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. Anâu 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-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-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-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
Egyptian Monarchs Pharaoh at first and afterwards Ptolomy The proper Name of the present King is Daur but by the addition of that Royal Title which signifies King call'd Burdomel Daur This Name of Burdomel The King is taken by some for a Place about Cape Verde and accordingly so set down in the Maps of Africa ¶ HEre are no peculiar or Municipal Laws The Law of the Countrey for indeed the Law or light of Nature is the onely Rule they steer by for when a Man dies and leaves behind him Wives Children Cattel Slaves and Iron wherein their chiefest Riches consists the Brothers and Sisters of the Deceased take all without any consideration of the Children whom they leave to the wide World to help themselves as well as they can As to matters of distributive Justice or punishments of Crimes they are in a manner strangers to both the greatest extravagancies being bought off and pardoned by paying of Slaves or some other Mulct to the King ¶ THeir Religion Their Religion if so we may call it is generally Paganism for they greet the New-Moon with horrible roarings and strange gestures of adoration they offer their Sacrifices in the Woods before great hollow Trees wherein they have placed Idols and this they do rather out of custom then zeal using neither form nor method in their Devotions nor any particular Assemblies but every one following the dictates of his own humor makes a God in his own Fancy which is as often varied as their Lusts or Passions raises in them other motions Some of them seem to incline to Mahumetanism and admit among them some Marabouts but so little have they prevailed upon them that they know not what the Sala means nor do the Priests any other Service than write Arabick Characters on small Papers which sew'd in little Leather Purses are worn by the Blacks on their Necks Arms Legs Heads and every part of their Bodies in great numbers firmly believing that thereby in time to come they shall be freed of all troubles and dangers to the great gain of the Marabouts who sell them at no small Prices And although they know there is a God yet have they no understanding to worship him and use Circumcision the fifth or sixth Year and then if they be asked the reason thereof they can give no other account but that it is an antient Custom received among them but farther know not None of the Priests are permitted to Marry but in their own Families nor may teach any to Read or Write without the chief Marabout's Licence They hold the Christian Religion in great abomination affirming that God who giveth all things and can do what he pleaseth and causes Thunder Lightning Rain and Wind is Omnipotent and needs neither praying to nor to be set forth in so mysterious a way as that of the Trinity and thus Heathenism and Idolatry generally possesses the whole Countrey THE KINGDOM OF GAMBEA CASSAN CANTOR AND BORSALO ADjoyning to Zenega on the North is Gambea The Kingdom of Gambea a small Kingdom by the River of the same name On the other side of the River Gambea lies the Jurisdiction of Cassan Great Cantor and Borsalo all heretofore subject to the King of Mandimanza but now have Princes as absolute as himself and acknowledging no Superior The King of Great Cantor keeps his Residence continually on the Southerly Shore of the River Gambea The King of Canter having many inferior Dominions under his Obedience The King of Borsalo commands on the North-side of the same River to Tantakonde The King of Borsalo Both these Princes have several populous Towns belonging to them but Several Towns lying on Gambea as we said all without Walls and scituate on both the Shores of Gambea which like the Nyle overflowing it Banks much enriches and fertilitates the neighbouring Soyl. The Sea-Coast hereabouts shooting from the South is very low and in that regard unless in very clear weather hard to be known but more forward the Land rises high is full of Trees and spreads North-East and south-South-West At the Mouth of this River stands the Town Barra Barra so named because every Ship that comes thither must give a Bar of Iron which they call Barra to the King of Borsalo Above the south-South-Point stands a Town call'd Nabare Nabare within a Wood. Three miles higher on the same Point lieth a Town call'd Bintam inhabited by the Portugals Bintam On the South-side of the River twenty miles from the Mouth Tankerval Tendeba appears Tankerval and not far thence a Town call'd Tendeba twelve miles from which last may be seen Jayre Jayre in a narrow Creek Half a mile beyond the Creek on the South-side lieth the River and Town call'd Jambay Jambay Mansibaer Barraconda with another named Mansibaer on the North. In the last place you come to Barraconda above which the Sea floweth not so that whoever will go higher must Row against the Stream After a tedious and toilsom Journey of ten days you arrive at Tinda Tinda above which stands Joliet Joliet Munkbaer and six days Journey from that a City call'd Munkbaer to which without great hazards there is no coming from whence in nine days you come to the City Jayr and so to Silico an In-land Town yet a place of great Trade Five and fifty miles within the Land stands Borsalo and eighty five miles Little Cassan Small Cassan Groat Cassan three miles above which the vast and great City Cassan shews it self whose side is washed by the Ebbing and Flowing of the Sea and where the King keeps his Court. ¶ AMong other Rivers that water these Countreys The River Gambea one of the principal is Gambea or Gambia so call'd by the Portuguese after the example of the Blacks who call all the Tracts of Land reaching from the Mouth of it to the Gold-Coast Gambu It s Mouth is about three miles broad hath five fathom Water and lies in thirteen Degrees and nineteen Minutes North Latitude between the Zenega and Rio Grande It draws the original from the great River Niger It s Original at the place where it makes a great Lake and divides in four branches which are afterwards named Zenega Gambea Sante Domingo and the Great River all which after several long courses having visited and refreshed these hot Countreys with their pleasant Streams at last near Cape Verde pour forth their Waters into the Great Ocean but especially Gambea with so strong a Current and such abundance of Water that sixteen miles in the Sea as they say that Water may be taken up They may row up in this River against the Stream near a hundred miles but then are stopped with a strong Water-fall which with an impetuous noise pours down over the Rocks and by that means becomes unpassable The Channel is for the most part very broad especially from the Gold-Coast of Cantor or Reskate to its Mouth
where some few Houses are erected From hence all Ships that arrive there plentifully furnish themselves both with fresh Water and Wood. Next in order comes the high Point Cabo das Palmas or Cape Palm Cape de Palm in four Degrees and fifteen Minutes North Latitude on whose Westerly Corner are three round Hills and a little farther within Land a round Grove of Palm-Trees which may be seen far at Sea from whence this Point took the Name of Cabo das Palmas Near to this in Sandy-Bay arriving Ships finde a convenient Harbour A mile Easterly of which up into the Countrey appears a long Mountain looking like double Land From the first Point of Palm Cape a ledge of Rocks shoot South South-East a mile into the Sea and before them a great Shelf two miles long between them the Tide runs very strong to the East having ten or eleven fathom Water Two miles more Eastward Gruway the Village Gruway stands seated at the end of the Grain-Coast This whole Shore is very full of Rocks for which reason the Ships which Ride there are in no little danger In February March and April here is fair and clear Weather with cooling Breezes and gentle Westerly Winds In the middle of May there begin South and South-East Winds The Air. which bring with them not onely stormy Gusts as Hericanes but also Thunder Lightning and great Rains that continue June July August September October November December and to the latter end of January During part of this time the Sun being in the Zenith or Vertical Point of the Heavens sends down its Beams perpendicular The Land here yields great plenty of Mille Cotton Rice Grain of Paradise or Melegette good Palmeto-Wine besides divers sorts of Grain especially that call'd of Paradise or Melegette The Plant that bears Melegette hath thick Leaves better than three inches long and three broad with a thick rib in the middle out of which shoot many Veins which have a Spicie-taste like those of the Seed The Fruit is but little of size cover'd with a poisonous tough Russet-colour'd or rather Pale-brown Shell and under that a Film fill'd with many smooth and pointed small Seeds white within biting as Pepper and Ginger The unripe Grains are red and pleasant in taste The greatest smoothest and Chess-nut-colour'd are the best and the blackest the worst No kind of Beasts are here wanting by which means there is all necessary Provision to be had for Seamen The Blacks in these Parts are very envious to all Strangers The kind of the Inhabitants and steal from them what ever they can lay their hands on so that it behoves all Dealers to have a circumspect eye over their Goods And in some places they must be careful of themselves for being Cannibals they eat whomsoever they can get into their power 'T FORT TACARAY ofte WITSEN and about half flood a fathom and a half deep but within very dry and narrow that it gives little advantage either to the Natives or Seamen At the West-side of it rises a Rocky and steep Hill full of Brambles and Trees but on the East-side a Sandy Bank by which as it were split it runs in two small Vills one to the North-west into the Countrey and the other North-east but as we said both dry and not Navigable Near St. Andrew's River the Sea-Coast bellies out to the South-east as far as the Red-Land Between the fourth and fifth Cliff some high Trees grow in a Valley whose edge is remarked with two little Vills the one named Tabattera the other Domera Having left behind you the Red Cliffs you come to Cape La-Hou Cape de Labou the utmost limit of this and the beginning of Quaqua-Coast which spreads it self to Assine the whole Land hereabouts low and poor over-grown with Brambles and Trees yet a mile and a half Eastwards lyeth a Village call'd Koutrou Koutrou or Katrou Five miles from this Cape stands the Village Jakke La-Hou in a very barren spot five miles farther Jak in Jakko and six miles beyond that the Bottomless-pit so call'd from its unfathomable deepness for the Seamen having Sounded with their longest Lines and Plummet could never reach the bottom This Hole is in the Sea not above a Musquet-shot from the Shore so that the Ships which come about this Pit must come to an Anchor betimes to prevent danger Three miles from this Pit on the Shore runs a small River Eastward into the Countrey From Cape de La-Hou to the aforesaid Pit the Coast spreads Eastwardly with double Land Sixteen miles Eastward bi La-Hou takes place Corbi Labou before which the Sea runs very deep for a stones cast from the Shore it has forty and fifty Fathom water Eight and twenty or thirty miles from the Cape La-Hou Assine is seated the Village Assine where the Guinny-Gold-Coast begins full of high Woods but the Land low the houses such as they are stand on the Sea-shore so that they may easily be seen in the passing by Two miles from Assine stands a Hamlet call'd Abbener or Albine Albine a little to the West of a four-square Wood. Then follows in order Taboe and two miles farther Cape Apolony Taboe being a rising ground and seeming to Sailers like three great Hills In Jernon a little Village scituate on the side of this Promontory the Netherlanders have a Storehouse All along this whole Coast grow many Palm-Trees nor is it destitute of other Conveniences yielding extraordinary variety both of Fruits and Plants The Inhabitants as we mention'd before are call'd Quaqua's because when they see any Trading-Ships approach they declare their welcome by crying aloud Quaqua These People by their Aspect seem the unseemliest of all the upper Coast but are indeed the modestest and honestest and most courteous for they esteem it a great shame either at meeting to Salute or at parting to take leave with a Kiss When they come to the Ships to Trade they put their Hands in the Water and let some drop into their Eyes by which they testifie as by an Oath their uprightness and hatred to all Cheatings or Knavish actions Drunkenness they not onely abstain from They shun Drunkenness but abominate for the avoiding which they will drink no Palmito-Wine but a smaller sort call'd De Bordon or Tombe and that also mixt with Water alledging that from Drunkenness proceed many Quarrels the two frequent occasions of Murders and other inconveniencies which are all prevented by Sobriety and Temperance The chief Merchandise to be had here Merchandise are Elephants-Teeth of a larger size than usually elsewhere but withall dearer Some Cloathes also sold here which the Europeans and other Traders from the Name of the Coast call Quaqua-Cloathes being of two sorts the one bound with five Bands or Strings the other with six from the number of the bindings giving denominations to the Places they are sold in Cape Lahou yields many of
the Sea-Coast comes the Lordship of Bani wherein is seated a pretty large Town by Name Kuleba the Residence of a Deputy-Lieutenant who Commands over eight or ten adjacent Townships All the Blacks inhabiting the Easterly-shore of the greater Calabare Those of Calabare are Cannibals towards the North are Cannibals for they eat up whatever Enemies they kill but their Prisoners they sell for Slaves The Number One they call Barre Two Ma Three Terre Four Ni Five Sonny c. The Women here have a peculiar way of Circumcision with Pismires as before related in Arder and therefore we shall not repeat it In Moko they have Coin'd Money made of Iron in form of a Roach the Rundle as big as the Palm of a Hand with a Handle about an Inch long The Whites give here in Barter for Slaves Trade great Copper Armlets long-fashion'd and with a round Bowe very neatly made else the Blacks who are very curious therein will not buy them also red and smooth Copper Bars the smoother the better every Piece of a Pound and a quarter weight and about an Ell long for fourteen of those they purchase a good Slave The Blacks fashion these Bars longer and thinner which they divide into three parts and then bray'd or twist them together like a Rope made of three Strings which they fashion into great and small Armlets and Collers or Neck-bands for the Armlets term'd Boctu brought thither by the Whites they use onely in stead of Money The Blacks in this River use great Canoos Canoos wherein twenty Row on each side can carry sixty or eighty Men and are cut out of the entire Body of a Tree by burning and cutting it hollow and some near sixty nay seventy Foot long sharp before and behind but wide in the middle having Planks laid cross from side to side and fastned which lie a hand-breadth over on which Planks and on the edges of them such as manage the Boat sit which they drive forward not with Rowing but with Padling On each side hang two great Shields How they are Arm'd with some Bowes and Wooden Assagays or Launces to defend themselves against the Assaults of their Enemies Every Canoo hath also a Hearth near which the chiefest of the Boat have their Sleeping-places When they stay out a Nights with their Canoos How they make Tents over their Canoos they make a Tent over them with Mats hang'd upon Polls set up in holes of the sitting-Planks under this covert they lay small flat Sticks bound together with Rushes whereupon they lie down to rest and sleep but the Slaves lie dispers'd about the bottom of the Boat The Slaves brought by the Blacks to sell at the River Calabare From whence the Slaves come which the Netherlanders buy come most from the East and are the same which they take Prisoners alive in the Wars for those that are kill'd they eat as we said before Eastward of Great Calabare about two miles from its East Point The River Loitomba glides the River Loitomba otherwise Rio Sante Domingo whose East corner a petty Town shews it self large and full of Merchants who Travel into the Countrey to buy Slaves which they sell again to the Whites After Loitomba follows Old Calabare by some stil'd Old Kalhorgh The River of old Calabare passing through a Plain but Woody Countrey from the East Point of Rio Reael to this the Coast spreads East South East sixteen miles Next you come to Rio del Key a very great and wide River Rio del Key with three Fathom Water and a Muddy Ground neither troubled with Sandy Shoales nor Rocks At the Northerly Shore thereof lieth a Township over which some years since one Samson had the Command but driven out by those of Ambo he hath ever since maintain'd himself by Robbing for his Village was so wasted by Fire that very few Houses remain'd and those all made of Palm Canes from the top to the bottom as well the Sides as the Roof The Countrey far and near is all low and marshy Ground Constitution of the Countrey so that there is no fresh Water but that which runs from the Village or gathered from the Roof of the Houses The People living up higher call'd Kalbongos are very subtil and cunning Nature of the Inhabitants so that a White must look well to himself Both Men and Women go naked onely a small covering before their Privacies and so barbarously cruel that the Parents sell their Children the Husband his Wife and one Brother and Sister the other and as to decency or order scarce a degree above Beasts The Men tie the top of their Virile part with a piece of Bark Apparel or else put the same in long Callabashes the rest of their Bodies remain Naked onely Painted with Red Colours They wear their Hair Pleited in several Fashions and many have their upper Teeth fil'd as sharp as Bodkins or Needles chiefly supporting themselves by catching Fish When any amongst them stands accus'd Oath he clears himself by taking an Oath in this manner He cuts himself in the Arm and sucks up his own bloud and this they repute a sufficient Purgation and this custom those inhabiting the high Land of Amboises in Ambo and Botery also observe This River affords many Slaves for Copper Bars Trade and likewise for counterfeit Corral Beads and Copper Basons which on the Gold-Coast for their sleightness cannot be sold Akori also and Elephants Teeth against Knives and Assagayes or Lances the Teeth generally so large that three pieces make a hundred weight Between Rio del Key and that of Kamarones narrow but deep Rivers Little Kamaroms makes his way from whence the Coast spreads East South East about three miles with low and Woody Land and a plain Shore The Trade here agrees in all points with that at Rio del Rey Trade but differ in speech for here they call the number One Mo Ba Two Melella Three Meley Four Matam Five The Territory of AMBOSINE or the High Land AMBOISES THis Lordship of Amboisine The Territory of Amboises by the Europeans call'd the High Land of Amboses because they suppose it to be as high as the Pick of Tenariffe and by the Spaniards therefore nam'd Alta Terra de Ambosi takes place between Rio del Rey The Village Bodi and Kamarones At the West side thereof lie divers Villages among others Bodi or Bodiwa otherwise Cesge The Countrey produces great plenty of Grain Nature of the Countrey but no Palm-Wine which want the Inhabitants supply by a Root call'd Gajanlas which they boile in water and make a Drink of pleasant in taste but hurtful for the belly if taken in excess Other Provisions they have in such quantities that Seameâ esteem it a good and desirable place to refresh in The Islands of AMBOISES FOur miles to the South East of this High Land The Islands of Amboises
