Age speak better things ex tempore than what hath been Recorded by the whole Rabble of Antiquity looking down upon Moral Vertues as stale Saws and stiff Formalities onely fit for School-Boys Theams and that our Brisker Youth and more Sublime Wits should be asham'd to peruse much more to follow Thus a new Gaggle drowning the old Quire of Melodious Swans I resolv'd to desist and shutting up the Fountain of the Muses left Clambering steep Pernassus and fell into the beaten way and more frequented Paths of Prose My first undertaking being An Embassy from New Batavia to the Emperor of China which Publish'd in my last Lottery prov'd so acceptable that I resolv'd to carry on in the same way hereafter the whole Business of my Pen. When as in my former Acquisitions I flew first at the highest and best Poetick Authors so now as much ambitious I pitch'd upon the like Accomplishment in Prose and no less serves my turn than the Reducement of the whole World viz. A New and Accurate Description of the Four Regions thereof the first of which being AFRICA wherein having made some Progress still Collecting more Materials towards the Compleating of so great a VVork a Volumn lately Publish'd beyond Sea in Low-Dutch came to my hands full of new Discoveries being my chief and onely Business to enquire after set forth by Dr O. Dapper a Discreet and Painful Author whose large Addition added to my own Endeavors hath much Accelerated the VVork which thus being finish'd adorn'd with more variety of Sculpture Maps of Cities and Countreys and a much larger Declaration than any yet extant Presents it self to your favourable View and Acceptation and will I hope such is the Intrinsical Worth and Beauty thereof invite a general Encouragement from all parts that I may more chearfully and speedily go on with the Remainder which if the Effects follow I doubt not but a short time will produce the Happy Conclusion by From my House in White Fryers April 28. 1670. Your most humble Servant John Ogilby A CATALOGUE OF THE NAMES OF THE General Authors both Ancient and Modern besides Later Voyagers Consulted to the carrying on of this First Volumn who led us by the Hand through those Vast and till of late Untracted REGIONS of AFRICA OLiver van Noord Jacob van Neck Stephen Vanderhagen Cornelius Matelieff Peter Williams George Spilbergen Peter Both The Governours Peter Vander Brock and many more as Samuel Blomert one long Resident there his Observations being faithfully Collected by the Learned Isaac Vossius THe Particular Authors for the several Provinces beginning with Egypt are Johannes de Leo or Africanus Louis Marmol Sanutus Francois Alvarez Peter Belonius Vilamont Radziviel Johannes Alpinus Santen Seguesse Caesar Lambert Matthias Vossius Peter de la Valle Balthazar Tellez these being Portuguese Italian Latin and French Writers besides the Descriptions of other both Ancient and Modern Geographers as Strabo Dionysius Perigetes Pomponius Mela Ptolomy Cluverius c. THose that give us an Account of Barbary are the afore-mention'd Leo and Marmol Diego de Haedo Johannes Gramaye Braeves Cel. Curio Diego de Torres and others In like manner there is taken out of the first Part of Leo Marmol and Sanutus all that lies in Numidia Biledulgerid and Libia or Zaahra and the inmost part of negro-Negro-land AS concerning the several Places lying along the Sea-Coast of the Negroes Countrey viz. between Cape de Verd and the Kingdom of Lovango being a Coast of about 900 Leagues we find all the foremention'd Geographers to be defective in it But most of what hath been found hitherto we have from the Hollanders in their several Voyages to Guinee Collected by Peter de Marcez who even to these Times gives us so large a Description that it descends to the meanest Village and withal a large Account of their Religion Modes Manners and Merchandize Samuel Blomert also remaining long in those Parts being very inquisitive hath rendred a more large and exact Accompt concerning Guinâ—â— than the former NExt in reference to those Coasts near the Cape of Good Hope there hath been almost nothing said by former Writers but onely what hath been Collected out of the several Journals of the Hollanders in their Voyages to the East-Indies which are very large and Authentick THe Territories and Coasts of the Nether-Ethiopia are lately as well Survey'd and Delineated first by that Eminent Author Johan de Barros next Pigafet Sanutus Jarrick Moquet Od. Barbosa Urreta Maffeus Peter Davty and some others FOr the Description of the Abyssines or Upper-Ethiopia of which we were till of late in a manner altogether ignorant let us thank Nicholas Godignus Francois Alvarez Jarrick Dam. Goez and especially Father Balthazar Tellez who hath far exceeded all the former having in an excellent Composure in the Portuguese Language given us a large and accurate Description thereof ANd as concerning the Islands belonging to Africa most of the fore-mention'd Authors with some few others have set their Hands to except the Salt-Isles or those of Cape de Verd and that of St. Thomas which boast their Description chiefly from Blomert ALso Madagascar or St. Laureuce Stephen de Flaccourt hath for the most part ingrossed and appropriated to himself he being long resident there imploy'd by the French East-India Company Besides a Frenchman that suffer'd Shipwrack on that Coast hath done well but not so hit the Truth as the former FOr the Island of Malta we are
Judean Desarts Arabia Petrea and Sues with the Red-Sea Its Borders and the Arabian Gulf bound Africa East-ward the South-side stretching to Cape Bon Speranza and part of the West the Ethiopick Ocean borders the remainder the Atlantick on the North-side Gibraltar and the Mid-land Sea so that Africa lies divided from all the World by Sea except Asia where it sticks by a narrow Isthmus or Neck of Land of about sixty miles so seeming the greatest Island of the World form'd like a huge Pyramid whose straight Basis takes up all from the Mouth of Nile to Gibraltar verging with the Mediterranean Sea one of its two sides running Eastward through the Red-Sea the other Westward washed by the Atlantick conjoyning both their Points making its Apex or Spire the Grand Southern Cape whose largest Extent from Gibraltar to Bon Speranza contains 3600 miles its utmost breadth from Cape de Verde to the Point of Guardafuy at the Mouth of the Arabian Gulf 3150. ¶ THe Ancients never had any clear Prospect of Africa The Ignorance of Antiquity more than what vergeth the Mid-land Sea the rest obscure onely guessing or hear-say but of all beyond the head Springs of Nile and the Mountains of the Moon they were utterly ignorant being within these last two hundred years discovered to us because much of those vast Tracts of Africa lying under the Torrid Zone they concluded not habitable being parcht up with the Suns excessive heat therefore they never thought of further Penetrations but blockt themselves up with a possest prejudice and their own ignorance Yet for all this some old Writers admit most parts to be habitable but with such monstrous Nations that they deserve not to be accounted Humane as * From Pomp. Mela and the like Authors our fictionary Traveller Sir John Mandevil raised his so bold Stories Pomponius Mela says The Gymfasants are a naked People who know no use of weapons either for private or military Defence nor how to avoid a well-aim'd Javelin utterly waving all Commerce with strangers The †Dogs-heads Cynocephali who have heads and claws like Dogs barking like them The * Foot-shadowers Sciapodes who are wondrous swift hopping on one Leg and lying down on their Backs make their single Foot an Umbrel so shading their Bodies from the heat of the Sun The Headless Blemmyers whose Eyes and Mouth are the onely Face and that delineated upon their Breasts with other like Fictions All which later Voyages have made void Africa habitable and why manifesting the contrary for the In-land Regions are found for the most part habitable and the Suns heat by shorter days and coolness of an equal night assisted with moistening Dews and fresh Breezes is much moderated And though Africa hath many Desarts yet the greatest part especially under and on each side the Aequator suppos'd to be most insupportable abounds with Springs Brooks and Shade-casting Trees Besides under the Equinox the Seasons of the Year differ from other Climates for our remoter Suns bring Cold and Wet our nearer Heat and Drowth but there the contrary which many admire yet never dive into the Occult Cause but straight flying to Providence say so it must be otherwise who could inhabit there which though we should not altogether reject yet God working by secondary means we may modestly enquire by what which may probably be thus ¶ THe Sun darting fiery Beams daily perpendicular into the Sea raiseth abundance of Vapour which suddenly ascendeth the Airs colder Region and there thinly crusting becomes Snow which sinking from thence dissolves into a misty Cloud or Dewy Rain then increasing its velocity according to the Laws of descending Bodies and also quitting that station gathers into bigger drops which if in abundance as oft happens falls with the greater violence no more a Shower but like Buckets-full or Cataracts whose irruption and sudden dis-embogue agitating the medium raiseth mighty and cooling Winds which together supplies the parched Earth and refrigerates the sultry Air. ¶ BUt yet this blessing extends not to the In-land Countreys nor hath the Atlantick Ocean any such influence upon the Western Coasts unless which is very rare the Winde comes from Sea because the condensed Air the farther it penetrates the more it rarifies attenuated by the invading heat of the Soyl that before it scarce contributes a Dew to stiffen the upper Sands in a thin Cloud re-ascending vanisheth But yet the In-land and utmost Western Shores need not much complain being for the most part Hilly for there the Mountains are glutted with assiduous showres for those huge congested Heaps being the highest in the world withstanding the Airs constant motion still agitated from East to West or according to Copernicus lagging from the Earths diurnal Course which moves swiftest under the Equator condenseth by Reverberation the subtiler Air into its first Original Water which in the tumultuous commotions of eddying Windes either finding or forcing their passage through unequal Glens and Declivings of the byass'd Mountains they drive a constant trade still brewing all sorts of stirring weather as Winde Rain Hail and Snow which often covers their Skie-kissing Tops But these jarrings of the Elements there produce happy effects below vast Champaignes which else would be all Desarts by natural Drowth flourish in perpetual Green fann'd always with cooling Gales and kept moist with Mountain-floods which converted into Springs Brooks and Rivulets water in their Meandring Courses barren Plains like a Garden so that as in a Paradise you every where find shady and branching Trees bearing allsorts of Fruit like Alcinous Orchard still blossoming green and ripe Of which Equinoctial Elizium Homer thus seems to allude 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Close to the Gates well hedg'd on either side Odyss Li A stately Orchard was four Acres wide There pregnant Trees up to the Heavens shoot Loaden with Pears and store of blushing Fruit Olives and Figs green budding ripe appear Cherish'd with Western Breezes all the year Peach succeeds Peach Pears Apples bloom'd and big Grape after Grape and Fig succeedeth Fig Whilst here Vines ripen there ripe Clusters load The yielding Branches ready to be trod Thus Africa which else would be a miserable and unfrequented Desolation is fruitful and populous having alternately two Winters and Summers every year Drowth making one Moisture the other but the tops and heads of these Mountains according to their various Positions differ from this general Rule making some exceptions setling their several Seasons otherwise Of which I will instance some few ¶ ON the Coast of Malabar Winter rules from April to September The Nature of the Air. Summer commenceth with the beginning of October shutting up with the end of March On the Coromandell
Shores just the contrary yet both scituated alike under the Torrid Zone in which Season happen great Floods both from the Ocean and sudden Falls from the Mount Gatis not far distant The like is found also at Cape Rosalgate and Guardafuy the utmost Eastern Point of Africa ¶ BUt to make a deeper and more exact Disquisition is that all Arabia towards the East of Africa lies enclosed with Mountains whose Rocky Battlements appear above the Clouds their swoln Ridges extending themselves in a long continued Wall reach from the bottom of the Arabian Gulf to the Islands of Curiamurie these towery Hills of so prodigious height not onely put to a stand all Windes and Rain but turn them in their hurrying Eddyes so dispersing every way as well as in the two out-stretching Capes of Mosamde and Rosalgate though they lye much lower than the rest of the Sea Coast On these Rocky Ascents appearing to Sea-ward rough and rugged the poor Arabians in a very sad condition make their residence These people have Winter with those of Coromandell for their remoter Suns brings them Cold and Wet but those who dwell on the other side of the Mountains towards the Coast of Frankincense have the same seasons with those of Malabar so these Mountains work the like effect on the Arabians as Gatis on the Indians their Winter falling in June July and September both in the Land of Frankincense Arabia Felix and the whole Coasts of the Curiamurian Isles unto the Lake Babalmandab Near the Arabian Gulf in Ethiopia you will meet there also the like alterations and the same seasons of the year as at Guardafuy and the Kingdom of Adell and all along the Ethiopick Coasts to the Mouth of Babalmandab as we have or those of Coromandell finding in December and January their hardest weather Then they which live betwixt twenty and thirty miles off the Coast have their Colds more milde and their Rains so temperate and harmless they seem rather a comfort than a disturbance Nature conferring on them such refreshing Coolness but if you venture farther up into the Countrey then the Scene changing you are tormented with excessive Heat for at the same instant while Winter smiles on the Shore it rages farther up and their gentle Rains below so unequal to their deluging Showres above that then there is no travelling any way all Passages being obstructed with Floods so sudden and violent that many perish there with extream Cold meerly from the raw Defluxes of chilling waters such alterations the Mountain Dabyri Bizan causes The Portugees and Hollander have also discovered many more such places in Congo and Angola where their Winter and violent Rains commence in the Vernal Equinox and continue March April and May their milder showres in the Autumnal September and October so that in some places they have two Seasons their former and later Rain for those steep Mountains whence Zaire Coansa Bengo and other great Rivers descend obstruct the course of the Air and the Land-windes being hot and dry but the South-west winde coming from Sea brings Rain hence it is manifest that Africa under the Torrid Zone is for the most part Habitable ¶ AMongst the Ancients Ancient Discoveries of it Hanno a Carthaginian set forth by that State discovered long since much of the Coasts of Africa but pierced not far the Inland Countrey nor did his Voyage give any great light that they might after steer by though translated from the Punick Language into Greek and published by Sigismund Gelenius at Bazill in 1533. and in the Reign of Necho King of Egypt some Phenicians from the Red-sea sayl'd by the Coast of Africa to Gibraltar from thence returning the same way they came Of which * Herodotus wrote nine Books of History according to the number of the Muses entituling them in order by one of their Names Herodotus in his †Fourth Book Melpomene says The Phenicians sayling from the Red-sea came into the Southern Ocean and after three years reaching Hercules Pillars return'd through the Mediterranean reporting wonders how that they had the Sun at Noon on their Starboard or North-side to which I give little Credit and others may believe as they please Nor did Sataspes Voyage in the Reign of Xerxes King of Persia in the year of the world 3435. give us any better Hints of which thus Herodotus in the same Book Sataspes Teaspes son ravishing a Virgin and Condemned to be Crucified by the Mediation of his Mother Darius Sister was to suffer no more than to undertake a Voyage round Africa which he but sleightly perform'd for passing Gibraltar he sayl'd to the utmost Point called Siloe * Perhaps Bon Speranza or Cape de Verd. from thence sayling on Southward but being weary returning the same way he came made a strange Relation to Xerxes how he had seen remote Countreys where he found few People in Tyrian Purple but such as when they drew near Land forsook their Abodes and fled up into the Mountains and that they onely drove some of their Cattel thence doing them no further Damage Adding also that he had sayl'd round Africa had it not been impossible To which the King giving small credit and for that Sataspes had not perform'd his Undertakings remitted him to his former Sentence of Crucifying ¶ AS little avail'd that Expedition of the * A People inhabiting Tunis Nasamones to this Discovery who as Herodotus relates in his †Second Book Euterpe chose by lot five young men of good Fortunes and Qualifications to explore the African Desarts never yet penetrated to inform themselves of their Vastness and what might be beyond These setting forth with fit Provision came first where onely wilde Beasts inhabited thence travelling west-ward through barren Lands after many days they saw a Plain planted with Trees to which drawing near they tasted their Fruit whilest a Dwarf-like People came to them about half their stature neither by speech understanding the other they led them by the hand over a vast Common to their City where all the Inhabitants were Blacks and of the same size by this City ran towards the East a great River abounding with Crocodiles which Etearchus King of the Ammonians to whom the Nasamones related this supposed to be the Nile This is all we have of Antiquity and from one single Author who writ 420 years before the Incarnation which sufficiently sets forth the Ignorance of the Ancients concerning Africa ¶ BUt what they knew not and thought almost impossible to be known is common for the secrets of the Deep and remotest Shores are now beaten and tracted with continual Voyages as well known Roads are since Vasques de Gamma a Portugees Anno 1497. first opened the Discovery and finish'd to the no small Honor of the Nation his intended Design for that People having got ground upon the Spaniard widening the bredth of their commodious Sea-coasts first fell on the Moors in Africa taking several of their best
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
Sea-god or rather some Antike Prince Oceanus Xenophon Ogygia from †An Egyptian King Ogyges Herodotus names it from the Nile Potamitis that is River-land Lucian in Greek Melambolos from the darkness of the Soil several Writers and the bordering Moors stile this Region Ethiopia or the Land of Chus Homer will have it to be Hefestia from Hefestes or Vulcan The Modern names the Modern Turks call it El-Kebit or Cover'd-land the Arabian Mesra the Caldeans Mesrai the Assyrians Misri the Moors Gabara and Mesra the Romans from Augustus Caesar Augustanica but the antient Inhabitants call it after Ham the Son of Noah Hamia Lastly the Jews stile this Countrey Mizraim from Mizraim the Son of Ham being there the first Plantet The later Assyrians call the Egyptians Egoptes and the Mahumetans call the Christians there El-hibit and Elcupti sometimes leaving out the Article El contracting to Cupti or Ecupti but the Moors call them plain Giptu or Gibitu Herodotus makes Egypt a Present from the Nile Egypt covered with water being all Sea formerly so conjecturing from the various shells found on Summits and more rising grounds from the brackishness of the water in Pits Ponds and Trenches from the dusky soil much differing from the Neighbouring Territories but more especially from the Nile Pillar whereon formerly flowing eight Degrees prognosticated fertility when in his time rising to * Heretofore sixteen Cubits was the most it attained to as is to be seen in that Image of Nilus having sixteen Children playing about it brought from thence and Dedicated by Vespasian in the Temple of Peace but since that at Cairo it hath usually risen 23. particularly in 1610. Mr. Ge◠Sandys sixteen gave but a doubtful conjecture of a plentiful Harvest Such and the like instances not improbable intimate that the greatest part of Egypt especially where descending from the Mountains about Gran Caire it stretcheth down towards the Sea lying annually under the overflowing of the Nile rais'd its depress'd Morass from the sediments of these pudly inundations the River leaving in his retreat the fertile plunder brought from the High Lands upon the Low Countreys which mud and marling slime filling up stagnated ponds and plashes when dry'd into a swarf improv'd the soil for manuring and better confirm'd for Plantation It is to be supposed that much of it was then covered with water Most Writers with Aristotle concur in this assertion and Homer also seems to hint the same mentioning onely Thebes of this most rich and populous Countrey The Boundaries of Egypt according to the variety of Writers The Boundaries are diversly set forth Scaliger with some few placing part of Arabia with the Gulf on the East the Ethiopian Wildes and Mountains to the South the Desarts of Lybia Westward and the Mid-land Sea North. Others prescribe different limits But Ptolomy though he would seem not to meddle much in this matter yet when more nearly considered we may find him in some manner agreeing with the former bounding it Westward with Marmarica and the inner Lybia to the East with the Red Sea and part of Judea Southerly with Ethiopia and on the North with the Mid-land Sea by which Description he hath rectifyed the mistakes of sundry antient Geographers who accounted Egypt as we have said a part distinct from the other three the then known Regions of the World The Africans themselves who should know their own Countrey best bound Egypt on the South with Nubia on the North with the Mediterranean now the Sea of Damasco the Arabian Gulf washing the East and Alvahat fronting the West But Maginus a very able Geographer gives it for borders the Desarts of Arabia East the Lybian Mountains and Desarts of Barka and Nubia West Ethiopia or the Abyssines Countrey the Wastes of Bugie and Cataracts of Nile South And the Mid-land Sea North. And herewith in effect agreeth Marmol By all which it may appear that Egypt is encompassed with sandy Desarts but where it touches the Mid-land Sea Easterly towards the Red Sea lyes the Country of * The regal Metropolis was also called Thebes destroyed by Cambyses eighty furlongs long and built all upon Vaults Qua centum portarum sunt ducenti autem per unamquamque Viri egrediantur cum equis curribus Vbi multa in domibus opes reconditae jacent Hom. 11.9 Nor Thebes so much renown'd Whose Courts with unexhausted wealth abound Where through a hundred Gates with Marble Arch To battel twenty thousand Chariots march Thebes whose Wilderness being of three or four days journey in former ages becoming a retreat for divers Recluse Orders of Christians contained many Towns which were far better furnished with Monasteries and Cloysters than Houses ¶ THe Desarts of Barka Westward are a tract of ground of fifteen days journey where stood the Temple of Jupiter Hammon to whom Alexander the Great affecting the honour to be stiled his Son gave a Solemn visit Beyond the Red Sea to the South from Caire is a great Wilderness extending even to Judea and supposed to be the same wherein the Israelites made their wandering peregrination of forty years The ground here is not surfac'd with yellow Sand as that of Sahid in Egypt where the stupendious Pyramids and the Mummies so fam'd among us are to be seen but with a kind of soil whose germinating faculty or moisture being utterly exhausted with perpetual and excessive heats leaves no products unless here and there an inconsiderable shrub Another sandy Desart and more dangerous Mummies found stretches it self between Caire and the well-known Village Delbogui twenty eight days journeys and destitute of all accommodation where many casual Mummies are found supposed to be Travellers perishing there under accumulated drifts of Sand raised by sudden Tempests but now to avoid such eminent hazards all that journey those ways are convey'd in close Wooden Boxes which neither air nor light transpierceth otherwise than through small crannies ¶ THe divisions of Egypt are as various Egypt how divided as the opinions of Authors are differing Jaques Albert reckons thirteen Provincial Jurisdictions by the Inabitants called Kasssiffs or Meltoscemines six of which viz. the Kasssiffs of Girgio or Sahid Manfelout Benesuef Fiam Gize Bouhera or Baera lye toward the West from the Nile the other seven as Garbia Menoufia Mansoura Kallioubith Minio Cherkeffi and Kattia wholly to the Eastward The Kassiffe of Girgio or Sahid Kassiffes thirteen the first of the Western Provinces is a vast tract sub-divided into twelve or fourteen lesser Governments call'd there Kassifillix whereof every one hath its particular Regent or Lieutenant About a hundred years since this was accounted as a distinct Kingdom for the Government whereof a Bassa with the title of Vice-roy was usually sent thither from the Grand Seigneur at Constantinople but of late brought under the Bassa of Cairo who sends thither a Sanjacke as his Deputy The Kassiffe of Manfelout joyns to that of Girgio
having under subjection two hundred and seventeen Villages The Kessiffe of Benesuef is adjacent to Manfelout in the way to Cairo exacting obedience from three hundred and sixty Villages The Kassiffe of Fium lyes next to Benesuef Westwards of Cairo and commands three hundred or according to Zanton Zeguessi three hundred sixty Villages all whose Territories yield abundance of Line or Flax with great variety of pleasant Fruits especially Grapes The Kassiffe of Gize Neighbouring to that of Fium lyes close by Cairo towards the West divided onely by the River which in regard of its low scituation is generally at the overflowing of the Nile covered twenty foot deep but this is recompenc'd with exceeding fertility both of Flax and Grain and a convenient stock of very good Cattel The Kassiffe of Bouhera or Baera next stretching from the Nile to the Cape Bon Andrea a large Dominion ruling three hundred and sixty Villages whose greater part lying high looses the advantages of the inundating River so becoming less fruitful wherefore those High-landers are watchful of all opportunities of Plowing and Sowing when any rain happens however they have store of excellent Sheep-walks abounding with numerous flocks Among the inferior governments subservient to this Kassiffe Tarrana wherein lyes the Wilderness of Makairo boasts of about sixty three Hermits Cells To the East of the Nile on the Island of Damiata the Kassiffe of Garbia appears all Champaigne Mantled and Checquer'd with variety of Herbage The greater part of the Land is well manured and planted with Sugar-Canes Rice Corn and Flax having three great Cities viz. Maala call'd from its extention Medina Demanoour and Sabin The Kassiffe of Menoufia lyes on the same Island divided between this and that of Garbia and although this Jurisdiction hath not so many Towns and Villages yet the extent of its Territories stands in equal competition The Kassiffe of Mansoura on the Eastern bank of Nile as Cairo containeth a hundred and ninety Villages produceth great store of Sugar and is very fertile in the growth of Flax and all kind of Grain The Kassiffe of Kallioubieh on the same bank of the River bordering upon Mansoura gives Law to a hundred ninety six Villages The Kassiffe of Minio on the same side of the Nile opposite to Girgio and Manfelout hath a vast extent but scatteringly inhabited shewing onely a hundred and four Villages occasioned from the rising of the Land being incapable to receive the Niles Annual Tribute unless it rise above two and twenty foot which happens so rarely that the greater part lyes uncultur'd and indeed the fertilest yields no greater reward to the Husbandman than the pitiful returns of Fennel and Cummin The Kassiffe of Cherkeffi lyes on the same shore but over against Benesuef having onely forty two Villages scarcity of Corn some small quantities of Fennel and Cummin Sugar and Rice denyed them from the infertility of the soil The Kassiffe of Kattia last and indeed controverted whether a Kassiffe or not for the Divan or Councel of Grand Cair will not allow it to be numbred with the rest because it contains but three Forts or Castles of Defence and is so unfruitful and sandy that excepting a few Dates nothing is found But Zanto Zeguessi Here but ten allowed allows onely ten of these Kassiffes viz. Saet Baera Garbia Menufia Mansura Giza Fium Ebenesuef Manfelat and Minio to each of which excepting Saet he allots three hundred and sixty Villages To these principal ten he subjoyns divers lesser ones viz. Galiup Mesela Fazackur Eloua Kattia Terrana Ensy Aceut and Brin ¶ BEsides the former Egypt divided in two parts some onely will divide as the Nile cuts it into two almost even parts of East and West Egypt to which others have added the Nether-Egypt call'd also Delta Δ from the form of the Greek letter which the Nile by branching into a right and left arm makes and the upper Egypt which is that tract of Land from the South-angle of Delta to the Cataracts But another sort of Writers make an Upper Middle and Lower whose first part takes in Thebes the second Heptapolis the seven Towns and the third Delta This Justinian sub-divided into the first and second and Ptolomy into the greater the lesser and the third Triangle Haythen makes it have five Provinces Five Provinces named 1. Sahyf 2. Demesor 3. Alexandria 4. Resint and 5. Damiette or Damiata Strabo says that of old it was divided into thirty seven parts by the Greeks termed Monoi Ptolomy enlarges to forty and Herodotus reduces it to twenty eight Thirty seven parts but thirty seven seems the most convenient as agreeing with that * On the Senthside of the City of Alexandria near the Lake Mareotis wherein the Sepulchres of King Maeris and his Wife were Pyramidally built with a Colossus of Stone on each side and adjoyning thereto was the Labyrinth so sam'd in the midst whereof were thirty seven Palaces belonging to the thirty seven Jurisdictions of Egypt whereof ten in Thebais ten in Delta and seventeen in the middle Region unto which resorted the several Presidents to celebrate the Festivals of their Gods who had therein their particular Temples Moreover fifteen Chappels containing each a Nemesis and also to advise of matters of importance concerning the general welfare The passages thereunto were through Caves of a miraculous length full of dark and winding pathes and Roomes within one another having many doors to confound the memory and distract the intention leading into inexplicable error now mounting aloft and again reâ—descending not seldom turning about Walls insolded within one another in the form of intricate Mazes not possible to thred or ever to get out without a Conductor The building more under the earth than above being all of Massy Stone and layâ—d with that Art that neither Cement nor Wood was imployed through the Universal Fabrick The end at length attained to a pair of Stairs of ninety sleps conducted into a stately Portico supported with Pillars of Theban Stone the entrance into a spacious Hall a place for their general Conventions all of Pollish'd Marble adorn'd with the Statues of their Gods and Heroes with others of monstrous resemblances The Chambers were so disposed that upon their opening the Doors did give reports no less terrible than thunder The first entrance was of white Marble within throughout adorn'd with Marble Columns and diversity of Figures Dedalus was said to have imitated this in that which he built at Crete yet expressing hereof scarce the hundredth part Who so mounted the top should see as it were a large plain of Stone and withall those thirty seven Palaces environed with solid Pillars and Walls consisting of Stone of a mighty proportion At the end of this Labyrinth there stood a square Pyramis of a marvellous bredth and answerable altitude the Sepulchre of King Ismandes that built it See Herodotus There were four very eminent Labyrinths one in Egypt another in Lemnos a
Sea whereas Heliopolis lyes up within the Land many Miles from the Sea Damiata lyes in a bottom Damiata about two Miles from the Mediterranean on the shore of Nile which runs through and waters it on both sides on whose Banks there stands a Fort upon one side but on the other are onely Houses for having no Walls the lowness of its scituation makes it strong and tenable enough by reason thereof it becomes also most delightful and fertile the Inclosures and Gardens abounding with Trees of Cassia Limons Vines Musae and all manner of other delicious Fruits which here according to their several kinds are more delighted with the soil than all the rest of Egypt for by the Trenches here which is so no where else after the retreat of the Nile the waters are let in to moisten the thirsty Lands in the time of Drowth In these Trenches grows a Weed that moves to and fro upon the water resembling that we call Ducks-Meat or Ducks-Madder without Stalk or Root shooting downward onely many small strings and threds The Leaves are of a pale green like those of Dogs-tongue but shorter broader thicker whiter more bristly and stinging This Plant is the true Stratiotes Milfoyl or Souldiers-Herb of the Antients having Leaves like Houseleek Water House-leek and is therefore call'd by the Egyptians Hay-alem-Emovi that is Water House-leek The juice or powder good to stop Blood It has no smell and in taste is choaky and dry The Egyptians use the Leaves for the same Diseases The juice or powder good to stop Blood for which we take Mallows The Bedori or Countrey-women use the Juice or Powder of the dry Leaves daily a quarter of an Ounce The Leaves cure wounds against all immoderate Fluxes of Blood The Countreymen cure all Wounds with the Leaves The Leaves cure wounds which they apply stamped or crushed in a strange manner Next in the East stands Tenez Tenez or Tenex by Burchard call'd Taphnis and taken for Tanis in Holy Scripture The Lake Stagnone being in the Land of Goshen Adjacent thereto is the Lake by Mariners as Pinetus reports call'd Stagnone or Barathra by the Inhabitants Bayrene and by Montegarze in his Travels Marera This Lake is very dangerous because of the Sands whereof some appear above and others treacherously sculking underneath The next in course is Arrise Arrise formerly Ostracine and in many old Maps Ostraca and Ostraci then comes Pharamide by some stil'd Pharamica and formerly Rhinocura and by Strabo placed on the Coast of Egypt and Syria Burchard thinks it is Pharma which he saith is large and well built but in a manner deserted by the Inhabitants overpowr'd by the encrease of Serpents From thence passing Southward by the point of Nile towards Cairo Seru. Rascaillis there are two antient places call'd Seru and Rascaillis near Neighbors There is here Masura or Masur Masur formerly Miscormus near a branch of Nile call'd by the Inhabitants Batsequer Here Lewis the Ninth King of France was taken Prisoner in the Battel which he fought against the Soldan of Egypt After Masura followeth Demanora and many other places of which the most worthy of note is Fustatio or Fostat Fustat that is A Pavilion It is a small place lying on the Nile and call'd by the Inhabitants Misreatichi that is The Old City which name by good right it challenges in respect of Cairo whose Founder was an Arabian Commander named Hanier sent thither by the Califfe his Master on the side of Chargni Mevy Cambri lyes Mevy Cambri betwixt Damiata and Grand Caire after which may be reckon'd Caracania Bulgaite Abessus and Souba Having passed the forementioned places we now come to enter the third part of Egypt call'd Sahyd otherwise according to Sanutius Thebes from Thebes once the Court and Seat of the Egyptian Kings who afterwards removed to Memphis and from thence to Alexandria and afterwards to Cairo This Province extends it self from the borders of Buchieri to Cairo and so to Assue The City CAJRVS De Stadt CAIRUS Cairo then taken for Memphis The various names of Cairo which was reputed the most antient of all Cities is call'd by the Egyptians or Coptists Monphta by the Armenians Messor by the Chaldeans Cabra by the Hebrews one while Moph otherwhile Noph or Migdal that is Wrath then again Maphez but commonly Mizraim which last name also the later Hebrews as we have said have given to the whole Countrey The Turks call it Mitzir or Missir and Alcaire Marmol Marmol and others say that Cairo is deriv'd from the Arabian word Elcahira which signifies a Society or Cloister some will have it from the Arabian and Persian Mercere or rather from the word Mesre adding moreover that an Egyptian King nam'd Mohez on the highest place of Mercere made a Bulwark and built a Castle to strengthen it against all incursions of Enemies and call'd it by his Daughters name Caireth This place at length grew so great that the first name Mercere was utterly forgotten and the name Caireth received and now known to us in Europe by no other name than that of Grand Cairo Leo Africanus Leo. Afr Marmol and others Marmol and others consent in one opinion that this City is not antient being founded by Gehoar-El-Quitib the Subject of a nameless Caliph from all which it may be concluded that the old Memphis is either quite ruin'd or had another scituation Memphis is an Egyptian word and has its derivation from Monphta The Original of the word Memphis as we said which in the Egyptian Tongue signifies The Water of God and by the Grecians chang'd into Memphis For what cause or how the City got this denomination Opinions are various one not improbable may be this Kircher Chorogr Egypt p. 27. When the Sons of Cham began to send Colonies into these parts some say they pitched their first Tents upon the Memphian Hills the Lower parts generally as afore-mentioned lying under water as a Lake but afterwards as the Ground became more dry the City was Built by Mizraim the Son of Cham upon the Shore of Nilus calling it by his own name Mizraim afterwards the Countrey and City by the fruitful overflowings of the River becoming more fertile they conceive it was call'd Monphta that is The Water of God and by variation of Dialect corrupted to Memphis Herodotus affirms in his second Book Herodot Enterpe that Memphis was Built by the first Egyptian King Menes who is held to be the same with Mizraim This Memphis now Cairo was divided into four parts viz. Bulach Charaffa Old Cairo and Grand Cairo the two first were generally accounted among the Suburbs of Grand Cairo but are now as also Old Cairo so ill furnish'd with Houses that they seem rather Villages than Cities It containeth in its circuit Beauvau the mentioned places with their Suburbs according to Beauvau is thirty Leagues though
honor they erected such Spires The bigness of the Obelisks were several some no higher than ten or twelve foot while others did climb to the height of twenty thirty seventy an hundred or a hundred and forty foot Upon every side the antient Egyptian Priests carv'd Figures and Images almost in the same manner Hieroglyphick Figures carved upon the Needles or Spires as those delineated upon the Covering-Clothes and Winding-sheets of the Mummies and sometimes the very same There were also plain ones erected by the Kings that conquer'd Egypt Neeldes or Spires without Figures for the Egyptian Priests would not reveal the Mystery of their Charactering to any strangers As this Hieroglyphical manner of writing was very mysterious Of what stone the Needles or Spires are made so the Stone they chose for that purpose was most excellent which the Greeks call'd * A Fire-stone Pyroboilon the Latines Theban Stone and by the Italians Granito Rosso It is a kinde of Marble sprinkled and speckled as it were with Drops of several colours and as durable and hard as Porphiry The Quarry out of which these were cut lyeth close by the antient City Thebes among the Hills extending to negro-Negro-land and the Cataracts of Nilus to the South And though Egypt abound in Quarries of other sorts of Marble yet the Egyptian Priests chose this for the erecting of Obelisks no other Stone being us'd to that purpose for although they had the like Veins of Marble in the Island Ilia and other places in Italy and Sweden yet it could no way compare in hardness and variety of Grains and Specks with that of Egypt Now why the Egyptians made the Obelisks of those streak'd Marbles this may be the reason They that erected Obelisks in honor of the Sun Why they do so whose beams their spiring tops seemed to represent would not take every kinde of stone but such onely as did most analogize with that glorious Body which in their opinion this Marble doth By nature it consisted of a four-fold Existence viz. First a glistering Red among which here and there are found some mixed other clear Christal-colour'd Spots then Violet-colour after that Blew and Ash-colour with some streaks or dashes of Black between which the Egyptians seeing they chose it as most fit to represent their hidden Mysteries so that by the aforesaid Mixture of the Colours without doubt they intend to signifie the four Elements and particularly by the Red Fire by the Christaline Air by the Blew Water and lastly by the Black the Earth Hereby appears with how great judgement the Egyptians chose fit Materials for their Mysteries and that for the better representing their deep Notions they have us'd nothing but what might make them more conspicuous And if any find older Obelisks of another sort certainly they were not true Egyptick but either erected by Strangers in imitation of the true or in the late times when by the Destruction and Banishment of the Priests by Cambyses the Sacred Egyptian Letters were utterly lost Such was the Obelisk rais'd by the Phenicians to the Honor of the Sun which being depressed low flat and leaning very much differ'd from the right Such a one also Herodian says the Emperor Heliogabalus brought from Syria to Rome ¶ ALL the great Obelisks In what manner the Obelisks were brought out of the Stone Quarties to the place appointed Plin. lib. 36. c. 9. were brought from their Quarries to their appointed place in this manner First there was a great Trench Digged beginning under the already hewen Obelisk and running into the Nile where two great Ships deep laden with Stones exceeding the weight of the intended Freight were Sunk and then towed quite underneath it the two ends of the Obelisks hanging on the opposite Banks of the Ditch The Ships there setled and the Stone Ballast being cast out the Vessels finding themselves eas'd Buoying up receiv'd their Lading the hanging Obelisk which they brought through the same cut into the Nilus and so to the appointed place where it was to be erected ¶ THere are yet to be seen at Thebes Egyptian Greek and Latine Inscriptions and without the Gates old Ruines and Columns all the remaining tokens of its antient Glory The City according to Diodorus in circuit had an hundred and forty Stadia or Furlongs That is five miles eight and twenty Stadia accompted for a Mile As to the number of an hundred Gates that accompt seems to some as Diodorus reports to intend onely the gross number of the Avenues and Passages though others as Mela confirm it adding that Thebes was so exceeding populous that it could draw out of * That is a Million of men every Gate ten thousand Armed men And that the Greek word Hecatompilos which signifyeth an hundred Gates according to which Thebes was call'd by Homer is not to be understood literally but is rather to be explained to relate to an hundred Palaces in which so many Princes had their residence Plin. lib. 36. c. 14. Pliny will have the whole City stand upon Arches so made on purpose that the Egyptian Kings might draw their Armies this way under the Houses of the City without being discovered Round about this decayed and desolate City are Desarts wherein formerly very many Hermits dwelt Two days Journey from Cairo lyeth a Wilderness wherein it is said is the Cave wherein St. Paul remaining was visited by St. Anthony Six miles from the City Munsia or Munza lyeth a Cloister of Georgian Christians heretofore very famous and inhabited by above two hundred Monks who having much Goods and a great yearly Revenue imparted the same to all needy Strangers sending the overplus to the Patriarch to Cairo who distributed it among poor Pilgrims in his Diocess But two hundred and sixty years since all these Monasticks dying by a Pestilence the Bashaw of Munsia wall'd in the Cloister and made it into Houses for Artificers and Tradesmen to dwell in Chiam or El Chiam Chiam now a heap of Rubbish but heretofore the Seat of the Jacobite Christians Livy and Sanutus seem to be of Opinion that this is Ptolomy's old Diospolis because both of them lay in the same Latitude More toward the South from Cairo Barbanda lyeth another City upon the Banks of Nile call'd Barbanda destroyed by the Romans whose ruinous heaps were for the most part brought to Asna among which sometime they finde Gold and Silver Coin and pieces of Smaragdus or Emeralds Against Barbanda lyeth Cana erected by the Egyptians near the Nile Cana. and Walled The Inhabitants use no Trades but rely all upon Husbandry and Tillage by which means this place which is divided from the Red-Sea by a vast sandy and dry Desart is very rich in Corn which the Inhabitants of Medina where the Tomb of Mahomet is and also of Mecha Transport in great abundance for Asia Opposite to Cana on the Red Sea lyeth Cossir a Haven whither they usually
Travel from Cana over the fore-mention'd Sandy Desart There are many Granaries for the reception of Corn brought thither from Cana. It is probable that Livius Sanutus says that this Haven is that of the Old City Berenice because they lye in the very same elevation yet some will have it to be Miosormus There is also Conza formerly Metacompsus not far from the City Asna Conza on the Southermost borders of Egypt some of the Antients placed Elephantis or Elephantina of which at this day the name onely remains The last City to the South of Egypt lying on the Nilus is Asna formerly call'd Siena but got the name Asna from the Arabians for the word Siena being the same with the Arabian Zeyâ—â—a which signifies Foul Sanutus lib. 9. they thought the City too fair to bear that Name and therefore chang'd Siena into Asna that is Fair the City indeed being very beautiful the Romans wasted most part of it but it hath since been much more stately rebuilt by the Mahumetans The Inhabitants drive a subtle Trade in the Kingdom of Nubia partly in Vessels sailing up the Nile and partly by Land through the Desart by which way of Transportation they are become considerable in Cattle Corn and Money In the City which is of a large extent and by the Moors according to Marmol call'd Gavera there yet appear many fair Edifices and particularly a very curious Sepulchre with Egyptian and Latin Inscriptions There is also a deep Well into whose bottom the Sun shines at Noon A deep Well while he passes too and again through the Northern signs To this place or a little further the Nile is Navigable but beyond no Vessel can pass oppos'd and stop'd by the Cataracts and therefore they Land their Goods below and carry them over Land then again shipping when they are past the precipice and come into smooth water Eastward from Asna is the antient and great City Asuan or Assuan The City Assuan by some taken to be Conza or Metacompsus and borders upon the Desart Buche through which they Travel by the City Suaquen to the Red Sea Neighboring with the Moors and by Marmol placed in Egypt Beyond this they pass not up the Nile Sanutus because of the fore-mention'd precipices It is very hot there in Summer and the Inhabitants are Tawny of colour not caused so much by the great heat as by their commixture with the People of Nubia and the Moors In several places about this City are many antient Buildings and Towers there call'd Barba which makes some imagine that heer stood Thebes In circuit five mile in length three miles out of whose Ruines Asuan was built Strabo gives it eighty Stadia or Furlongs in length of which City of Asuan Albufeda the Arabian thus writes Asuan is a City of the upper Theban Countrey lying by the side of the Eastern Desart wherein stands the famous Needle or Spire the greatest Monument of Antiquity partly for its huge Carv'd Stones and partly for the variety of curious Imagery upon it And that many Obelisks and Pyramids have been there Herodotus Diodorus and others testifie Herodotus Diodorus Beyond this the utmost border of the Turkish Dominions in Egypt there are no Seats or Habitations worth the mentioning onely some few Huts or Cottages where Tawny people of Buchia dwell that speak a Tongue scraped together out of the Egyptian Arabian and Moorish Languages Several other small Cities Sanutus and inconsiderable places by length of time decay'd are by Sanutus and other Geographers with few words touched upon such are these Thura in the East lying close by Cairo Sachila and Pharsono lying beneath the Lake Maeris Narnita and Nitriota above it Elmena Libelezait Saguan Dakat all poor and thin peopled places of which the first is to the inland in the mid-way between the Red-Sea and Nile but the other lye close by the Sea side King Pharaoh's Angle Pharaoh's Angle or Point from whence Moses with his people in a wonderful manner passed through the Red Sea Corondal Aziruth and Aphaca places on the Red-Sea lying not far one from another with few or no Inhabitants The seven Wells Seven Wells call'd by the Italians Zette Pozzi is a place in a dry Tract of Land where at this day appear some tokens of the Old Wells or Fountains of Water that gave name to the place Menuia and Cosera lye in the Island Heracleopolites Sanutus but thinly inhabited The like also are Veneria and Ansena two Neighboring places Besides the Island Michias The two Islands of Heracleopolites and Cynopolites lying by Cairo and the Island Elephantina there are Heracleopolites and Cynopolites or the Isle of Dogs both lying in the Nile placed by Sanutus in Egypt The Metropolis of the later is Cynopolis Cynopolis or Dog-town because the Inhabitants for the most part worshipped a Dog but at this day 't is call'd Monphalus The Island Heracleopolites Heracleopolis so call'd from Heracleopolis that is Hercules City because Hercules was worshipped in it is fifty miles in circuit and fruitful in Olives and other Fruit-Trees Here was the Icneumon the mortal Enemy of Crocodiles and Serpents worshipped Besides all these Cities The Number of Villages in Egypt there are many Villages in Egypt for above Delta both Southward and Northward of Cairo Sanut there are four thousand and in Delta twenty thousand whose Grounds and Meadows are once a year water'd by the Nile As to the Soil The Soil of Egypt is dry and thirsty in it self it is Sandy very Barren and so dry and seared that unless it lye under water many dayes as at the overflux of Nile it will never become fertile Therefore the Egyptians often drown their Gardens and Orchards so by long soaking to make them fruitful whereby their Pot-herbs and Salletting are very waterish and more insipid or flashy than in Europe But although the Soil be of it self thus steril It is made fat by Nilus yet the fruitful Nilus with his fat Mud makes it fertile and fit for Tillage and in some places so luxuriant that they often mix the fatness of the Soil with Sand to temper and allay it This onely over-flowing of the Nile made Egypt to be esteemed not onely the Granary of Rome but of the whole then known world for it fed all the Roman Provinces with Corn a third part of the year exposing besides abundance into remoter Countreys Pliny reports that the ground there was so exceedingly fruitful that one onely Seed planted in the Earth would bring forth a hundred fold But this wonderful fertility was attended with this inconvenience that the rich Product was not lasting and from this very same cause they dispatch'd them away to their Neighbor Nations of the Arabian Desart Palestine Syria Constantinople and Europe especially Sugar Cassia Sena-leaves several Gums and other Inland Commodities Kassia Colekasia Datura The Delta's boast theirs
the richest Ground of all Egypt Delta is fruitful for the rest beyond Catro to the Moors Countrey is but barren except two or three Leagues in bredth on each side the River Nile the rest of the places beyond are dry and sandy Desarts The Countrey of Errif produceth excellent Rice and other Fruits Errif though towards Alexandria some places are cover'd with Sand and the Gardens there all produce very unsound Fruit. The Lands of Becheira Becheira lying round about the River are extraordinarily rich but the places between the Eastern Channel towards Damiata and Syria are Mountainous and without water over-whelmed with Sand. Suez and Bocchir and the Land about the Lake Mareotis by Alexandria have nothing but great sandy Desarts Sanutus says Sanutus the ground about Alexandretta is unfruitful Bellonius whereas Peter Bellonius in that place saw growing Rice Wheat Barly and other Fruits About Rosetta grows a kind of Red Rice in great abundance and the like about Damiata ¶ EGypt is also singularly rich in the production of variety of wholsom Plants Egypt is rich in Plants Herbs Trees and other Vegetables some common in Europe but many utterly unknown transported from thence such are The Datura Colocasia Sebesten Cassia Fistula Elhanna Lablab Melochia Sesban Sophera Absus Sempsen Berd Chate Abdellavi Batechia El Mavi Negel El Jalib Tamaris-Tree Dedal-Tree Mauz or Muza Carob Sant and many other of some of which we have spoken already Among other their groweth in Egypt a kinde of Night-shade nam'd Datura Datura Alpinus de Plant. crotic or Tatura by the common people and by Dodoneus in his Book of Plants is call'd Strammonie as the Fruit is by Avicenna held to be the Nut-Methel This Plant Datura shoots into the ground with a long thick and brushy Root of a very unpleasing savour The Stalk being slender broad and round grows to the height of four or five Cubits divided into several Branches on which hang dark brown-coloured Leaves deeply indented on each side The Blossom is very sweet-scented and pleasant to the eye beneath small above broad and white without and within follow'd by roundish Fruit inclosed in a prickly Shell full of yellowish Seeds The Seeds eaten will cast one for a time into a kind of blockish inebriation The use of it It is commonly us'd among the Egyptian High-way-men made up with bread which dose so prepared they have a subtle way to administer by insinuating themselves into the Company of Merchants following the Caravan and under pretence of safe conduct taking together their repast they convey these Loaves instead of Bread of which eating they grow strait besotted while they take the Plunder of their Gold Silver and other rich Commodities The Curtezans of the Countrey use the like Trade What the Whores in Egypt perform therewith giving such as they intend to rifle a quarter of an Ounce of this Bread with Wine or other Drink The same power is also ascribed to the Blossom No Plant is more known among the Egyptians nor more used than Colocasia Colocasia Alpinus de Plantis Egypt by the Arabians in Egypt call'd Culcas These greatly provoke Venus whether eaten raw or boyled whole Fields are over-grown with these Plants though none whether Stranger or Inhabitant which seems a wonder It Blossoms not in Egypt have ever seen it bear either Blossoms Fruits or Stalks Prosper Alpinus had a round Root for there are of two sorts a round and a long sent him out of Alexandretta But in Italy it doth and the reason thereof that Blossom'd in his Garden at Venice in April in form and bigness resembling the Blossom of the Aron or Calves-foot though with Stalks and all it is no longer than the Palm of ones Hand Now why this Root in Egypt it s own proper Countrey should bring forth neither Blossoms nor Stalks and in Italy usually does it proceeds onely from the fatness of the Soil in Egypt which makes them increase onely in Leaves and Roots whereas in Italy being a Forrein and leaner Soil the Roots and Foliage are small and the upper part drawing the nourishing moisture is the cause it sometimes brings forth Stalks and Blossom Two sorts of Sebesten-Trees are found here Sebesten a wilde one like the Damsin-Tree and a Garden one which hath thicker and broader Leaves than the wilde The Blossom is small and white succeeded by a Fruit not unlike the small Damsin with threesquare Kernels The Fruits of the wilde Sebesten-Tree are smaller and later ripe than the Garden which are bigger and better The Decoction is very prevalent against the Cough Ruptures Pluretick Stitches in the Side Hoarseness Agues and all Distempers of the Breast and Lungs The Juice of the Fruit hanging the whole year upon the Tree and ripe in Harvest makes excellent Birdlime the same stamped and washed and wrought into the form of a Plaister or Cataplasm the Egyptians use against all hard Swellings The Tree by Physitians call'd Cassia Fistula The Pipe Cassia-Tree by the Arabians in Egypt Sagiar El Selichet and by the Turks Chai'ar Xambar that is Black Cassia flourishes in great plenty in low and marshy places lying near the Sea the Stock Branches Leaves and Shell which are smooth of a pale ashy colour resemble the Nut-tree but more Leavy The Buds or Blossoms are very like the Primrose smelling well especially early in the Morning so that the Egyptians delight to walk under their shade Every Blossom hath in the mid'st of it many small Strings which at length become great and turn thick Trunks or hollow Pipes which ripen all the year long and at all times continue hanging on the Tree The Egyptians gather these Pipes at Cairo onely in Summer time when many other green ones appear out of the Blossom which at length as the first grow dusky That which grows in and about Damiata hath thick Shells but little Pelp or Juice within but those of Cairo and Alexandria are thinner Husked and more full which are accounted the best being of two sorts that is Reddish which they call Abis and are the best the other are Black Prosper Alpinus opinions that the Pipes which open with shaking are the best but that is not so because they are dry and withered such as by a hard Winter and Stormy Winds are shaken or fall from the Tree are unfit for use Wherefore some good Husbands to prevent that do with a string tye fast together many Pipes of the same Branch The Pelpy Juyce of the Pipes The use of Cassija the Egyptians use as we do that is stamped and given in Potion mixed with Wine or other Liquor being hot and moist in the first degree makes a gentle Purge driving Flegm and Choller out of the Stomach and Bowels cleansing and allaying the heat of the Blood The Juyce mix'd with fine Sugar and taken inwardly is esteemed a certain Cure of all Diseases
Fort with a good number of Souldiers and the sum of fifty thousand Escues Abdala also accompanied with a great many Moors did not fail to come to the Place whereupon the Jesuit Matthias instantly with four and twenty of the chiefest of the Galleys stepping out to Land asked for the Kings Son which was promised him for a Hostage Abdala answered He was in the Fort this gave Matthias cause to suspect Treachery whereupon he would have retreated but Abdala and his Souldiers opposing fell in upon them and knockt him and all that came on Land with him to the ground Whereupon the Vice-Roy of Majorca took up his Anchors and withdrew leaving all behind him that were Landed LABES. THe Kingdom of Labes Gramay Affr. 7. l. 25. c. Marmol p. 1.5 l. 28. c. which signifies a kind of Rush in Spanish call'd Esparto of which the Frails or Baskets for Raisins are wrought is by the Turks made a Province of because Tributary to Algier The whole County is Mountainous or rather it is one of the Mountains of the Great Atlas three Miles from Kouko and ten or eleven from Bugie unto which it properly belongs on the East part of which stands a strong Fort call'd Kalaa the Residence of the Xeque or King as at Kuoko of Teleta their Sepulchres At the foot of the Hill lieth two Places Tezli and Boni where by command a Fort was cast up to withstand the Turks The Inhabitants are Brebers and Azuagaes both Warlike People observing the same Customs and Ceremonies with those of Kouko The King can bring into the Field an Army of Thirty thousand Foot and Horse yet at present pays a yearly Tribute to the Bashaw or King of Algier which commonly consists of Four hundred Horses and a thousand Goats for which there is returned to him as a Gratuity in point of Honour a Simiter set with Precious Stones TENEZ IF we would take a Journey out of these Countreys Gramay 7. l. Marm. p. 1.5.6 lying high up into the South back Northward we come to the Territory and City of Tenez one of the Midland Divisions of the Kingdom of Algier It had formerly for Borders on the West The Borders Telensin or Tremizen in the East Algier in the South the Mountains of Atlas and in the North the Midland-Sea but now with the renting off many Pieces is become much less Marmol comprehends under it Brexar Sargel Caesarea or Tiguident Mesane and Meliane but at this day Sargel and Meliane are two distinct Jurisdictions Tiguident and Mesane belong to Meliane and Brexar or Bresch subjected to Sargel The Head City is Tenez The Head City built upon the Plain half a Mile from the Mediterrane by Marmol supposed to be the ancient Laguntum of Ptolomy and by Sanutus taken for Tipasa It stands in the Mid-way between Oran and Algier Seventeen Miles Eastward of the first and as much Westward of the second distant Three Miles from Mostagan and Thirty from Telensin There is in the City a Fort with a Palace formerly the Kings Court and still the Residence of the Provincial Governour sent thither by the King or Bashaw of Algier who also in this Jurisdiction possesses many other Places as Medua formerly call'd Mara lying on the Borders of Getulia and Biledulgerid about Thirty Miles from Algier to the Inland and Forty Eastward of Telensin ¶ MOuntains here shewing themselves are Beni Abukaid Abuzaid The Mountains and Guenezeris by some call'd Guanseris Abuzaid or Zatima lieth close by Tenez to which it belongs Guenezeris very high and craggy from whose Entrails rises the River Selef ¶ THe Land hereabouts brings forth abundance of Wheat The Condition of the Land breeds very good Cattel and yields plenty of Honey Medue abounds with encircling Springs and luxuriant Valleys producing all sort of Fruits Abizaid feeds many Deer or Staggs some Honey but yields great quantities of Barley Guenezeris bears little besides Spart or Rushes and here and there sprinkling a little Tutia or Tutty ¶ THe Natives of Tenez are so homely brutish and ill-natur'd The Customs of the Inhabitants that the Neighbouring Arabs seem to have some Nobleness and Generosity in them Those of Medue are so ignorant that if a Stranger that hath any knowledge come among them they not onely freely entertain and by all good offices endeavour to keep him but also will make him an Arbitrator and Umpire for setling and reconciling all their Differences using in general a civil and decent Habit. From Tenez they Export and Barter Wheat Barley and the like Their Trade for the Imported Commodities of other Countreys and after a good Market send them out again to Algier and other Places The Abuzaidans come usually with Wax and Hides to Tenez Markets to Trade with Europaean Merchants TEBECA TEbeca or Tebesia took the Name of the Head City Gramâ—y 7.6 â— 2. â— Marâ—â— p. 1.5.6 anciently called Thabuna and belonging to the Kingdom of Tunis but now separated and divided from them together with Constantine and connected to this The Head City lieth on the Borders of Biledulgerid The Borders two and twenty miles Southward from the Mediterrane begirt with a high and strong Wall of great Hewen Stones supposed to be built by the Romans In and about these places great Antiquities Pillars and Marble Remains of Monuments with Latine Inscriptions upon them are found In a Mountain close by the City may be seen many great Gaves which the People believe to have been the Recesses of Giants Many Authors of Eminency have written that there is scarcely in Europe a goodlier Place either for magnificence or curiosity of Buildings though it have undergone many sore Storms from the Arabs At present it is of that excellency that they say Proverbially it excells all the Cities of Barbary in three things viz. the fairness of the Walls the Springs or Fountains and the Nutt-trees wherewith surrounded on all sides it seems to stand in a Wood yet the Air about it is very unhealthful and the Ground Lean and Barren HUMANBAR THe first Maritime Province of Algier is Humanbar Borders lying on the Shore of the Midland-Sea opposite to the City Almeria in Granada having for Neighbour on one side The City Humanbar Fez on the other Haresgol and Horan The principal City Humanbar by some called Hunaim by Marmol Ona and by the Moors Deiratuneyn which Ruscelig in his Addition to Ptolomy will have to be Urbara and Gramay the old Siga mentioned by Ptolomy It was by the Spaniards in the Year Fifteen hundred thirty and three Sacked and Destroyed so that it never since had any Inhabitants says Marmol but Gramay tells us it is now re-peopled and the chief place in this Dominion Haren hath a small Haven Haren strengthened with two Block-houses and a strong Wall to the Sea-side The Houses are built with various coloured Brick and plentifully served with good Water Here are two other Cities