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-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
the Densans are Stout and Warlike Borgia feeds many Artificers but more Husbandmen ¶ ONe part of this Territory stands under the Jurisdiction of the Arabians Their Government another under the Kings of Kouko and Labez the third the Turk lays his claim to But Paskare Anno Fifteen hundred sixty two was rent from the King of Tunis by the practises of one Tachea a Marabout who making himself Master they could never be reduced to the former Government THE TERRITORY OF BILEDULGERID BIledulgerid The Territory of Biledulgerid or Beledulgerid which is a single Province yet gives Denomination to all Numidia as we said before signifying Date-Land extendeth to the Realm of Tunis beginning at Teskare so reaching to the Coasts belonging to the Isles of Zerbes bordering on the East at Cyrene one Point shoots far from the Mediterrane for Tousar and Cafta two stretched-out Arms of the Province reckon seventy five Miles from the Midland-Sea This Countrey hath onely three Cities Teusar The first Teusar antiently erected by the Romans near a Desart and water'd by a small River replenished from the Southern Mountains is divided in two Divisions one stands possest by the Natives and the other by the Arabians since the Mahumetans deserted it having destroy'd the place The second Kafsa Kafsa also a Colony of the Romans stands in Longitude forty and in Latitude twenty seven Degrees and ten Minutes and hath a strong Fort with Walls of Touch or Black-Stone being five and twenty Cubits high and five broad There are also stately Mosques and spacious Streets pav'd with Black-Stone The middle of the City is adorn'd with several Fountains standing within a Quadrangular Wall The City Nefzara in Longitude forty two Degrees and fifteen Minutes and in Latitude thirty Degrees consisting of three inclos'd or wall'd Villages close together is very populous ¶ THe Air of this Province is generally hot and that of Kafza is so bad The Air. that the Inhabitants are always troubled with Agues and Feavers The whole Tract of Land of Tousart is befriended with a handsome River and that of Kafza onely by a warm Stream not potable unless it stands an hour or two cooling This Countrey also dry bares no Corn but abounds in Dates But the Kassan Countrey hath not onely the best but the greatest quantity of Dates and also Olives of all the adjacent Territories Neither want they store of Flax and are well provided with Potters Earth of which they make very fine Earthen War This Countrey as far as Tripoli is under the Government of Tunis Teorregu TEorregu borders on Tripoli nearest to the Desarts of Barka having three good Forts and six and twenty Villages The Inhabitants distanced far from other well-peopl'd places are very poor Jasliten or Jassitin JAsliten or Jassitin is a small Canton near the Mediterrane-Sea between Kafza and Trioply in Longitude two and forty Degrees and fifty Minutes and in Latitude eight and twenty This Countrey hath also store of Dates and is under the Jurisdiction of Tripoli Gademez GAdemez a Countrey Southward from the Midland-Sea sixty miles containing sixteen wall'd Cities and ninety two Villages Zieglerus the chiefest Seat is Gademez by Zieglerus taken for the Oasis of Ptolomy This Territory also rich in Dates is slenderly accommodated with Grain and Flesh The Inhabitants deal much in negro-Negro-Land They were under the Kingdom of Tunis but now forsooth boast themselves a Free-State Fassen or Ferssen FAssen a great Countrey borders Agadez and the Lybick Desarts There is no other inhabited place in those Wilds but onely Augele but the whole Countrey contains eight and fifty Wall'd Towns and a hundred open Villages the chief Seat being in Longitude forty four and in the Latitude twenty six These want no Dates though Corn and Flesh which other places supply except Camels which there they make their usual Food They obey a Supream Authority who receives and pays all that belongs to the Publick Lybia or Zaara 305. Lybick Nun Towns Nun the Metropolis besides a Cape of the same Name Zenega Towns Zenega Anterobe Arquin Port Cavallero Rivers Rio de Oro or Golden-Stream Mountains Mountain of the Sun or Bojador Tagaza Towns Tegaza the chief with many Salt-Pits and divers Villages Zuenziga Towns Zuenziga Gogden Hayr or Terga Towns Terga Agadez Lempta Towns Iguidi Berdoa Towns Three fortifi'd and six Villages Augele Towns Three inclos'd with Walls besides many Villages Syrte Towns One onely nam'd Syrte and that in effect a heap of Ruines Algequet Towns Three inclos'd for defence besides many Villages LYBIA OR ZAARA THe Antient Grecians as Herodotus Diodorus and others Several meanings of the Name Lybia call'd all Africa Lybia but afterwards this general Name was contracted into a narrower Circuit and Signification Ptolem. Geogr. lib. 4. and appropriated onely to a small part of this vast Region and this also divided into the proper or Exterior and Interior-Lybia whereas some call onely the Exterior Lybia The peculiar Lybia was properly that part of Africa which reaches from Alexandria to Cyrene Procop. de Edit Just lib. 6. compassing the Countrey of Barka This is that part of the Countrey which Ptolomy expresseth under that Name whereas some as Philippus and also Cluverius call this proper antient Lybia Exterior Lybia taking in the Desart of Delphocat and Gaoga and place it on the West side of the Nyle and spread it to the Negro's Countrey ¶ LYbia Interior or Inward Lybia according to Ptolomy hath in the North The Borders of Inward Lybia the two Mauritania's that is the Caesarian Mauritania and the Tingitana Tangâian-Moors Countrey the East a part of Marmarica and Ethiopia below Egypt in the South Inward Ethiopia and in the West the Atlantick Ocean But the Modern Lybia which contains a part of Interior Lybia agrees not with the Antient Lybia Bounds but is by the late Geographers included within other Borders as hereafter ¶ THe New Lybia hath for North Confines the Desart of Numidia The Borders of the Modern Lybia or Biledulgerid with a part of their Nun Eastward Egypt the City Elockat and the Kingdom of Gaoga conterminate to the South negro-Negro-Land the West washed with the Atlantick Ocean along whose Coast it reacheth from that part of Nun which belongeth to Biledulgerid or Numidia to the River of Zenega or Niger which divides the Whites and Blacks A Partition between the Whites and Black But to set forth the Bounds thereof more accurately its Northern Confines range all along with that Negro-Land that hath the River Zenega which passeth on by these Countreys in the form of a long narrow Towel almost to the Nyle it is a Tract of sixty Spanish Miles ¶ THe original of the Name Lybia the Grecians derive from a Woman The original of the Name of Lybia Herodotus Aldrete Antigued lib. 3. cap. 6. a Native of that Countrey call'd Lybia some from a greater Lady Lybia the Daughter
or Boura Rio de Campo Rio Sante Benito and Rio Danger five miles from thence is a great Bay or Haven from which six miles Southward lieth a prominent Point call'd St. Johns Cape Fronted with a Ledge of Rocks About three or four miles Southward of St. Johns Cape lies the Island near the Main Land call'd Ilhas des Korisko that is The Island of Lightning Fifteen miles more Southerly under the Equinoctial Line runs the River Gabon or Gaba as Linschot calls it and not far off Point Santa Clare and eight miles Southward the Cape of Lopes Gonzalvez in six and forty Minutes of South Latitude Lastly the River Olibatta with the Cape of St. Katharine and Ferdinando Vaz Peter Davity Rotiere Jarrik Samuel Bruno Linschoten and other Geographers Limit this Coast of Guinee in this manner From the River Zenega to Cape Verde the East reaches with its Creeks about four and twenty miles Near to the Cape Verde and the Kingdom of Jalofs Rio de Barbazin falls into the Sea adjacent to which are the Barbasins or Berbisins Countreys and the Kingdoms of Ale and Brokallo the last of which lieth by the River Gambea fifteen miles from Cape Verde about which Kadamust and Sanutus place the small Kingdoms of Gambea and Mandinga and Southward of these appears Cape St. Mary from whence to the River Sant Domingo it is reckoned seventeen miles All which places are inhabited by two sorts of People call'd Arriareos and Faluppo's through whose Countrey the River Kaza Manca takes its course till mingling with the Sea having on its Northerly Shore the People Iahundas on the Southerly the Benhuns and in the East the Boramo's Before the Mouth of Rio Sante Domingo lie the small inhabited Islands call'd Byagosar and Bysegos Between these Islands flows Rio Grande or The Great River on the North-side lieth the Kingdom of Guinala whence you go directly to the Haven of Bigubia or Santa Cruix where the Portugals have a Fort All the Territory is inhabited by Negro's call'd Beafers Upon a separate Branch of Rio Grande by the Haven of Bolola live a People which the Portugals call Tangos-Maos or Lancados From the Southerly Point of Rio Grande to the Cape Virgen the Mallus or Malluces Vagai and Korolines inhabit and here begins the Countrey of Serre Lions wherein is Cabo Ledo and Rio Das Gamboas with three Islands call'd De Bravas and the Cape of St. Anne lying in seven Degrees North Latitude From Cabo Ledo to Cape St. Anne is about ten miles after which follows the River Das Palmes and somewhat farther Rio das Gallinas Hen-River From Serre-Lions to this place it is forty miles From hence to Cape de Monte eighteen and from that to Cape Mesurado sixteen and within two miles thereof Mata St. Mary where the Grain-Coast doth begin From Mata St. Mary to the River St. Paul are six miles where the Mountains of the same Name very high and craggy stretch themselves six or seven miles along the Coast From Rio de St. Paulo to Rio Junk are six and from that to Rio Cestos two miles whereto neighbors the Kingdom of Bitonin a Member and Subject to that of Melli. Opposite to these appears the little Island of Palmes close by which are Ilhas Blancos the two white Isles from which to Cabo Formoso is commonly reckon'd five miles Then going forward you arrive at the Cape de Baixas where Rio dos Genueveses and St. Vincents Stream flow into the Sea next which lieth Rio dos Escalvos that is The River of Slaves close by St. Vincents Cape Then Cabo dos Palmas in four Degrees of North Latitude and twelve miles from the Cape of Clement Next we come to the Rivers of Maio Sueryo de Costa Rio Bobra or Cobra and Mancum upon this last stands Fort Agem or Axiem near Akombene Ville at whose side lies the Cape of tres Puntas in North Latitude of four Degrees and a half The Ivory Coast reaches from Cabo de Palmas to the Cape tres Puntas where the Gold Coast begins comprehending many Kingdoms and extending to Rio Volta wherein first appears Anten a place rich in Merchandise Next Jabbe Chama formerly a Castle of the Portugals then the Village Agitaki by others call'd Little Commendo and not far off the Castle of St. George de Mine built by the Portugals as upon the Point of Cape de Curso the Hollanders have erected Nassau Fort in honour of the worthy Family of Aurange so famously Instrumental in raising them from the meanest degree of Distress to make them capable of assuming the High and Mighty Titles they now use Not far from thence lies Moree or Morre the chiefest place of Trade in the whole Kingdom of Sabou then comes the great and famous Fort of Kormentine or Karmandin with the places and Kingdoms thereunto belonging viz. First Biamba then Berku next Akara or Akkra the Principal Town of the Kingdom of that Name having in the North the Kingdom of Akanie whose Inhabitants go to trade for Gold with other Blacks far up into the In-land Rio Lagos comes next in order beyond which to Landward lies the Kingdom of Dauma from Rio Lagos to that of Benin is about twenty and five miles and thence to Cape Formoso as much Afterwards in five Degrees North Latitude you come to the Royal River vulgarly Rio Reeal from whence to Rio dos Kamarones is thirty miles near neighbor to which is plac'd the Territory of Ambosine whereon abuts the Kingdom of Capons that reacheth far into the South and lies one Degree and a half in South Latitude then the Coast shooteth from the East to the South to the River Angra From which to the Stream of Gabon or Gaba lying at the Equinoctial Line are nine miles From the River Gabon to the Cape of Lopez Gonzalvez lying one Degree Southward of the Equinoctial is about five miles and a little Southerly Rio de Pero Diaz or Poeradia wherein breed Sea-Horses and Crocodiles and lastly Rio de Ferdinando Vaz In short the Coast of Guiny as Peter Davity holds reacheth to the Cape of St. Katharine and from thence to two Degrees and a half South Latitude to the Borders of the Kingdom of Lovango Thus having in brief run over the Coast of Negro-Land we shall hereafter describe at large the Kingdoms Countreys and Places lying more into the Land THE KINGDOM OF ZENEGA OR COUNTREY OF JALOFS Together with the Dominions belonging to it of CAYOR BAOOL IVALA ALE c. MArmol names this Countrey Gelofe and the Inhabitants thereof Gelofs Lib. 9. Jarric l. 5. c. 44. Marmol 9. Borders of the Kingdom of Zenega but others call it The Kingdom of Zenega By which Name in the common Maps or Charts it is set down This Kingdom reaching far into the main-Main-Land and bordering to the North on Guinee lieth between the two Arms of the River Niger the one call'd Zenega the other Gambea but by Ptolomy Darade and Stachiris It bordereth Eastward on the
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
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 formerââ 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
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-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
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 Mesuâado 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
lie three small Islanââ 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 ãâã may be had but little Trade and for that reason as little frequented ãâã 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 ãâã 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
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