the Summer to eat in the Winter There grow also Figs Apples Pears and very much other Fruit but above all yielding great store of good Cattel as Oxen Calves and Sheep call'd by the Arabians Nedez sufficient to give Supplies of Butter and Milk not onely to the City Bona but also to Tunis and the Island Zerbes ¶ THe Mountains for the most part lie destitute of People yet full of pleasant Springs having Water enough to give a Current to several Rivers which afterwards take their course through the Plains between the Hills and the Midland Sea The Coast hereabouts yields much Coral both white red and black being a kind of Plant or Shrub growing in the Water between the Rocks ¶ THis City and Province were-Governed by Xeques and peculiar Lords of their own It s Government till the King of Tunis having subdued them built a strong Castle on the East side of the City to keep it in awe but afterwards Aruch Barbarossa in the Year Fifteen hundred and twenty coming with two and twenty Galleys and Ships into the Haven forced the Citizens to acknowledge him by which means they became Subjects to the Kings of Algier and so have ever since continued excepting for a short space that the Emperor Charles the Fifth in the Year Fifteen hundred thirty five made himself Master of it THE FORT OF FRANCE SIx Miles to the East of Bona between the Kingdoms of Algier and Tunis Peter Davity Estat Ture on Affique and between the Black and Rosie Cape you may see a Fort Commanded by the French and call'd Bastion de France that is French-Fort Formerly near this Cape of Roses stood another Building erected in the Year Fifteen hundred sixty one by two Merchants of Marseiles with the Grand Seignior's consent call'd a Fort but indeed was onely a Flat-rooft Ware-house for a residence of the French who come thither and employ the Natives Diving for Coral and under that pretence Exported all sorts of Merchandise as Grain Hides Wax and Horses which they bought there with more liberty and for less Price than in the Island Tabarka because no Turks lay there to hinder them But many years since this Structure whose Ruines yet appear was beaten down by the Algerines oppressed with a great scarcity of Provisions which the Moors reported was occasioned by the French Exporting their Corn. Afterwards in the Year Sixteen hundred twenty eight by order of Lewis the Thirteenth French King Mounsieur d'Argen Lieutenant of Narbone and chief Engineer of France was sent thither to re-build the razed Fort who took with him all Materials necessary for the Work from Marseiles and with great speed and diligence erected this Bastion But the Work was scarce begun when the Moors and Arabians came down Armed in great numbers and forced the Mounsieur to a Retreat and at present to Fortifie himself in a Half-Moon newly cast up from whence with the first opportunity he took Shipping At length the same King employed one Samson to re-attempt the same design who brought it to some perfection and was Governour of it Since which another was formed upon the Island Tabarka in the Year Sixteen hundred thirty and three This Bastion de France hath two great Courts the one to the North where the Store-Houses for Corn and other Merchandise are with many convenient Ground-Rooms for the Officers and Chief Commanders The other being more large and spacious than the former stands on a Sandy Beach where the Ships usually come to trade for Corall as we mention'd before To this adjoyns a fair and great Vaulted Chappel call'd St. Catharina in which they Celebrate their Mass and Preach having convenient Lodgings above for the Chaplains and Priests Before it there is a Church-yard and a little on one side a Garden-house set apart and us'd onely for sick and wounded Souldiers Between these two Courts towards the South standeth a great Quadrangle built all of Stone which is the Fort or Strength with a flat Roof wherein stand mounted two Mortar-Pieces and three other Brass-Pieces supply'd with a sufficient Garrison TUNIS THe Kingdom of Tunis The antient Borders at this day subject to the Great Turk compris'd formerly the Countreys of Constantine Bugie Tunis Tripolis in Barbary and Essab and by consequence the greater part of Africa the Less together with Carthage Old Numidia and other Countreys extending above a hundred and twenty miles along the Sea-Coast But now the greatest part of Bugie Constantine and Essab are wrested from it by Arms and annexed to Algier The Kingdom of Tunis then It s present Borders taken within these narrow Borders begins at the River Guadelbarbar formerly call'd Tuska dividing it on the West from Constantine as on the East the River of Caps or Capes by the Lake of Melaetses separates it from Tripolis and on the Southern Limit is the Modern Numidia Peter Dan in his Description of Barbary joyns it on the West to Algier to Barka Bona and Tripolis on the East So that by his account the Southern Part of Tunis lies Westward of negro-Negro-Land containing but few places of note ¶ THe Rivers which run thorow and water this Countrey Its Rivers are chiefly four Guadelbarbar Magrida Megerada and Caps or Capes Guadelbarbar Guadelbarbar which Sanutus and Marmol call Hued d' Ylbarbar takes its Original out of a Hill lying a quarter of a mile from the City Urbs or Jorbus being serviceable onely to the Citizens in driving their Mills for the Current runs in so many crooked Meanders that such as travel from Tunis to Bona are necessitated with great trouble there being no Boats nor Bridges to help them to wade over five and twenty times Lastly it disembogues into the Sea by the forsaken Haven Tabarka seven miles from Bugie Magrida Magrida formerly call'd Catadt seems to be a Branch of the former flowing thorow Choros and then entring the Mediterrane near to a place call'd Marsa Megerada Megerada or rather Maggiordekka formerly Bagradag on whose Shore Pliny Gellius and Strabo say that when Attilius Zegulus was Consul for the Romans in these parts during the Punick Wars was found a Serpent of a hundred and twenty Foot long kill'd by Attilius and his Army with Arrows It rises according to Sanutus out of a Mountain bordering on the Countrey of Seb call'd by others Ursala whence giving a friendly Visit to the City Tebesse it runs Northward till discharging its Water into the Mediterrane-Sea about ten miles from Tunis This River swells up an unusual heighth when any great Rains fall so that the Travellers sometimes are compell'd to stay three days till that the Water abates that they may wade over for there are neither Bridges nor Boats for Ferry Tâ—UNIS ¶ MOuntains in this Kingdom are Zogoan Guislet Benitefren The Mountains and Nefuse besides some others on the South Zogoan lies six miles Southward of Tunis upon whose Side and Foot may be seen the
call'd The Ornament of the World But soon after the Vandals under their King Genserick in the Year after Christ's Nativity Four hundred forty two reduced it to great misery which yet once more it recovered and remained a City of good estimation till suffering under the Gothish Devastations but at length finally destroy'd by the Arabians and made a heap of Ruines as it still continues The chief and greatest remaining Antiquity of this once so famous Place is a Water-course Vaulted over with high Arches through which it runs into the City although many remainders of the old Fortifications may yet be seen and some ruined Structures The Village Marsa which we mention'd before is the onely place that keeps up the memory of Carthage being built in part of its Ruines and a poor piece of the Skeleton of that once so glorious Body so true is that of the antient Poet Sic patet exemplis Oppida posse mori ¶ THe Valleys lying round about have a very sweet Air The Condition of the Countrey because continually cleared by fresh Breezes that come from the Sea and are full of Orchards Planted with great variety of Fruit of a pleasant taste and very large especially Peaches Pomegranates Olives Figs Citrons Lemmons and Oranges wherewith the Markets of Tunis are plentifully furnisht the rest of the Ground also being exceeding Fertile though circumscribed in narrow Limits for on the North lieth the Mountain Thesea and the Lake of Goletta and on the East and South the Plain of Byserta the rest between Carthage and Tunis for almost three miles dry and barren Land ¶ THe Ground about Arriane produceth some Wheat and St. Johns Bread Plants or Vegetables but about Naples nothing but Flax and about Kammart many Sugar-Canes ¶ SOme wild Beasts are found hereabouts as also a sort of Gray Partridges Beasts and others with black Feathers on their Breasts and Wings the remaining part Ash-coloured with the Bill and Feet much shorter than the Partridges here with us In the Lake of Goletta are Birds by the Moors call'd Louze and by the Turks Kalckavensi having Legs two Foot and a half long and all their Feathers Milk white THE DOMINION and CITY OF BYSERTA or BESERTA SOme take Byserta now a small Village for that Ituqua of Ptolomy or Utica of Caesar and Titus Livius famous by the Death of Cato who having in behalf of the Pompeyan Faction undertaken the Defence of this City when he could no longer hold it chose rather to lay violent hands on himself than fall into the Power of Caesar Marmol takes it for Porto Farnia which he says the people of Barbary call Garelmetha although some stick not to say that it hath been and is known by the Name of Mazacharus or Kallefort as being a Member of the French Garrisons in Africa However it is the Moors give it the Name of Bensart or Benserth that is Son of the Lake for Ben signifies Son and Serte A Lake from whence it is easily corrupted to Byserta It stands on the Mediterranean-Sea between Razamuza by the Antients call'd The Point of Apollo and The Mouth of the River Bagrada ten French miles from Tunis where there is a great Lake much frequented by Fishermen formerly containing within the Walls six thousand Families but now Garrison'd by the Turks who keep there two great Prisons for Slaves besides Store-Houses for Merchandise and two strong Fortifications or Sconces for the Security of the Haven Westward of the Lake lies a great Plain call'd Mater Plains of Water belonging to Byserta but bordering on Goletta Not far distant is Choros formerly call'd Clypea or rather according to Davity Kurobis because Clypea is the true Quippia and the modern Kalibbie seated on the River Magride about two miles from Tunis formerly in the Civil Wars of the Countrey laid waste but re-built and peopled by a sort of Alarbes call'd Benicheli intermixt with others so that at present it shews the face of a well-inhabited Town The Haven of Farine is famous onely by the fatal Wreck of St. The Haven of Farine Lewis King of France in his return back from the Holy Land and two great Rocks lying at its Mouth ¶ THis Countrey hath abundance of fresh Water in all Quarters The Constitution of the Countrey which afford great variety of Fish in the Lake are usually taken Dorads or Dolphins of five or six pound weight and from the end of October to the beginning of May great quantities of a Fish call'd by the Natives Elft by the Spaniards Jachas and by the Moors of Barbary Giarrafas The great Plain of Mater is a fat and marly Soyl which would yield a good Return to the painful Husbandman if he might reap the Profits free from the Incursions and Thieveries of the Arabs Choros also is not backward in a Fertile Return according to the quality of its Soyl which yields vast and lofty Groves of Olive-Trees for the great benefit of the Inhabitants ¶ THe People go almost naked Their Cloathing wearing onely a Barrakan or short Apron a half Turban a Cloth about their Necks but bare-footed and bare-legg'd ¶ THeir Food is a kind of Couscous made of Meal Their Food Eggs Salt and Water which they dry and can keep a whole year Their Bread is a sort of Cakes call'd Obs Baked on the Hearth and their Drink made of Raisins and Wine Lees boyl'd together The poorer sort have no Beds but sleep upon Mattresses of Sedge laid on the Ground The more noble have in their Chambers long and narrow Divisions higher than a Man made fast to the Walls with very fine Wicker-work which they climb up to by a Ladder when they go to sleep ¶ THe Houses and Churches are whited once a year on the out-sides Their Houses but the in-sides are slovenly enough In their Kitchins if so we may call them Fire is a stranger all their Victuals being drest and boyl'd in a sort of moveable Ovens They are much inclined to Sorcery wearing Papers Written with small Characters Sticht in Leather on their Necks and on the Heads of their Horses when they draw into the Field to Fight believing that they will free them from all Diseases and Mishap URBS and BEGGIE URbs and Beggie two several Territories comprehend these Cities Urbs Beggie Hain-Sammin and Kasba with some great Plains The City Urbs formerly Turridis The City Vrbs founded by the Romans on a delightful Plain eight and thirty miles on the South of Tunis shews yet many Remainders of Antiquity as Marble Images Borders upon the Gates with Latine Inscriptions and Walls of thick Square-hew'd Stone together with a Castle betwixt which and two adjacent Villages runs a River of fresh Water convey'd in a Trench of pure white Stone to the City Beggie also built by the Romans about six miles from the Mediterrane Beggie and twenty to the Westward of Tunis by a High-way leading from
harrasing he erected this onely for a convenient Retreat for the Army and a Repository for his Booty for the security whereof he environ'd it with impregnable Walls Within he erected a stately Mosque supported with Marble Pillars two of which were of an unvaluable worth being of a red Colour and glistering intermixt with small white Spots like Porphiry but notwithstanding this Strength and Beauty yet is it destitute of water being scituate on a dry and sandy Plain Tobulte or Tabulta Tobulte according to Bertius and by some taken for Adrimentum boasts it self a Roman Foundation standing on the edge of the Midland-Sea three miles Eastward of Monaster One Elugleb being chief Magistrate there by the consent of the Inhabitants erected another goodly Pile of Buildings which they nam'd Recheda adjoyning to it for a Palace for the Prince and his Retinue both which in the Civil Wars of Barbary were greatly defac'd and never since recover'd their former Lustre Arfachus Arfachus otherwise Esfakos or according to Marmol Elfachus thought by some to be Rhuspe of Ptolomy and by others Tafrute built by the Moors at the Mediterranean-Sea heretofore handsomely Wall'd and very Populous but now can shew not above four hundred mean Houses ¶ THe Sandy-Plain about Kayravan bears neither Trees The Constitution of the Countrey Corn nor Fruit so that all Necessaries are fetcht by them from other places They have no Wells nor any Springs onely Rain-water which with great diligence they preserve Nor is that of sufficiency for that also after the going out of June fails them so that they are reduc'd to great extremity About Arfachus and Tobulte there grows some Barley and Olives but the greatest part of the Land lies waste because of the Arabians pillaging ¶ THe Inhabitants of Kayravan are generally Skinners and Tanners The Nature of the Inhabitants which send their Leather to Biledulgerid and there barter and exchange it for European Cloth ¶ KAyravan is eminent for the Residence of a Mahumetan Pope Their Religion or Worship or High Priest of great esteem among them for his Sanctity and strict Observance of the Alcoran The Arabians ascribe to this place extraordinary Veneration for that their Kasiz or Priests continually here exercise their Priestly Functions maintaining that the Dead there buried cannot be damn'd because they participate so constantly of the Prayers of the Kasiz and Pope and this Belief has so far prevail'd that many great persons coming thither out of Reverence pull off their Shoes when they enter into the City as if it were a Mosque and build there Mesquites which they endow with great Revenues believing by such meritorious Works they shall go directly to their Paradice THE ISLAND OF TABARKA AND GALITA ABout six Miles from the Cape of Maskarez lieth the Island Tabarka Peter Davity Estats du Turkin Africa severed from the main Land by a Foordable Passage a Musquet Shot broad Now possessed by the French who have built there a Fort furnished with all Necessaries of War and a Garrison of Two hundred Souldiers as a Conveniency for defence and support of the Trade which they drive there with great advantage Transporting thence Hides Grain Wax and other Merchandise yet are obliged or rather compelled for that Licence to pay to the Bashaw of Tunis Four thousand Crowns and to the Bashaw of Algier Two thousand and yet for all this there is a Band of Janizaries always thereabouts to supervise their Actions and give a Check to them if they suspect any incroachment Here the French get Coral as we mentioned before Opposite to this but two Miles distant you may see the Island Galita or Galata TRIPOLIS TRipolis a Member of the Turkish Empire bears at this day the Title of a Kingdom not so much for the Largeness of its Extent or that it had peculiar Lords as that having a Bashaw from Constantinople it is nam'd out of ostentation to encrease the swelling bulk of those Titles which makes that Empire seem so Gigantick But be it one or other now it is so reckoned and containeth the Territories of Tripolis Essab Mezellata Mesrata The Partition or Cyrenaica and Barka with some Islands extending The Borders according to Peter Dan's Account Eastward along the Sea-Coast of the Island Zerby or Gerby to Egypt and Southerly to the Negroes Countrey ¶ THis City and State hath from the beginning had Lords of greatest eminency Tripoli under the Romans as first the Romans to whom it did Homage and Fealty when they were Masters of Africa but as their Strength and Glory declined shrowded themselves under the Protection of the Kings of Morocco Fez and Tunis which have possessed it by right of Birth But when the Inhabitants saw themselves oppressed by the Tyranny of Mukamur Under the Moors Son of Hesen King of Tunis they threw this yoke off their Necks first by a general Revolt then expelling the King's Lieutenant and all other his Officers and at last electing from among themselves one whom they made their Ruler or Magistrate putting all the Revenue and Support of the State into his hands In the beginning this new Lord rul'd with all gentleness but afterwards degenerating into all kinds of Tyranny his Brother in Law revenged the Cause of the City by killing him Freed from this Viper of their own breeding they impowered a Courtier of Prince Abubacer who had been a Recluse or Hermit who held the Command a few moneths till Ferdinand Vanquished by Ferdinand King of Arragon and Castile sent Don Pedro de Navarre thither with an Army who surprizing the City made all the Inhabitants Slaves and brought them away together with their Governor and his Son whom he sent first to Messina from thence to Palermo where the Emperor Charles the Fifth set him at liberty dismissing him home to Tripoli which the Christians as we said had dismantled and made untenable in all parts except the Castle which they fortifi'd with a brave Wall whereon they Planted divers great Cannon The young Prince being come to Tripoli re-peopled it in the name and on the behalf of the Emperor Charles but in the Year Fifteen hundred thirty and three together with Tunis Byserta Susa Monaster and the Island of Zerby was re-gained by Barberossa Re-gained by Barberossa who was scarcely warm in it before the Emperor Charles re-assaulted and took it By the Empetor Charles forthwith making a Present of it to the Knights of Malta who possessed it till the Year 1551. when under the Reign of Solyman the Magnificent Sinan Bashaw came and Besieged Tripoli to whom after a short time it was delivered upon honourable Articles It was brought under the Turks among which one was That the Garrison should march out with Bag and Baggage and be provided of convenient Shipping to Malta by Sinan but contrary to the Conditions most of them were plundered of their Goods two hundred of the Moors
the Arabians also in awe in regard they were able to bring twenty thousand Men into the Field many of which were Musquetiers who were so well Exercised and Disciplined that more then once they have put the Turks to flight yet at present they own themselves Subjects to the Bashaw of Tripoli Paying him the same Tribute they did the King of Tripoli who was supposed to draw from thence yearly eighty thousand Ducats MECELLATA THis Territory being the great Syrtes by the Arabians call'd Ceirat el Quibir lieth about eight miles from Tripoli by the Sea-Coast Ptolomy names its chief Town Makomaka or rather Calummacula There are still three other populous Villages call'd of old Aspis Sakramasa and Pyrgos Eufranta and by the Moderns Lard Cedick and Eufrata Not far thence on the Sea-Coast stands Sibaka by Ptolomy named Aporisburgh then the Cape of Sorta formerly the Point of Hippie Nain taken for Ptolomy's Philenes and by the Roman Historiographers the Altar of the Philenii highly reverenced by the Carthaginians being the Sepulchres of the Philenii two Brothers who sacrificed their lives for the safeguard of their Countrey The Countrey yields exceeding plenty of Dates Olives and Oyl They can bring six thousand Men into the Field are under a particular Lord having with their Neighbors the Arabs sometimes Peace and sometimes War as they are necessitated At this day they are Subjects to the Turks though Gramay maintains they acknowledge neither Turks nor Arabians yet follow the Mahumetan Platform in the way of their Worship MESRATA Or CYRENAICA THis Province of Mesrata Marmol calls Cyrenaica or Pentapolis and the Moderns Korene and the Moors Ceyret Cyrenaica once part of the Antient Lybia beginning by the unanimous Consent of all Geographers at the Philenian Altar beforementioned and did extend as Mela and Strabo averre to the Valley of Katabathmus in Egypt and to Nylus by consequence comprehending Marmarica At this present Mesrata is distant about nineteen miles from Tripoli Westward of the Territory of Mesellata and Eastward of Barka containing five Cities from whence call'd Pentapolis which carries as much in its signification Their Names be these Cyrene Berenice by Mela call'd Hesperia Apollonia Ptolemais and Arsinoe or Teuchire Cyrene the Birth-place as Strabo witnesses of Callimachus Eratosthenes Carneades and Aristippus all Antient Philosophers and Olivarus upon Mela denominates it Korene Berenice as the same Olivarus reports is now vulgarly stil'd Berrich Apollonia Bonaudria Ptolimais Tolomete Arsinoe and Teuchire Trochata But Marmol retains the old Name Cyrene and as to the rest Berenice he names Berbik Arsinoe or Teuchira Trokara Ptolemais Eptolometa Apollonia Bon Andrea which differ very little from Olivarus ¶ THe chiefest Places upon the Coast beginning from the West Strength are these Alcudie by Ptolomy call'd Autemalan an old Fort Cape Sabbia formerly Promontorium Drepanum the Salt Pans known to the Romans by the Name Stationes Maritimae Zanara was the Haven Diarchea or the Birds Island Camara or Cambra according to Mercator formerly Hercules Tower Carkora a Fort heretofore Diachersis Teionis or Teiones once the Cape of Briois and lastly Ardbry antiently the Coast of Briois Further up the Coast of Pentapolis stands Berbick or Bernich or indeed Bernice and Hesperides because some have here placed the Gardens of Hesperides so fam'd among the Poets ¶ THe onely River of note is Milet by Ptolomy call'd Lathon or Lethon which some have imagin'd to be Lethe the River of Oblivion Having past this River we come to the Cities Trokara Tolomata and Zadra formerly call'd Ausigda Longifana or Longifaria in elder time the Temple of Aptuch the Fort of Aras Ausen by the Italians call'd Cape Carane and Raxalsen the Point of Fikos Afterward Bon-Andrea or Apollonia with its Haven heretofore Naustathmes Forceli once Erythron Favora antiently Chersis and Darna or Dardania of old the Point Zephyrium to the East of Mesrata bordering upon Marmarica or Barka Lastly to the Inland Cyrene Arguide Quereda and Napolis Cyrenaica formerly was very Rich but now lies for the most part waste and unhabited because of the Arabians who continually oppress this Countrey with Robbing and Spoiling ¶ THe Mesratines are Warlike and Rich Riches Trading with the Christians for European Wares which they transport to negro-Negro-Land and exchange for Blacks to make Slaves as also for Civet Musk and other Commodities which they afterwards sell to the Turks for great gain ¶ THey can bring into the Field an Army of ten thousand Men Places with which they make Wars continually against their troublesom Neighbours the Pilfering Arabs nor could they be brought to pay Tribute tō the King of Tunis however they are subjected at present to the Great Turk yet as Gramay says their Governours are of their own Countrey onely they own him their Superior rendring some small Acknowledgments TAURKA TAurka is a small Countrey about thirteen miles in compass yet abounds with such plenty of Dates and Corn as sufficiently serves their own occasions with some to spare for their Neighbours although their Valleys by their Sandiness are somewhat barren The people are all Husbandmen and live in Hutts made of the Branches of Date-trees They are at present subject to the Turk against whom in the Year Fifteen hundred and sixty seven they made an Insurrection but after a stout Battel maintain'd four Days with great slaughter of the Turks overpower'd by number or rather wearied out than Conquered the Taurkians were necessitated to yield upon Conditions viz. to lay down Arms and Disband and Pay three thousand Ducats as a Fine for their Delinquency BARKA Or MARMARICA IT seemeth that this Name of Barka is of great Antiquity for Ptolomy places hereabouts a People call'd Barrceitors which contradicts not their Residence in Cyrene because Strabo and Mela extend that Countrey to Katabathmus in Egypt and to the Nyle and so by Consequence comprehended Ptolomy's Marmarika and our Modern Barka So Strabo sets the Marmarides in Cyrenaica whereas there is no mention of Marmarika in that place Marmol saith it is now call'd Barka but the Arabians name it Sahart Barka that is A stormy Wilderness or Cyrat Barka The passage of the Storm and who ever intends to go by Land from Barbary to Egypt must go through it It is a great Desart beginning on the Easterly Borders of Mesrata and reacheth from the Cape of Arraxaltin or Raxaltin by Ptolomy denominated the great Chersonesus to the Point Glaukun on the Borders of Alexandria or Scanderoon Bigness being in length above two hundred sixty eight miles from West to East and in breadth from North to South from the Midland-Sea to Numidia above thirty The most eminent Places are the Cape of Raxaltin Places mention'd but just before the Haven Trabucho formerly of Batrachus Farther to the In-land lieth first Augele then Lako formerly Antipirgus Cape Lako or the Point Kalyonium Mosolomar Port but since the Haven Salone although before of Panorme This brings you to the