Island of that name exceeding those her two neighbors of St. James and St. George living all three near at the Mouth of the River Meginkate Over against St. Georges Island but at the distance of an English mile you may see a Point call'd Cabo Ceira being a hanging Islet joyn'd to the main-Main-Land of Africa by a small Istbmus overflow'd at High-Water but at other times passable on Foot The Countrey of Mozambike is very fertile in producing many sorts of Fruits Plants as Rice Citrons Oranges and Mille which the Blacks are compell'd to guard and defend against Elephants by the kindling of Fires whereof these Beasts are very much afraid There groweth also a certain Plant call'd Pao or Wood of Antak which creeps along the ground and is very like the Herb Aristolachia or Heart-Wort The Fruit is long small with green Seeds or Grains The Roots have a strange vertue in curing a Disease call'd Antak which seizes on the Foreigners by conversing with the Blacks and can be expell'd by no other Medicine The Inhabitants make Wine of Mille which they call Huyembe or Pembe Here is no want either of tame or wild Fowl Animals nor of Stags or Harts wild Hogs Cows Oxen and Elephants which last are so numerous that the Inhabitants dare not travel without fire to defend them from their assaults Wild Hens breed in the Woods being speckled with many small white and gray spots their Heads are much less than our common Hens with a short Comb but thick and of a high colour and not onely the upper part of the Head but also part of the Neck cover'd with a blue Skin like a Turky Many Silver Gold and other Mynes are found in the Countrey The People have short Curl'd Hair The Constitution of the Inhabitants great Lips long Visages and very large Teeth They go stark naked onely a blue little Clout before their Privacies They Paint ther Bodies with divers Colours but account it the greatest Ornament to have streaks of a certain red Earth They make in each Lip three holes in which they hang Bones Jewels and other things But this Fashion and Trimming eminent People onely use They feed in general upon all sorts of Fruit Food and Flesh of Beasts yet they eat also the Flesh of Men taken Prisoners in the Wars but they esteem the Flesh of Elephants as the choycest Dainty They are revengeful and treacherous dull of understanding and inured to labour like Beasts not grutching to be Slaves Every Lordship or Province produces a several Language Language yet it proves no hindrance to their converse one with another Their Riches consist in Gold Riches found in the Rivers Ivory Ebony and Slaves yet are so fearless of any attempts to be made upon them that they debar no Foreigners to come into their Havens the Portuguese onely excepted Their Weapons of War are Arrows Battel-Axes but can neither boast any number of People nor extent of Land The Inhabitants are according to Linschot some Heathens and some Mahumetans but Pyrard averrs they have neither Religion nor Laws but that they are onely Kaffers The Island MOSAMBIKE THe Island Mosambike half a Mile from the Main Land contains about three quarters of a League in length a quarter in breadth the whole compass not exceeding a League and a half with a white Shore It extendeth South and North along the Main Land between which and this Isle and Fort appears the Bay serving for a convenient Haven Land-lockt from all Winds being very large and carrying eight or ten Fathom Water Within a Stones-throw of which the Ships ride at Anchor This Island hath the Main Land on the North and two other uninhabited small Islets on the South the one nam'd St. James or Jago and the other St George but neither affording any conveniency not being inhabited being wholly overgrown with Shrubs and Bushes Some place two Cities upon Mosambike-Isle affirming the one to be plentifully peopled by Portuguese and the other with Blacks but Pyrard makes the whole so fully inhabited that it seems but one Town comprehending within its Circuit a very large and strong Fort together with five or six Churches Chappels and Cloysters From the Description of the Navigation to the East-Indies made by Verhoeven in the Year Sixteen hundred and seven it appears that the City of Mosambike is very large having good Walls fine Houses and some Churches and Cloysters wherewith agrees Paul van Caerden in the Journal of his Voyage to the East-Indies Moquet allots to the City not above two hundred Houses but Linschot leaves all the places open and unwall'd except the Castle where the Portuguese Governor with his Soldiers have their Residence Garias de Silva Figueora in his Persian Embassy comprises in the City an hundred and fifty Houses but most of them built of Wood Straw and Palm-Tree Leaves For the deciding these different Relations we may suppose that the first Writer who placeth two Cities here mistook two Villages for Cities and Linschot himself mentions the Dwellings severally making one part of the old Fort commonly call'd Fortarez a Velha and another of some Houses close by it Others may have taken a great number of Houses standing close together to be a City however it is we may modestly guess that at the time of these Writers things were found thus There is a Cloyster of St. Domingo with a rich Hospital said to have been a Castle in former time built by the Kings of Portugal into which those of that Nation are put coming sick from Sea Besides St. Anthony St. Dominick and St. Gabriel's Church all lying without the Fort they have another Nossa Seniora do Balvarte built close under the Fort. The Air being generally more than warm proves very unwholsom Air. insomuch that few live there any while free from dangerous Distempers which no doubt are much augmented by the want of fresh Water there being onely one small Spring of little consequence in a Thicket of Palm-Trees so that most of them drink salt Water mingled with a little of that fresh This great Drought sufficiently declares that the Land proves barren Unfruitfulness of the Soyl. and unfit to produce any thing Yet provident Nature hath recompenced the want of all other Provision with Coco-Nuts Oranges Citrons Ananassed-Figs and other Indian-Fruits but these onely in manured and well cultivated Gardens They have neither Wheat nor Rice growing but all brought from the Main Land or from Goa and the East-Indies so also Raisins or Grapes and Spanish-Wines with several other Necessaries both for benefit and sustenance so that it is much dearer living here than in any other Place possessed by the Portuguese in this Coast Here breed great Herds of Oxen Cows Sheep Beasts with Tails as big as a fifth part of their Bodies Bucks Goats and Swine whose Flesh hath gain'd such an esteem that the Doctors oftentimes order the Sick to eat it and forbid them
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-High-Land six or seven Miles towards the West Manataraven a small River lieth about six Miles from Morombei The Territory of Antavare Manouffi and Vobitsmene NOrthward of Matatane followeth Antavare scituate in one and twenty degrees and an half South-Latitude and extending to the Cape Manouffi delightfully Water'd by the Mananzau a large and fair River issuing from the steep Ascents of Ambohitsmene or the Mountains lying North and by East The Territory of Manouffi reacheth from the Cape of the same denomination to the River Mananghourou fifteen Miles more Northerly between which Cape and River lie three other Rivers Andredi Tenasatamamou and Tentamimi Antavane produces plenty of Rice Ignames Bananoes Sugar-Canes Honey Oxen Goats with all sorts of Fowl and Victual The Territory of Ambohitsmene lieth North and by West from Antavare and takes name from the aforesaid high Red Mountain in nineteen degrees and a half or twenty South-Latitude which may be seen fifteen Leagues off at Sea resembling Table-Mount at the Cape of Good Hope This ledge of Hills runs fifteen French Miles to the In-land between which and the Sea the Land appears very low Marshy and full of Lakes among which one of above fifteen Miles long and broad Upon these Mountains the people of Famantara have Zaffarahong for their place of Residence which place abounds with Gold Iron Cattel Rice Sugar-Canes Ignames Silk Clothes and other Necessaries Twelve Miles from Mananghorou Avibaha enters the Sea The River Avibaha being perhaps an Out-let of the aforesaid Lake Three Miles from thence the River Tsatsack and three other Foutchurao and a Mile and half onward Ivorhon pours down into a Bay by the Inhabitants call'd Tametavi but by the French Mariners Port aux prunes that is Plumb-Haven The Territory from Tametavi to the Bay of Antongil that is to the Countrey of Vouloulou the Long-Point the Lordship of Andouvoulhe with the Bay of Manghabei or Antongil THese Countreys begin at the Haven of Tametavi or Plumb-Haven lying in eight degrees and a half and spreading by the Sea Coast to the Bay of Antongil in the Language of the Countrey call'd Manghabei in fifteen degrees South-Latitude to the Land-wards inclos'd with the Mountains of Vohits-anghombe and Ansianach After the Plumb-Haven they have four small Rivers Fautack Faha Faho and Maroharats distant a small mile each from another After that Anacchinquets making a deep Haven with a good Sandy bottom but open to the North-East East and South-East Winds Three small Miles Northerly The Territory of Voulouilou you discover Longue-Point The Countrey about moisten'd by the River Voulouilou Five Miles further The River Ambato lieth the great River Ambato famous for the Rocks and obscure Cliffs but never comes to the Ocean Two small Miles more Northerly you come to Galemboulou in seventeen degrees and an half a large receptacle for Barks but very dangerous because of the blind Rocks and boisterousness of the Sea near which stands a Town call'd Ratsimelone but by the French Mariners St. Mala. Three Miles from Galemboulou a very fair and great River pours its self into the Sea wherein they say the small Island Ambouluossi shews it self The River Manangharou running from West to East The River of Manangharou divides its self near the Sea Coast into four distinct Channels of which it self being one retains its name from the Original to the Mouth The other three are Manansatran the second Marinhou opposite to the Island Nosti Ibrahim or St. Mary and lastly the Stream Jamiami a great and spacious River which at its Outlet into the Sea always holds seven or eight Foot Water After this followeth the River Mananghare fronting the North Point of the Island St. Mary and the South Point of Antongil Bay entring the Sea with so commodious an opening The Countrey of Audouvouche that a great Bark may easily come in or out Following along the Western Coast the Countrey of Andouvouche cometh to view that is The Bay but because of the many other as Antongil by the Inhabitants formerly call'd Manghabei for Antongil is a Portugal name proceeding from a Portuguese Sea-Captain Antonio Gillo who discover'd it It lieth in fifteen degrees South-Latitude stretching Northward and about six Miles broad In the deepest part of the Bay lieth an Island very high out of the Water two large miles about delightfully green fruitful in all sorts of Provision compleatly stor'd with fresh Water Hens Honey and Bananoes Seamen esteem it a most convenient refreshing place At the entrance of the Bay are three or four other small Islands either Sown with Rice or full of Weeds On the North side are three populous Towns with several other along the Shore neighbor'd by a great River which divided into two Arms the one running to the North the other to the West making in the middle at the parting an Island Further on to the North appears another great Town call'd by the Portuguese St. Angelo surrounded with a strong Pallisado Opposite to which on the left hand another which the Netherlanders in their first Voyage to the East-Indies in the Year Fifteen hundred ninety five named Spakenburgh consisting of about a hundred and eighty Houses West South-West from the foremention'd Island glides another River upon which a Town lieth The Grounds are exceeding good and fat well water'd and full of Grass The Condition of the Land but not over-stockt with Cattel the richest Person having scarce a Herd of four and twenty Beasts The Towns here shew more of Architecture than usual in these parts and advantageously Seated either upon the Mountains or along the River Fenced with Stakes with two Entrances or Doors onely the one to the Water the other to the side of a Wood for their flight thither when set upon by the Enemy and worsted All the People from the Plum-Haven to Antongil-Bay Customs observe the same Customs and all name themselves one among another Zaffehibrahim that is The Generation of Abraham or Nossi Abrahim from the Island Abraham whence they are sprung By their keeping holy the Saturday their whiteness of colour and some other particular Customs Flaccourt thinks them to be descended from the Stock of the Jews and Arabians who fled thither many years ago Both Men Women and Children are whiter than those of Matatane and Androbeisaha with smooth Hair hanging down at length being good natur'd mild and hospitable not inclin'd to Robbery or Murther In Dancing and Singing they seem to use some kinds of measures Footing it in pairs sometimes making distinct stops and stretching out their Arms. All their Songs consist of Epithalamiums in the Chanting whereof
impossible to come into them but through the Gates The Natives addict themselves extraordinarily to Robbing and Pillaging of their Neighbors not onely of Goods but also of their Wives for which reason great Feuds arise amongst them which oftentimes break into an open Hostility This Province can bring three thousand men into the Field Every Village here as in the former hath a Lord amongst which one hath the preheminence of Command over the other The River of Mandrery parting Carcanosse and Ampatra glides very swift but lies for the most part stopt up It takes original out of the same Mountain with that of Itomampo and falls at the last by the South into the Sea Many Rivers bring hither their tributary Streams as Maropia taking his course by Icondre Manamaboulle and Mananghare Manamboulle descending from the Mountain Hiela and Mananghare issuing from the same on the South-west side Mananghare is inhabited with a People so unaccustom'd to War that every Great Man appropriates his Neighbors Countreys to himself as if he were the rightful Owner whereupon none will either Till or Manure the Land but let it lie waste and become a shelter for wild Hogs and Oxen. The Mountain Hiela towres up with a lofty heighth sending from its sides the River Manampani This Hill boasts a great number of Inhabitants and divides the Valley of Amboulle Machicore and the Carcanossi one from another Westward of which last appears a Territory call'd Encalidan between which also and the Valley Amboulle a small Tract styl'd Caracarack Caremboulle The Territory of Caremboulle a small Countrey about six Miles in length and three or four in breadth borders in the South on the Sea Westwards on the Bay of Caremboulle and East at Ampatre where also the River Manambouve gives it a limit The River Manambouve hath a full Stream about thirty French Miles from that of Mandrerey beginning in Machicore and running to Caremboulle a Course of fifteen or twenty Miles Twenty French Miles Westward the small Rivulet Manamba joyns with the Sea Menerandre another small River two Miles from Manamba poures down out of Machicore and runs South-South-west Four Miles from that are two other little Brooks that fetch their original out of a small adjacent Mountain The Coast of Caremboulle the outermost South-side of Madagascar stretcheth East and West but beginneth from the River Manamba to run North-west to that of Manerandre and from thence to Manamba and Machicore The Land of Caremboulle is dry and parched yet hath some few good Pastures stock'd with Cattel In Ampatre grows abundance of Cotton whereof they make Clothes and some Silk The Territory of Mahafalle Houlouve Siveh and Youronhehok MAhafalle seated farther to the West with the Sea-coast reacheth to the Salt-River call'd in Portuguese Sacalite about fifteen French Miles from Manomba and Hachicore This River lying in five and twenty Degrees South-Latitude cometh out of the Region of Houlouve beginning at the Mouth of the said Sacalite and shooteth into the Countrey two days Journey Siveh runneth along the Sea-coast about four Miles in length After Siveh followeth Youronhehok wherein appears the Bay of St. Augustine Yonglahe a great River receiveth on its North-side The River Yonglahe besides many petty Brooks the Water of three larger Streams viz. Ranoumanathi Ongehahemassei and Sacamare It riseth out of the Mountain of Manamboulle and runs to the West having its outlet Southerly into the Sea by a very fair Bay call'd by the Portuguese St. Augustine but by the Inhabitants Ongelahe It lieth in three and twenty Degrees South-Latitude defended from hurtful Winds and from the South to the North-west passable for great Ships yet hath some Cliffs lying on both sides dangerous for their coming in On the South-side of the Bay the French have erected a Fort resembling four small Bulwarks surrounded with Stakes or Pallisado's and a Trench of three Fathom broad and two Foot deep in Water having on one side a Way in the Trench above ten Foot broad by which they enter into the Fort. About the Year Sixteen hundred forty and four the English Landed here four hundred Men but near three hundred with the Captain dy'd by the Feverish malignity of the Air and Hunger at last the remainder were deliver'd from the jaws of Death by means of a Ship that Touched at this Place and carry'd them from thence for all usually in their Voyages to the East-Indies make some stay here for refreshing and bring their Sick there to Land to recover their health The Territory of Machicore THe Territory of Machicore a great Countrey stretcheth the whole length of the River Yonghelahe that is East-North-East and west-south-West-South-west seventy French Miles and the like difference from East to West but from the North to the South not above fifty that is from the aforesaid River to Ampatre and Mahafalle but lies utterly waste This Province as also those of Concha Manamboulle Alfissach and Mahafalle stood formerly under the Government of one Lord call'd Dian Balonalen that is Master of a hundred thousand Parks Then was the whole in Peace and flourished in happiness and Riches even to excess But after the death of Balonalen who left several Sons they fell into Wars for the Inheritance in such a measure that they were all extirpated From Onghelahe right Northwards appear two great Rivers the one call'd Ranoumanithi spoken of before and Ranoumene which comes out of Anachimoussi and poures its Water in two and twenty Degrees South-Latitude into a Bay near the Sea and a third less known by the name of Ranoumanithi running towards the West-South-west into a Bay in twenty Degrees South-Latitude This Countrey the Portuguese call Terra del Gada that is The Countrey of Cattel from the vast Herds thereof breeding in it There are three other Rivers run towards the West the one Sohavianh the other Soumada and the third Manatangh all flowing into a great Bay in nineteen Degrees Higher to the Northward the French have hitherto little knowledge of this Island and the Portuguese have for these many years discover'd all upon the Sea-coast except some few Places as the Countrey or Bay of Paxel of St. Andrew Cabo di Donna nostra Cunha Rio de St. Andreas Rio de Diego Soares and lastly the Cape of St. Sebastian the uttermost North-west Point of this Island We will proceed now to give you some account of the general state of the Island They find Iron and Steel in great abundance which they work and cleanse with more ease and less labour than with us for the Smiths take a Basket full of the Mineral as they find it ready and lay it upon red hot Coals between four Stones set and closed about with Clay and blown up with a pair of Bellows made in manner of a Wooden Pump with which blowing the Mineral within an hours time melts and so drawn off and forced into Bars or Staves of three or four pound There are also as they say Mynes
third in Italy and a fourth in Crete built after the ananner of the Egyptian to whose former Description take this addition It was all of square polish'd Stone every side three hundred foot broad fifty foot high upon a square base It had five Pyramids one at each Corner and one in the Middle of a hundred and fifty foot with such a top as hath a Brazen Orbe upon it and one covering lay'd over them all from which hung down Bells in Chams which stir'd by the winds made a sound afar off upon which Orbes there were four other Pyramids a hundrod scot high and other things this is delivered from Varro by Pliny lib. 36. cap. 13. Mysterious Temple or Labyrinth of theirs which had so many Rooms and with-drawing Apartments in it But later Writers say that since the Mahumetans conquer'd Egypt they made but three divisions the first call'd in Arabick Nahar Alleriffe or Erriffe extending from Grand Cair to Rosetta The second Sahaid or Assahaid signifying firm land and reaches from Cair to the borders of Bugiha The third Bechria or according to Marmol Beheira-Allards that is * Or Zealand Sea-land stretching along that arm of the Nile that extends to Damiata and Tenez The first of these is very fertile and luxuriant in the production of Rice and all sorts of delicious Fruits The second yields plenty of Corn prickle Fruits store of Cattel Fowl and Flax. And the third abounds with Sugar-canes Cotton and other such Commodities The whole thus divided into three each three is sub-divided into ten as follows in Delta or Nether Egypt were Rakotites Phtenuti Phtemphuti Mendefites Omisis Saities Attribis Tavites Tarbethites Busirites which order and names were first constituted by Sesostris of whom it is recorded that he would by cutting the Isthmus between the Mid-land and Red-Sea have joyn'd them had he not been diverted from the attempt by their Priests asseverations That all Egypt would of necessity be drown'd by the irruption of the Red Sea which lay higher than that Countrey did though afterwards Ptolomy and others his Successors made great alterations therein Middle Egypt held Memphites Heliopolites Bubastites Heracleopolites Crocodilopolites Oxyringites Kynopolites Hermopolites Antinopolites and Latinopolites And Upper Egypt Thebetes Apollopolites Panopolites Koptites Tentyrites Lycopolites Aphroditopolites Latopolites Abydene and Anteopolites The reason of this division may be two-fold the first in regard of their diversities of Gods and various Ceremonies in their Services which Sesostris their Prince observing to prevent tumultuous Seditions alotted the Countrey into * Rather thirty seven for the reason in the Description of the Labyrinth thirty shares according to the number of their Gods and Goddesses and by this means made Egypt as it were one Universal Temple wherein were as many Numens as Plato hath divided the whole earth between The second cause was the Litigiousness of the people concerning their bounds or limits occasioned as Strabo observeth by the Nile's yearly inundations whereby boundaries were not onely obscured but even all Land-marks and distinctions of propriety utterly washed away which necessitated an infinite trouble in Annual Surveys this was setled by the afore-mentioned division each particular Governour apportioning to himself even by inches the Compass of what was committed to his charge This division of Sesostris totally differed from that made afterwards by Ptolomy and by his Successors established after the decay of that State by the Persians under the conduct of their King Cambises which was into forty Dynasties But this with the remains of all the rest were at last by the Mahumetans who trampled all down utterly subverted yielding to the Laws and Establishments of the insulting Conqueror ¶ THe Extent of Egypt is from the 21 degree of Northern Latitude Extent of Egypt to the 31 degree of the same and therefore some have judged it to contain in length fifteen days journey and in bredth but three Others strangely over-reckon and will have it four thousand Italian Miles though * Maginus Marmol Maginus will allow but five hundred and sixty common ones which Marmol shortens much reducing it to a hundred and fifty French leagues therein somewhat agreeing with Cluverius who from the Pelusian mouth of Nile to the Town of Catabathmus count no more than a hundred and fifty Miles In bredth as Marmol reckons it hath but twenty six Spanish Miles an inconsiderable tract of Land between the shore of Nile and the two great Desart Mountains from whence the River with wonderful swiftness issueth and thence descending to Asne and so to Alcayro having scarcely run a course of twenty Miles beyond it divides it self into two Arms which afterwards re-unite till having run sixty Miles beyond Alcayro it branches again into two streams the one call'd the Canopean passeth to Rosetta and the other to Damiata where by a new division causing a great Lake through a narrow Streight it falleth into the Mid-land Sea near the place where of old Tenesse was scituated These two Armsdraw or delineate the sides and the Sea-shore the basis of a Triangle giving the name of Delta Πto that most Northerly part of the Countrey call'd also Nether-Egypt but by the Natives themselves as Guilliam de Tyr maintains Mahetek To this part Strabo assigns about three thousand Stadiums which make three hundred seventy five Italian Miles but this is lessen'd by Maginus to three hundred whereas on the other hand Villamont will have its Circumference to be seven hundred Miles setting down a great Lake at the Coast of Garbia Eastward from the River for one part of its Limits and another Channel of the Nile called Katoz that goes to Alexandria for a second And this might cause Ptolomy to stile it Great and sub-divide it into the lesser and third Delta The Antients as Kircher observes named this part Fium which in the old Egyptian Tongue signifyed the Sea not from its resembling the Sea in the time of its being over-flow'd but because it is generally believed that heretofore the whole surface of that part was totally covered by the Sea until by a long Series of time the Slime and Mud of the Nile came to settle and at length with great labour became firm Land The same Kircher in his Itinerary from a certain Rabbi affirms that from the Patriarch Joseph's time many Hebrew Monuments and old great Buildings were found there and that after many dayes toyle and labour by him directed the same was made fit to be and was actually inhabited according to which example succeeding Princes continually drayning the Marshy parts made the whole Countrey useful which thereupon became so populous and wonderfully fertile in all things that it was named The Gift of the Immortal Gods as Diodorus relates And the Poets tell us of a great Serpent bred hereabouts which did much mischief to the people till slain by * Or Apello Ovid. Met. Hercules Egyptius and the memory of his Atcheivement preserv'd by naming
great that people should loose their hearing by it Though 't is true the Waters rush downwards two hundred foot roaring like the Breaches of the Sea in a Tempest from hence then sliding in a gentle Current over the Plains of Egypt to Cairo where the Haven of Bulach towards Villamont carryes in bredth two mile then leaving Cairo behinde him he parts into two and after into more Branches The Inhabitants for distinction sake have call'd the Tract of Land Eastward Garbiah and the places Southward near the Angle or Point of Damiata Chargnia These Branches or Arms make the several Mouthes of Nile which the Antients have especially noted to be seven But Ptolomy sets down nine which two are missing and Pliny encreases them to eleven whereof four are wanting The names of the supposed seven remaining are these The Heraclean call'd also Canopean and Naucratian The Bolbitian Sebennitian Pathmetian by Strabo nam'd Fatnian and by * In his Euterpe Herodotus Bucolian The Mendesian Tanitian and Pelusian The two wanted are Dialcos and Pineptimi But if we take the â What ever was or is their number antient or modern Maps vary among themselves for whereas Ptolomy hath set forth nine Hondius in his Map of Africa makes but eight and in that of Europe ten Ortelius in the Map of the Turkish Empire setteth down eight in that of Egypt eleven And Maginus in his Map of that Countrey hath observ'd the same number And if we enquire farther we shal find the same diversity and discord in divers others Thus we may perceive that this Account hath been always different concerning these Ostiaries of Nile Nilus as he is at present we shall finde nine Mouthes great and small the chiefest and most remarkable being the Canopean now stiled Rosetta from its neighborhood The Pelusian by some taken for the Ostiary were Damiata but seemeth rather the Tanitian from its near adjacency to Tenez The Bolbitian known by very few The Sebennitian now beareth the Name of Sturioni The Pathmetian retains the old Name The Mendetian and Damiatian by some are supposed the same though others call it Migri The Tanitian at this day known to some by the name of Kalixen and to others of Tenez or Tanez Pineptimi is taken for that which in the Maps in nam'd Brule Lastly Diolcos that is wanting Sanutius stiles Damanora Modern Geographers much abate this number Peter de la Valle his Journal Maginus Guil. Tyrius Bellonius attesting there are but three or four to wit The Rosettian and Damiatian and two other little Rivulets running between these but poor in waters We come now to the Description of the Countrey wherein for Methods sake we will begin with the Cities ¶ EGypt as we declared before is at present by the Turks divided into three Parts Description of the Westerly parts of Egypt We will take our view from the Westerly call'd Erriff extending to the Point of the Sea by Barca a Countrey belonging to Barbary and reaching from thence to Rosetta containing all the places between the two Arms of Nilus from Alexandria and Rosetta to Cairo First To the West of Barca lyes a City by the Antients call'd * A âort or Castle of the Arabians Plinthina and now by the Italians The Arabian Tower near adjoyning to which is the Sea Monester Busiris or Bosiri Next to the old City Busiris now term'd Bosiri on the Coast of the Mid-land Sea about twenty miles westward of Alexandria heretofore by the Christians subdu'd and totally destroy'd This Busiris whence the Busirian Precinct formerly takes its name is call'd in the Bible by Ezekiel * Cap. 30. In our English Translation it is rendred Pathros Phatures Some will have this City so call'd from the feigned â Syntagm Chorograph Aegypti Busiris who sacrificed all his Guests to Jupiter and was the most cruel Tyrant of all Egypt Others draw its Denomination from * There is in this Countrey a Pillar with this Inscription Mihi Pater est Saturnus Deorum junior sum vero Osyris Rex qui totum peragravi orbem usque ad Indiorum fines ad cos quoque sum profectus qui septentrioni subjacent usque ad Istri fontes alias partes usque ad Oceanum Dr. Brown c. Nowaccording to the best Determinations Osyris was Mizraim and Saturnus Egyptus the same with Cham after whose name Egypt is not only called in Scripture the Land of Ham but testified by Plutarch who in his Treatise De Osyride says Egypt was called Chamia a Chamo Noe filio Osyris the Egyptian Jupiter or Hercules and the Arabians from Busir the son of Cham. Kircher says it is so nam'd from the Egyptian Idol Apis signifying in their Tongue An Ox into which shape as Diodorus reports he was transformed and then the Name in the Old Egyptian Language must be Busosirin that is The Kings Ox. The Grecians confound this City with Thebes although they be distant the whole length of Egypt From the Name Busiris it may be supposed the Inhabitants worshipp'd an Ox Osiris as they hold first shewing himself in such a similitude But the truth is he was a man as they say though much controverted and a great Enricher of that Nation upon this their idolizing of an Ox and scituation of the City so near to Memphis or Cairo as also to â Called also Ez. 30.17 Aven Heliopolis which was Rameses the constant place of residence to the Israelites whence might perhaps the worship of the Golden Calf in the Wilderness take its original Not far from Bosiri lyeth Alexandria Alexandria so call'd from Alexander the Great who built it about three hundred years before the Birth of Christ chiefly employing therein the famous Architect Dinocrates Some say it was antiently call'd Noy It s several Names The Hebrews knew it by the Name of No-Ammon The Romans of Pharos Sebastia Augusta Julia Claudia Domitiana and Alexandria The Egyptians formerly styled it Racotis and say it was built by one Dalucka an Egyptian Queen after the drowning of Pharaoh in the Red-Sea The European Christians call it to this day Alexandria but the Turks Scanderoon which is the same with Alexandria De Stadt ALEXANDRIE of SCANDERIK The City AS EXANDRIA or SCANDERIX The City lyeth on the edge of the Mid-land Sea on a Sandy ground It s Scituation near the Canobian Mountains of the Nile Lee Africanus mistaken though Leo Africanus placeth it forty Miles to the Westward of Nile in regard near Cairo it begins to divide it self in two Arms and so in strictness looseth its name as he supposeth and about seven or eight hundred paces from the Haven which is very spacious for Ships but dangerous because of the two great Promontories of Rocks standing on either side in the entrance call'd by the French Diamant and Girofele but generally known by the names of the Tower Port and the Chain'd Port The former very
Oppilations and concocting indigested and superfluous Humors It restores lost Sight and Hearing if it be dropt warm into either of the offended parts It is a very powerful Medicine against all Cramps derived from Cold and Moisture against the Vertigo or diziness of the Head the Falling-sickness Lameness Palsie shaking of the Limbs Cough stoppings of the Chest Consumption of the Lungs a weak Stomach difficulty of Breathing Fits of the Mother stopping of the Courses the Whites stopping of the Urine and the Collick the Stone in the Bladder and Reins it powerfully breaks and dissipates Those Women that will anoint themselves go first into a warm Stove This Balsam a Fucus for women and when with this throughly heated they dab and spread this Unguent on her naked Breast and Face many times continuing an hour or longer in the Stove till the Skin hath drunk it in and is become dry then she comes forth and doth her accustomed business her Brest and Face remaining so befucus'd at least three days without washing or cleansing the third day after she goeth into the same Stove again and anoints her Face and Brests in the same maner many times over and thick Thus sometimes they anoint themselves ten times or oftner in a day staying so long between each anointing till the Skin is become so dry that the following Balsam may the better take place This some of them continue at least thirty days in all which time they never wash or wipe the Skin as we said then at length they wash it after being anointed with Oyl of Bitter-Almonds mixt with Water extracted from Field-bean-flowers and so cleanse themselves many days successively The Seeds and green Branches also are used against all Distempers that the Balsam it self is The same Vertue is ascribed to the Wood but the Balsam works most strongly term'd by the Greeks Opo-Balsamum The Seeds or Carpo-Balsamum more gently and the Wood or Xylobalsamum the weakest of all The Arabians also use Balsam both the Fruit and Branches in many Medicines and against many Diseases ¶ NEar El Mattharaea An Obelisk or Pyramid near Mattarea where the ruines of Heliopolis are yet to be seen stands in a great Lake a streight Obelisk or Pyramid with several Hierogliphicks upon all its sides to which none can come on foot but when the Water that from the overflowing of the River Nile falleth into this Lake is dryed up by the heat of the Sun Who was the Erector of this Pyramid is a difficult task to finde out Who erected them though we may guess it to be one of the eight built according to the relation of Pliny in Heliopolis Pliny Afterwards says he other Kings erected Obelisks or Pyramids in the City of the Sun viz. So this four each eight and forty Cubits high and Rameses under whose Government Troy was subdu'd four also each forty Cubits high This Testimony of Pliny plainly evidences that this Obelisk is one of the four of the height of eight and forty Cubits On each side are one and the same Characters which have a peculiar and mystical Exposition they are carv'd but coursely and with a rough hand which makes some suppose they were not erected by Sothis because all his were more curiously Adorn'd Artefius an Arabian Writer mentions two yet standing in Heliopolis engraven with the Celestial Scheme The inside of the first and fairest Pyramid EGIPTISCHE PIR-AMIDEN About four miles from Grand Caire within Land The Pyramids are those famous Structures of Stone the Pyramids built four-square of great Marble Stones broad below very high in manner of a pointed Diamond becoming smaller and smaller till it runs almost to a point at the top There is no curiosity of workmanship in them aiming onely at firmness not so much to make them pleasant to the eye as to preserve them from decay and that they might endure even to a perpetuity wherein they have answered expectation these Structures having outstood Ages already and without doubt may yet continue many Ages more for such is the firmness of the Materials and the Stony ground upon which they stand together with their Spiring that they are preserved not onely from all injury of weather but made free from Earthquakes The three first and greatest very handsomly described by Prince Radzovil and Peter Belloon are seen in the way to Cairo together with many other standing about twelve thousand paces from Nilus on the West side in the middle of a barren and sandy Plain Mr. Greaves from Pliny says these three are very conspicuous to those that Sail upon the Nile they are seated on Africa side upon a rocky and barren Hill from the Nile less than four from Memphis six Miles ¶ THe first and greatest Pyramid according to Belloon hath on every side at the ground from one corner to the other three hundred and fifty paces If we imagine the square sides of the Basis four equilateral Triangles mutually propending till they all meet on high as it were in a point then we shall have a true notion of the just Dimensions and Figure of this Pyramid the Perimeter of each Triangle comprehending 2079 feet and the Perimeter of the Basis 2772. whereby the whole Area of the Basis to proportion it to our measures contains 480249. square feet which make 693. by the English Standard eleven English Acres of ground according to the Measure taken by Mr. Mr. Greave's Pyramidographia 68.70 Greave's with a Radius of ten feet most accurately divided In the Circumference twelve hundred paces in height six hundred foot The altitude of this Pyramid is something defective of the Latitude though in Strabo's computation lib. 17. it exceeds but Diodorus lib. 1. rightly acknowledges it less which if we measure by its perpendicular is 499. feet but if we take it as the Pyramid ascends inclining then is it equal in respect of the Lines subtending the several Angles to the Latitude of the Basis that is to 693. feet with reference to which great altitude Statius l. 5. Sylv. 3. calls them audacia saxa Pyramidum From the Basis up to the top two hundred and fifty steps according to Bellonius lib. 2. Observ c. 4. others more some less But that which by experience and diligent calculation * Mr. Greave's 61.77 I and two others found is this that the number of degrees from the bottom to the top is 207. though one of them in descending reckon'd 208. each Step being somewhat more indeed than two handfuls broad and little less than four hands high though the Steps cannot well be told because they are so broken in several places All the Stones of this stupendious Fabrick are of one bigness viz. three foot long and two foot broad and thick The North side is much more worn out by Time than the rest because the North-wind which in other places is dry is moist in Egypt by reason of the Night-dews insomuch that it is hollowed or