onely they never wash their Feet but look upon it as an abomination to have clean Hands or any part of their Bodies ¶ THey Arabs that dwell in Biledulgerid The Numidian Arabs are for the most part deform'd and lean their Complexion a deep Sallow and not much troubled with Hair on their Chins they are subtle and cruel They are also long-liv'd and healthy Frication and not Sweating all the Physick these Arabs use which some ascribe to their Frications and avoiding what ever causes Sweat which is the onely Physical Application they use All their Recreations are pursuing the Ostrich and several sorts of Hawking which they much delight in The Grandees pride themselves in their attendance of Negroes but the Common People having no Servants domineer over their Wives exercising Supream Authority putting them not onely to Womens but Mens Drudgeries as dressing and sadling their Horses and whatsoever business else either in House or Field There are some of these Arabs that are Students at Fez and such Proficients that they Commence Doctors and Professors of the Mahumetan Laws and Religion others follow Traffick But in most parts of Numidia many of them are addicted to Poetry attaining to such a heighth that they set forth in Heroick Verse long Epick Poems like Homer or Virgil at large with high Fancy celebrating the valiant Acts of their former Princes and Conquerors and also they are good at Pastorals and such business of the Field But in Songs Sonnets Madrigals and the like which express the various Passions of sad Amours and always dying Lovers they are most exquisite in beyond belief ¶ THese Arabs are of a mild and sweet disposition Their Disposition generous and bountiful Apparel if their Fortunes answer They are Habited like the Numidians onely their Women differ in their Dress These though Poets live sparingly and think themselves highly Caress'd with a few Dates and dry'd Figs. ¶ THeir Habitations are Hutts and Tents Their Houses sometimes two hundred together which being like a Village pitched in a round order defends their Cattel like a Wall which are always placed in the middle They have onely two passages which they stop up with Thorns so to keep out Lyons and other Beasts of Prey They live together in Tribes and remove to better Pasturage like the Tartars and they reckon their Riches in their Stock of Dates and Store of Camels Yet these Countreys are Inhabited partly by other Africans and their own Numidians and by Arabians which drove out the antient Inhabitants and settled themselves in the Desarts bordering Date-land and on the other part the Numidians made themselves Masters of the Wilds that belonged to the Blacks or Negro's These People are distinguished into three sorts the first live without either Law Religion or Order the second are Non-conformists to all Orders but keeping of their Herds and Cattel which they drive from place to place every one having their own Beasts distinguished as their proper Goods Having no more Law then onely Meum and Tuum so they mark their Cattel that they never wrangle the third observe both Law and Religion and are Tributary to the Kings of Fez and Morocco whose Dominion extends to the Countrey of Dara Tafaletta and Ytata There are Turks also residing amongst them of which more hereafter ¶ IN the declination and fall of the Roman Empire Their Government this Region was Governed by Kings but when over-run by the Invading Arabians Their Religion and falling asunder it was snatcht up and shar'd by many petty Princes Their Religion Most of these People are Mahumetans SUS And the Countrey of YDAUSQUERIT THe chief Tracts of Lands in Numidia Westward are those that Border on the Ocean extending from Barbary and the Cape of Aguer to the Cape of Nun. ¶ THis Countrey they call'd The wide-spreading Sus bordering in the West Sus. with the Atlantick-Sea in the South with the Lybick Islands taking in a part of Nun in the East confined with the Territory of Dara and in the North with the other Sus belonging to Barbary ¶ THe chiefest Inhabitants are all Extracted originally from the African Breberians and are divided into Tribes or Families which they call Gemies as we said before signifying a Maslin People The first of these were the Offspring of the Ydausquerits call'd by a special Name Hilela who possess many Cities and Forts as Ydiauzon Merit Deudysdud Deuseniz Yndeuzel Arrahala Ydeunadayf Argan Deuquinsus Aytiakoli and Tizitit Among which the chiefest places are Ydeunadayf lying about fifty miles from Taradan to Zahara on the South Ydeuquinsus and Argon which all make but one onely Gemie or Family named Quincina and are Consociates with the Souldiery of the House of Hilela ¶ THis Countrey affords great store of Grain Wheat and Barley and in some places store of Oranges Lemmons and several sorts of such brisk or sharp-relishing Fruits as are frequent in Spain and Portugal It breeds also plenty of Cattel and such store of Horses that they are reckon'd up by thousands Extuka EXtuka Extuka a Territory of the wide-spreading Sus in which are reckon'd to be above forty Cities and Castles is inhabited by the African Breberians of Miceamunda The chiefest Place of which is Targuez strengthened with a Fort lying on a rising Hill the Residence for the Xeque or Lord. Their Neighbors are the other Breberians that are also Possessors of several wall'd Cities and Castles the chiefest of which are Ydaguazinguel Ydanbaquil Deursumugt and Hilela This Countrey is Mountainous and onely fit to produce Barley and feed Goats of which there are plenty Nun. NEar the Western Ocean are several Forts and Cities inhabited by the meaner Breberians Nun. and call'd Ydeuzel but their chief Countrey lying in the wide-spreading is Nun according to the Name of its Head-City This spacious Tract of Land lying between Numidia or Biledulgerid and Lybia or Zahara of which the greatest part belongeth to Zahara both which suffer extreamly in being harrassed by the many Incursions of the spoiling and pillaging Arabs which skulk in the Desarts wandring up and down with their Tent-Villages Near the City Nun Cape of Nun. lieth Cape Nun or Non so call'd by the Portuguese because they say whensoever any were returning home they were ask'd if they would come thither again who answer'd still in the Negative Voice Non. This Countrey affords no Grain except a little Barley and a few bad Dates therefore the Inhabitants are constrain'd to fetch their Provisions from the Kingdom of Gualata Tesset TEsset a part of Numidia a Countrey in the Wide-spreading Sus Tesset is so call'd from a City near the Borders of Nun towards the Lybian Desart twenty nine Degrees and ten Minutes Northern Latitude This Countrey on one side for threescore miles lieth desolate without any Inhabitants The Town is well fortifi'd with Brick-Walls which become hard onely by baking in the Sun and containeth about four
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
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
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
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-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-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-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
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-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-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
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
Language call'd The Bolmish Tongue being hard to learn and difficult to pronounce whereas that of the people of Timna dwelling to the South is easie The Capez and Kumba's are subject to their particular Princes who sit in publick to administer Justice and decide their Differences and to that end have near their Palaces several terrassed Walks call'd Funko's in every of which is rais'd a Throne cover'd over with fine Mats where the King sits and on each side plac'd long Forms for the Noblemen call'd Solatequies that is Councellors with whose advice he determines the Causes The Method this first appears the Party Complainant with his Proctors and Advocates call'd by them Troens attir'd with several sorts of Feathers having Bells at their heels and Staves in their hands to lean on when they Plead they put a Mask before their Faces that they may not be afraid but speak freely before the King what they have to say after the Cause is pleaded on both sides and the Councellors have given their opinion upon it the King pronounces the definitive Sentence with present Execution against the party cast When the King Creates one of these Councellers How the King's Lords of his Council are made he causes him to come into the Funko where being set upon a wooden Stool curiously wrought and carv'd and appointed onely for this Solemnity he girts him with a bloudy Fillet of a Goats-skin about the Temples afterwards Rice-meal is strowed over it and presently a red Cap put upon his Head And that the people may take notice of this new-conferr'd Honour he is carried about in Triumph upon the shoulders of certain Officers to that purpose appointed These Ceremonies perform'd the new-made Lord makes an Entertainment wherein they spend three days in all kind of Mirth and divertising Pastimes setting forth divers Skirmishes and other jocose Exercises according to the fashion of the Countrey At last they kill an Oxe and divide the flesh among the common people ¶ WHen the King dies his youngest Son inherits the Dominion The antient manner of chusing of a King or if there be no Male-Issue then the Brother or nearest Relation succeeds But before they proclaim him they fetch him out of his House and carry him bound to the Palace where he receives an appointed number of strokes with a Rod. Then unbound and Habited in his Royal Robes he is conducted very ceremoniously to the Funko where the chiefest Nobles of the Kingdom have assembled and seated on the Throne when one of the gravest Olatequi declares in a large Speech the Right and Priviledge of the new King which ended delivers into the new King's hand the Insignia Regalia that is an Axe with which the Heads of Offenders are cut off and thenceforth he remains an absolute Soveraign peaceably and receives all Services and Tributes These were the antient Customs while the Kingdom was free but since by the Conquest of one Flansire Grandfather of the present King of Quoia or Cabo Monte it was subjected to Quoia Bolmberre is Governed by a Vice-Roy Bolmberre is become a Province and Governed by a Vice-Roy who receives the Dignity and Title of Dondagh that is King from the Quoia's as themselves took it from the Folgia's but they have thrown off that Yoke and at this day the Quoian King as Supream not onely gives Laws to Bolmberre but also to the Principalities of Boluma and Timna having also left his old Title Flamboere and from the Portugals by whom converted to Christianity received the Name of Don Philip. The King has four Brothers The Residence of the King and his Brothers who separately hold their Residence in distinct places in the South Countreys the eldest five or six miles beyond the Town Bugos the second call'd Don Andreas at the second Watering-place before-mentioned the third Don Jeronimo at the third Point of the South River the fourth Don Thomas in a Town call'd Thomby All that Tract of Land lying by the Sea The Dominion of King Fatuma from the North-side of the River Serre-Lions to Rio das Pedras together with the Isle De los Idolos are under the Jurisdiction of Fatuma a Potent Prince commanding far up into the in-In-lands and holding as his Tributaries the Kings Temfila Teemsertam and Don Michaell a converted Christian The People before the coming of the Jesuit Barreira Their Religion lay wholly drencht in Idolatry but he converted many to the Christian Faith and in the Year Sixteen hundred and seven Baptized the King his Children and many others giving to the King at his Baptism the Name of Philip as we said before to which the Portugals flatteringly added Don and because he was King of Serre-Lions call'd him Don Philip the Lyon But they little practice the good Instructions taught them but still retain with the generality of the People their old heathenish Customs as shall be declared afterwards in the Description of the Kingdom of Quoia The English Trade Hollanders and other people that come into these Parts to traffick carry out of Europe several sorts of Commodities which they barter and exchange with great advantage the principal are these Iron Bars Linnen Basons Earthen Cans All sorts of speckled Glass-Buttons Counterfeit Pearles of several sorts Copper Meddals Bracelets and Armlets Pendants and such like Small Cutlasses Seamens Knives Fine Bands Ordinary Lace Chrystal Ordinary Painted Indian Cloathes Spanish Wine Oyl of Olives Brandy Wine All sorts of great Bands Waste-bands wrought with Silk which the Women buy to wear about their middles On the Island in the River of Serre-Lions The English Fort subdued by the Netherlanders the English possessed a small Fort erected for the more secure managing of their Trade which in the Year Sixteen hundred sixty and four the tenth of December the Dutch under the Conduct of the Admiral De Rutter with a Fleet without reason surpriz'd and took wherein they found four or five hundred Elephants-Teeth a good number of Copper-Kettles Iron Bars and about sixty or seventy Lasts of Salt the later parcels with some other inconsiderable Merchandises they left there but the Teeth and other Wares of consequence they brought over in the returning Ships GUINE WE are to observe Several acceptations of the Name Guine that the English Portuguese and Dutch greatly differ in their Descriptions of this Countrey though in the general Name they seem to agree for the Portugals divide Guine into the Upper and Lower comprising under the Name of the Upper the whole Tract of Land lying by the Sea inclos'd between the River of Zenega and the Borders of the Kingdom of Congo and under the Lower the Kingdoms of Congo and Angola whereas others bring Congo and Angola together with Monomotapa Zanzibar and Ajan under the Exterior as they include Abyssine or Prester-Johns Countrey wholly in the Interior Ethiopia But by the English and Netherlanders Guine is circumscribed in much narrower Limits allowing it no more
than from the Cape of Serre-Lions to the Cape of Lopez Gonsalvez lying about one Degree and a half South Latitude But some yet restrain it more shutting it up between which they include the before-mentioned Cape of Serre-Lions and the River of Benin GVINEA Some Geographers have attributed to Guine the Title of a peculiar Kingdom making it begin at the Gram-Coast and the River of Benin but this cannot be considering the great numbers of several Kingdoms lying between them Again others oppose that making all along upon the Sea-Coast in every eight miles a particular Territory and People to each of whom they set a peculiar King but he forsooth is no better than a Provincial The greatest part of Guine which indeed lies all upon the Sea-Coast Guine is divided into several Coasts has several Names given to it according to the various Commodities they most abound with Some divide it into six or seven Parts others into five but the best and most known Partition is into the Guinee-Coast Ivory-Coast Quaqua-Coast and Gold-Coast The Grain-Coast so call'd from Manigetta or Grain of Paradise Grain-Coast abundantly there to be had taketh beginning from Cabo de Baixos and runs two miles beyond the Palmito Gardine or Cabo de Palmas although some would have it to commence at Serre-Lions Ivory-Coast by others call'd Bad People that is Villanous Vooth-Coast beginneth near the Town Gruwa two miles Eastward of Palmito and ends at Cape de Lahoe containing a Space of fifty miles From whence to Cabo des tres Puntas or Cape Triangle they reckon Quaqua-Coast so call'd from the Cotton Cloathes which are there Traded for Quaqua-Coast but the vulgar acceptation of Quaqua takes original from the Call wherewith the Inhabitants when they come near with their Skiffs to the Merchants Ships as a token and sign of salutation and welcom cry always Quaqua For the Gold-Coast we need not seek for the reason of the Name Gold-Coast because it speaks it self 't is a large spot of Ground extending in length fifty miles from Cape Triangle to Acre though some would stretch it to Rio Volla and others yet farther even to Rio Jagos and Rio de Benni Whence this Name Guine had the first original all Geographers differ The original of the Name Guine but the greatest probability seems to bring it from the Portuguese who being the first Discoverers and finding it to lie even with the before-described Kingdom of Guine or Geneva near the River Niger gave it the same Denomination with its Neighbor In the Description of this Countrey we shall onely set down some of the chiefest and which for the variety of Plants Beasts and Customs of the Inhabitants bear some remarkable difference from others and particularly begin with that of Bolm The TERRITORY of BOLM CILM and QUILLIGA THis Countrey whose Inhabitants are call'd in their Mother-Tongue The Countrey of Bolm Bolm-Monou lies by the Sea-Coast near the River Selbore taking Name from the Prince being very low and watery from whence denominated Bolm Fourteen or fifteen miles up the River on the Left-hand appears the Village Baga Baga where the Prince resides and keeps his Court Ten or eleven miles to the South-East you come to the Province of Cilm The Countrey of Cilm whose Inhabitants are named Cilm Monou Here are seated on the Banks of the River divers good Towns with the City Quanamora containing about five thousand Families The River Selbore or Rio des Palmas the chief of this Region lying in eight Degrees North Latitude towards the Mouth divides into two Branches one running to the Westward the Inhabitants name Torro the other passing to the South the Portugals call Rio de Sante Anna. Torro twice or thrice a year hath little Water and by reason of several Islands can onely be passed with Ketches of eighteen or twenty Last and other small Passage-Boats This River with its Branches produces many amphibious Creatures In the Mouth of it lieth a great Island so made by the two fore-named Arms which from their embraces thereof on each side suddenly fall into the Sea The Island with its Point call'd Sante Anne appearing very pleasant by reason of its shady Groves the Portugals in their Sea-Cards call'd Ferula or Farillons but 't is better known to People by the Title Massokoy according to the Name of the Prince whom the King of Cabo Monte or Quoia hath made his Vice-Roy Before this Island lieth a great Shelf denominated Baxos de Sante Anne and round about it several dangerous Rocks ¶ THe Inhabitants are Blacks of the Town Quanamora The kind of Inhabitants a wicked and faithless people under pretence of Trade coming under the Ships will endeavor to sink them The Land hath Nature for a kind Mother The fruitfulness of the Countrey bearing without or at least with very little Tillage abundance of excellent Rice and other Grain besides Hens Banames Injames Potatoes Bakovers Ananasses and such like by reason of which Fertility many people flock thither to inhabit especially near the River The English have by this River in the Village Bago Their Trade many Tents wherein at certain Seasons they reside for their conveniency of dealing for Red-Wood whereof they purchase and acquire very great parcels and for that very purpose have planted several Families in the circumjacent Villages The Inhabitants of Farrillons and Massakoye Their Customs are affable and courteous behaving themselves in a very orderly manner beyond the ordinary Barbarism of the Blacks and wear a Cotton Coat down to the knees by whose example their Neighbors do the like By St. Annes Rocks Pearl-catching Pearles and Scollop-shells are taken but the Sea is so over-run with devouring Fishes that few dare adventure the catching of them Their Religion Their Religion if any is down-right Paganisme yet use they Circumcision like the Jews and Turks of which their Ignorance is not able to give any reason Having thus travell'd through Bolm and Cilm you go to Quilliga lying by Rio de Galinas The Countrey Quilliga or Hen-River thirty or two and thirty miles upward of which appears Carradobo The River of Hens whose Inhabitants are call'd Carradabo Monou as those of the former Quilliga Monou All this spreads East and by South lying very low but full of Trees having the benefits of several Rivers that water their Plains The first lying twelve miles from Rio das Palmas the Inhabitants call Maqualbary and the Portugals Galinas by reason of the great number of Hens thereabouts bred and takes its Original out of the Region of Hondo The people living on the Shore of this River speak a particular Language that seems harsh and unpleasant but when they go to Quoya Their Language or Cabo Monte to traffick they express their meanings significantly in another Tongue that runs smooth and easie either to be learnt or understood All these Countreys have particular
these Clothes which the Inhabitants barter for Salt which they according to their own report send abroad by Slaves or otherwise who with it travel so far into the Countrey till they come to white People that Ride on Mules and Asses and use Lances for Arms but they are not altogether white as the Europeans By this Description we cannot but imagine these Mungrel Whites they mention must without peradventure be Moors of Barbary The Blacks of other Places exchange these Cloathes for yellow Arm-Rings and sometimes but seldom for Beads Heretofore some Gold was to be had but now that Trade is lost here and carried to Akara The Government here is Monarchical Government the present Regnant King call'd Sakkoo of whom all the neighboring Territories stand in great fear because he is a Conjurer firmly believing that if he pleased to put his Arts in practise he could bewitch all his Enemies to death In the beginning of December this Sakkoo sends a Canoo to Atzyn and Little Kommany and all places on the Gold-Coast with Negro's where they throw some compounded Conjuring-stuff into the Sea using some formal words in doing it which is done onely to free it from Hericanes or Whirlwinds and tempestuous Storms So soon as this Canoo returns the Merchants come with their Cloathes to the Gold-Coast but in such order that no more may come off till the first come back for the prevention of the hinderances of one another The five Band Villages have the priority in coming off and after those of the six Band this continues till April or the beginning of May when the Sea begins to run high then the King 's Canoo comes as before using the same formality and returning the Gold-Coast Trade ends for that Year The Quaqua-Blacks have a well-govern'd State according to their Mode As for example those that are Fishers must all so remain without daring to alter their Employment As likewise all Merchants are so preferred there that no other may deal in fair Laces and Garments of Akori but they insomuch that all others who have those Commodities are necessitated to put them into the Merchants hands The method of their Worship Religion if any is Diabolical sacrificing Men to their Idols and thereto so addicted that they will not be won to alter it yet courteous enough to Strangers from whom they endeavour to conceal those abhorr'd Oblations Gold-Coast THe Gold-Coast receiv'd its Name from the abundance of Gold there to be had It spreads to the length of fifty miles from the Village Assine Gold-Coast twelve miles Eastward of Korbi Lahou to the Golden Village of Akara lying at the Sea And although some Gold may be had on the Grain-Coast and Eastward of Akara yet that Tract is not reckon'd under the Gold-Coast because the quantity is but small This although known by this single Name to the European Merchants consists in many rich Villages Kingdoms and Territories yet but small in Circumference the particular Places we will onely name here in brief being these viz. Atzyn Little Inkassan Ygwira Great Inkassan Inkassan Iggina Anten Tabeu Atty Adom Mompa Wassa Wanqui Guaffo Sabou Abramboe Kuyfora Akanien Dohoe Junta Ahim or Great Akany Akan Fantyn Aqua Sanquay Ayhwana Aquamboe Abonce Tafoe Akara Labbede Ningo Abora Quanhoe Bonoe Kammanah Equea Lataby Akaradii Insoka Gaui Aquambou or Aquimena The Kingdoms lying at the Sea are Azin or Atchin Little Inkassan Ante Guaffo Fetu Sabou Fantyn Aghwana Akara Labbede and Mingo all which are commonly visited by the English and Netherlanders chiefly and sometimes by the French which several people have in divers places particular Store-houses and Forts for the keeping of their Wares and for the Conveniency of the Trade which they have built by the permission of the Inhabitants The chiefest Villages lying at the Sea are Atzyn in the Kingdom of Atzyn the Village at Cabo tres-Puntas in Little Inkassan Takorary Botrow Poyera Pando Maque Jakquim Sakonde Sama in the Kingdom of Anten Agitaki or Little Komendo Terra Pequerime or Pekine Dana or De Myn Ampea Kotabry Aborby and two Salt-Villages in that of Guaffo Moure Sabou in the Dominion of Sabou Anemabo Adja Kormantin in that of Fantyn the Rough Poynt Soldiers-Bay Devils Mountain New Biamba Great Berku Inka Koks-bred Little Berku in that of Aywana Akara in Great Akara Labede in Labede The Territory of ATSYN or ATCHIN THe Territory of Atsyn or Atchyn or Aksem The Territory of Atsyn as the Blacks call it hath on the East little Incassan and on the North Igwira the Sea-Coast on the South with Cliffs of Stone Near the Sea three Villages are erected inhabited by Fishers Achombene the one Achorbene three miles from Cape de Tres-Puntas The second Achombene near which the Portugals in the time of King Emanuel built a small Fort but afterwards by agreement with the Blacks they rais'd another greater Castle on the main Land nam'd from the neighbouring Village The Castle of Asyn The Fort Atsyn or Atchin at present possess'd by the Netherlanders who in the Year Sixteen hundred forty two the Ninth of January before the Peace made between them and the Crown of Portugal had dispossess'd the Portugals of what strength they had there Coming at Sea out of the West this Castle in a clear Sun-shiny day yields a pleasant Prospect but coming right against it the sight is hinder'd by an Island lying before it Westward thereof runs a Rivulet which though very poor in Water yet visits several Dominions being supposed to take the original far off in the golden-Golden-Land of Igwira Half a mile from the aforemention'd Fort The River a River passes by some thought to run through the Jurisdiction of Akana but of this no certainty nor any likely to be by reason of its many and strong Water-falls Those of the Myne used to go thither with Canoos which they laded thence with Shells for the burning of Lime but since the like Shells have been found in the Ditches of the Myne that labour is left off The next River bears the name of the Province among Merchant-strangers The Atsyn River but the Inhabitants denominate it Manku whose first sight invited the Traders to search its Channel but they soon had enough of it for they met with so many Shelves and absconded Rocks besides high and precipitious falls that it was impossible to pass them however 't is not altogether waste for the Natives dig out from under the Cliff good store of Gold and fetch it up from under the Water in Trays mixt with Earth Stones and other Rubbish The Territory of Little-Inkassan LIttle-Inkassan hath on the West Atsin The Territory of Inkassan on the North Igwira on the East Ante and in the South spreads with three Points into the Sea and therefore the Portugals have nam'd it Cabo das tres Puntas It lies in four degrees and ten minutes South-Latitude three miles Westward of Atzin Castle and fifteen miles
Eastward of Albine The Principality of Anten ANten lying about seven miles from Cape de Tres Puntas The Kingdom of Anten and ten from Atsin hath neighboring on the West Little-Inkassan towards the North-West Igwira on the North North-West Mompa in the North Adom in the North-East Tabu and in the East Guaffo the whole River full of Villages inhabited by Fishermen as amongst others Botrow Pogera Pando Takorari or Anten Maque Jaque Sakonde Sama whereof Takorari is the chief behind which lies a remarkable Promontory with a convenient Road or Haven for Ships At Botrow the Netherlands have a considerable Fort. The King of Anten keeps his Court about three or four miles up in the Countrey commanding all the Countrey as well the In-land Villages as those that lie at the Sea A mile Eastward of Anten Rio St. George falls into the Sea close by whose Banks the Village Jabbe is seated Near Tekorari the Hollanders some years since built a Fort from the neighboring Village call'd The Fort of Tekorari The Fort of Witsen or Tekorari but to themselves known by the Name of Witsen originally belonging to the Dutch West-India Company but before the great War between the Crown of England and the States of Holland by them remitted to the States-General In the Year Sixteen hundred sixty and four in the Moneth of April Sublued by Captain Holmes this Fort was attacqu'd by Captain Holms and one Joseph Cubits in behalf of the Royal African English Company with two of the Kings Men of War six Frigats and some other Ships and by them with no great difficulty won but regained again the next Year on the fifteenth of January Recover'd by De Ruyter by Admiral De Ruyter being at that time onely mann'd by four or five in health and about as many more sick English-men and leaving in it seven Iron-Guns six or eight Pounders Immediately upon the retaking the Guns being drawn off to the Ship De Ruyter caus'd it as not to be maintain'd without many people and great Charges with Twelve hundred pound of Powder to be blown up into the Air and totally dismantl'd The Negro's of the Myne in the mean time Plunder'd Takorari The Negets of the Myne are sent to assist De Ruyter and laid it waste by Fire and Sword out of malice which they had against the Blacks of Takorari there came down thither about nine hundred in three hundred Canoos who having as it were by surprize won the Victory exercis'd great cruelty upon such Prisoners as they took cutting off their heads with which they went Dancing and Leaping up and down and at last carri'd them home in token of Victory These Negro's of the Myne were well Arm'd according to their Countrey fashion some of them having Caps made like Helmets adorn'd with Feathers and Horns of Beasts and Swords hanging before upon their Belly whereon instead of Handles they put Bones of Tygers Lions and other Beasts Their Faces generally Painted with Red and Yellow so also on their Bodies which made a very strange and terrible sight Three miles lower stands a large Town call'd Sama containing about two hundred Houses under the Government of one Braffo nevertheless both he and his men own as their Superior Lord the King of Gavi whom they serve in his Wars in time of need and pay him Tribute The Portugeuese had in this Village a Stone Bulwark with a Store-house but now decay'd and deserted by them but by reason of the great conveniency of the River for fresh water and the adjacent Grounds for Fire-wood the Netherlanders have Rebuilt and possess it and have rais'd the middle foursquare Battery fourteen Foot high and a Store-house whither those of Adom and Wassen come to Traffick with them Close under the Town runs a handsome River whose Water is fresh and pleasant Two three or four miles upwards but higher up is full of Cliffs and Rocks so that it is not passable although for a while it was conceited otherwise till experience manifested the contrary for several of the Traders there hoping to have got some advantage by it in their Gold-trade sent six persons in a Ketch with three weeks Provision to search who turn'd back the thirteenth day relating that they had Row'd up eleven or twelve days but were not able to get any further because of the forcible fall of the Water six or seven Foot higher and that above they discover'd so many Cliffs and Rocks that it was impossible to get through them Anten is a plentiful Countrey producing great store of Fowl The Condition of the Countrey and Poultry of several sorts besides great variety of Fruits and Vegetables especially Injame's Ananasse's and Palmitor's from which so much Palm-wine is extracted that the Blacks come ten or twenty miles to fetch it thence in Canoo's and carry it up the whole Gold-Coast The people along the Shore maintain themselves by Fishing Their Maintenance and in the Countrey by Handy-labor and Husbandry They have always held themselves in an indifferent neutrality towards all people Trade and formerly were sought to sometimes by the English sometimes by the Dutch to Trade with them but they finding the Gold they had was brought to them from Igwira and Mempa in small quantities signifying little neither of them prosecuted it any further The best Conveniences to be had among them are Water Wood and Ballast for Ships The Government is mixt being constituted of a Braffo or Captain and Cabosero's or Chiefs of the People The Jurisdiction of GUAFFO or GREAT-COMMENDO GUaffo or Great-Commendo The Kingdom of Guaffo or Commany borders in the West on Anten and Tabeu having a small River for a Boundary between both in the North-West on Adom in the North on Abramboe in the East on Fetu and in the South on the Sea Formerly Commendo Fetu and Sabou were united under one Prince and the Inhabitants then as now by strangers call'd Adossenie's as those of Fantijn Fantenie's but at present divided into three several Kingdoms On the Shore lie several Towns as Aitako or Agitaki otherwise Little-Commendo but by the Portugal's call'd Aldea de Torres being the head Town on the Shore scituate on the Borders of Fetu two miles and an half Eastward of Sama then Ampea or Apene Cotabry Aborby Terra Pekine and half a mile Eastward another Commendo Within the Countrey stands a great City upon a Mountain by the Inhabitants stil'd Guaffo and by the Europeans Great-Commendo for a distinction from Little-Commendo before-mention'd lying near the Sea Most of those Towns have suffered terrible devastations by those of the Myne who use on a sudden to invade them by Water burning and spoiling all before them being not able to cope with the Guaffin's at Land but they of Abramboe once made War against this Countrey by Land got the Victory and kill'd their King All sorts of Fruit and Provision are daily brought to Market in
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