Cloth about their Loins to keep off the violent beatings of the Snow All the aforemention'd Cities and Towns Strength and Riches of Morocco are by natural Scituation exceeding strong and the inhabitants Powerful and Rich so that if they were reduced under one Head by such a Union his Discretion and good Conduct might effect great matters HEA THe Jurisdiction of Hea Borders of the Territory of Hea. the most Westerly Part of the Moroccian Kingdom joyns to the Great Atlas which the Inhabitants call Aivakall conterminated on the West and North with the great Ocean on the South with Atlas and part of Sus and on the East with the River Eciffelmel which divideth it from Morocco The famousest Places lying in this Territory are Tedoest Tedoest heretofore the chief City of Hea was in the Year Fifteen hundred and fourteen totally ruin'd but is now rebuilt in part by the Jews who have erected there five hundred Houses Agobel Agobel a strong City on a Hill and surrounded with a Wall contains about three hundred and thirty Houses Alguel Alguel scituate also on a Hill hath tolerable Walls and the advantage of two small Rivers running through it Tekuleth Tekuleth a fair City on the side of a Hill eighteen Miles Westward of Tedoest close by the Fort Aguz at the mouth of the River Tekulet which Ptolomy call'd Diure Hadequis Hadequis lying on a Plain three Spanish Miles from Tekuleth before its Destruction by the Portugueze in the Year Fifteen hundred and eleven had Walls of Stone strengthened with Towers The Houses were of the like Materials amounting to twenty thousand but now is thinly inhabited by a few Jewish Merchants So also the next City Texevit Texevit though wall'd and water'd by a pretty large River falling from the neighbouring Hills between which it stands Lusugaguen Leusugaguen or Ilusugaguen a strong City built on a high Hill in manner of a Fort three Mile from Hadis Southward But amongst these Mountain-Cities Tesegdelt is imputed the chiefest four Miles from Texevit having a Wall of sharp Rocks it containeth about a thousand Houses and is moistned with a handsom River Tegteze Tegteze or Tagtesse stands on a high Hill five Miles from Tesegdelt the ascent to it going round the Hill as it were by winding stairs Eitdevet Eitdevet five Miles from Tegteze towards the South an antient City containing about Seven hundred Houses Kuleyhat Elmuhaidin Kuleyhat Elmuhaidin that is a Foundation for Scholars seven Miles from Eitdevet was first built in the Year Fifteen hundred and twenty by an Apostate Mahumetan named Homar Seyef who broached divers new Opinions as to matters of Religion drawing after him many Followers who did much mischief but at length after this Province of Hea had been miserably harrased and wasted he was slain by his Wife for his Incestuous living with his Daughter-in-law and all his Followers when his notorious Dissimulation and odious Debaucheries were discover'd driven out of the Countrey only his Nephew betook himself to a Fort which he defended a whole Year though strictly besieged but in the end surrendred on Articles but carried with him his malice which he wreaked on them in a perpetual enmity Tefethne or Teftane by Gramay call'd Bente but Tamusige by Ortelius Tefethue a strong City on the Coast of the Atlantick at the foot of Mount Atlas hath a Haven four Spanish Miles in length A little toward the West lyes another Gazole Tafalle Zebedech which Marmol supposes to be the same that Ptolomy calls Hercules-Road Then to the Southward Gazole Tafalle and Zebedech all places of small Importance which at last bring us to the Cape of Ozem Northward The Cape of Ozem Magador not far from which appears the Island Magador or Mongador about five Miles from the main Land Here is a strong Castle wherein the Kings of Morocco always keep a good Garrison for defence of his Gold and Silver Mines in the neighboring Mountains Goz or Gozen a safe Haven by some taken to be the Surige of Ptolomy Goz. Kurio descript Regus Morocco Engueleguingil Engueleguingil or according to Sanutus Ichillinghighil is a small City lying two Miles Southward of Eitdevet Those are all the remarkable Towns We will take a short view of the Mountains and so proceed ¶ THe first that lyes in our way is Aidvacal or rather Atlas Mountains of Hea. Aidvacal beginning at the Ocean and reaching along the Shore making a Boundary between Hea and Sus being about three days Journey in breadth Here are many populous Villages Demensere or Tensare begins where Aidvacal ends Demensere and reaches into the East about seven Miles to Nefise in the Province of Morocco it is very populous but hath no City nor inclosed Town but divers small ones and many Villages Mount Giubel el Hand or Gebel el Hadith that is Iron-Hill Giubel el Hand which Ortelius guesses to be the Fokre of Ptolomy begins toward the North near the Ocean and reaches Southward Tenzift running between Hea Morocco and Ducala but cometh not near Atlas This Countrey hath in it many small Rivers great Woods The Nature of the Territory of Hea. and pleasant Valleys yet the Inhabitants have little Corn which proceeds either from their sloth or unskilfulness in Husbandry as appears for that in several places are abundance of Fig-trees Peaches and Nuts Here is also great quantity of Honey which in part they sell but such is their stupidity that they throw away the Wax ¶ ASses Goats Oxen Sheep Deer Hares and Apes run here in great abundance so are the Horses but of a strange shape different from ours and so swift that they will run over the Mountains without Shooes catching hold like a Cat. ¶ THe usual Food of this Province is Barley-Meal unsifted Nature and Customs of the Inhabitants which they Bake with the Bran in an Earthen Pan and eat for Bread together with Elhasid that is Barley-Flower in Winter boyl'd in Water and Oyl put into it but in Summer boyl'd in Milk and sauced with Butter Other-while they eat boyl'd Flesh sometimes divers sorts of Meat together which they call Couscous ¶ THe most People wear only a piece of Woollen Apparel of the People of Hea. by them call'd Elchise made like a Sheet and ty'd about the Body so round about the Head with a piece of the same dy'd Black with the Bark of a Nut-tree But the Elder and such as are in any esteem for Learning wear round double Bonnets Their Matts which they sit on Furniture for their Houses are made of Hair platted thorow with Reeds so also are their Beds and cover'd with Hair-cloths from five to ten Yards long serving both for Blankets Sheets and Coverlid In Winter they put up their Hair under a Cap but let it hang down about their ears in the Summer They Plow their ground
of the Marriage-Portion with Donna Catharina Daughter of the most Illustrious Family of Portugal now our Soveraign Lady and His Majesties Royal Consort who in her Right duly possessed thereof hath not onely much improved the Fortifications but also erected a stupendious Mold a strong and safe Harbour for Shipping from whence he may take cognisance or speak with any that pass the Straits of Gibraltar by which it stands either into the Mediterrane or Atlantick Ocean and the Garrison of English now there fear not at all what the power of the Moors can or dare do by Land ¶ THe Countrey round about yields little Corn The Condition of the Countrey but there are many Gardens which produce Citrons Lemons and other Fruits in abundance The Mountains adjoyning to the City are replete with fertile Vineyards but more toward the Inland the whole is covered with Sand. At the Mouth of the Straits stands Kosar Ezzakir Kosar Ezzachir known vulgarly by the name of Alcacar or Alcaser The Founder was Mansor King of Morocco who built it as a fit conveniency from whence to Embarque for an easie passage to Granada The Passage thence to Granada Alphonsus the First King of Portugal in the Year Fourteen hundred forty and eight took it with a triumphal Victory But in the Year Fourteen hundred and forty nine the King of Morocco twice Attaqued it strongly but was by the Valour of the Portuguese bravely Repulsed In the same Straits stands Ceuta so called both by the Spaniards and Portugals by Melle Septa and by Ortelius taken for the Lexiliss of Ptolomy distant not above three Miles from the Coast of Granada The Straits three Miles over at the narrowest from which separated by that Strait so narrow that Men and Beasts may be seen and distinguished from the one or the other Shore It has had many Masters as the Romans into whose place came the Goths whom the Mahumetans dispossessed as themselves at last were in the Year Fourteen hundred and fifty by John King of Portugal This is a Place considerable and reasonably well built notwithstanding the fatal miseries it three several times underwent both by Fire and Sword first under Habdul-Mumin King of Morocco the second under Mahometh of Granada the third under the Kings of Portugal who the severity of the War passed to encourage others to build beautified it with a strong Castle and Palace A little distant from this lies an inclosed Ground Vinnones called the Vinnones that is Vine-Hill for the great abundance of Vines there growing and indeed that 's all it can boast for the other Grounds are Barren and which is the reason of the extream dearness of all sorts of Grain there ¶ THe Inland Places are these Ezagen Ezagen three Miles from the River Guarga and twenty Miles from Fez having abundance of excellent Springs and Fountains Beni-Teuds Beni Teude or Bani Teud supposed the Baba of Ptolomy or Julia Campestris of Pliny in a pleasant Plain on the same River fifteen Miles from Fez containing heretofore Eight thousand Buildings but now lieth Waste So also Mergo Mergo by Marmol called Amergo by others Tokoloside five Miles from Beni Teude the Ruines of its Walls still shew some Latine Inscriptions though much obliterated Tansor Tansor by Marmol called Tansert and by the Arabians Tehart and Triside two Miles from Amergo between Fez and Mount Gomere Agle Agle or Aguile a Walled City close to the River Guarga or Erguile formerly spoiled by the English but at present recovered and reasonably well peopled Narangia Narangia three Miles from Ezagen on the River Lukkus At the Mouth of which three Miles from the Sea and fifteen from Fez appears the Island Gezire by the Spaniards called Gratiosa and perhaps is the Cerna mentioned by Ptolomy Close by Narangia The Ruines of Bezat but more into the Land may be seen the Ruines of Bezat by some called Lixa and by others Besara or Besra It stood in a Plain between two Mountains three and thirty Miles from Fez and seven from Casar el Kabir boasting of the number of two and twenty thousand Buildings Homam also heretofore a flourishing Pile of Buildings Homam but now a ruinous Heap Tettigin or Tetuan by the Inhabitants call'd Tetuain about seven miles from Ceute and eleven from the Atlantick Ocean The Name signifies An Eye gotten from a crooked Countess who rul'd over this place The banish'd Moors of Granada did it much mischief but it hath recover'd its pristine Beauty having within strong Walls and a deep and broad Trench eight hundred well built Houses ¶ THis Dominion hath eight eminent Mountains viz. Rahone The Mountaint of Habat Benefensecare Beni Aroz Chebib Angera Quadres Beniguedarfeth Rahone or Arahone riseth close by Ezagen extending in Length ten miles and in Breadth four Beni Aroz by Marmol stil'd Beni Maras close to Kasar Elkabir seven miles long and onely three broad Chebib or Beni Telit eight miles from Tangier noted for six or seven small wall'd Villages there standing Beni Hassen a very high Mountain Angera about eight miles South of Little Kasar is three miles long and one mile broad Quadres otherwise Huat Idris and Vateres borders on Beni Aroz lying between Ceute and Tituan And lastly Beniguedarfeth adjoyning to Teteuain ¶ THis Province is well water'd and exceeding fertile The Condition of Habat especially from Ezaggen to the River Guarga being ten miles wherein lye nothing but Gardens Then from Beniteude to the Mountain Gumere containing forty miles as also round about Homam are abundance of Corn-Fields and Pastures well stockt with Cattel Rabone yields plenty of Grapes out of which they press both White and Red Wine Homar and Angere afford Flax. Benefensecare great quantity of excellent Honey Tansor feeds great Cattel sufficient to supply their Neighbors Lions also breed there but so faint-hearted that upon the noise of Women or Children they flye So that they have a Proverb in this Countrey concerning Cowards That they give their Tails to the Cows to eat ¶ THe People of Mergo have a high Conceit of themselves The Manners or Customs of the Inhabitants as being of a frank and generous Nature but are indeed covetous rude and ignorant so are those of Tansor Those of Bafra were formerly very courteous and simple or sincere but with the Change of the State have so alter'd their Manners that now they are quite contrary The Mountaineers are strong of Body very laborious and active but unwillingly submit to any Command being strangers to all Laws and good Order ERRIF ERrif hath on the East the River Nakor The Borders of Errif on the West the Territory of Habat on the North part of the Midland-Sea and on the South the Mountains over against the River Guarga in the Province of Fez Extending in Length from East to West fourteen and in Breadth from North to South eight miles
Tebekrit viz. Tebekrit and Ned-Roma Tebekrit formerly called Thudaka now fam'd for little but its vicinity to the Mediterranean Sea Ned-Roma Ned-Roma that is New-Rome scituate upon a Plain three miles from the same Sea and one and a half from Atlas and the same which Ptolomy called Celama The Walls Houses Ruines and huge Alabaster Columns with Latin Insciptions testifie it to have been a Roman Structure not far from whence are the two great Hills Tarasa and Galhasu out of whose sides is digged Iron All the Land as well Mountains as Plains abound with Figs Apples Karrabes or St. Johns-Bread Citrons Granates Peaches Olives Melons Cotton and Flax. And some few places yield Wheat Barley and other Grain HARESGOL HAresgol another Maritime Territory so called from the City of the same Name where the Governour keeps his Residence by Marmols computation standing Eastward of Humanbar Westward of Horan about four miles from Tremezen at the influx of the River Teffene anciently called Siga into the Mediterrane on the East side towards the Sea guarded by a Castle This City in the Year Fifteen hundred and seventy by Don Pedro of Navarre was Sacked and Plundered but left by him the Arabians re-entred and possess it to this day under the Protection of the Turks who maintain a Garrison in the Fort. THE MARQUISATE OF HORAN HOran lying also by the Sea Butts on the West upon Haresgol Its Borders and to the East on Tenez and Sargel The City of Oran call'd by the Inhabitants Guharan and by some held to be the Quiza of Pliny or Buisa or Visa of Ptolomy which others contradicting say it was that which he nam'd Icosium It hath been known to former Ages by many several Names as Madura Ara and Auran whence some derive the present Oran It is the Head City of this small Tract seated at the edge of the Midland-Sea oppofite to Cartagena in Spain thirty five miles from Telensin It stands partly on the hanging of a Hill partly in a Plain having the Sea on one side and on the other Trees Brooks and Fountains The Streets are narrow crooked and without order the Houses also mean and scattering yet surrounded with indifferent handsom and high Walls but the Haven very incommodious especially as to some Winds In the most flourishing time the Inhabitants reckoned six thousand Houses besides Temples Hospitals Baths and Inns. Most of the Citizens were Weavers others lived of their yearly Revenues which they raised from their Sale of Barley the adjacent Countrey yielding little Rye or Wheat Many Merchants arrived hither from Catalonia Genoa Venice and other Places who drove a great Trade with the Citizens whose deportment towards them was very courteous and friendly They held Wars a long time with the King of Telensin who would have imposed on them a Governour which they would never admit but among themselves chose a Magistrate whom they impowered to decide all differences arising and was the Judge in all criminal Causes either as to Life or Death By this means and their unity among themselves they became at length so powerful that at their own Cost they maintained a Fleet with which they Pillaged upon all the Coasts of Spain and became as it were a Prison of Captive Christians This so provoked the Spaniard that he sent an Army thither under the Command and Conduct of the Cardinal of Spain Francis Ximenes which with the help of the Biscayners in the Year Five hundred and nine the Eighth day of May with the Loss onely of thirty men and the Redemption of twenty thousand Christian Slaves took it and much defaced its former Lustre yet still there is a stately Palace the Residence of the Kings Lieutenant a Council-House Exchange great Church and several rich Hospitals Here are two other little Cities call'd by Gramay Aghard and Agbal besides Mazagran and Mastagan both possessed by the Turks together with the Mountain Magarava Mazagran hath a Haven the same as Marmol thinks which Ptolomy named the Haven of the Gothes and is environed with high Walls and both strengthened and beautified with a great Castle Mostagan by Sanutus and others call'd Mestugam by some taken for Cartena but by others for the Trada of Ptolomy by the Sea side nine miles Eastward of Horan and one small mile from Mazagran It contains fifteen hundred Houses a fair Church a convenient Haven and on the South side a strong Castle Mount Magarava extending Nine Miles in length upon the Sea-Coast parteth Tremecen and Tenez one from another takes its Name from the Magaravaes a People so called that Inhabit there at whose feet stand both the former Towns About Mostagan the Land is very Rich and Fruitful but lieth waste and uninhabited by the continual Thieveries of the Arabs and Magarava breeds many Cattel and yields good store of Wheat The Mazagrans are untoward Their Employment and ill-conditioned being for the most part Shepherds but the Magaravaes are Warlike and of a haughty Courage not living in Houses but like the wild Arabians removing from place to place with their Cattel Their Language broken Arabick and their Lives spent without any certain order onely for convenience sake they pay to Algier an Annual Tribute of Twelve thousand Escues or French Crowns A Mile Westward of Horan by the side of a little Bay stands Marzalquibir thought to be the place which Ptolomy calleth The Great Haven and placed in Mauritania Caesariensis nor is the Opinion without great shew of Reason for that Marzalquibir Marzalquibir as Marmol says signifies in the Moorish Tongue A Great Haven and indeed it is of so vast an Extent that many think the whole World cannot shew a greater nor is the Magnitude all for it is a secure and safe Port for Shipping against all Winds and Storms This with all its advantages in the Year Fifteen hundred and five was by the Marquess de Comarez taken from the Moors and annexed to Spain under which it long hath and still doth continue SARGEL SArgel another Tributary Jurisdiction of Algier formerly a Member of Tenez so named from its chief City Sargel which some suppose to be the ancient Canuccis and others Cartena but generally in many Mapps Entituled Sargel The Romans erected it by the Mediterranean Sea Nine Miles to the East of Tenez and surrounded it with an high Wall of Hewen Stone The chiefest Monuments are the remaining Ruines of a Magnificent Temple built all of Marble or Alabaster a stupendious Work and worthy the Roman Grandeur brought to that Ruine by Cayne the Califf of Cairavan when he took the City from the Arabians and destroyed it from which time it lay desolate untill the Year Fourteen hundred and ninety two when the Moors banished out of Granada pitching there began to People and Re-build it De STADT ALGIER ¶ TWo miles Eastward of Sargel appears a Mountain The Mountain of Karapula which the Turks call Carapula the Moors Giraflumar and the Christians
though a man of great Valour and Conduct yet sent a Galley with Letters to the Grand Seignior desiring his Assistance and Protection against the Christians very readily did the Turk consent to his Request sending thither two thousand Native Turks Thus fell this City and Kingdom to the Grand Seignior to whom it is yet subject Govern'd by a Vice-Roy who is entituled a Bassa to whom the Christians give the Stile of Highness ¶ THeir Marabouts carry so high a reputation among them that whatever they say is look'd upon as an Oracle and their Commands obey'd even to the hazzard of life They cut not the Hair of their Heads or Beards their Habit a long Coat to their Heels over which a short Cloak reaching but to the middle of their Back as in the foregoing PRINT doth more plainly appear Their Religion and Worship is the same with other Mahumetans or at least very little differing each having an equal Reverence for the Alcorna and using both the same Times and Method of Devotion BUGIE BUgie formerly a Kingdom by the Moors call'd Bigeya or Bugeya The Borders from the chief City belonging to the Dominion lying towards the Sea borders on the West with Algier on the East with Gigel or Gigery before the Bounds were alter'd by the Turks this Countrey was the most Easterly Part according to Davity of the Caesarian Mauritania bordering then on the West as we said with Algier on the East with the City of Tenez and Africa the Less having the Midland-Sea and the City Collo on the North and on the South Biledulgerid and Numidia This Countrey stretching almost Fifty Dutch Miles towards the South over the Mountains to the Wilderness of Numidia contained formerly according to Marmol Bugie their chief City from whence the whole Territory is so nam'd with the Garrison and Village of Gogere Micila Migana Tezteza Lamora Nekauz the Mountains of Benijubar Auraz and Abez but Gramay reckons thus Gigeri Mesile or Misile Stefe or Distefe Nekaus Kollo and Sukayda But now Gigeri is a peculiar of it self and Sukayda and Rollo are incorporated to Constantine So that at this day Bugie contains onely Micili Distefe and Nekaus with the Mountains of Bugie The City Bugie by the Arabians and Moors says Marmol call'd Bigeya The City Bugie or Bugeya and held by some to be the antient Metropolis Thabraka by others taken for Igilgilis or Vrikerh and by Ptolomy for Salde lieth near the Mediterrane on the side of a great Mountain about seventeen miles East from Algier and the like Westward from Gigery The Romans they say first Founded this City being invested with high strong and antient Walls in Fifteen hundred and twenty well Peopled boasting of Eight thousand fair Houses It hath also a commodious large Bay or Road antiently call'd The Numidian Sea The Streets are handsome and well-order'd but being upon a continual ascent or descent they are wearisom to those whose occasions call them to walk much therein Here are several Mosques many Colledges and also Cloysters publick Inns and Houses of common Reception for Strangers built after their own manner They have a fair and spacious Market-place near which on a rising Hill stands a strong Fortress invironed with thick and high Walls curiously adorned within with several seeming Characteral Mouldings upon Plaisters and Carved in Wood besides exquisite Paintings according to their manner which as they say cost more than the whole Fabrick Eastward of this the River Hued-el-Quibir that is the great River falleth into the Sea Micile or Mesile lies within thirty miles of the Border of Numidia surrounded with the Mountain La Abez Stefe or according to Gramay Distefe or rather Distese or more rightly as Marmol calls it Tezteze supposed to be that which Ptolomy call'd Apfar being fifteen miles to the In-land Southerly of Bugie scituated upon a delightful Plain near Mount La Abez formerly destroy'd by the Arabians but soon after re-inhabited by Three hundred Families Nekaus Nekaus formerly call'd Vaga one of the delightfullest Cities of Barbary stands on a River side seventeen miles from the Sea and twelve from Testese on the Borders of Numidia It hath strong Walls and boasted formerly of stately Baths Houses of Entertainment wherein Strangers and Foreigners were Lodged and well accommodated besides many Palaces and Churches Every House though but a Story high had a Garden Planted with Vines Damask Roses Myrrhe and Jasmine Bugie lieth almost quite hemm'd in with the Mountains of Zarara but the most remarkable they call Bene-quibar being five miles from the City Bugie six miles long and three miles broad This Ridge of Mountains taken together reach along the Sea-Coast thirty miles and are in some places six or seven miles broad ¶ THe Land about Bugie is barren and unfit for Tillage yet it brings forth excellent Garden-Fruit Near the City Nekaus are large Plains abounding with Corn and on the River stand an incredible number of Hazel and Fig-Trees accounted the best of that Countrey ¶ THe Mountains afford little Wheat but abundance of Barley besides Nuts and Figs Flax and Hemp whereof much but course Linnen is made Iron-Mines also and good Wood The Inhabitants also keep a great number of Horses Oxen and Goats ¶ THe Women of Nekaus are handsome body'd The Constitutions and Customs of the Inhabitants and fair with black and shining Hair which makes them take a pride to frequent the Baths The Inhabitants of Micile are Clownish and exceeding Rustical sturdy and revengeful so also the Mountaineers Some of them are kind in their Conversation and very much inclin'd to Pastime and more than any use Musical Instruments Those of Nekaus have a good Mien and comely Deportment milde sure Friends and always neat in their Apparel And though every Mountain is possest with a several Family yet their Customs and manner of life are all one Those of Bugie and Nekaus have their Colledges where their Youth are instructed in the Mahumetan Laws and Philosophical Studies the Students Cloathes and Diet born at the Cities Charge The Inhabitants of Micile are all Artificers and Husbandmen The Inhabitants of the Mountains mark themselves according to an Antient Custom with a black Cross on their Cheeks and on the Palms of their Hands which first they us'd when they were subdu'd by the Turks who then requir'd no Tribute of the Christians Whereupon many of them took up the Badge of Christians so escaping the Tax that was laid on other Perswasions which though now useless they continue as a fashion neither knowing the Cause nor Original The Riches of the Inhabitants consisteth in their Cattel Their Riches Corn Plants Linnen and Hempen Cloth The Mountaineers use for their Coyn small Gads of Iron of half a pound weight yet they Coyn also small Pieces of Silver ¶ IN the Declension of the Roman Empire the Goths expell'd their Legions Their Government and made themselves Masters of Bugie and there settled the
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
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
Constantine thither containing but few Habitations yet ha's preserv'd her Walls firm and undefaced Hain Sammin built by the Kings of Tunis Hain Sammin about seven miles from Beggie Kasba or Kasbat a Roman Structure seated in the middle of a delightful Plain whose Walls are made of great hewen Stone yet stand whole and undefaced but void of Inhabitants by reason of the continual Invasive Rapines of the Arabs ¶ THe Soyl both about Urbs and Beggie fruitful The Conditino of the Kasba yieldeth Corn in great abundance The Arabs notwithstanding the best defence of the Inhabitants are half sharers of it without any recompence so that oftentimes a great part of the Countrey is never cultivated they rather chusing to run the risque of seeking Provision than to sweat and toyl to support the Villanies of such who study nothing more than their mischief Little more can be said of Hain Sammin and Kasba onely their fertility is accompanied with a most healthful serenity and sweetness of the Air excellent Springs of fresh Water and abundance of well-grown Cattel ¶ THe Inhabitants of Urbs have little Civility Their Manners being for the most part Labouring Hinds Those of Beggie have a great insight into Arts Sciences and Mathematick Trades living decently but they of Kasba are lazy and voluptuous chusing rather to die of Hunger than to take pains to Till their Ground SUSA Or SOUSA THis Province containeth the Cities of Sousa Hamameth or Mahometta Heraclia and Monaster Sousa Sousa or rather Susa stands about five and twenty miles on the East of Tunis formerly a great City but now inconsiderable though the chief City of this little Dominion by some taken for the Adrumetum of Ptolomy and by Marmol and others for the City Siagoll which is the more probable It was built by the Romans near the Mildland-Sea on a high Rock before the Cape of Bon or Point of Mercury that shoots out towards the Island of Sicily It may be divided into an upper and a lower City and hath Walls of hewen Stone neat Houses and many Mosques but one excelling all the rest This is the place against which Prince Philibert of Savoy in the Year Fifteen hundred and nineteen had a Design to get from the Turks but they getting some intelligence thereof prevented him with a great Slaughter of his People among which many Knights of Malta and forc'd him to a dishonorable Retreat In the Haven thereof the Pyrate Ships of Tunis generally lye as being convenient for them Hammameth Hammameth or Mahometa or rather Mahometa a Modern City built by the Turks near the Mediterranean by some taken for Ptolomy's Makadama as if raised out of its Ruines Heraclia is a small City upon a Hill Heraclia built by the Romans and destroy'd by the Arabians Monaster Monaster or Monester once a Roman Colony but since got the Name from a Cloyster of Augustine Monks built close by but now included within the Walls which are high and strong as the Houses are neat and commodious Neighbouring hereunto are the Islands Cumiliers The Islands of Kamiliers Querquene Gamelere as also Querquene and Gamelere distant two miles from the main Land Sanutus thinks that in former Ages these were all that one Island which Ptolomy call'd Cercine being so near to the main Land that they could go from the one to the other over a Bridge But Pliny contradicts this Cercine averring Cercine to be thirteen miles in length and three in breadth ¶ THe Soyl of Susa is properly fit for nothing but Barley The Soil yet they have Figs Olives Pears and Pomegranates besides abundance of excellent Grass wherein they feed great Herds of Cattel ¶ THe Inhabitants of Susa are active and industrious The Manners of the Inhabitants behaving themselves towards strangers with great humanity and inclining to Merchandising but such as love to be within the smoke of their own Chimneys are either Weavers Potters or Herdsmen Those of Hamameth are Fishermen Carriers Cole-burners Whitsters living poorly upon Barley Bread and Barley Meal mingled with Oyl and as meanly Habited But the Sussans are in a better condition driving a great Trade both into the Levant and Turky The Governor with a strong Life-guard of Janizaries keeps his Seat in this City from which alone he receives Annually twelve thousand Ducats besides the Tribute of the rest of the Cities and Countrey THE PROVINCE and CITY OF AFRICA Or MAHADIE THis City which the Europeans without distinction call Africa The Name some think was the Aphrodisium of Ptolomy but the Inhabitants Marmol says call it Mahadia or Mehedia Leo Africanus El Mahadia and bestowing on it strong Walls and Gates with a commodious Haven ¶ IT stands scituate on the Sea-Coast or rather encompassed with the Sea The Scituation except where joyned to the Continent by a Neck of Land two hundred Paces in length and that fortifi'd with a double Wall and a great and deep Trench and many Defensive Towers This Strait passed the City grows broader and receives the Sea on both sides afterwards Eastward it becometh narrower and at length runs to a Point so that the whole Place represents the shape of a Tongue And although on the Sea-Coast it 's not defended with such strong Walls as on the Land side yet is it secure enough from any Attempts to be made on it by Ships because of the many Shelves and Sands lying as Out-works before it The Gate of the City on the Land-side is exceedingly strong being fortifi'd with Turrets and Pallisado's but chiefly with several intricated and winding Arched Passages with Doors plated with Iron Plates which past they come to a narrow Vault or Cave seventy Foot long and so dark that it is terrible to Strangers seeming rather a Murdering Den than an Entrance into a City The Haven is very capacious and strongly Walled in whereinto the Entrance or Mouth is so narrow that a Galley Rowing can scarce come in but being once within there is room enough for fifty Galleys to ride with freedom and conveniency This City continued many years subject to the King of Tunis from whom wrested partly through Force and partly through Treachery by Assan Gerbin a Relation by Blood to Barbarossa who was again Outed from the possession thereof by Dorgut or Dragut a Turkish Corsaire and Bassa of Tripoli with the help of some Citizens in the Year fifteen hundred forty five ever since which time it has continued under the Jurisdiction of the Turk KAYRAOAN or KAYRAVAN THis Province contains onely the Cities of Kayravan Tobute and Astachus Kayraoan or Karure The City Kayravan or Karoen lieth seven or eight miles from the Mediterrane twenty from Tunis and eleven from Carthage Its first Builder was Hukba or Okkuba Ben Nasik an Arabian Commander sent out of Arabia Deserta by Hutman the third Mahumetan Kaliff into Barbary and Biledulgerid to pillage the Countrey during which time of his
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
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