and Sonquay in the North by the Kingdom of Aquumboe and the Countrey of Abonce in the East at Great-Akara and in the South spreads along the Sea-shore Agwana hath divers Villages and Mountains near the Sea as the Rough-Point a Village of Fisher-men Souldiers-Bay and The Devils-Hill New-Abrembee Old-Abrembee Great-Berku scituate on a Mountain four Miles from Akara Jako-Kox-broot and Little-Berku where Water'd by a small River All these places have Stony Cliffs before their Havens From Cormantin the Coast reacheth East and by South The spreading of the Coast to The Devils-Mountain about six Miles from thence to Berku a Tract of five Miles East and by North from Berku one Mile Westward to Akara a Tract of five Miles East North-East Beyond Kox-broot lieth low Land replenish'd with small Trees but the Countrey within is high and Mountainous In Berku breed many Hens sufficient to eat among themselves and to sell cheap to strangers and their Drink call'd Pitouw is like our small Beer The Inhabitants have the repute of Stout and Warlike People The Nature and Maintenance of the Inhabitants but in Peaceable times maintain themselves by Husbandry and Fishing Yet some of them are good Artists both in Iron and Gold of the first making good Arms and of the second curious Gold-Chains and other neat Pieces of Workmanship In this Territory is but a small Trade for European Wares There is little Trade and therefore little frequented the best dealing is for Slaves of Berku with the Akerasche Merchants which come thither who exchange them for Serges viz. a Piece of Serge for a Slave or else two ounces of Gold THE KINGDOM OF AKARA THis Kingdom contains in Circuit The Borders of the Kingdom of Akara ten or twelve miles having on the West Aguana and the Countrey of Abonce on the North the Dominion of Aboura and Bonoe on the East that of Labbeda and Ningo and on the South the Sea Near whose Shore are three Villages viz. Soko Little Akara fifteen miles Eastward of Kormantyn and Orsaky Having gone four miles into the Countrey you come to Great Akara where the King keeps his Residence Provision here is very scarce especially Fruits and Bread-Corn so that whatever Whites put into this Place to Trade must upon necessity provide themselves well with all necessary Provision The King hath and not without cause the repute of a Potent Prince The Kings Power being able in time of War to bring fifteen or sixteen thousand Men into the Field He hath a more absolute Soveraignty over his Subjects than any of his Neighbors so that he is an unlimited Monarch and for the more sure confirming his Jurisdiction keeps good Correspondency with all Whites without shewing more favour to one than another The Little Akara has been many years the chiefest place of Trade upon the Gold-Coast next Moure and Kormantyn Trade where Foreign Merchants carry Iron and Linnen which they exchange in Barter for Gold with much greater gain than on the other places of the Gold-Coast but the Linnen must be finer than ordinary otherwise the Blacks will not meddle with it While Trading here was free to all that is till the Hollanders West India Company had ingross'd it to themselves the Haven of Akara produced a third part of the Gold that was to be had on all the Gold-Coast which was brought thither to sell from the Countreys of Abonce and Akamen All the Wares which the Inhabitants buy they sell again at the Market of Abonce two hours Journey beyond Great Akara which they hold three times a Week with great resort of People out of all the neighboring Territories The King of Akara suffers none out of Aquemhoe and Aquimera to come through his Countrey and Trade with the Whites but reserves that freedom to his own Subjects onely who carry the Wares brought from the Europeans to Abonce and exchange them there with great profit Neither would this King suffer the Whites to set up a Store-house on Shore for Trade but forc'd to ride with their Ships Ketches and Sloops before the Haven yet some few years since he sold to the Dutch a piece of Ground whereon he hath permitted them to build a Store-house Adjoining to this they have so far incroached The Store-house of Akara as to raise a little Fort of Stones sixty two Foot long four and twenty broad and flat above overlay'd with thick Planks strongly mortis'd together and strengthned round about with high Breast-works Port-holes and defensive Points for keeping off an Enemy At Great Akara the King hath appointed a Captain over the Merchants Overseer of the Trade with full power to set a Tax or Price for Selling to prevent all Quarrels Differences and Controversies which might otherwise arise of whom the Merchants stand in greater awe than of the King himself for he not onely punishes Offenders according to his pleasure but in case that any Dissentions happen he stops up all the Ways if they do not pay him according to his Amercement THE KINGDOM OF LABBEDE LAbbede a small Territory hath on the West Great Akara The Borders of the Countrey Labbede on the North and the East the Kingdom of Ningo on the Sea-Coast two miles Easterly from Little Akara lies one and the onely Village call'd Labbede a delightful place Wall'd and fortifi'd with Cliffs by the Sea-shore The Countrey hereabouts has plain and many well-water'd Meadows convenient for Pasturage of Cattel The Trade of the Inhabitants consists chiefly in Cows Maintenance whereof they breed some up themselves and others they fetch over-Land from Ley a Place eight or ten miles lower which they then sometimes sell again to the Akraman Blacks and to those of the uppermost Places The Government of this Countrey belongs to a petty Government yet absolute Prince THE TERRITORY OF NINGO OR NIMGO THe Countrey Ningo hath on the West Borders of the Kingdom of Ningo Great Akara on the North Equea and Little Akara On the Sea-Coast in this Territory are four places Ningo three or four miles from Akora and two from Labbede Temina one mile from Ningo Sinko a mile from Temina and Pissy all with Cliffs before the Walls in the Sea Ningo abounds with Cattel which the Akarians buy and carry to sell with Canoos to Moure Within the Countrey stands another fair City call'd Spicei where grow many good Oranges The Inhabitants generally support themselves by Fishing Maintenance which they do in a strange manner and with as uncouth Implements being like Baskets or Coops such as they put Chickens under with which going along the Shore in the Night with Lights they throw them over those Fishes which they get sight of Ningo Sinko Pissy some years since Places of good Trade but having now for a long time given out no Gold they are not visited by the Merchants who for that cause go no lower than Akara where as it is before
the Sea-shore to Trade with the Whites Trade but wholly deal in the Countrey with their Neighbours giving Gold for Clothes and other Wares which most frequently they have from the Countrey of Abonce or else from the Akanists their next Neighbours Akam AKam touches in the West upon Into as the South on Ahim in the North Akam an unknown Land and in the East on Kuahoe and Taffo little known and as little taken notice of because they have nothing fit for Commerce Aqua AQua hath on the West Atty and Dahoe Aqua in the South the Territory of Fantyn lying at the Sea and on the North Ahim. A place of little consequence belonging to Fantyn The TERRITORY of SANQUAY SAnquay lieth in the South on Fantyn in the North on Akim Sanquay and in the East on Agwana The People live hardly being forc'd for supply of Provision to come to the Rough Point to buy Fish which by reason of their remote distance seldom comes home other than stinking It yields obedience to the King of Agwana The TERRITORY of AQUUMBOE AQuumboe hath in the West Aquumboe Ahim in the North Quahoe in the South Agwana in East the Countrey Abonce and Aboera of little farther note or value than onely to be named Abonce THis small Countrey borders on the West Abonce at Aquumboe on the South at Agwana on the North at Amboera on the East upon Great Akara and part of Aboera Here is held the Market of Great Akara though about two hours Journey behind it whither resort out of divers Countreys several sorts of People Kuahoe KUahoe hath on the West Kuahoe Akam on the South Aquumboe and Ahim on the North Tafoe on the East Aboera and Kamana The Inhabitants are deceitful and false and therefore little esteemed by their Neighbors Tafoe THe Countrey of Tafoe lies bounded on the West Tafoe by Aka on the South by Kuahoe on the East by Kammana and Kuahoe 'T is reported to yield great store of Gold which the Natives bring chiefly to Abonce but some small quantities to Moure Aboera THe Territory of Aboera hath on the West Aboera Aquumboe on the North Kuahoe and Kammana on the South Abonce and Great Akara on the East Bonce It possesses much Gold which the Inhabitants of Abonce bring to the Market of Great Akara and there Truck for foreign Commodities Quahoe QUahoe hath on the South Kammana and Small Akara and on the West Quahoe Tafoe From hence also they bring Gold to accommodate and enrich the Market of Great Akara Kammana KAmmana hath on the West Kuahoe on the North Quahoe on the South Kammana Aboera and Bonoe on the East Equea Lataby and Small Akara The Inhabitants follow Husbandry and not onely get their own Living thereby but furnish and feed many of their Neighbors Bonoe BOnoe touches on the West upon Aboera on the North upon Kammana Bonoe on the South hath Great Akara and on the East the Territory of Equea and Ningo The People drive a Trade and carry their Merchandise to sell onely among their Neighbors Equea THe Territory of Equea hath on the West Bonoe on the North Equea Kammana on the South Ningo and Lataby on the North. The Inhabitants maintain themselves by Traffick Lataby LAtaby borders on the West upon Equea and Kammana Lataby on the North and East on Small Akara on the South upon Ningo and Latibo The Natives hold here also a great Fair or Market whither all sorts of Wares are brought but much exceeded by that at Abonce Akarady AKarady hath for Limits in the West Akarady Kammana on the North Quahoe on the South Lataby and Ningo This Countrey abounds with Gold which as likewise all that which comes to Akara is as well cleared of Dross as that brought by the Akarists which the Inhabitants bring for Vent to all the adjoining Markets and Factories The Land hereabouts hath few Trees and those also yielding little profit whereas Kormantyn and other places lying upward have many to be admired for their fertility and usefulness Insoko INsoko lieth Insoko according to the report of the Akarists four or five days Journey from the Sea-shore but that the Countreys between are for the most part unknown to them because they very seldom go to Insoko by reason of the great numbers of Thieves that haunt the Ways The Inhabitants make very fine Cloathes Their Cloathes whereby those which making a safe Voyage return from thence home again may gain vast Riches they are bought for Royals of Eight or other Pieces of Silver and sometimes for fine Linnen but as the same Akanists say know nothing either of Gold or Copper neither have they any Concern in it Thus much as to the Countrey in general we will now proceed to declare a more particular Relation of its Nature Air Plants Beasts Customs and Religions and what else obviously we meet with concerning the same ¶ THe whole Gold-Coast The Nature of the Countrey especially about Myna appears Wild Desolate Mountainous and full of Woods having such narrow Ways that two cannot go together and those so incumbred and over-grown with Brambles and Trees that the Sun can hardly through their density be discern'd in short they are fit hiding-places for Thieves and yet few such found there From Cape de Tres Puntas to Akara it lies high and higher up into the Land the Soil is fruitful intermingled with good Pasturage very convenient for the Feeding of Cattel in as also for Planting of Mille and other Corn the Shore extending East North-East The People here know not what a Frost means There is no Prest so that indeed we may justly say they have no Winter but one continual Summer covered by the continual Heats of the Air and Sun yet notwithstanding this certain warm temperature of the Clime hath distinguish'd the Seasons of the Year attributing some Moneths to Summer others to Winter by peculiar observing the difference of the Weather and accordingly they reckon it Winter when the Sun shines in a Perpendicular Line from the Vertical Point of the Heavens upon their Heads which happens in April and June and they judge it Summer when the Sun is farthest from them which is in October November December and February the reasons whereof we will endeavour briefly to give you In January blow along this Coast out of the South-West hard Sea-Storms but harder in February which sometimes bring with them a Hericane and sometimes Rain In the latter end of March and beginning of April great Tempests a rise both at Sea and Land by the Portuguese call'd Ternados and by the Inhabitants Agombrettou attended with great Rains mixt with Thunder Lightning and Earthquakes which continue to the end of May They foresee the coming of this strange Weather by the clouding of the Skie in the South-East yet then is the Sowing-time for Mille. The Ternados past the
Hair How their Hair is drest wherein they observe no particular fashion for one cuts it like a half-Moon another Crossways the third with three or four Tufts so that amongst fifteen men hardly two are alike They wear as an Ornament on their Arms Rings of Ivory strip'd and streak'd with Crosses three or four on one Arm and about their Necks a String of Venetian Crystal or Coral which they break into pieces but persons of Eminency wear them commonly of Gold As also on their Legs Strings of small Christal mix'd with Golden Studds and other Ornaments of Gold At their Feet they have commonly some Wisps or other stuff hanging kept for their Sants which they call Fetisies On their Heads some wear Caps made of the Peeling of Trees with a long Tail ty'd to it in stead of a Hat-band dy'd and drawn with several Colours Others have Caps or Hats of Sedge or Reeds a third Hats with broad Brims Woven of green Bulrushes a fourth made of Dogs-skins and Cabriets or Sheep-skins The Women go Apparell'd in Linnen for the most part fasten'd or ty'd close under their Breasts somewhat above the middle and reaching to the Knees with a Girdle of a hand-breadth Red Blew or Yellow to which hang their Knives Purses and Keys for an Ornament besides many Tassels of their Sants or Fetisies Thus they go Cloth'd in the house but when they walk abroad they lay off this Garment and washing their Bodies from top to Toe put on a longer coming down to their Feet like a Petticoat over which as the former girt close being Mantlewise they throw another of Say or other such thin Stuff Their Heads are finely drest and their Hair neatly Plaited The Head-gear of the Women in the midst with a Tuft trim'd round about with Strings anointed with Oyl of Palm in their Hair they have usually long slender Kammeties or Bodkins with two Teeth about the length of a Finger with which they thrust in their Hair when any thing troubles them also in Salutation they draw these Bodkins out of their Heads and stick them in again Upon their Foreheads they have three or four Cuts about the length of the first Joynt of a Finger so also on their Cheeks which being swell'd up they Paint with several Colours Beneath their Brows they make white Strokes and stick their Faces full of white Spots which at a distance seem like Pearls They hang in their Ears Brass and Tin Rings and put on their Arms Copper and Ivory Armlets and on their Legs Rings of Copper Young unmarri'd Maids wear many small Iron wreath'd Rings on one Arm. But the chiefest Pride consists in their Shining Teeth which they pick and rub with a certain piece of Wood till they become as smooth clean and white as polish'd Ivory The People lying near the Shore Their Employment maintain themselves either by Fishing Boiling of Salt Tilling of Land or Merchandise as also by being Factors and Interpreters to those which come out of the Countrey with Gold to Trade upon the Coasts with the Whites but the Inland some by Husbandry others by Trading many by Plaiting Caps of Bulrushes or Dogs or Kabriten skins Others Weave Caps Purses and Garments of the Peeling of Trees Painted with all sorts of Colours and very Artificially made as though Woven of Flax or Hemp. The Inhabitants of Atzyn Ante Guaffo Terra Pekine and Cabo Cors maintain themselves by Fishing Those of Little-Inkassia by Husbandry and Burning of Lime They of Labbede though lying near the Sea make their best livelyhood by keeping of Cattel and making of Salt The Blacks of the Town Moure use the Fishing Trade but the chiefest help they have is Merchandize and to entertain the Akanists which come to them with Gold The People of Sabou as most of the Inlanders bestow their whole time and labour in Tilling and Manuring their Fields whereby in the Town Moure lying on the Sea-Coast in the Kingdom of Sabou Provision of Mille Injam's Fruit Hens and other things may be had cheaper than in any other place of the Gold-Coast Their manner of Tillage proves very laborious How the Lands are Till'd being done by the hand without help either of Horses or Oxen and besides they are forc'd to clear the Land of Wood which cut down to ground the Stumps and Roots they burn to Ashes which serve them in stead of Marl or Dunging The Seed-time Seed-time with them begins commonly on the twentieth of April in the Rainy-Season when the Soyl is moistned and become soft then every man with his whole Family goes into the Field and takes his best Cloathes and Jewels with him They are greatly busied wherewith he adorns his Wife Children and Slaves giving them also plenty of Victuals with Wine of Palm in the Evening returning home follow'd by his Retinue Singing and Dancing The next day they begin to Sow the Land of their King and Braffo The King's Land first Till'd or Captain of the Town under whom they live for which they are entertain'd with Wine of Palm boyl'd Mutton and other Food afterwards every Man takes care for himself In the midst of the Field so soon as the Mille springs up and comes to Blossom they erect a little wooden Hut Thatcht with Straw where they set their Children to keep little Birds out of the Corn. These People are so Lazy Their Laziness in Tilling Land that seldom any of them will sow more than he shall have need of that Year for his Family whereupon oftentimes by ill-thriving of the Grain caus'd by excessive Drowth or the multitude of Locusts there ariseth a great Famine yet these in certain hazards prevail not to make them more industrious one reason whereof among other may be for that none have any propriety in Land but the King holds all Woods None possesseth any Land of his own Fields and Lands so that none without his leave may Sowe or Cultivate to his best advantage for improvement Every man may take as many Wives as he pleaseth or can maintain Marriage and besides if he enjoy other women his Wives may not hinder him from so doing but he must give every one of them the worth of five or six Shillings to satisfie and quiet them whereas on the other side if the Woman flies out to another man the Husband may put her away and sell her When a young Man hath intention to Marry Woeing before Martiage and hath seen a Maid he likes he requests the Parents to have her to his Wife which if she be not a Slave they will easily consent to especially if the Bride-Gift be offer'd that is about a Mark for the Parents and as much in two little Cloathes for the Bride who then is brought to the House with her Companions who stay there with her for eight days that the Bridegroom may settle his Affections and make himself acquainted with the Maid And notwithstanding
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
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
for Name Lovango or Barra Lovangiri yet the Blacks forget not its old Denomination Boary or Bury The Ground-plat of it takes as much in compass Bigness as our famous City of York in England but much more straglingly built It hath large streight and broad Streets of which the Inhabitants take great care that no Grass grow nor any Soil lie in them They stand in very good order and are neatly Planted with Palmito-Trees Bananos and Bakoros Form which stand as streight as it were by a Line Some of those Trees also stand behind the Houses and sometimes quite round about serving not onely for an Ornament but also for a Shelter and Shadow In the middle of which you come to a great Market-place The Court of the King by whose side stands the King's Court surrounded with a Hedge of Palm-Trees containing in circuit as much as are in ordinary Towns beautifi'd with many Houses for his Women that live six or eight together not daring to stir from their appointed Stations without the King's leave or the Overseers which use a diligent and jealous eye over them The Houses are built long-ways with two Gable Ends and a sloaping Roof which rests on long thick Posts that lie upon Stays about two or three Fathom high The breadth length and heighth of them is near alike that they may stand in equal and uniform distances and within they have sometimes two or three Rooms or Chambers apart in one of which they keep their Riches and that hath Doors at the hinder end lockt up with a double Lock some have round about a Fence of Palm-Boughs plash'd others of Bulrushes wreath'd some make Lebonge or Wickers braided together which inclose six eight or more Houses and they dwell in them as in a Precinct being to each other very trusty and in all accidents helpful Their Housholdstuff consists chiefly in Pots Calabasses Wooden Trays Housholdstuff Mats a Block whereon they put their Caps some small and great Baskets of a neat fashion into which they put their Cloathes and other trifling things Besides the aforemention'd Division of Lovango The Countrey bordering on Lovango other Territories lie about it some of which pay Tribute and others not and therefore the Tributary being Majumba Dirge and divers others are not unproperly reckon'd as Members of Lovango and put into the King's Title Majumba lieth within three or four Degrees South Latitude Cape Niger bordering in the West upon the Sea where appears a high black Point by the Portuguese named Cabo Niger that is to say The Black Point because it shews afar off by reason of Trees upon it black Next this Cape follows a Road The Road of Majumba by Seamen call'd The Road of Majumba about half a mile in length that is from the Cape Niger to the South Point being low and overgrown with Trees Within the Countrey you discover a red Mountain The Mountain Metute by the Inhabitants styl'd Metute Not far off a great Salt Lake a mile broad opens to the view out of which some Waters about half a mile Northward of Cape Niger run into the Sea but the passages are sometimes choaked up by the Waves that beats extraordinarily against them On the Shore stands the Village Majumba The Village Majumba built in one long row so near the Sea that the incroaching Waves oftentimes necessitates the Inhabitants to remove behind the Village on the North a River very full of Oysters poures its Water into the Sea and hath in its Mouth at the most not above six sometimes but three or four Foot of Water yet farther within boasts a considerable bigness breadth depth and length extending at least fifteen miles upward Southward of Lovango to the great help and conveniency of those that fetch Red-Wood which otherwise they must carry much farther whereas now they bring it in Canoos down the River Majumba is barren of Grain but yields plenty of Banano's which they call Bittebbe and Makondo of which they make Bread abundance also of Palm-Trees from whence they extract Wine and the Rivers afford plenty of Fish The People having no peculiar Prince are very rude and savage giving themselves to work all manner of mischief Here was formerly a great Trade for Elephants-Teeth Trade but now almost decay'd and lost The Manibomme that is the Deputy of Lovangiri pays for all the Red-Wood brought from Sette down the River to Majumba Ten in the Hundred The Women fish for Oysters out of the aforemention'd River fetching them up in great Trays from the bottom then opening and smoaking them they will remain good for some Moneths These smoaked Oysters as all other sorts of Flesh or Fish so smoaked in the Countrey Language are call'd Barbette Over this Territory one of the Counsellors of State to the King of Lovango Government named as we said Manibomme Commands rendring no account to his Master but onely the Red-Wood Eight or nine miles Southward lieth a Point call'd Quilongo or Sellage according to the Name of the neighboring Village This Tract of Land appears to ships at Sea Prospect of Majumba at Sea coming out of the South with two Mountains in the shape of a Womans two Breasts and therefore call'd Quanny About two miles Southward of the Breasts glides the River Quila abounding with Fish and precipitating it self with a strong Water-fall into the Sea ¶ THe Dominion of Chilongatia Mokonga is a large compass of Ground lying Northward of the River Quila in former times a free Kingdom but now by Conquest a Member of Lovango yet still enjoy their antient Customs and Priviledges paying Tribute onely The Manibeloor or Governour of Chilongo hath absolute Superiority during his life and after his Decease the People may chuse another without asking the King of Lovango leave ¶ THe Jurisdiction of Sette about sixteen miles from the River Majumba The Territory of Sette borders in the West at the Sea and water'd by a River also nam'd Sette Here grows both great and small Mille the first call'd Massa-Manponta and the other Massa-Minkale Many Potato's in the Countrey Phrase stil'd Iqua Anpotte and Palm-Wine Plants with them Malaffa as the Trees Mabba or the Nut Imba and the Pith or Kernel Inbonga This Province yields extraordinary plenty of Red-Wood besides other sorts of Timber Of this they have two sorts the one by those of Sette call'd Quines which the Portuguese us'd to buy but is not esteem'd in Lovango the other By-Sesse being much heavier and redder bears both a good Price and reputation The Root of this By-Sesse call'd Angansy Abysesse exceeds in hardness and deepness of colour which makes it much valued With this Wood the Blacks drive a great Trade all over the Coast of Angola and in Lovango dealing indeed very seldom with any other than their own People being at first brought from Sette where the Governor receives the Custom of Ten in the Hundred which we
mention'd before Some Hens and Goats breed here though not in great numbers but the Woods afford all sorts of wild Beasts The Inhabitants feed upon Mille Banano's and wild Creatures Between Sette and the Cape Lope-Gonzalvez lieth Gobby a Territory having Morasses Lakes and Rivers all Navigated by Canoos The chiefest Town lieth about a days Journey from the Sea-shore The Rivers feed many Water-Elephants and divers Fishes but the Land breeds few Cattel besides Beasts of Prey Though the People claim a kind of propriety in Wives yet is it such as merits not to be brought under the name of Marriage not for that they take as many as they can but because when any Friend comes to visit the Husband he immediately as a mark of amity prostitutes one of his Wives to him And in all other Cases gives such liberty that Women taken in Adultery receive commendations and rewards rather than obloquy and punishment A Man when first Married gets not esteem nor regard among the Womans Friends till he hath smartly beaten and boxed his Wife and thenceforward they reckon him one of that Family And this usage hath by custom become so naturaliz'd that a Woman suspects her Husbands Love unless he frequently beat her Their Language hath affinity with that of Lovango Language differing onely in some few words so that they easily understand each other They make great Wars upon their Neighbors especially those of Comma between Cape de Lope-Gonzalvez and Gobby The Commodities brought out of Europe thither are Musquets Powder bright Copper Kettles white and brown Linnen and ordinary Cloth Their Arms consist in Arrows Arms. Bowes and Assagays the first they call Insetto the second Matta or Boeta and the third Janga and Zonga The Government of the Countrey remains at this time in the hands of a Woman In all other Customs Religions and Conjurations they agree with those of Lovango onely they are more deceitful and treacherous ¶ DIngy borders at Lovango The Territory of Dingy Cadongo and Vango a great Countrey and full of Towns and Villages A Tributary to the Lovangian King yet hath its own Lords which Rule by succession As to the Plants Beasts Customs of the Inhabitants Governments and Religions take here this brief account This Countrey of Lovango affords divers sorts of Fruit Plants viz. Massa-Mamponta or great Mille Massa-Minkale or little Mille and red Mille which they use in stead of Tares There grow also Potato's call'd Limbale Ampaita Bakovens Injames with them Imbale Emtogifto or Ginger and other strange Fruits as Goebes Mandonyns or Dongo and Fonsi and some Herbs the chief of which they account Insansy bitter of taste Imboa and Insua Purceline and wild Fetherfew They have also Malanga or Pumpkins Mampet or Sugar-Canes Mihenga a juicy Fruit but they Plant no more of it than they can eat from hand to hand and Maye-Monola or Tobacco Grain of Paradice by them stil'd Indonga-Anpota grows here but in no quantities because neither Sown nor Planted Also great abundance of Banano's and Mandioque or Farinha of which they make Bread Of the Leaves of Majaera they make a pretty relishing and savory Food dressing it with smoaked Fish Palm-Oyl Salt and Achy or Brasile Pepper but their common Food is Fondy or Sonsy made of the Flour of Mille. There are also many Calabasses which grown ripe they dry and make Dishes of for several uses A sort of little Apples grows on low Trees which prove a very refreshing Fruit and good to put into Drink as Spice or as the Kola There is a larger sort thereof call'd Cucomba crude sowre and corroding but boyl'd tastes very well The Kola grows on great Trees in Husks ten and twelve together and yields Fruit once a year This as experience teacheth eaten in the Evening hinders sleep The Root Melando Melando whose Leaf climbeth up on a Tree or Pole like our Hops eaten gives an Aromatick taste Cassia Fistula Cassia Fistula or Pipe Cassia they use in their Witchcrafts and Enchantments Of Oranges Oranges Lemons and Coco-Nuts Lemons and Coco-Nuts they have but few for setting no value on them they will not bestow the pains to transplant and propagate them Achy Achy or Brasilian Pepper groweth wild and much used so also Cotton All these Fruits continue the whole year through except between Majumba and Cabo de Gonzalvez whose Inhabitants use Bananos in stead of Bread and Fish for other Provision Matombe Trees grow numerously Matombe but yet exceeded by the vast multitude of Palm Trees These Matombes afford first good Wine which they drink in stead of that of Palm but not so strong The Branches make Rafters and Laths for the Houses and Couches to Sleep on The Leaves are used for Tiles and Fence off the greatest Rains All the Garments worn in Lovango are made of these Leaves which they use also in stead of Money having no sort of Mettal Coyn'd but because the Matombe Leaves are not so strong as those of the Palm the Clothes made thereof are in less esteem seldom making of it any other than course Jago-Clothes Their manur'd ground is so furtile that it affords three Crops The Seed ground viz. small Mille little Beans and Wigge that is sown with Mille as Rape with us Some have their Lands one two or three miles others a day or two's Journey from their Dwellings whether they go at Seed-time and remain with their Families till they have Sow'd their Ground then return to their Habitations again They Plough not the Land but break it up with an Instrument like a Hoe How their Land is Plow'd or rather a Masons Trowel but broader and hollower Hoggs Cabrietes or Sheep Goats Cows and all sorts of Fowls The living Creatures breed more plentifully here than in any other places on the Coast of Congo or Angola The Inhabitants are strong Limb'd The kind of Inhabitants large of Stature and decent in Behavior commonly jealous of their Wives yet themselves Wanton and Unchast covetous and greedy to attain Riches yet generous and free hearted one to another very much addicted to Drinking Wine of Palm yet slighting our European Wine no Zealots in matters of Religion yet extreamly Superstitious so that it is pity they want the knowledge of Real and Divine Truths The Men wear long Garments Their Cloathing reaching from then middle down to their Feet and below border'd with Fringe but leave the upper part of their Body naked The Stuffs whereof they are made may be divided into four sorts one of which none may wear but the King and those he permits out of singular Favor or as marks of Dignity They are call'd sometimes Libongo otherwhiles Bondo which no Weavers are permitted to Sell upon pain of Death There are two other sorts usually sold the best call'd Kimbes being a Habit for the greatest Nobleman made very fine and with curious Workmanship Flowr'd Fit for Handkerchiefs