Matgara beyond the foremention'd High-way There are many handsome Forts on the River Fez the chiefest they call Helet the Residence of the Governor who hath inhaunced the Customs of the Merchandise yearly to thirty thousand Ducats Retell or Arratama THe Dominion of Retell borders on Matgara and reaches Southward along the River Fez thirty miles distance from the River-Countrey of Sugulmesse on the East confin'd with an inhabited Mountain and in the West on a Sandy Plain which the Arabians make their Rendezvouz when they come out of the Desart There are many fortifi'd Places or Sconces Retell hath abundance of Dates yet covetous and narrow-hearted Inhabitants who by the Arabians under whom they submit are handled like Slaves Essuoihila Humeledegi and Ummel-hesen NOt far from the Territory of Sugulmesse are three small Forts or Holds Essuoihila the one is call'd Essuoihila or Zuaihilla a small place about three miles from the Jurisdiction of Sugulmesse to the South in a Desart close by which glides the River Ziz from thence going on to the Lybian Wildernesses The second Fort Humeledegi lieth about five miles from Sugulmesse Humeledegi also in the Desart The third Ummel-hesen is a place of small convenience Vmmel-hesen built by the Arabians upon a very barren Spot just in the way which leads from Dara to Sugulmesse The Walls seem to be all of Touch the Stones are so black But round about the first Castle are found neither Gardens nor Orchards nor any Ground that bears Fruit and nothing in prospect but Sand and black Stones The Fields about Humeledegi produce in great abundance a Fruit which at first sight seem to be Peaches Tebelbelt THe Countrey of Tebelbelt or Tabelbelt Tebelbelt lieth in the midst of a Desart about the Mountain Atlas and five and twenty from Sugulmesse to the South This Countrey hath also three populous Towns and twelve Villages The chief City lieth in three and twenty Degrees and ten Minutes Longitude and twenty Degrees and thirty Minutes Northern Latitude There are many Dates Their Food but they want Water and have few Cattel for the Inhabitants supply their Tables with Ostriches and store of Red-Deer They drive a poor Trade of Merchandise in Negro-Land and pay Contribution to the Arabians Todga THe small Territory of Todga takes its Denomination from the River Todga Todga which confines it about ten Miles Westward of Sugulmesse It hath four Towns and ten Villages This Countrey abounds in Dates Peaches Figs and Grapes likewise all sorts of Grain Most of the Inhabitants are Husbandmen and Tanners Farkala THe Countrey Farkala or Ferkala Farkala a small River also conterminates about five and twenty miles from the Mountain Atlas to the South and five and twenty Miles from Sugulmesse Here are three small Towns and four Villages This Countrey affords Dates and other Fruits but little Grain and that bad The Inhabitants are poor and under subjection of the Arabians Tezerin TEzerin Tezerin which signifies in the African Tongue Cities yet shews no more than six small Towns and fifteen Villages and scarce seen two others long since demolish'd This borders on a River fifteen Miles from Atlas and eight from Farkala There is great plenty of Dates Beni-gumi THe Countrey of Beni-gumi ãâã skirted with the River Ghir about thirty miles to the South from Sugulmesse contains eight strong Towns and fifteen Villages This Countrey also yields many Dates but hath poor Inhabitants who for Wages undertake mean Service at Fez With the Money they so earn they buy Horses and put them off to the Merchants which travel to negro-Negro-Land The Cities Mazalig and Abuhinam ON the Banks of the River Ghir thirteen Miles from Sugulmesse stand in a wilderness two small Cities call'd Mazaligh and Abuhinam Mazaligh in the Longitude of three and twenty Degrees and ten Minutes and in the Latitude of thirty Degrees and twenty Minutes The Tract of Land thereabouts produces no sort of Grain and nothing but a few Dates The Inhabitants are under the Jurisdiction of the Arabians Kasayr THere is also a small City found call'd Kasayr Kasayr which Sanutus bringeth with the foregoing under Sugulmesse and stands in a Wilde five miles from Atlas It s Tract of Land hath store of Mines of Lead and Tinn by which Mettal the Inhabitants carrying great store of it to sell at Fez maintain themselves Beni-Besseri THe Countrey of Beni-Besseri lieth at the Foot of Mount Atlas Beni-Besseri and hath three fortifi'd Places and some Villages They have store of all sorts of Fruits except Dates they have an Iron-Mine wherein the Inhabitants old and young do labour The Inhabitants are under the Lord of Dubu and the Arabians Guachde THe Countrey of Guachde lieth one and twenty Miles Guachde or thereabouts from Sugulmesse in the West and containeth three fair Cities near the River Ghir and many Villages It abounds in Dates but there is little Corn. The Inhabitants traffick in the Negroes Countrey and are Tributary to the Arabians Fighie THe Countrey of Fighie hath three strong Villages or Towns Fighie standing in the midst of a Desart thirty miles Eastwards from Sugulmesse Dates grow here in exceeding plenty The People are Ingenious The Disposition of the Inhabitants some Trading to negro-Negro-Land others Commencing at the Schools in Fez. The Women make Woollen and Linnen-Cloth as Gramay affirms as fine as Silk or Lawn which they sell at Fez and Telensin and other places of Barbary at great Rates Tesebit or Tesevin TEbesit lieth in a Desart Tesebit sixty three Miles on the East from Sugulmesse and twenty five from Atlas comprising four Towns and eight Villages which lie upon the Borders of Lybia on the way which leadeth from Fez and Telensin to the Kingdom of Agadez Here groweth nothing but Dates and some Barley The Men are most of them Blacks and the Women are well featur'd and comely but brown They are a poor People Tegorarin TEgorarin Tegorarin or Taguriri a great and spacious Countrey lieth amidst the Numidian Desarts about thirty Miles from Tesebit to the East containing three and fifty Fortresses and above an hundred Villages The chiefest Seat lieth in eight and twenty Degrees Longitude and in thirty Degrees Northern Latitude This Countrey also abounds exceedingly in the Production of Dates The Soyl is barren and store of Corn-Ground which they water as we do our Gardens by reason of the Drought and though a barren Soyl yet are much improv'd by Husbandry and Manuring by which account Strangers which come with store of Horses and Camels pay nothing for their Lodging but onely their Dung which they leave there laying of it up with as great care as if a treasure Nay they take it very ill if any of their Guests happen to ease themselves without doors By the scarcity of Cattel Flesh is very dear there for the Ground is so dry that scarce any Grass will grow
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-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
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-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
the Rivers Maguibba or Rio Nova Mava Plizoge and Monoch in Portuguese call'd Rio Aguado In five Degrees and three and forty Minutes of Northern Latitude lies Kaboc Monte twelve miles Eastward whereof rises a high Mountain call'd Cape Mesurado adjoyning to which is the River Saint Paulo and ten miles from it Rio Junk or Siunk and Saint Johns River empty their Waters into the Sea six miles East from this River stands the Village call'd Tabe-Kanee Petit-Dispo and Diepe by the Blacks nam'd Tabo Dagroh Six miles from Little Diepe the River Sestus falls into the Sea And here begins the Grain-Coast being a Tract of forty miles in Length on the Easterly Part of which lieth Little Sestus and five miles farther Cabo Baixos and then Zanwiin a small Village distant thence three miles passing on toward the East you come to Bofou or Bofoe and so to Setter and Bottowa Cape Swine appears next in order with a Village of the same name and then at little distances you come to Crow Wappen or Wabbo Drowyn Great Setter Gojaurn Garway Greyway or Grouway and lastly Cabo de Palmas or Palm Cape Here at the Village of Grouway begins Tooth-Coast so call'd from the abundance of Elephants Teeth there to be had beginning two miles Eastward of Cape Palm and ending at Cape de la Hou making a Tract of fifty miles within which are not many inhabited Towns for the first is four and twenty miles from Cape Palm and call'd Tabo the next Petiero a mile farther and close by the Sea then Taho five miles from thence and at the like distance from that Berly in four Degrees and a half of Latitude close by which St. Andrews River enters the Sea where it makes a great imbowed Reach to the South-East towards red-Red-Land so call'd from its red Cliffs Beyond the Red Cliffs appears Cape'de la Hou the utmost limit of Tooth-Coast from whence Quaqua-Coast commences and extends to the Village Assine the first place of Gold-Coast a mile and a half upward in a barren place void of all shelter or Trees stands a little Township call'd Koutrou or Katrou and not far from thence Jakke La-Hou within five miles of which Jak in Jakko from whence you go directly to a place adjoyning to the Sea and commonly intituled The Pit or Bottomless Lake About sixteen miles Eastward of La-Hou lieth a place call'd Kerbe La-Hou in the Bants-Coast before which place the Sea is very deep for a Stones-throw from the Shore they have forty or fifty Fathom Water Eight and twenty or thirty miles from Cape La-Hou lieth Assine where the Guinee Gold-Coast begins being twelve miles Eastward of Kerbe La-Hou and ends at the plentiful Golden Village Akera making in all a Tract of fifty miles The Kingdoms upon the Sea-Coast are Atzin Little Inkassan Anten Guaffo Fetu Sabou Fantin Aghwana Akara Labbede and Ningo In Atzin are three Villages one of which is call'd Akombene but the chiefest is Atzin Little Inkassan contains no place worthy remark save Cabo-Das-Tres-Puntas Anten reckons within it self these following Villages Bothrom Poyera Pando Takorary or Anten Maque Jaque Sakonde and Sama. Three miles from Takorary Guaffo shews it self first then Aitako or Little Commendo two miles Eastward of Sama afterwards Ampea Kotabry Aborby and Terra Pekine In Fetu on the Shore there lieth a little Hamlet which the Natives call Igwa but the Merchant corruptly Cabo Cors from its near neighborhood to Cabo Curso On the Borders of this Kingdom of Fetu stands the famous Castle of Saint George or Del Myne built by the Portuguese on whose West-side lieth Dana or Dang where the Salt River Bensa entreth the Sea as the Sweet River Utri doth half a mile more to the East In Sabou you first discover the Township of Moure and by it the Castle of Nassau built by the Hollanders Fantin shews it self Cormantine Ville two miles Eastward of Moure then Anemalo and a Cannon-shot Westwards thereof Adja In Agwana are these places of name viz. Craggy Point Soldiers Bay The Devils Mountain New Biamba Old Biamba Great Berku Jaka the principal Sea-Town Corks-brood and Little Berku all which Places have strong Rocks before their Havens In Akara on the Sea-Coast stand Soko Orsaky and Little Akara being fifteen miles Eastward of Cormantine and the last place of the Gold-Coast Two miles Eastward of Akara in the Kingdom of Lebbade stands a Town of the same Name Lastly in Ningo are four chief Ports viz. Ningo four miles from Akara and two miles from Lebbede Temina a mile from Ningo Sinko the like from Temina and Pissy all naturally fortifi'd with high Cliffs Seven miles East of Akara on the Shore Sinko comes in view from whence Journeying on still to the East you arrive at a Village where the River Rio Volta runs into the Sea between these lieth Fishers Town and not far distant Cabo Montego in a low-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
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 Sanutuâ 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
Cross Haven which the Portuguese possess The Countrey by means of the clear and serene Air is very healthful and pleasant to live in The King always appears in great State and when he goeth abroad The King's State is attended with a strong and numerous Guard of Bowe-men He keeps also fifty great and fierce Dogs which he arms as it were in tann'd Skins of Sea-Cows that are so hard and strong they can scarcely be cut each Dog in the day time hath a Keeper but in the night they are let loose for there is no other Watch in this City but these Dogs and such is their fierceness no body dares stir in the Streets without the hazard of his life for they will fall upon every one without regard This Dog-Watch was at first set up against the Thieves who in the nights used to break open the Houses and steal the Blacks to sell for Slaves This King gives a Hat to his Governors which is an Ensign of Honour of whom he has under him seven which are not onely his Homagers but his Slaves When the King dies there comes into the Street twelve Men call'd Schiten When the King's Death is proclaimed and by whom cloathed in parti-coloured long Coats made of Feathers with as many Claromen or Pipers before them which sound mournfully yet shrill there they proclaim his Decease whereupon every one with a white Cloth thrown over them comes out of their Houses and do nothing all that day but walk about the Streets in a mournful posture his Friends Relations and Servants in the mean time assemble to chuse a Successor The Funeral Afterwards the Corps is washed and the Intrals burnt before their Idol but the Ashes preserved to be Interr'd with the Body which lies as it were in State for a Moneth at the expiration whereof prepared for Burial the Subjects bring out of all parts of the Kingdom Balsom Myrrhe Ambergreece Musk and other Perfumes to burn and smoke about the Corps which lastly is carried to the Burying-place by six of the most eminent persons cloathed in white Silk Coats followed in the first place with Musick playing mournful Tunes and after them with a great many people on foot some of which cry aloud other sing Funeral Elegies last of all the Princes of the Blood ride on Horseback in white Habit. By the Grave are his Women and Servants which in his Lifetime he most affected together with his Favourites and Horses which are all put to death and buried with the Royal Corps which is done to this end that he may be served by them in the other World as they believe and are taught This slaughter is performed in a terrible manner viz. after the cutting off their Fingers and Toes they break their Bones by stamping all to pieces and when it is beat enough they throw it out in the presence of all the others that are to undergo the same fortune for the avoiding which cruelty many Servants after they have sufficiently provided for themselves either leave the King's Service in his Life and fly away or else they retire and hide themselves in time when they see he is without hope of recovery ¶ THe King's Jurisdiction extends over six Kingdoms Their Power and Dominion besides those wrested from him as we said before and for the better and more orderly management of State-Affairs has a Privy-Council consisting of many Lords of which one who is the second person in the Kingdom is President ¶ THey worship Their Religion as the Cassanga's abundnace of Idols the chief of which they name China which is to say God although a long time since by the Preaching of some Portugal Jesuits they are said to have embraced the Roman Religion The King himself with a great number of Nobles in the Year Sixteen hundred and seven desired of Emanuel Alvarez a Jesuit to be Baptized which he upon farther examination finding their unstedfastness deni'd THE KINGDOM OF BIGUBA AT the Nether-Arm of Rio Grande The Kingdom of Biguba above the River Guinala lieth the Kingdom of Biguba The chiefest place thereof is the Haven of Biguba and a little higher the Haven of Balola inhabited by the Tangos-Maas but the Village of the Haven Biguba the Portugals possess The Beafers lead the same manner of life as the People of Guinala The Tangos-Maas are extracted out of the Portugal Blood but have united themselves with the Blacks and live now no less barbarously than they as if they had never heard of Christianity in some places going all naked and Carving their Skins after the manner of the Countrey ¶ THey live under a Monarch as those of Guinala after whose death the most powerful of the Family obtain the Crown but not without great contest so that in the interim they are all in Arms committing all kinds of extravagant outrages till by Conquest reduced under the obedience of him that lays the strongest claim They are like the Beafers Idolaters although some are already by the Jesuits brought to the Christian Faith THE KINGDOM OF MANDINGA ON both sides of the River Gambea live a sort of Blacks The Kingdom of Mandinga which have enlarged their Seat above a hundred and twenty miles up into the Countrey so that they command a Tract of Land that spreads it self in breadth from nine to eleven Degrees North Latitude which the Spaniards call Mandimenca after the Name of one of their Kings by others Mandinga by Marmol Mani-Inga and by the French and Dutch The Kingdom of Mandinga The chief City is Sango some miles more Easterly than the Cape de Palmas The Countrey is watered with many Rivers all which after long courses through several places at last contribute their streams to replenish and augment those of the more famous River Gambea ¶ THe Inhabitants of Mandinga are reputed the best of all Guinee The Valour of the Inhabitants yet are barbarous of nature deceitful and treacherous to Merchants and Strangers but among themselves and Neighbors thought expert Horsemen so that they go into divers Kingdoms to serve as Troopers not onely being readily entertain'd into Pay but for their Skill in Martial Affairs and tried Valour have the Van of their Armies admitted into the best Commands and allowed large Priviledges to oblige them to stay in their Service ¶ THe Arabian and other Merchants drive a great Trade here for Gold Gold-Trade which they say this Countrey abounds with besides other Commodities which at Tombut the chief City they are admitted freely to barter for ¶ THe King of Mandinga some years since was so puissant The Power of the King that almost all the Kings and People of Upper-Guinee obey'd and paid him Tribute especially the Cassanga's and the other Kingdoms lying at the River Gambea Heretofore he held the Seat of his Empire in the In-land and gave the lower Countreys lying on the West Sea to one Chabos and Faim Braso placing moreover