and Pride The King's State though falling short of Congo whose Princes have been instructed to bear a Majestick Port by the Portuguese so long resident among them The Treasure and Riches of this great Prince consists chiefly in Slaves The King's riches Simbos of Lovando Boesies or small East-India Horns and some Clothes things with the Whites of a small value but by them esteem'd more than the best Gold or Silver He keeps continually a mighty and very numerous Army upon his borders His power to prevent the Innovation of an implacable Enemy call'd Mujako who lives Northward from him of whom we have as yet no other knowledge than to guess him powerful in regard he could never be subdu'd by Makoko In the Desarts of this Kingdom inhabit those little men mention'd before to shoot and kill the Elephants and sell their Teeth to the Jages as they again to those of Congo and Lovango who exchange them for other commodities with the Portuguese and other Europeans The Kingdom of GIRIBUMA or GIRINGBOMBA THis Principality hath its scituation to the North-East of Makoko The Kingdom of Giringboâ—nba and the King thereof very powerful holding as his Tributaries fifteen other great Lords yet willingly never drawn to quarrel with his neighbours especially of Makoko with whom he holds a firm allyance which is the easier maintain'd because they all agree in their heathenish Superstition East South East from the great Makoko you arrive at another mighty Kingdom call'd Monimugo and by others Nimeamay whose Jurisdiction reaches to the borders as some say of the Kingdoms of Mombase Quiloe Soffale as in the Description of those Countreys shall be more spoken of at large POMBO THe Countrey properly call'd Pombo lieth more than a hundred Leagues from the Sea Coast and as some say touching upon Aethiopia superior Abysine Others divide Pombo into divers Kingdoms stretching themselves as far as a great Lake perhaps the Lake Zambre between both the Seas But the certain place where this Lake arrives is altogether unknown which no White ever yet heard of or hath seen onely the Portuguese relate that a certain Kaffe of Mosambique which travel'd cross through the main Land of Saffola to Angola came by it Both the Portuguese and Blacks that live in Lovango The trade of the Portuguese to Pombo Congo and Lovando Saint Paul drive a great trade here by their Servants sent thither with Merchandize who chiefly for Slaves Which is drove by Slaves or Fombo's Elephants Teeth and Panos Limpos barter and exchange Canary Malago or Medera-Wines great Simbos Boxes and other Commodities These Servants or Pomberos have yet other Slaves under them sometimes a hundred or a hundred and fifty which carry the Commodities on their heads up in the Countrey as we have heretofore related Sometimes those Pomberos stay out a whole year and then bring back with them four five and six hundred new Slaves Some of the faithfullest remain oftentimes there sending what Slaves they have bought to their Masters who return them other Commodities to trade with anew The Whites are necessitated to drive their Trade in this manner Why the Whites cannot go to Pombo by reason according to their relation it is impossible for them to wade through the badness of the ways and undergo so great hunger and trouble as attends that Journey besides the unwholesomeness of the Air which causes extraordinary swellings in the heads of the Whites Their journey from the Sea-Coast out of Lovango and Lovando Saint Paul to Pombo proves very toilsome to the Blacks themselves because there be many Rivers which sometimes after the Rain grow so deep but they stop the other hazards often arising by the barbarous Jages This Province owns for its supream Lord and Governor the great Makoko The Dukedom of AMBUILLA or AMBOILLE EAstvvards of Quingengo one days Journey The Dukedom of Ambuilla begins the Dukedom of Ambuila or Amboille in the North and North-East divided by the River Loze from Oande On the East side this Dukedom hath the Territory of Quitere Quiandange and to the South Kanvangombe where the Rivers Danda and Loze as some say take their original This Principality hath many pleasant Fields Trees and Fruits and abounds with Cattel as Goats Sheep Hogs and Cows It was never subject to Congo It is not subjected to the Kingdom of Congo but vies with it for wealth and magnitude holding in subjection above fifteen Domiâ—ions whereof the five chiefest are Matuy-Nungo Pingue Hoiquyanbole Ambuibe and Lovando the other not nam'd This Countrey affords many Slaves and the Trade driven there is in Pombo The Kingdom of ANGOLA or rather DONGO THis Countrey by the Portuguese call'd Angola Angola is the name of the Governors and not of the Countrey lies between the River Danda and Quansa the name of Angola belongs not properly to the Land but is the Title of the Prince who assum'd and continues it from the first King thereof who fell off from Congo to whom it belong'd by right of inheritance the right name being Dongo although formerly It is rightly call'd Dongo and still by some call'd Ambonde and the Inhabitants Ambond's It spreads in the West to the Sea Coast and then from Danda or Bengo Borders to the River Quansa a tract of about fifteen miles but runs about a hundred miles up into the Countrey Jarrik gives it for borders in the North the Kingdom of Congo in the South that of Mataman in the East Malemba or Majemba and in the West the Sea where it spreads saith he from the River Quansa about ten degrees South Latitude and ends at the Sea near Cowes-bay a tract of five and thirty Leagues Pigafet adds to it all the Countreys from Cowes-bay before-mention'd to Cabo Negroe a tract of about fifty more This Kingdom of Angola for so we shall stile it is water'd by divers Rivers as Bengo Quansa Lukala and Kalukala The River Quansa for Danda and Bengo are included before in Congo The River Quansa lying in nine degrees and twenty minutes South-Latitude four miles and a half Southward off The Sleepers-Haven or six miles from Cape de Palmarinko and five to the Northward of Cape Ledo It s original hath an uncertain original for it is reported that no Whites have ever been so far as where the same rises But the common opinion holds that it comes out of the great Lake Zambre by many made the head of the Rivers Zaire Nyle Niger and many others It hath been liken'd to the River Lukar Course in Spain being at the entrance about half a League wide and at the Northside deepest to come in with Ships It carries but twelve foot in depth at high-water ebbing and flowing about four foot but within they find water enough yet Navigable no higher than the Village Kambambe by reason of the strong water-falls It runs up from the East to the West very
warred against the King of Angola in the Countrey And now inhabited by many Families of Portuguese besides Mulattoes and Blacks Kambamba edges upon Quansa The Tertltory of Kambamba where stands a Village denominated also Kambamba Eastward of Massingan about a dayes Journey The Portuguese have a Fort here also wherein divers Families reside and many Free Blacks that have good store of Slaves About eight days passage up the River Lukala The Territory of Embakka you arrive at Embakka where is a Village of the same denomination twelve days Journey from the Sea side In this place the Portuguese have their Bounds beyond it claiming no Interest The unwholsomness of the Air breeds divers Sicknesses Constitution of the Air and Sicknesses especially violent and burning Fevers which kill in few Hours unless prevented by frequent Phlebotomy The Pox is so common among them Pox. that they think it no Disgrace and for Remedy use Oyntments and Physical Herbs taken inwardly but through want of Skill the Cure remaining imperfect many die They have another frequent Distemper call'd Bitios de Kis suprising them with Melancholy great pain in the Head Faintness and soreness of Limbs and makes their Eyes stand out staring as if they would fall out The Cure which immediately must be used upon the appearance of the Symptomes they perform by washing the Fundament very clean and putting a Pill made of a quarter of a rinded Lemmon therein with the Finger holding it in as long as may well be endur'd which is not done without great pain and burning a sign of the right Bitios This Medicine though seeming but mean yet proves the onely Remedy against this Disease if timely applied But if the Distemper be grown inveterate and far rooted which the swelling out and opening of the end of the Gut and a whitish loosness testifies then a Mixture of Juyce of Tobacco-leaves Salt and Vinegar steeped together two hours then stamped in a Mortar and so much thereof put into the Fundament as can well be done and kept there as long as possible reduces the Part again to its proper condition and absolutely cures the Disease But this Medicine is so painful and hardly to be endured that the sick Person must be fast held by two strong Men else he can never receive the intended Advantage The Bitios also are cured by frequent Clysters or Serringing the Fundament-Guts with the purified Decoction of the Plant Orore de Bitos and dried Rose-leaves mixt with one or two Yelks of Eggs and a little Allom and Oyl of Roses For the preventing hereof so soon as the tokens of it are perceived the Fundament must first be well cleansed then a Medicine made of a new-laid Egg well beaten with a little Rose-water and Sugar with which mix White Lead scraped small then dipping fine Lint into it put it up into the Fundament Observe here That White Lead is taken for a rare Cure against this Evil. Another Disease sorely afflicts them taking away in a manner their Sight so that they grow Pur-blind but by applying the raw Liver of a Hey regain their former Health Few escape the misery of sore Legs whose malignity is such as will hardly admit Cure They labor under another sort of Distemper Beriberi which the Indians call Beriberi being a Lameness of all the Limbs and supposed to have its original from the ill curing of the Bitios and not cleansing the Blood enough The best Medicine against this is to anoint the Joynts before a Fire with an Oyl by the Indians call'd Man-Tennah which in the Island of Sumatra drops out of the Rocks like Stone-oyl and proves very wholesom and serviceable against all Colds weakness of Limbs and Strains The Boasi is a Malady very common and pernicious rotting off the Nose Boasi Hands Feet Fingers and Toes spreading from Joynt to Joynt with great pain until without Remedy it brings them to their End Embasser a usual Sickness proceeds from the hardness of the Spleen Embasser which makes them grow melancholy yellow of colour heavy-hearted and faint But Broath made of the Root of the Tree Embotta that part especially that lies to the Morning-Sun restores their Health Of the Branches of this Tree being very strong and tuff they make Bowes The Small-Pox also rages here much Small Pox. and by reason of their unskilfulness in the use of fitting Medicines proves many times very mortal The Land about Lovando for want of convenient Moisture proves barren The nature of the Soil but on the opposite side by the River Bengo fruitful yielding store of Mandiboka Mille Beans and many sorts of Fruits and Herbs which upon the Portuguese first arrival was over-grown with Bushes and Brambles But the Portuguese Governor of Lovando Ferdinando de Sousa in the Years Sixteen hundred twenty nine and thirty commanded the Inhabitants every one acording to the number of Slaves they had to take each of them a piece of Ground at the River and clear it from the Bushes Brambles and Weeds and make it fit for Sowing and Planting by which they brought it to the present Fertility This Labor at first was ill resented by the Inhabitants who were drawn to it with great difficulty but when they tasted the Profit and saw the Fruitfulness every one sought to get a Plantation and took so much Ground as they could Manure In this manner the Ground was planted with Mille Beans and all sorts of Herbage and by Time and Practice the People still improving became not onely a necessary Plantation but as it were a pleasant Garden for the whole Countrey But afterwards in the Year Sixteen hundred forty one when the Netherlanders took the City Lovando Saint Paulo all was burn'd and ruin'd So that this Tract of Land formerly as we said a Garden of Pleasure became afterwards a Den for Lions Tygers and other wild Beasts However after some time a Peace being settled between the Dutch and Portuguese their joynt Endeavors restor'd it to the former Beauty and Fertility The chiefest Products of these Parts are small and great Mille Plants whereof they make Bread Chesnut-colour'd Beans call'd Enkossa a fatning and delicate Food yet too much eating of them causes a pain in the Belly Also Oranges Lemons Dates Bananos Ananasses Potatoes Cocos Arosses and Palm-oyl-Trees Anones Guajaves Wine or Gegos Anones Anones so call'd by the Portuguese from a Duke which brought this Fruit first thither is a pleasant Fruit very delightful in taste Ash-colour'd as big as ones Hand and almost round like a Pine-apple Guajaves Guajaves or Gojava so call'd by the Portuguese by the Natives Cienko and by the Dutch Granate-Pears is a Fruit very delicious in taste but the coldness of its Quality makes it thought unwholesom Arosses Arosses or Granate-plums a Fruit almost like Guajaves but smaller wholesom to eat and of a pleasing sharp taste Gegos grows on high Trees Gegos in
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-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-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
Soldanha-Bay Memoires de Thomas Roe where the Soldanhars have their chief Residence Some would make the Countrey lying at this Bay an Island contrary to the receiv'd Opinion of all Geographers and to support their Fancy aver That it is divided from the Main Land of Africa by a deep Bay at the South-East side and on the East side by a small River below Table-Mountain and inhabited by five or fix hundred People CABO DE BONE ESPERANSE At Table-Bay and the foot of the Table-Mountain The Fort or strength of the Netherland West-India Company the Netherlanders have a Fort for the defence and shelter of their Shipping in their Voyages Built in a Quadrangular form Fortifi'd with a great many Pieces of Ordnance and a convenient Garrison of Souldiers strong enough to repulse any Army of native Assailants By which they have a Garden of fifteen Acres of ground Planted with several Trees and Fruits besides the Plantation on the other side of Table-Mountain full as big again A Governor Commands this Fort assisted by two Merchants a Book-keeper or Clerk Accomptant some Assistants and a Serjeant over the Souldiers all which are chief Men and Councellors Without this Fort divers free people of several Nations have their residence transported out of Holland and maintain themselves chiefly by Tillage and Planting but they pay for their Priviledge a part of their Harvest to the Governor for the Benefit and Advantage of the Company In the Latitude of four and thirty degrees and forty minutes Eastward of the Needle-Cape lieth another Bay first call'd Flesh-Bay Flesh-Bay by reason of the abundance of Cattel to be had there This Bay wherein lyeth a small Island standing open to all Winds except on the North and at the West-side runs a Brook of fresh Water from the Mountain yielding no small refreshment to Sea-men Eight or ten miles Eastward you arrive at Fish-Bay Fish-Bay so nam'd from its abundance of Fishing Fifteen or twenty miles Eastward hereof in the elevation of four and thirty degrees and thirty minutes you discover Muscle-Bay so call'd by the Dutch Muscle-Bay but by the Portuguese Seno Formoso that is Faire-Bay Next Seno Formoso follow Seno del Lago that is The Bay of the Lake Faire-Bay because the Sea hath wash'd into the Shore in such a manner that it seems to be a great Lake rather than a Bay containing many Islands and Havens and amongst others Ilehos Ctaos Between these are three Capes plac'd in the Maps viz. Cabo de Sante Fransisko Cabo das Sorras and Cabo do Aregito and an Isle call'd The Island of Content Somewhat higher Northerly the River St. Christopher glides along Rio de Santo Christian the Portugnese call it Rio de Sante Christian and the Inhabitants Nagoa in whose Mouth three Islands are seen Next this River appears a Tract of Land by the Portuguese call'd Terra de Natal that is The Land of the Nativity of Christ so call'd from the day of its first discovery The Southermost Countrey of these parts is water'd by three known Rivers besides many other unknown Rivers viz. The Sweet and Salt River and Rio de Jakquelina Just about the foot of Lion-Mountain flows the Sweet River Sweet-Rivers which takes its beginning out of the descent of Table-Mount and runs down very swiftly through not above knee-deep Pigafet will have this River take its Original out of the Lake Gale between the Mountains of the Moon on the West-side and to fall into the Sea by False-Cape whereas the common African Maps place there the River Kamissa To the East beyond Terra de Natal opposite to this little River in the year Sixteen hundred forty and four some few Dutchmen erected a Fort or Bulwark with four Angles for the defence of this fresh water but they never finished it Half a mile Eastward runs the Salt-River so call'd from its plenty of Salt for on a great place of Sand three or four miles upwards by heat and drought so much fine and white Salt continually grows that a Ship might soon be Laden therewith Rio de Jackquelina hath its Original within the Countrey and its Out-let about half a mile Eastward into Table-Bay As to the Air quality of the Soyl Plants Beasts Customs Food Cloathing Arms Language Religion and Worship of this people in general we cannot say much that little we shall speak will have onely relation to the Hottentots lying close to the Cape as the Garouchouquas Goringhuiquas Goringhaiconas Cochoquas or Saldanhans great and little Cariguriquas and Hosaas for of the rest viz. the Vanouquas Cabonas Sonquas Mamaquas Heusaquas Brigoudys Hancumquas hitherto little or no information hath been had other than that in general they agree with those that lie nearest to the Cape The Air about the Cape of Good-Hope is always Serene Air. Clear and Temperate and by consequence very Healthy because neither the Heat parches nor the Cold pierces too much In June and July blow the stiffest and sharpest storms of Wind from the Southerly Points which continue till December mix'd with Mists Snow and Frost so that the waters in June and July are often Frozen the thickness of the back of a Knife The Vale-Winds Wind. or Hurricans blow sometimes so terribly from the Mountains which are commonly cover'd with thick Clouds which hover there and break with that violence as if all above ground would be rent to pieces At this time when the Winds bluster and tear so horribly they make a hollow Sea at the Point which too often proves dangerous for Ships It Rains there in the Winter that is in May or June so extreamly as if it did almost pour down whereby the low grounds are laid under Water yet without any prejudice for after the falling away of the Water the ground appears more fresh and flourishing The Soyl about the Cape is in some places very rich and ferile fit to be Husbanded and to produce all manner of Fruits although other parts be full of Clay Stony Gravelly or Sandy some Trees grow here and there but so hard and knotty as makes them fit onely for Fuel yet the natives report that in the Countrey there grow such Trees that a hundred men may shelter themselves under one of them perhaps the Indian Fig-Tree by Linschot call'd Arbar de Rais. There grow in the Winter Plants especially among the Saldanhars certain little roots which they eat some of them have a taste like Anniseeds others like Jerusalem-Artichokes others as Acorns The Valleys and Plains under lie verdur'd with Grass and sweet Herbs which being boyl'd with fresh Meat make a pleasant Sallet Close by the Fort of Good-Hope on a Mountain call'd The Vineyard the Netherlanders have Planted forty thousand Vine-stocks which all at this day send forth lusty Sprouts and Leaves and bear Grapes in such abundance that sometimes they press Wine of them They have there also Peaches Apricocks
split Quill at the end which being blowed yields a low sound Conney and Badger-Islands NOrthward of the Great Cape lie three Islands in the Sea viz. Conneys Badgers and Fransh Island The Conneys Island so called from the many Rabbits breeding in the Cliffs and on the Shore lieth before the Mouth of Table-Bay a League or thereabouts from the Land five Miles Southward from Badger-Isle It contains a Mile and a half in compass but more over-grown with Bushes than the Badger which receiv'd its name from the abundance of Rock-Badgers there found Neither of these have any fresh Water Spilber Voyage 1601. and although the Ground be sandy and full of Bushes yet they bear many good Herbs and Flowers and abound with Cattel The Conneys were first brought thither by the Dutch in the year One thousand six hundred and one The Sheep carried thither first by the English grow extraordinary fat and increase exceedingly so that some have been found whose Tails were five and twenty Inches thick and nineteen pound in weight with four and thirty pound of Swet about the Kidneys besides the Fat that came from their Flesh but the Meat gives no satisfaction in the eating by reason of the exceeding fatness There are many Pinguins and thousands of Meuwen and yet for all this plenty they both lie desolate and not inhabited A little Northerly lies the Fransh-Island equal in all things to the aforemention'd and as them without Inhabitants THE EMPIRE OF MONOMOTAPA THis Empire The Empire of Monomotapa by Joseph Barras call'd Benomotapa and by Sanutus Benomotaxa lies up within the Countrey before the Kingdom of Sofale near the Sea inclosed between Rio de Spirito Sancto or Magnice and the great River Quama both which by some are taken for two Branches of Zambere It spreads Southerly towards the Cape de Bona Esperanza Borders having in the North for Borders the Kingdom of Monimuge or Nimeamae and the River Quama in the East the Sea-coast of Sofala in the West and South the River Magnice and the neighboring Mountains Others Cluverius conterminates it in the East South and West with the great Ocean in the North with Congo the Abyssines and Zanguibar It s Length The bigness between the Lake Ro and the Ethiopick Sea together with the Mountains of the Moon Cluverius reckons to be four hundred Dutch Miles and the Breadth between the Head-Fountains of Nilus and the Cape of Good Hope three hundred Dutch Miles For all the little Kingdoms from the River Magnice to the Cape of Good Hope are said to acknowledge the Prince of Monomotapa for their Supreme Lord. But the whole Compass of this Countrey is accounted by many but seven hundred and thirty five French Miles The Imperial and Royal Court being the Chief City is call'd Banamatapa Chief City although by Vincent le Blank Madrogam lying six days Journey from a great House call'd Simbaoe or Zimbaoch and five Miles from Safale towards the West The Houses have almost sharp Roofs very large built of Wood or Earth Houses very finely and whited without and within The Palace of the Emperor carries a vast extent The Kings Palace having four Eminent Gates and very many large Chambers and other convenient Apartments guarded round about with Watch-Towers and within hung with Cotton Hangings of divers Colours wrought with Gold and richly Embossed as also overlaid with Tin gilt or as others say cover'd over with Plates of Gold and adorn'd with Ivory Candlesticks fastned with Silver Chains The Chairs gilt and painted with several Colours The four chiefest Gates of the Court richly Embossed and well defended by the Life-Guards of the Emperor whom they call Sequender The Emperor keeps a great Train of Servants who all attend in good order bowing of the Knee when they speak to him His Meat is serv'd up to his Table in Pourcelane round beset with Gold Branches Other Principal Cities are Zimbas a Mile and half from Sofale Tete where the Portuguese Jesuits have their Residence Sena c. Certain War-like Women like the ancient Amazons The Residence of the Amazones do possess a peculiar Territory appointed for them by the King although Sanutus appropriates to them a particular Kingdom upon the Borders of Damout and Gorage more towards the South Not far from Monomotapa is the Province of Chitambo The Kingdom of Chitambo wherein stands the City Tamburo This Kingdom hath the benefit of a temperate Air Air. and enrich'd with luxurious Valleys which though not Inhabited in all Places affords Provision of Cattel and Fruits sufficient to store both themselves and Neighbours nor is it destitute of pleasant Woods stor'd with variety of Fruit-Trees Plants and in some places abundance of Sugar-Canes that grow without Planting to the increase whereof the Rivers and Brooks that besprinkle the Countrey do not a little help The greatest Wealth of the Countrey consists in Oxen and Cowes Beasts with them more highly esteem'd than Gold or Silver They have no Horses nor other Beasts for Carriage besides Elephants which flock together by whole Herds in the Woods They shew a Beast call'd Alsinge resembling a Stag or Hart and Ostriches as big as Oxen. There grows upon Trees call'd Koskoma a Fruit of a Violet Colour and sweet in taste of which whoever eats plentifully it purges them so violently that a Bloody-Flux and at length Death follows upon it Here are found several Gold Mines in the Bowels of the Earth Gold Mines and also in some of their Rivers for which the Inhabitants dive in the Stream and take it up with the bottom from the Mud and so pick it out which Gold-diving they also practice in divers great Lakes spread far and near in this Kingdom for which cause the King of Monomotapa is not without reason call'd by the Portuguese The Golden King All the Inhabitants have short and black curl'd Hair The Constitution of the Inhabitants and as Linschot saith are of a middle Stature though Pigafet makes them a kind of Giants They are well set of a sound Body of Complexion black very apprehensive and quick of Understanding much addicted to War and apt to make Insurrections upon any trivial cause Their usual Food is salt Beef Milk and a little Verjuyce and Oyl of Sesamos Their Bread made of Rice Mille or of the Root Ignamees which they boyl in Basons The Drink of the Common People Milk but of the King and the Grandees Wine of Honey or Meath which they preserve in Ox-horns or Wine of Palm made delicious with Manna Amber and Musk. The King bestows every day in Perfumes two pound of Gold which certain Merchants furnish him with For the Torches and Lights which he uses are mix'd with sweet Odours which he causes to be born before him in the night being set in a richly Embroider'd Pavilion carry'd by four Noble-men follow'd by a great Train and cover'd over with a Canopy in
they lay him naked upon the earth and cruelly beat him with a Rope full of knots which punishment the Judges themselves are subject to and the greatest Lords and Magistrates besides the Confiscation of their Estates and Offices If the Judges have any difficult business whereof they can find no proof they give the suspected person the Bark of a Tree cut small in Water and if he can keep that potion without Vomiting they clear him otherwise they condemn him to death These People are for the most part Pagans they call their chiefest God Maziry that is The Creator of all things They shew great reverence to a certain Maid call'd Peru in whose honor they shut up their Daughters in Cloysters as Recluses Moreover Religion they set apart as Sacred some days of the Moon and the Birth of their King but the innumerable number of Erroneous Opinions darkens all the Splendor of their Belief which they should have to God the Creator of Heaven and Earth But the earnest endeavour of the Portuguese Jesuites hath converted many to Christianity and brought them to receive Baptism In the Year Fifteen hundred and sixty the King himself with his Mother and above three hundred Nobles and chiefest Lords of the Realm were Baptiz'd by the hands of the Jesuit call'd Gonzales Sylveyra but afterwards at the instigation of some Mahumetans he was slain by the King's command with the imputation of a Sorcerer but a little time discovering their malice they made satisfaction for his undeserv'd death with the loss of their own Heads The Kingdom of AGAG and DORO with the Territory of TOROKA or BUTUA AMongst the substitute Dominions of Monomotapa are Agag and Doro bordering in the East on the New-Land and in the West at the Kingdom of Takua Toroka or Torea by some call'd Butua or Buttua takes beginning according to Linschot and Pigafet at the Fish-Cape and so to the River Magnice or Sante Esprit having in the South the foot of the Mountains of the Moon and the aforemention'd Cape in the North the River Magnice and in the West the Stream of Bravagull The chiefest Cities are Zenebra and Fatuka In this Countrey far to the In-land on a Plain The building Simbaoe in the middle of many Iron-Mills stands a famous Structure call'd Simbaoe built square like a Castle with hew'n Stone of a wonderful bigness the Walls are more than five and twenty Foot broad but the heighth not answerable above the Gate appears an Inscription which cannot be read or understood nor could any that have seen it know what people us'd such Letters Near this place are more such Buildings call'd by the same name signifying a Court or Palace and for that all the places where the Emperor at any time makes his abode are call'd Simbaoe this Building is guest to be one of the King's Houses The Inhabitants report it a work of the Devil themselves onely Building with Wood and aver that for strength it exceeds the Fort of the Portuguese at the Sea-shore about a hundred and fifty miles from thence The Emperor keeps a Garrison in it as well for the safeguard of the place as of several women he maintains there A little way from the Sea-shore are many beautiful places richly Verdur'd with Grass and stockt with Cattel but destitute of Wood so that the Inhabitants use the dry'd Dung of Beasts for Fuel They have many rich Gold-Mines whereof Boro Gold Mines and Quitici are the names of two lying about a mile and a half from Sofala The Habit of the People is but mean Clothes being onely the rough Skins of Beasts The Wealth of the Countrey besides the beforemention'd Mines Riches consists in Elephants-Teeth whereof they sell infinite numbers and Salt which they send abroad into most parts of Africa to their no small advantage The City Fatuka boasts great abundance of Gold Silver and Pretious-Stones beyond all her neighbors They have a Prince of their own but a Vassal to the Emperor Government his name Buro The Countrey of INHAMBANE and INHAMIOR THis Kingdom lies a little within the Countrey under the Torrid Zone Jarrik lib. 5. c. 9. having for its Metropolis a City call'd Tonge The heat is so great that the people of Europe residing there for Trade are not able to endure it but are discommoded by several strange and troublesome diseases The Inhabitants generally keep to their ancient Idolatry though many by the diligence of the Portugal Jesuites have embrac'd the Christian Religion and in particular as we told you Gonzalves Silveyra in the year Fifteen hundred and sixty Baptiz'd the King and his whole Court The place where the King keeps his Court lieth about half a mile from the Town Sema the residence of many Portuguese The Kingdom of MONOE-MUGI or NIMEAMAYE THe great Kingdom of Monoe-Mugi The borders of the Kingdom of Monoe-Mugi Pigafet lib. 2. c. 9. Conge Jarrik lib. 3. c. 3. or Mohememugi by others call'd Nimeamaye scituate over against Mombaza Quiloa and Melinde hath for Northern borders Abyssinies or Prester-John's Countrey and the Kingdom of the great Makoko in the South Monomotapa and Mosambique in the East Mombaza and Quiloa in the West on the River Nyle on the North-side between that and Prester-John's Countrey lie some small Kingdoms which being weak of Forces sometimes pay Tribute to the King of Monoe-Mugi and sometimes to the Abyssines These Countreys abound with Gold Silver Copper and Elephants The Inhabitants said to be white Skin'd and of bigger stature than the Europeans go naked on the upper part of their bodies Cloathing but over their nether parts wear Silk or Cotton They use also for Ornament Chains or Bracelets of Chymical Stones which glister like Glass and are brought from Cambaye These Beads serve them also in stead of Money Gold being of no value with them This King holds an amicable correspondence with Quiloa Melinde and Mombaza by which means Silks Cotton-Stuffs the aforesaid Beads of Cambaye and many other Commodities are brought into the Countrey and barter'd for Gold Silver Copper and Ivory He liveth also in a League of Peace with the great Makoko whereby from hence some Black Merchants have Converse and Trading with the Portuguese that keep their Markets in the Kingdom of Fungeno as also in Pombo d' Okango At the end of this Kingdom on the East by information of some Black Merchants of the Kingdom of Nimeamaye given to several Portuguese lieth a great Lake out of which many Rivers by them unknown take their Original adding moreover that in this Lake are abundance of Islands inhabited by Blacks and that on the East-side of these Lakes Land may be seen where sometimes they hear the sound of Bells perhaps brought thither by the Abyssines and discern some Buildings which they suppose Churches from this East-side sometime in Boats there came Tauney-Men and by chance Blacks yet the sides of the Lake are possess'd by persons
yellowish with lank or uncurl'd Hair hanging down at length who daily come to Trade with the foremention'd Islands They of Pombo d'Okango being ask'd how many days journey they had from Okango to this Lake answer'd that at the speediest they could scarce arrive there in sixty days These Jages are like in Manners Wars and Savageness to the Jages of Ansico for they eat up all those that they take Prisoners in the Wars or serve them as Slaves and for Ornament have also Feathers stuck through their Noses and both the upper Teeth before are struck out without which marks none can be receiv'd in their Bands or Companies as we have at large before related The Kingdom of SOFALA THe Kingdom of Sofala lieth between the Rivers Magnice and Quama upon the last of which it borders in the North Borders and the Kingdom of Angoche in the South on that of Magnice and the Territory of Buttua or Toroa in the West on Monomotapa and in the East on the Indian Sea The chief City seated in an Island they call Cefola or Sofala The chief City Sofala near which the Portuguese have a strong Fort built in the year Fifteen hundred This City when the Portuguese first came to it had but a small extent and the Structures were very mean but since that much improv'd with neat built Houses Linschot places here few other Cities and Towns Geoge Nub. contrary to the fancy of divers African Geographers who reckon Hantema and Dandenia besides some stragling Huts term'd Villages on the shore as Sajona Boccha and Gasta The River Magnice seven and twenty degrees The River Magnice and forty minutes South-Latitude was at the beginning call'd by the Portuguese Rio dos Lagos that is The River of the Lake but afterwards in the year Fifteen hundred forty five Rio do Spirito Sancto Joseph Barros lib. 10. c. 1. It hath its rise as some conjecture out of the Lake Goijame and after it has flow'd along way to Sofala divides its self one of which keeps the old name and disembogues his stream into the Sea between the Fish-Cape and the Cape das Torrentas having first receiv'd three other Streams of which the chiefest is call'd by the Portuguese St. Christophers River because found on that day but by the Inhabitants Magoa the other call'd Marches from Lawrence Marches the first discoverer both which pour down from the Mountains of the Moon in the Territory of Toroa the third stil'd Arroe comes about the North from the midst of the Gold Mines of Monomatapa The other Arm of Magnice The River Quama entitul'd Cenama or Quama or Covanga takes denomination from a Castle or Fort which Pigafet says the Mahumetans possess on its shore but higher up the Inhabitants name it Sambere This arm hath more plenty of water than the other being Navigable above twenty miles and receiving the Stream of Six other great Rivers as Panhames Luangoa Arruga Manajova Grain Gold Inandire and Ruenie all which make their way through Monomotapa in many places casting up Grain-Gold it empties it full-gorg'd Channel into the Sea by seven Mouths which make seven Islands all well peopled At the mouth of this River the Portuguese have a Fort to keep the Inhabitants under obedience built in the year Fifteen hundred The Kingdom of Sofala shoots not far into the Countrey but lies wholly on the Sea-Coast in the midst of it appears the Cape das Correntas in three and twenty degrees and a half South-Latitude between which Cape and the Island of Madagacar over against this Cape lieth the Banks or Cliffs of India call'd in Portuguese Baixos da India very dangerous and causing many Shipwracks They begin about the one and twentieth degree South-Latitude in the Channel of the Coast of Sofala Matuka reacheth from Cape das Correntas to the River Cuama The Countrey of Matuka or Quama wherein are several Gold Mines belonging to Monomotapa On the Coast of Sofala in the Countrey of Matuka lieth the Capes of St. Sabastian and St. Catherine The Air is healthy and temperate The Air. the Land some places plain and in some uneven barren and desolate from the mouth of the River Magnice to the Cape das Corrintas but from thence to Quama very fruitful and populous Matuka bears not an equal evenness Sanus though being by Quama River for the most part Mountainous Scbiq Spilberg 1601. Woody and interlac'd with many Rivulets the Sea Coast low and plain full of shrubby Trees whose sweet smelling scent heretofore gave a quicker discovery than the eye could make of the place Great wild Elephants numerously overspread the Countrey Beasts which the Natives neither know how to tame or manage nor are Lions Bears Stags or Harts and Bores fewer besides Sea-Horses that sport themselves in the River Quama The Mines and Rivers afford abundance of Gold Abundance of Gold which the Blacks gather in a kind of little Purses of no small quantity The People are well-set The constitution of the Inhabitants and for the most part black though some brownish Those which dwell at Cape Carnidos are less wild than them about Aiguilhas or the Cape of Good-Hope also taller of stature and free of converse they feed on Rice Flesh and Fish They go with the upper part of their bodies naked Clothing but wear upon the nether part from the Waste to the Knees Clothes of Silk or Cotton girt to them with a Girdle whereto hangs a Dagger with an Ivory handle and winde about their heads Silk Stuff in form of a Turbant though some wear Scarlet Colour'd Caps Some of them speak Arabick Language but most use the common Language of the Countrey for you are to observe that these present people are not the proper Natives of the place but came before the Portuguese on this Coast over Sea from Arabia Faelix to Trade with those of Monomotapa And as they found greater advantage by the increase thereof they began to Plant fresh Colonies in the void and desolate Islands and at length remov'd thence into the main Countrey The Inhabitants relate The Riches Navig di Tâ—o Lopez that the Gold-Mines of Sofala afford yearly two Millions of Metigals every Metigal accounted for a Ducket and one third part and that the Ships of Zidem Meque and many other places in times of Peace have yearly fetch from thence two Millions of Gold And lastly that this is the very true Ophir from whence King Solomon had his Gold Hence King Solomon setchâ—â— his Gold Moq. lib. 4. And indeed according to the Writing of Moquett no place in Africa affords better and greater plenty of this Metal for the General of Mosambique during his three years Service in the Wars receiv'd more than three hundred thousand Esckusos or Crowns in Gold besides the Pay of the Souldiers and the third part answer'd to the King of Portugal The Inhabitants Trade
by one of its chiefest Mouths near the Kingdom of Melinde The Portuguese Writers will have this River Quilmanzi to be the same with Zebee which rises out of Maria a Territory in the Abyssynes from a place call'd Boxa and from thence running South with a swift course into the Kingdom of Gingiro Other Portuguese affirm That it lieth no more than a thousand Paces from Melinde being a very great River flowing out of the Abyssine Countrey but that they could never attain the full knowledge thereof because those that were sent to discover it were driven back and assaulted by the Inhabitants The Air is very Unhealthy Feaverish and Corrupt Air. and no less unwholsome are the products of the Earth caus'd partly from the Moorassness of the Grounds and partly from the multitude of Rivers and Lakes which makes this Countrey a great pack of Islands The Inhabitants are black having short curl'd Hair The constitution of the Inhabitants they go from the shoulders down to the middle naked but have their nether parts cover'd with party colour'd Clothes or wild Beasts Skins the Tails whereof especially among people of Quality hang down behind The Blacks on the Sea-Coast and of the near adjacent Islands Food live upon Fruits the flesh of wild Beasts and milk of the Cattel which they breed especially the Moors call'd Beduines who dwell a little deeper into the Countrey and Trade with the Kaffers Gold is none of the least advantages drawn from this Countrey Riches wherewith it so abounds for which onely they get a supply of all other necessaries The Natives of the Main-Land are Idolaters Religion but the Islanders almost all Mahumetans extracted from certain Arabians exil'd from their Countrey for introducing of some Heresie in their Religion as following the Doctrine of one Zaid Nephew of Hocem Son of Haly whereupon they were call'd Emossayders The Islands of QUIRIMBA OVer against Zanguebar L'Ambassade de D. Garvas Figuerra en Perse lie the Islands of Quirimba extending above fifteen miles along the Coast to the out-lying Point call'd in Portuguese Cabo del Gabo They are not all of one equal bigness nor alike distant from the main-Main-land and sever'd one from another by Channels so small and shallow that at low-Water they may be Waded over And although each Island hath its particular name yet the Portuguse call them all Quirinba The Islands were formerly inhabited by the Arabians as may plainly appear by the Ruines of the Houses and Mosques being built by people less barbarous than those that have their Residence there at this day of Lime Stone and Tiles like the Cities of Quiloa Monbaza and Melinde But since the Portuguese began to set forth their Ships to the East-Indies the Souldiers and Mariners out of a natural hatred and antipathy to all Mahumetans thought it not enough to rob them burn their Houses and Mosques and to carry them away for Slaves but with a sweeping Rage sparing neither Age nor Sex destroy'd all of the remainder These Islands many years since lay waste and void of people till some Portuguese from the Main-Land wafted themselves over thither and planted them and so became subject to the Governor of Mayambique about three and thirty miles from thence from whence every year cometh a Judge to decide Controversies The Lord of every Island hath his House built of Stone and Lime wherein resides his Wife Children and Slaves of both Sexes as also Friends and Servants whom they hire to have their assistance against the Negro's of the Main-Land which by their living so near are ready enough to do them a mischief And therefore both themselves and Slaves are Arm'd with Muskets Pistols and other Weapons Most of these Islands are not above half a mile or a mile in compass but very fruitful full of Palmito-Trees Oranges Figs Grapes Herbs and Pome-Citrons and excellently accommodated with fresh Water They have besides many Oxen Cows Goats and an infinite number of Fowl among which Wild-Pigeons and Turtle-Doves but Corn Rice Drugs dry'd and confected Fruits are brought to them from Ormus The Island of Quirinba is the biggest and was the first Peopled yet hath onely twenty five Houses inhabited by Portuguese and Mesties they stand not close together but lie scatter'd here and there two or three together Every one of these little Islands hath their own Governor which every three year are chang'd From Gou they receive a Dominican Priest who celebrates Mass and performs all other Sacred Duties to which end there stands a Cloyster in the midst of the Houses whither all those of these Islands come to do their Devotion The second of these Islands call'd Oybo Oybo is not so big as Quirinba but the Air more temperate and fresher so that a man may well say that the whole makes one pleasant Garden moisten'd and besprinkled in many places with the best and most wholsomest Waters in the world The other Islands have no Road nor Haven where Ships can come to an Anchor because in the deepest Channel at a low Ebb there is not three Foot water Over this Island Oybo a Portuguese Commands who dwells in a great and handsome House with Chambers below and above and behind it a Garden incompass'd with a Stone-Wall of two Fathom high with Spiers at the top so that it may seem in stead of a Bulwark This with assistance of his Houshold Family who are all Arm'd may be defended against any Incursion of the Blacks from the Main-Land if they should offer to attempt it but they live in good Peace one with another because of their mutual Trade The Kingdom of MONGALO and ANCHE or ANGOS UPon one side of the River Quama lieth Mongalo a Tract of Land inhabited by Mahumetans or Moors They have abundance of Gold brought thither from Monomotapa not far from thence you see the River Ango by Pigafet call'd in Italian Agnoscia by Moquet in French Angoche but by Barbosa Angos The Countrey produces great store of Mille Rice and Cattel The Inhabitants are of a middle Stature but very black they go with the upper part of the body naked but cover'd from the Girdle downward with Cotton and Silk Clothes Some wear Turbants upon their heads and others Caps made of Silk Stuff They use a peculiar form of Speech though many of them speak Arabick Language These Moors of Angos are all Merchants Trading in Gold Ivory Cotton Silk Their Customs Clothes and Kambain Beads or Bracelets The Cotton Silk Cloth and Beads they receive from the hands of the Merchants of Quiloa Mombaze and Melinde which bring them thither in small Baskets or Almides cut out of the whole Wood. They own no Governor unless one who speak their proper Language and by profession a Mahumetan yet all their care doth not keep them from a mixture of Heathenism The Kingdom of MOZAMBIKE A Little beyond Angos appeareth the Kingdom of Mozambike so call'd from the
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
Arabia carry to Barbara all sorts of Cloth and Beads which they call Maramugos Raisins Dates and many other things which they exchange for Gold Elephants-Teeth and Slaves And those of Quiloa Melinde Brava Magadoxo and Mombaza barter these Commodities for Arabian-Horse The Natives are generally very stout but badly Arm'd Arms. though continually furnish'd therewith both from the Turks and Kings of Arabia and such like Necessaries for which their Prince returns many great Presents of Slaves taken in the Wars for to ingratiate himself with those Mahumetans he makes continually fierce Wars upon the Christians about him especially those of Abissinie for which the Moors esteem him a petty Saint yet all their soothings cannot so save him but that sometimes the Christians send him home soundly beaten teaching him to keep a more mannerly Distance The City of Barbara owns the Dominion of the Great Turk Government as do most of all the famous Places upon the Coast of the Red Sea in Africa to this Kingdom of Adel where they say his Jurisdiction ends at the Haven of Meth although some will have the whole Coast of Barnagas and Barrazan nay all the Places near the Red Sea stand under his Jurisdiction without affording the Abyssines one Haven there So that none can pass out of the Red Sea into Abyssine but through the Turks Dominions The Island of Barbora OVer against the City Barbora in the Red Sea close by the Shore lieth an Island of the same Name exceedingly fruitful and well stored with Cattel The Inhabitants are not White as on the Coast of Magadoxo but Black and exactly Habited as those on the Main Land whereof we lately made mention The Island of Socotora THe Island of Socotora or Sacotora otherwise call'd Sicuthora discover'd by Fernando Bereyra J. Barros Ramusse is by some taken for the Dioscorides of Ptolomy and Pliny and by others for Curia Muria though somewhat improperly because that Isle lies over against the Main Coast of Arabia â— Situation This hath its Situation in twelve Degrees and fifty Minutes North Latitude fifteen Miles Southward from the Cape of Guardafuy formerly call'd Cape Aromata and almost as far from the Mouth of the Red Sea Now the most Geographers include this Island of Socotora under Africa for its nearness to that Coast yet some and those of Nubia have reckon'd it among the Islands of Arabia Felix And as they cannot agree to which it belongs Bigness so they differ no less in its Magnitude some making it swell to sixty Spanish while others straiten it to scarce fifteen Dutch Miles But it seems the first comes nearer to the truth because the latter Discoverers make it fifteen Miles long and ten Miles broad at the narrowest and Pirard reckons it fifteen French Miles in circumference The whole Island stands encompassed with exceeding high Rocks which inclose therein divers fertile Valleys On all sides Ships may find good Anchorage besides the many convenient Bays and Creeks affording safe Roads But it boasts two chief Havens the one call'd Cora and the other Benin Here is but onely one City nam'd Sicuthora seated at the foot of the Cape Treta looking to the South where the Xeque or Turkish Governor makes his aboad Others make Tamary the Chief Place and the usual Dwelling of the Bassa A third sort place here three Towns or Villages inhabited by Arabians But a fourth affirm That the Natives have neither Towns Villages nor Houses but abide in Holes or Caves in the Rocks They have many Temples or Churches Churcheâ— which they call Moquamos but very small and so low that without stooping none can come into the same Every Church hath three Doors and one Altar on which stands a Cross with two Sticks made in form of Flower-de-luces The Situation of the Island so near the Line causes the Air not onely to be exceeding hot Air. but also unhealthy And by reason of this excessive Heat they have great want of Water Yet notwithstanding there falls a great Mist in the Nights from the high stony Cliffs to the great cooling and refreshing of the parched Earth And although a few Rivers may be found yet they lie at such distances from the common Passages and remain so difficult to be found that many Travellers die for thirst onely at the Sea side are Trenches out of which the Arabians drink And the Mountains by reason of their excessive height have their tops continually cover'd with Snow and cloudy with Mists and Fogs The Soil for want of Moisture proves very barren Constitution of the Soil producing nothing as some write but Dates for indeed none take care to Sowe any Corn or Plant Fruits On the contrary Beasts in the Woods and Mountains breed many Bucks Goats Cows Hogs Catamountains Wild Asses Horses Camelions Wild Hens or Pheasants and Turtle-Doves But that which above all things makes this Island famous Aloes Sicotrina is the Plant from which the Aloes Sicotrina cometh and also for the great abundance of Dragons Blood brought thence being no other than a Gum distilling from a Tree the Indians call it Ber and bruise it with an Iron in the growing Bark at a set time of the Year The Sea-shore also produces much Ambergreece The Inhabitants of this Island are Arabians or Native Sicotrians Several Inhabitants which last the Arabians call Beduins and are divided into two Generations The one Nature having Beduinsche Mothers and Arabian Negro Fathers keep at the Sea side are black of Colour curl'd Hair tall of Stature but very ill-favour'd The others are unmix'd Beduins and live within the Countrey being whiter than Native Iudians Some of them seem to have been born in Europe by the tallness of their Statures handsom Bodies soundness of Constitution and the Air of the Face onely differing herein that they let their Hair grow without cutting which they suffer either to hang over their Necks and Shoulders or else tie up or braid the same together behind They are inconstant mistrustful Constitution and cowardly insomuch that a handful of Arabians will awe vast Multitudes of them They have a great fear of all other people which makes them shun converse with Foreigners and are above measure lazy and idle concerning themselves in nothing but Fishing and feeding their Cattel Their common Food is Milk Butter Dates and Flesh Food but chiefly Milk boyl'd with Herbs and serves them both for Diet and Physick In stead of Rie or Wheaten Bread they use Rice brought to them from other Places and for want of that eat Cakes made of Dates They wear certain Clothes by them call'd Cambolins made of Bucks Hair Apparel six Spans long and two broad from their Girdle to their Knees and over that another greater black and white Cloth in form like a Cloke which they wrap about from their Shoulders to their Knees and never pull it off Barbosa on the contrary writeth That
of death but there must continue ten days worshipping the Moon within which time if it doth not Rain they cut off his Hand Before the beginning of Lent all the most Eminent assemble and offer Sacrifice to the Moon of an hundred Goats and Kids Heads They observe Lent like the Christians but they begin it with the New Moon in April and keep the Solemnity sixty days during which time they eat no Milk Butter Flesh nor Fish but onely Herbs and Dates or Rice and Honey which they buy in the Cities of the Arabians They are so zealous Observers of this Fast that if they find any to have broken it for the first time they cut off two Fingers of his Right-hand the second time the whole Hand and the third time the Arm. Every Temple of which there are many hath a Caciz call'd by them Hodamo that is a Governor or Judge in Church-matters but holds the Office but one Year which he enters upon by receiving a Staff the Badge of his Authority and wearing always a Cross of a Span and half long about him which he may not part with upon pain of the loss of his Hand In the Temples whereinto at the Rising and Setting of the Moon they enter they use a Stick of two or three Spans long upon which with another Stick they give certain Strokes thrice in the Day and thrice in the Night held by them for a Work of great Holiness Afterwards they go in Procession three times round about the Church-yard turning thrice after every Circuit then they take an Iron Pan made in form of a plain deep Scale hanging upon three Chains into which they put Splinters of sweet Wood and hold the Bason over the Fire then they first perfume the Altar thrice afterwards the Temple Doors and say with a loud voice some Prayers in the Temple and in the Church-yard requesting of the Moon to do good to them onely and no other People At the performance of this Solemnity the Hodamo holdeth upon the Altar a lighted Candle made of Butter for they have none of Wax or Tallow and therefore they have in their Temples Dishes of Butter wherewith they also every day anoint the Cross and other Sticks lying upon the Altar They go upon a certain day of the year with the greatest Cross in Procession round about the Temple and cause it to be carry'd by one chosen out of the whole Assembly whose Fingers after the ending of the Procession they chop off and present him with a little Stick with certain marks upon it for a token that he should be prejudic'd by no body whereupon thenceforth he is held in much greater honor than others They follow in many Churches the Ceremonies and Customs of Nestorius because they were for a long time Govern'd by Ecclesiastical Rulers which came from Babylon They have no set-Day of the Week to go into their Temples but assemble on the Procession-days or when any new occasion calls them They are Circumcis'd like the Moors and if they know any one that is not Circumcis'd they cut off his Fingers for no Uncircumcis'd may enter into their Temples yea the very Women themselves clap their hands at their Husbands if they be not Circumcis'd They bear a great hatred against all Christians nevertheless some are of opinion that they have suck'd in much of the Heresie of the Jacobites and that formerly many were Converted by Francis Xavier According to the Observations of Sir Thomas Roe Ambassador from the King of England to Persia there were in the Year Sixteen hundred and fifteen upon this Island four sorts of People that is Arabians not Natives but Shipt over thither together with many others by order of the King of Kaxem when they subdu'd it These never appear before the Sultan without kissing his Hand The second sort are a kind of Slaves who labor continually in his service and prepare and dress the Aloes The third are Beduins the most antient Inhabitants against whom a long time the King of Socotora made War They live in great numbers upon the Mountains and are at this day left in Peace upon promise to shew their Obedience and let their Children be instructed in the Doctrine of Mahomet The fourth being indeed the right Proprietors of the Countrey are a gross Body'd and miserable People which have no constant abode in the night lying in the Woods and going always stark naked they live by Roots hold no converse with others and lead a life almost like Beasts Trogloditica or New Arabia THe Modern Geographers as Maginus and others name the Countrey or Space of Land lying between the Nile and the Red-Sea properly New Arabia but the Inhabitants according to Castaldus call it Sirfi The Antients nam'd it Trogloditica and Ptolomy The Countrey of the Arabians and Egyptians The Inhabitants were by the Grecians call'd Ichthiophagi that is Fish-eaters by Eustathius Erembers by Diodorus Molgers and Bolgers and in the holy Scripture according to the testimony of Arias Montanus they are call'd Ghanamim and by Pliny Therotho's that is to say Hunters for their swiftness and dexterity in Hunting In the bounding of this Countrey great diversity arises amongst Geographers Ptolomy extends Trogloditick Arabia from the City Suez by the Red-Sea three or according to Peter de la Valla scarce a days Journey and a half from Cairo to Mount Elephas at this day call'd Felte so that he compriseth under it the Sea-Coast of the Kingdoms of Barnagas and Adel. Some extend the Limits in the South to the Territory of Brava the Kingdom of Magadoxo and the River Quilanzi yet make it begin at the forenam'd Suez but a third sort narrow it to the Cape of Guardafuy and some to the Island Mazua in the Red-Sea The chiefest Places as you go from North to South near Suez according to Maginus are these though Belloon gives them to the Nether-Egypt The Haven and Point of Pharos where they say the Children of Israel went over the Red-Sea on dry ground the Seven Wells call'd Sette Pozzi in Italian the Haven of Alkosser or Chessir Sanutus on the other side compriseth a part of this New Arabia viz. all the aforesaid Places from Suez to Chessir under Egypt wherein we have follow'd those who have formerly described Egypt They call the Tract of Land from Chessir to the Sea lying over against the Haven of Suaquena Batrazan In eighteen Degrees and forty Minutes lieth the Haven of Suaquem in the Territory of Canphila in a Hollow of the Sea close by the People call'd Nubiers and Bello's The whole Coast of this Countrey lieth clogged with high rough and unpassable Mountains so set back to back that no access can be had to the Inland Countreys of Ethiopia and the Abyssines but through the Haven of Ercocco and Suachem and that so troublesom that Travellers can scarce go above three or four English miles in a day The Inhabitants at this day are made up of a mixture
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
from a neighboring Fort by them Built on the Land But the Inhabitants call it Tolonghare scituate between two Points the one call'd Itapere in five and twenty degrees and thirty minutes South-Latitude and the other the Point of Dauphin-Bay in five and twenty degrees and ten minutes Next follows the Inlet of Ranoufouthi by the Portuguese call'd The Bay of the Gallions there The Bay of Karemboule thirty Miles from the Fort of Dauphin On the South Point you find but one known Bay to which the Hollanders have given the name of Sun-Bay The discovery of the places at the Sea Coast from the Point of Antongill Southerly to the Bay of St. Augustine the French ascribe to themselves having since the Year One thousand six hundred and forty settled and Fortifi'd in the Territory of Carkanossi on the Southside and there Built the beforemention'd Fort Dauphin thereby commanding the Inland parts from the Countrey of Vohitsanghombe in nineteen degrees South-Latitude to the South end of the Island comprising the Dominions of Vohitsanghombe Gringdrane Anachimoussi Matatam Antaware or Mananzary Ambohitsmene Ehall Emboulou the little Isle Nossi Hibrahim or St. Mary Maskareigne the Territory of Lamanouf Ivourbon Itomampo Anamboule Ikondre Albssak the Grape Island the Valley of Amboulle the Lordship of Anossi or Androbeizaha Ampatre Karemboule Machikoeo Mahalle Ivoronheok Houlouwe and Siveth The Portuguese in the Year Fifteen hundred and six put in for this Island in their Voyages to the East-Indies and discover'd many places near the Sea and after them the Hollanders but neither of them penetrated so far as the French The Territory of ANOSSI or CARKANOSSI otherwise ANDROBEIZAHA THis Territory lying in five and twenty degrees and eighteen minutes Borders extending from Manatengha to the River Mandrerey in twenty six degrees Many Rivers have their passage through it Rivers as Franshere Akondre Imanhal Manambatori Manghafia Harougazarak Fautak and Sama most of which pay their Tributary Waters to Franshere This River The River Franshere otherwise call'd Ravenatte or Imours takes original out of the Mountain of Manghare in five and twenty degrees and eighteen minutes South-Latitude two small miles from Fort Dauphin falling into the Sea having first receiv'd the Water of many small Brooks as Akondre Imanhal Manamboaa Andravoulle and some other The Water of this River about a mile up in the Countrey is always brackish and at the Mouth makes a Lake or Pool call'd Ambove of a large half mile broad and deep enough to bear a Ship It feeds many Crocodiles as all the other Rivers of this Island Half a mile from the Mouth of Franshere lieth Cape St. Romain so nam'd by the French but by the Blacks Rancratte or Hehohale which shews six or seven Leagues into the Sea from the North-West Next this Cape appears a great Creek in form of a Cross extending to the Point of the River call'd Dian Pansonge or Fitorah in the middle of Tolanghare an Isle shews it self to the Northward of which you may see the Fort Dauphin and behind that the Haven of the same name From thence to Cape St. Romain the Coast bears the name of Sivoure from a Lake made by five or six small Brooks meeting therein which in time of great Rain overflows the adjacent Grounds The other Point of Dauphin-Bay is Cape Itapere next which follows the Bay of Lonkar in five and twenty degrees affording a commodious and safe Harbor for Ships and other Vessels to Ride there onely the coming in is dangerous by reason of obscure Rocks Adjoyning to this lies the Island St. Clare so styl'd by the French being a small Spot before the Haven Then passing a little forward you discover the River Manghafia able to bear good Ships at the Mouth being twenty four degrees and a half and taking original out of the Mountain Siliva Half a mile North Westward glides the small River Harangazavah and a mile and a half further that of Monambalou famous for the Rocks lying in its Mouth This Territory hath many Islands full of rich Meadows fit for the Pasturing of Cattel and the Countrey round about very fertile in the producing all sorts of Provision yielding to the curious eye a pleasant Prospect surrounded with high Mountains and Checker'd with fruitful Plains beautifully varied with delightful and easie rising Summits By the Shore of the River Franshere and the other Rivers lie many Villages the chiefest of which are Franshere Imanhal Cokomabes Andravoulle Ambometanaba Mazomamou Imouze Mazofoutouts Hatare and Fananghaa besides a great number of others Eight Miles from Fort Dauphin lies a Tract of Land call'd Vohitsmassian Vohitsmassian that is The Lucky Mountain by which the Portuguese formerly had a Fort with several Dwellings below it and Gardens with all sorts of Provisions but were at last surpriz'd and massacred by the Natives Four Miles from the beforenam'd Fort lies a naked Mountain and other neighboring Hills oftentimes digg'd by the French in hopes to find Gold or Silver but chiefly by a place where seven clear Springs rise one by another and make a Brook wherein they found many Stones mixt with a Clay or yellow Earth full of white and black Clods shining like Silver but being beaten and cleans'd was found too light Thirty Fathom above the Springs the Grass and other Plants have chang'd their natural Verdure into a fading yellow which proceeds from the sulphurous Vapors of inclos'd Minerals but on the top of the Mountain all things remain fresh and green They say the Portuguese formerly at the foot of this Mountain towards the North by digging found Gold but since their extirpation the Great ones of the Countrey have fill'd up the place This Territory comprehends two sorts of people viz. Whites and Blacks the first subdivided into three Clans nam'd Rohandrians Anakandrians and Onzatsi the last distinguish themselves into four Tribes that is Voadziri Lohavohits Ontsea and Ondeves The Whites which have come hither within these last hundred and fifty years name themselves Zafferahimini from the Mother of Mahomet call'd Himina or as others the Stock of Ramini whom they account their Predecessors or from Ramnaina Wife of Rahourod Father of Rahari and Rakouvatsi The Rohandrians are those out of which they choose their King whom they call Ompiandrian or Dian Bahouache the whole number of them being the chief Nobility and reverenc'd as Princes The Anakandrians are extracted from the Nobles but Illegitimate or else sprung from a Rohandrian Man and Woman either the Blacks the Anakandrians or the Onzatsi Those they intitle Ontampassemaka that is People of the Sand of Mecha from whence they say they are come with the Rohandrians These Anakandrians have a reddish Skin and wear long Hair Curl'd like the Rohandrians both these have the priviledge to slaughter any Cattel The Onzatsi being the meanest have their Extract from the Bastards of Anakandrians or else from the Race of the Sea-men which the Zafferamini or their Predecessors
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
water these Countreys Rivers viz. Itomampo Jonghainou Morqua and Mangharak Itomampo moystens and gives name to a small Province which it passes quite through streaming down out of the Mountain of Viboulle and shooting from thence into a Dominion call'd Houdra lying above that of Inouchon by the River Mananghara The River Jonghainou that is The Middle River flows out of the Mountains of Ikondre and divides Manamboule from Anachimoussi Afterwards takes its Course Northerly and then turns into the West a days Journey from Itomampo thence flowing directly West one days Journey it unites with Manharak a small Mile lower both which joyning with Itomampo make the great Stream Mananghare which runs East and South-East eight great days Journey and at last through seven Mouthes falls into the Sea Maropia a Branch of Itomampo passes into Mandrarei Mangharak waters the North side of Anachimoussi The Soil of Itomampo yields great store of Rice Nature of the Soil Ignames Sugar-Canes Corn and Cattel Anachimoussi and Manamboule though Mountainous yet complain of no want hiding within its Bowels good Mines of excellent Iron Onely Wood is wanting which they fetch from the Mountains The Voadziri of Manamboule nam'd Dian Panahahe is become terrible to his Neighbors against whom he makes continual Wars at the Instigation and by the Assistance of the French ERINGDRANE and VOHITSANGHOMBE THe Province of Eringdrane is on the East inviron'd with great Mountains which divide it from Antavare and Ambohits-mene Borders It hath in the West three great Rivers which discharge their Waters into a large Bay Situate in twenty Degrees South Latitude to the side of Mozambike This Countrey is divided into the Great and Small The Less water'd by Mangharak lieth to the South and Great Eringdrane towards the North Out of whose Mountains issues the River Mangharak from a Head-spring rising in twenty Degrees and a half from whence after a long Course it unites with another call'd Jonghaivou Vohits-anghombe parted from Eringdrane by the River Mansiatre Vohits-anghombe hath on the North the Lordship of Anciarakte on the East that of Saharez in nineteen Degrees and a half South Latitude and the high Mountains of Ambohits-mene and Westward the Mozambike Sea The River Mansiatre being very great takes its Original out of Eringdrane The River Mansiatre in the height of eighteen Degrees so passing between that and Vohits-anghombe falls into the fore-mention'd Bay in twenty Degrees This Countrey abounds with People and can if Occasion requires raise above thirty thousand Men as Vohits-anghombe an hundred thousand The Mountains on the East side are full of Cattel and the Villages beautified with handsom Buildings The People make two sorts of Clothes one of the Thred of the Banana's Tree almost as fine as Silk the other of pure Silk both which they sell at reasonable rates They are naturally inclin'd to quarrel their Neighbors with whom they live in continual Feuds grown more imperious by the Assistance receiv'd upon all Essays from the French The Territory of MANAKARONGHA and MATATANE BOth these Countreys lie between the Rivers Mananghara and Mananzari on the Sea-coast touching in the West on the Mountains which divide Anachimoussi and Eringdrane The River Mananghara consists of a Confluence of other meeting Waters The River Mananghara as Itomampo Outhaivon and Mangharak which last intermingles with the Ocean through seven Mouthes as before-mention'd every one lying about four French Miles from another and known by the Names of Kaloumanga Maninghivou Mananbatou Mananpatran Oughamiri Mananfingha and Rentofou At the River Matatane lies the Territory so call'd The Territory of Matatane This River hath its Original from the Mountains of Vattebei and enters the Sea by two Out-lets distant from each other seven French Miles with pleasant Fields between The Land hereabouts lies plain and even producing Sugar-Canes Honey Ignames and Cattel and well water'd with many Streams replete with Fish From these Canes an extraordinary profit might be gained if the people were instructed and fitted with Materials to Extract and Boil the Sugar The great men have to the number of fifteen or twenty Women which live apart in a separate place surrounded with Hedges where every one hath a small House to dwell in into which they dare let none enter upon forfeiture of their lives They have neither Mosques nor Churches Religion yet give themselves over wholly to Superstition and Sorcery as an effect thereof giving credit to Charmes and Characters written after the Arabian fashion which they call Hiridri Masarabou and Talissimou They imagine some of these able to prevent Thunder Rain Wind and Wounds gotten in the Wars and likewise as Preservatives against Poyson good Defences against Robbing and Burning of their Houses and Villages in short infallible Remedies against all Misfortunes All these Charms the Ombiassen a Gallimaufry of Priests Astrologers and Southsayers make and sell to the meaner sort of Blacks which wear the same about their Necks and sew'd in their Girdles They cut the same Characters also on Gold Silver and small flat pieces of Reed for the same purpose The Inhabitants are two sorts Zaffekasimambou or Casimambou the chiefest and Zafferahmina both Whites but the first more deform'd although generally Priests and Learned-men About thirty or five and thirty years ago all the Zafferahimina were kill'd except Women and Children to whom the Conquerors gave some Islands and Fields to Inhabit on which they Planted and fed their Cattel and are ever since call'd Ontampassemaci which is to say People of the Sand of Mecha because they are Arabians of the Red-Sea The Casimambou put in for this Island by their own relation by the directions and Command of the Califf of Mecha to instruct the Islanders in Mahomets Superstition about a hundred and sixty years ago At which time their Chief Governor Married the Daughter of a great Lord and Prince of Matatam a Negro with condition that her Issue Male or Female should be call'd after his Daughters name Casimambou as is usual on the South side of this Island and also in Mactricore The Zaffekasimombou are mightily increas'd in number and teach to Read and Write Arabick keeping Schools in all the Villages for the Youth The Ontampassimaci live by Fishing wherein they employ their whole time and have arriv'd to a wonderful dexterity therein Next the River Matatam lie along the Sea Coast many others as Manghasiouts Manangkare Mananhane Itin Itapaulobei Itapoulosirire and Itapaulomaint-hiranou Fonara Lomahorik or Morombei and the Mantaraven Manghasiouts or Manghasies is an indifferent River three small Miles from Matatam on whose Shore the French have a Factory but dangerous to come to with a Boat by reason of the Rocks and Shelves that clog it Four Miles from thence passeth the River Mananghan The Mananhare which signifies much Provision abounds with Fish Intin a Mile and a half from thence but a small Pool The Itapoulobei Itapolousirire and Itapaulomain-thairanou are three
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
differences such as have done others wrong to punish them in their Estates or Goods A Thief must recompence his theft fourfold if he have wherewithal if not he must pay for it with his life or be his Slave which he stole the Goods from The Natural Law or Massinpah concerns every ones particular method in Working Speaking Merchandize Gesture and manner of Life Massintane is the settled Custom of the Countrey not onely there but in more civilized Places held for a firm Law in all Cases This here extends to the way of Planting necessary Provisions Building of Towns Wars publick Rejoycings Dancings Exercises of Arms and many other matters The Antiquity of this Massintane hath so prevail'd that the Law of the Prince stands upon no other foundation so that it cannot be alter'd nor indeed will they alter it for any cause whatsoever That which they have receiv'd from hand to hand by Tradition from their Fore-fathers they esteem more than any thing else that can be taught them As for instance in the manner of Tilling their Ground if any should tell them that the Earth must be digg'd deep or stirr'd and broken with a Plough they would not hearken thereto but instantly reply Their Ancestors us'd no such Custom The Person that is hurt or wrong'd may do himself right without bringing the Offender before his Lord for they make no more of killing a Thief than they do about a venomous Serpent or other Vermin Perjur'd Persons and breakers of their Oath are punish'd with heavy Penalties and the Women sometime kill'd by their Husbands for it When a Marry'd Woman departs from her Husband and hath a Child by another man that Child must belong to the Marry'd Husband till the Woman without consent Marrieth another to which nevertheless he will not agree till his Tacq that is the Brides Portion which he paid to the Womans Father at his Marriage be restor'd to him again These arise also continual quarrels and differences among particular people upon Trifles as either about the Cattel which run into one or others Torraks and spoil or eat up their Rice or Slander and wrong or if one Neger steps over another lying on the Ground or treads upon his Legs without speaking Jossles against another unawares for all which he is liable to be punish'd by the Judge The Island of Saint Mary otherwise called Nossi Hibrahim THe Isle of St. Mary commonly call'd Nossi Hibrahim that is Abraham's-Isle lieth from the sixteenth to the seventeenth degree South-Latitude opposite to the River Manangare and stands the nearest from Madagascar two small Miles and at the farthest four containing in length from South to North about eleven and in breadth from East to West full two Miles To the South of this Island lieth another small one in the shape of a Tre-Angle separated by a Channel of thirty yards broad and two foot deep in some places and in others deeper This Island hath curious Meadows with Grass where the Cattel of St. Maries Isle go to Pasture The Island of St. Mary stands encompass'd with Rocks over which at the time of High-Water the Canoos go but at Low-Tide they are dangerous within a foot or half a foot of the Surface On the Shore are found Rocks of white Corral which the Negro's seek and sell to the French The whole is cut thorow by small Rivers and Springs by which means together with its natural fatness the Ground proves infinitely fertile and all over Sown with Rice whereof sometimes they gather two Crops in a year there are also large Sugar-Canes Pease Bananoes Ananassen and better to Bake than in any place of Madagascar The Air is very moist so that scarce one day in the year passeth without Rain and sometimes it Showres six days together without ceasing The Cattel are very large and fat feeding at pleasure On the Easterly Shore much Ambergreece hath been found of which the Negro's make Burnt-Offerings on the A Mounouques or Burying-places of their Fore-fathers Besides several sorts of Gums which they use for sweet Scents and likewise Taccamahacca in great abundance There grows a Tree by the Natives call'd Thionti and its Fruit Voathions which is no sooner fallen from the same but it Roots in the Earth and makes such a close Thicket that it is impossible to go thorow it There are about ten or twelve Villages Inhabited since the French have had their abode there so that the Governor of Antongil which used formerly to War against this Island continually dare not come thither for fear of the French The whole contains about six hundred Inhabitants which call themselves Zaffe-Hibrahim that is Children of Abraham The Chief Commander hath to name Raignasse or Raniassa Son of Ratsiminon that is Head because onely acknowledged by them as Head of the Stock of Abraham in this Island and Madagascar The Islanders maintain themselves by Planting of Rice Ignames Bananoes Sugar-Canes Pease and Beans and Fishing for Houzites a sort of Fish which they carry to sell at St. Lawrence paying to the Governor the fifth part for Tribute which also they do of Rice and other Plants These Islanders will enter into no League with the Christians yet Trade with them because it seems they have retain'd somewhat of the Antient Judaism The Island of Maskareigne otherwise called BOURBON THe Island of Maskareigne or Maskarenhas so call'd from the first Discoverer a Portuguese out of the Family of Maskarenhas by some call'd Apollime but by the French from the houses of Bourbon Isle de Bourbon who in the Year Fifteen hundred sixty nine by Flakour then Commander of the Island of Madagascar for the French East-India Company took possession of it for them It lieth to the East of Madagascar in one and twenty degrees and a half South-Latitude being fifteen Leagues long and ten broad and full eight days Journey in circumference There is not one convenient Haven by reason of the Rocks on the Shore which makes the coming of Ships to this Island oftentimes dangerous but there are several Roads the best of which lieth West and North-East the next is on the Northside and another on the Southside surrounded with Rocks with an entrance scarce wide enough for one Ship to come in at near which the French have built a Chappel for St. Paul At the Southside of this Island stands a Mountain which continually Burns and Vomits out Fire as another on the Island Del Fuoga one of the Cape de Verd Islands and the Mountain Hekla in Ysland from the South to the Eastside lieth a Tract of Land of twenty Miles quite burnt up by the sultry heat of the Air however this Countrey doth seem to have been very good formerly The Burning begins from the South-Point and takes its course aloft over the Mountains As you travel cross thorow the Countrey from the South to the West you may find a small Tract of Land of about six Miles wherein is a Lake whence issues a small River
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
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-Land of Barbary and nine or ten distant from each other They were for many
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
in-sides are adorn'd in very good Order with all sorts of Defensive Arms as Cuirasses Coats of Mail Caskets Head-pieces Shields Back-swords Halberds Pikes Half-Lances Muskets Dags Ponyards Pistols Snap-hances and such like Above hang many Bowes and other Weapons us'd of old by the Knights of Rhodes In brief there are sufficient of all sorts to equip six and thirty thousand Men. There are three or four compleat Suits of Armor Cap-a-pe the middlemost being that which the Grand Master De la Valette in the Siege in the year Sixteen hundred sixty five us'd There is also a Piece of Cannon upon the Carriage made of Leather but with so great Art and Curiosity that it seems verily an Iron Piece All these Arms are kept very clean and bright by Officers to that onely purpose appointed Every Knight notwithstanding all this Provision hath his Arms by himself in his own House as have also the Citizens and Countrey People The Banjert is a large House or Prison wherein many Slaves of all Nations are bought and sold They have a Custom-house Treasury Chancery and Magazine for Wine and Corn a Castle for the Courts of Justice Princely Stables for Horses and a separate Field with all Conveniences for the Founding of Great Ordnance The Castle of St. Elmo built upon a Rock on the Out-point of Valette towards the Sea is as it were encompass'd with several fair and large Havens three on the right side and five on the left all guarded by the Castle of St. Angelo built on the Point of Burgo or Citta Vittorioso Between this Castle and Valette are Corn-pits hewn in the Rocks In the great Haven over against Valette are two long slips of Land Fort St. Angelo with their Points in one whereof seated upon a Rock lieth the Castle St. Angelo and besides it nothing remarkable but an old small Church built first by the Clergy of this Order wherein you may see the Tomb of the Grand-Master Philip de Villiers d' Isle Dam who there with the Order after the loss of Rhodes in the year Fifteen hundred and thirty the six and twentieth of October took his first Residence after eight Years Adventures It was formerly strengthen'd with many Bulwarks and Walls provided with Wells of Water a Magazine of Arms together with a Palace for the Knights but since the Siege of the Turks in the Year Sixteen hundred fifty five greatly decay'd Here stands also an Hospital for sick and poor Diseased Mariners who are serv'd by the Junior Knights with Silver Vessels in good order Lastly A Yard or Dock for the Building of Galleys with Barrakes or Store-houses adjoyning neighbor'd by the stately Mansion of the General of the Galleys Beyond this upon the same Rock stands Citta Vittorioso so call'd because of the foremention'd Siege which it endur'd from the Turks It was built by the Grand Master Philip de Villiers d' Isle Dam when the Knights had first the Possession of this Island given them and at this day conveniently Fortified It contains in Circuit half a Mile wherein about twelve hundred Houses and these following Churches viz. St. Andria Maria della Carne St. Spirito Santo St. Laurenzo by the Market La Muneiata St. Scholastique a Cloyster of Nuns and Grecian Church The Inquisitor hath there also a Palace for his Residence On the other Slip of Land Fort St. Michael more inwards lieth the City call'd La Isula at the East end whereof stands St. Michaels Fort parted only from the main Land by a deep Trench the whole erected about the year Fifteen hundred and six by the Grand Master Claudius de la Sangle and now strongly Fortified according to the Modern way It hath in compass about a small Mile and chiefly inhabited by Mariners who continually keep Vessels abroad against the Turks Between Burgo and La Isula lies a Haven wherein all the Capers and Galleys of Malta harbor with their Prizes as well Turks as Christians The Entrance at the coming of the Turkish Fleet was chain'd up In La Isula are four Churches Maria Porto Salvo Madama de Victoria St. Philippo Nere and St. Julian At the end of the Haven beyond the City on the East side lieth Burmola as being without the City inhabited by Strangers together with two Havens one call'd La Marza and the other La Marza Picciola that is The Small Haven Citta Vecchia Old Malta or The Old City which Ptolomy call'd by the Name of the Island Melite and others Old Malta is said to have been built by the Carthaginians but the Inhabitants know it by the Name of Medina deriv'd from the Arabick Language in memory of the Arabians who so call'd it from a City of the same denomination in Arabia the Sepulchre of Mahomet The principal Church is that of St. Peters being the first which the Christians built in this Island after the Preaching of the Apostle St. Paul Without the City stands another dedicated to St. Agatha where upon the Altar sits a white Marble Image of St. Agatha Preaching Under this Church is a Grot with two or three Entrances yet few People venture into it because of the several strange Meanders and dismal narrowness of the place and therefore one of these Entrances being more dangerous than the rest was closed up by Command They go in by a Rope made fast above by which they slide down carrying with them burning Torches Towns Towns in Italian call'd Casals and by the Inhabitants in Arabick Adhamet Jerome of Alexandria in his Siege of Malta computed to be about five and forty Bosio to forty others scarce to six and thirty but the Knights themselves according to Davity reckon them sixty The Parish (a) Or Nasciaro Naxarro for this Island the Knights have divided into several Parishes hath under it according to Bosio the Towns of Gregoor (b) Or Mossa Musta and Muslimet the Parish Bircarcara the Towns Tard Lia Balsan Bordi and Man Then followeth the Parish of Cordi but without any annexions The Parish of St. Mary of (c) Or Di Loreto Birmiftuch contains the Towns Luka Tarcien Gudia Percop or Corcap (d) Or Saf Saphi (e) Or Mechabib Mikabiba and Farrugh That of (f) Or Siggo Siguiau the Towns (g) Or Gighibir Quibir (h) Or Scilia Siluch and Cidere That of (i) Or Sabbug St. Catherine the Towns Biscatia Zakar Asciak Gioanni and Bisbu The Parish of Zarrik takes in (k) Or Grendi Crendi Leu (l) Or Miliers Meleri (m) Or Bukkaro Bukakra and Maim Then the Parochial Towns of Zabugi Muxi and Alduvi and lastly that of Dingli comprehending some small Villages Two or three Miles Northward of Valetta appeareth Nasciaro grac'd with a very fine Church to which adjoyns a Garden of Pleasure call'd by the name of the Grand Master St. Anthony being very large and divided into several Quarters all full of Vines Oranges Lemons Pomegranates Citrons Olives and other
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
and in a short time learned the use of it At last the King shewed them a place just without their Hutches to take their Repose in at conveniency The same Year Thirteen more sent cut to the same end on the thirteenth of November were fourteen more sent out and the next Year on the thirteenth of February twelve of them return'd the other having been kill'd by an Elephant These having been above an hundred Miles in the Countrey could find none of those People but at last by some other Negroes were inform'd That the Namaqua's were withdrawn so far that there was no likelihood to come near them that Year By which means both the said Attempts became fruitless These Namaqua's are of a great and gigantick Stature and numerous in People The Women are handsome-bodied and well-shaped but rather by Nature than Art Clothes for they are nothing curious in their Habits all going dress'd in Skins of Beasts wrapp'd about their Bodies Their Ornaments are Glass Cambayan Beads which they buy from the Portuguese about Monomotapa Kortada Bellugarins c. for Cattel The Men wear an Ivory Plate made very artificially before their Privacies and a round Hoop of the same on one Arm besides many Copper Rings Every Namaqua hath always a small handsom Stool made of Wood and Ropes hanging upon his Arm which he carries every where along with him to sit upon The Government consists in a Single Person the present nam'd Akambia Government whose three Sons are of an extraordinary Stature BRYGOUDA'S SOmewhat farther into the Countrey dwell another People call'd Brygouda's Brygouda's of whom little can be said in regard few if any Europeans ever convers'd with them Onely the Namaqua's report them very populous rich Are populous and full of Cattel beyond all that live about the Cape of Good Hope HEUSAQUA'S THe Heusaqua's lie North-West-ward from the Great Cape Heusaqua's but so far distant that little knowledge hath been gained of them and that from bare report none having ever seen their Countrey or been among them the best Intelligence hath been drawn from the Mouths of three of themselves that came to the Fort of Good Hope with the Governor Chainouqua's to sell some Cattel and returned with all convenient speed These Heusaqua's onely maintain themselves with Planting for the rest of the Hottentots neither Sowe nor Plant of a powerful Root Maintain themselves by planting the Root Dacha which they call Dacha sometimes eating it otherwhiles mingling it with Water to drink either of which ways taken causeth Ebriety When they become intoxicated therwith they play many strange and antick Tricks as if they were mad in the middle of which the Women come and strew the dried and pulverized Herb Boggoa on their Heads being of a yellow colour and strong scent and for that onely use fetch'd from the Mountains These People have great skill in the catching both old and young Lions in Snares which they make tame and lead with a Rope about their Necks like a Dog Some of their Lions which they have had along time they frequently carry to the Wars and by that means put their Enemies to flight without any resistance A thing that seems very strange yet most certainly used amongst them All the Places of Kafrarie known by the People of Europe generally lie at the Sea-coast being principally Capes Bays and Havens for Towns or Villages there are none the Savage Inhabitants contenting themselves with the homely Covert of moveable Huts after the manner of the wild Arabs This Countrey shoots very far into the South Cabo de Bona Esperanza or Cape of Good Hope shewing several Capes and Promontories amongst which the cheifest the Cape of Good Hope or Cabo de Bona Esperanza lieth in four and thirty Degrees and one and twenty Minutes South Latitude When this Point was discover'd and why so call'd we have before related The next and most Southerly Point of Africa the Portuguese call Cabo das Anguilhas Cabo das Aiguilhas or Needle-Cape the Needle-Cape or the Head of the Needle situate about twenty Dutch Miles Eastward from the Cape of Good Hope in full thirty five Degrees South Latitude It was so call'd by them from the Compass-Needle which they observ'd to stand due South and North at this Point but several late experienc'd Sea-men affirm it to vary five or six Degrees from the North West-ward Here lieth a great Shelf of Sand full of Fishes which extends eighteen Miles into the Sea beginning in the West by the Sweet River and ending in the East at the Fish-Bay Between these Points Cabo Falso or False Cape in the Height of four and thirty Degrees and a half five or six Miles Eastward of the Hope appears Cabo Falso or False Cape for Sailing out of India and making this Cape in clear Weather they mistook it for that of Good Hope by reason of its near resemblance to the same but coming nearer they found their Error This Cape may be known by three high Hills near adjoyning to each other whereof the two outermost are highest The Cape of Good Hope appears in the form of a hanging Island with a small Isthmus between two Bays joyn'd to the Main Land and contains several high and craggy Mountains of which two more remarkable the Table and the Lion-Mountain The Table-Mountain Table-Mountain or Table-Cape in Portuguese call'd Tavoa de Cabo lieth about an hours Journey from the Shore Southward of the Fresh and Salt River and hath received that name from its shape because it is flat on the top like a Table At the Salt River they climb up this Mountain by a Cliff in all other places not being ascendible by reason of its great steepness and that way asks four or five hours Labor to gain the top And this height makes it visible above ten Leagues to the Offin Against ill Weather two or three Hours before 't is so cover'd with thick Mists and Clouds that they cannot discover the top Close by Table-Mount Fragosos lie those towring Hills in a row which the Portuguese call Os Picos Fragosos The Lion-Mountain Lion-Mountain so call'd either from the abundance of Lions upon it or because it appears out at Sea like a Lion lieth somewhat more Westerly and closer to the Sea than the Table so that its Tail makes the Point at the end of the Bay Between these two appears a pleasant Valley Near the Table riseth another Wind-Mountain call'd Wind-Hill because always troubled with rough Winds Beyond these to the South you come to a Valley over-grown with Brambles other Bushes and Wood. Further up into the Countrey are some standing-Waters over-grown with Bulrushes Canes and Sedg-weeds wherein breed many Wild-fowl Geese Duck Teal Snipes and such like Along the Sea-coast several good Bays or Creeks open themselves affording convenient Havens for Ships Eighteen Miles North-West from the Cape of Good Hope lieth Soldanha-Bay