many other Vice-Roys under him as of Bursalo Jaloffo and Bersetti who commanded the Kingdoms of Boloquo Bintao and Hondigu but now these have taken the Title of Kings and regard this Mandimansa little or nothing every one governing his Countrey with full Power without acknowledging him or any other for their Superior The Mandingians were antiently altogether given up to the Delusions of the Devil worshipping Stocks and Stones and keeping among them many Sorcerers South-sayers and Witches nor have they yet detested those old and wicked Customs but of late years Mahumetanism hath much prevail'd among them brought first thither by the trading Moors and Turks and since increased by the Natives who went to serve in Forreign Wars The chief Bexerin or High-Priest hath his Residence in the chief City of the Kingdom and deeply skill'd in Necromantick Arts wherein he hath instructed the King of Bena who makes great advantage thereof in revenging himself of his Enemies whom he variously torments as his malice or necessity incites him BENA and SOUSOS THe Kingdom of Bena and Sousos The Kingdom of Bena and Sousos deriving its Name from the Inhabitants of its principal Town which is named Sousos stands scituate about nine days Journey from the Way that leads to the Kingom of Torra and Serre-Lions but more Northerly of those and Southerly from Mandinga ¶ THis Countrey is very Hilly and Mountainous The Nature of the Countrey all whose sides are plentifully furnish'd with shady Groves of green-leaved Trees and here and there scattered some Valleys veined with cleer and purling Brooks From the colour of the Earth in the Mountain they conjecture that the Iron Mines inclosed within their bowels are of finer Ore than most in Europe Within the covert of the Woods lurk many Serpents curiously spotted with so many lively colours as are scarce to be found in any other Creatures The King whom the Inhabitants stile King of Serpents keeps commonly one of them in his Arms which he stroaks and fosters as it were a young Child and so highly esteemed that none dare hurt or kill it ¶ WHen any one dies The manner of their Funerals the nearest Relations of the Deceased and next Neighbors have notice of it whereupon they immediately begin to make a howling noise so hideous as to Strangers is terrible afterwards the Friends and Kindred go to accompany the Funeral howling and crying as they pass on which is redoubled by the frightful shreeks of such as go forth to meet and receive them They bring with them Cloth Gold and other things for a Present to the Grave which they divide into three equal parts one for the King the other for the nearest Relations to whose care the Funeral is left but the third part is buried with the Corps for they believe as we said before that the Dead shall find in the other World whatsoever is so laid up at their Interrment ¶ THe Kings and other great Lords are buried in the night very privately and in unknown places The Funerals of the King and other Grandees Jarrik lib. 5. c. 48. in the presence onely of their nearest Kindred Which privacy they use in all probability to prevent the stealing away the Goods and other Wealth which in great quantities they put into the Grave with them especially what ever Gold in their lives they had hoarded And for the more certain concealment they stop the Rivers and guard all ways round about until they have so levell'd the place that not the least mark appears discoverable This is used towards the greatest and most honourable but frequently over the Graves of persons of meaner repute some small Huts are erected sometimes made of Cloth other while of Boughs whither their surviving Friends and Acquaintance at set-times repair to ask pardon for any offences or injuries done them while alive and so continue as long as the Weather permits it to stand ¶ THe Jurisdiction of this King reaches over seven Kingdoms The Kings Authority and yet he is under Konche the Emperor of all the Sousos ¶ THe Inhabitants as all the rest are Idolaters Their Religion and use certain Letters or Characters written by the Brexerins to preserve them from Diseases THE KINGDOM OF SERRE-LIONS OR BOLMBERRE THe Mountain looking into the Sea and known to the English French The Mountain and Kingdom of Serre-Lions and Dutch by the Name of Serre-Lions as also the whole Kingdom first obtained this Title from the Portugals and Spaniards who call'd it Serra Lioa and at last Siera Liona that is The Mountain of the Lioness The cause of which Name is conjectur'd to be drawn from hence Why it is so call'd for that from the hollow of its Concave Rocks whereon the Sea beats when the Winds bluster and the stormy Billows rage proceeds a terrible noise like the furious roarings of a robbed Lioness adding moreover that from the top of this Hill which lieth continually cover'd with Clouds which the violent heat of the Sun-Beams darting perpendicularly upon it twice in the year cannot disperse there is continually heard a rattling of Thunder with frequent flashes of Lightning whose resounding Ecchoes may be distinctly observ'd twenty five miles off at Sea ¶ THe Inhabitants name this Countrey in their own Language Bolmberre The Bigness which signifies Low and good Land and especially hath respect to the low and fruitful Tract of Serre-Lions which taketh beginning at Cape de Virgen and endeth at Cape de Tagrin or Ledo lying in eight Degrees and thirty Minutes North Latitude and is easie to be known at Sea because it is exceedingly higher than the Countrey Northward and runs far into the Sea The Mountain about the Point is high and doubled spreading along the Sea South-East and South and by East but the Countrey Northerly of the Point is low and flat ¶ THis Kingdom containeth above thirty Rivers which all empty themselves into the Great Ocean and most of them having broad streams neighbored with pleasant Valleys and flowing between Groves of Orange-Trees and their Banks on both sides edg'd with fair Towns and Villages to the great delight of Passengers The first River by Cape de Virgen is by the Portuguese call'd Rio das Piedras that is The Stone-River because of the many Stones therein It is a very great River and divides the Countrey with several Arms making many Islands stiled Cagasian or Cagakais where the Portugals have built a strong Fort for the conveniency of their Trade In the next place the Maps of the Countrey have set Rio Pichel Rio Palmas Rio Pogone Rio de Cangranca Rio Casses Rio Carocane Capar and Tambasine which two last take their original from the Mountains of Machamala upon which may be seen a stately Work of Chrystal with several Pyramids of the same Matter Lastly The River Mitombo they describe the River Tagarin otherwise Mitombo but at present by the English Portugals Dutch and other-Traders call'd Rio. de
Lords Government but own for their Superior the King of Quoia whose Predecessors subdued them by Arms by the Assistance of the Folgia's as hereafter we shall more fully declare Fourteen miles from Rio de Galinas to the South-East appears Cabo Monte in five Degrees and three and forty Minutes North Latitude THE KINGDOM OR COUNTREY OF QUOIA THis Kingdom scituate by Cape de Monte containeth especially two Countreys viz. Vey-berkoma and Quoia-Berkoma Vey-berkoma that is the Countrey of Vey Vey-Berkoma the Antient Name of the Inhabitants is that Tract which lieth at Cape de Monte near the River Mavah below which lieth Dauwala wherein the same River Northward of the Cape hath its Exit into the Sea The Antient Inhabitants as we said Vey are by Wars reduc'd to a small number possessing onely a parcel of ruin'd Villages or Towns insomuch that their Name is almost forgotten Another People nam'd Puy-monou Puy-Monou dwelt antiently before the Wars and Conquest of the Countrey by the Karou's in the Island Boebelech and along the Banks of the River Mavah But few of this Posterity are at present to be found being for the most part by Inter-marriages with the Karou's so united as if but one in Name and Nature Quoia-Berkoma begins at the Sea-Coast of the New-River or Rio Novo Quoia-Berkoma by the Inhabitants stil'd Magwibba and extends to Rio Paulo a Boundary between this and the Territory of Gebbe shooting out into the Land above twenty miles This Kingdom boasts great numbers of Towns and Villages most of them pleasantly seated on the Banks of the River Magwibba The first appearing in five Degrees and three and forty Minutes-North Latitude Cape de Monte. by the Inhabitants is call'd Wachkongo and by the Portugals Cabo Monte although the Countrey both on the West and East is low and over-grown with Bushes This Point to Ships sayling out of the West shews its self in the shape of a Helm but coming near it appears long with a gap in the middle Westward of this is the Road where the Ships Ride that put in to trade upon this Coast Half a mile upwards from Magwibba on the left side Jegwonga stands a Village call'd Jegwonga where the King Flamboere settled his Royal Mansion when he first left Tomvy but at present he resides on the Island Massagh in the Lake Plizoge whither he retired to avoid the hazards of the people of Dogo that invaded his Territories On the other side of the River stands the fair Town Fachoo Fachoo signifying I watch the Dead which Flamboere fortifi'd and retir'd to as a place of security upon intelligence that the Land of Folgia would make War upon him though afterwards he found it but a rumor A mile and half farther up Figgia on the same side Figgia discovers its self being formerly the Dwelling of Figgi one of King Flamboere's Brothers A mile beyond that Cammagoereia on the same Shore is seated Cammagoereia and half a mile from thence the handsome Town Jerboeffaia where the Prince of Quoia who commands the Countrey round about keeps his Court opposite to this last King Flamboere about a year since began to lay the Foundations of a new Town From thence going along the Sea-Shore lie dispersed some Salt-Towns where the Inhabitants boyl Salt out of Sea-Water In the Vales of Tomvy water'd by the River Plizoge stands a great Town or Village beset with Trees sprung up out of the Rubbish of its decayed Walls From thence to Cape de Monte lye some forsaken and wasted Villages On a Branch of the River Menoch or Aguado is scituate Faly-hammaia and two miles farther another call'd Flomy-Seggaya The Region of Quoia hath the benefit of four excellent Rivers The Countrey of Quoia is watered by four Rivers the first in the West Magwibba or Rio Novo the second Mavah the third Plizoge the fourth Menoch or Aguado The River Magwibba in Summer bears two miles and a half in breadth The River Magwibba but in Winter is broader and fuller of Water It runs from the Sea up into the Land taking a North-Easterly Course up into the Countrey in the Mouth of it are so many Banks or Shelves as great Bars that make it dangerous to be passed with small Boats although the English Portuguese and French have and still venture over it in their little Skiffs As far as Davarouia it may conveniently be passed with reasonable Vessels being very deep and four hundred foot wide but above that place by the interposition of divers Rocks which cause great Water-falls there is no passing The second call'd Mavah The River Mavah or Maffah on whose Shore formerly the Puy-monou dwelt springs from a Mountain four and twenty miles within the Countrey The Channel is wide and deep making its Exit into the Sea in the broken Land of Dauwala almost a mile Northward of Wach-kongo or Cape de Monte. Between these two Rivers along the Sea-Coast here and there they say stand certain Towns where the Inhabitants make Salt The third Plizoge meets with the Sea a mile Northward of Cabo de Monte. The River Plizoge This is sometime in dry weather very empty of Water but so continues not long being soon fully replenisht Three miles from this River appears a great Lake a mile and a half broad wherein stands the Island Massagh the Courtly Residence of the present King Flamboere on whose South-side flourish many stately Palmito-Trees The fourth Menoch or Rio Aqâado The River Menoch cometh out of the Countrey above the Hondous and six or seven miles Eastward of Cape de Monte poures into the Sea It is a deep and wide River yet unpassable because of several Water-falls Cliffs and Shelves of Sand that choak it It hath on both sides Red-wood Trees Having thus given you the Scituations of Towns and Rivers in this Kingdom we will now proceed to describe the Vegetables or Plants Beasts and then the Customs or Manners of the People but by the way in regard Gala-Vy Hondo Konde Quoias Manou and Folgia lying round about participate of the same qualities with Karou already mention'd or at least with very small difference we will give you a cursory glimpse of these in particular and then carry on our intended method Gala-vy a member of Quoia shews the original source of Mavah Gala-vy near a great Wood of eight or ten days Journey in length It bears the Names of Gala-vy from its Inhabitants sprung at first from Galas but being driven out of their Countrey by the People of Hondo sought new Habitations in those places whence they were neither call'd Vy as those with whom they intermixt nor Galas their old Name but Gala-Vy that is half Galas and half Vy On the Borders of Hondo and Manoe beyond the fore-mention'd great Wood dwell the right Galas who are under the Jurisdiction of the Kingdom of Manoe and have a Prince
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-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
abundance by those of Guaffo Guaffo and sold at a reasonable Price so that several Ships in time of need may furnish themselves very commodiously The Land about Little Commendo boasts exceeding Fertility The Fruitfulness of Commendo especially of Fruit which is not to be had so cheap in any place thereabout so that it may with good reason be term'd The Great Fruit-Market The Inhabitants are very expert Fisher-men Their Employment but prove bad Souldiers therefore in the former generally employ themselves having to that purpose exceeding many Canoos They often go out to Sea with seventy or eighty of these Boats early in the Morning and come home again about Noon laden for which they have so good Vent that several Hamlets maintain themselves by Fishing without any other Manufacture or Trade THE KINGDOM OF FETU THis Kingdom of Fetu bordereth in the West on that of Guaffo in the North on Atty in the East on the Dominion of Sabou and in the South on the Sea The Metropolis of Fetu towards the Sea the Inhabitants call Igwa The Capede Kors but the Portugals Cabo Curso because of a Prominent Point a mile and half from Myna This is certainly the chiefest place of Trade next Myne and Moure being much frequented Yet the Inhabitants maintain themselves by Fishing furnishing from their Stores and Labours all the Neighboring Countreys Adjoyning to this Town the Netherlanders have a Fort The Fort of Cape de Kors strengthen'd with a convenient number of great Guns and mann'd with a strong Garrison of Slaves But in the Year Sixteen hundred sixty four together with the Forts Takorari Adia and Anemabo taken by Captain Holmes for the Royal African Company of English But when Michael de Ruyter with the Dutch Fleet in the Year Sixteen hundred sixty five on the eighth of February had forc'd the English Fort Kormantyn he spar'd neither Diligence nor Cost to regain Cabo Kors then in the English Possession and the rather because John Valkenburg the Dutch Commander in Chief there judg'd it very dangerous that any place in that Countrey should be left in the hands of the English averring that if during the Wars in Europe they were expell'd thence by consequence they might easily be kept out whereas by their holding of this Place they had an opportunity to settle their Jurisdiction in the Countrey again and in spight of their Power defend it against them But seeing the Fetuses sided with the English threatning nothing but Fire and Sword having also possess'd themselves of a place where a hundred men might beat off a thousand it was judg'd not to be undertaken without the greatest danger in the world and therefore at present the Design laid aside The Castle of the Myne or St. George THe Castle of the Myne The Castle of the Myne Gold-Mines lying near generally so call'd because of the adjacent Gold-Mines but by the Portugals St. George to whose Protection they dedicated the same It stands upon the Borders of Fetu near the Sea-shore in a small Nook or Creek of the Salt River Benja two miles from Little Commendo This Castle was judg'd an antient Building It s Antiquity from several marks of Antiquity about it as first by a decay'd Battery which the Dutch repaired some years ago retaining the Name of The French Battery because it seems to have been built by the French who as the Inhabitants say before the coming of the Portugals harbour'd there The Dutch when they won it found the Numerical Figures of the Year Thirteen hundred but were not able to make any thing of the two following Characters In a small place within also may be seen a Writing Carved in Stone between two old Pillars but so impair'd and worn out by the Weather that it is not legible The next is the Magazine which seems first to have been built in the Year Fourteen hundred eighty four in the Reign of John the Second King of Portugal as appears by Figures of the Year upon the Gate standing yet so clear and plain as if made but a few years before It s Form The Building consists of hard Stone in double rows between which the vacancies fill'd with Earth scituate for the most part upon a high Rock against which on one side the Sea beats so that it is difficult to be assaulted on the other side inclosed with four strong Bulwarks two on the Sea-Coast which are the strongest and other two on the Land-side The Walls are but low towards the Sea because the Flankers built about it are very high but to the Landward the Walls are lofty and strong for defence It is in the narrowest part fourteen Rods broad and two and thirty Rods long besides the Out-works reaching from the River to the Banks of the Sea The Dutch took it from the Portuguese in the Year Sixteen hundred thirty seven at which time it had towards the Sea two Batteries each strengthen'd with six good Pieces of Ordnance whereas towards the Land opposite to the Mountain St. Jago where the greatest strength was required they had but one Battery with six Mortar-Pieces and toward the North-East but two small Pieces upon an old Barracado'd Gate Over against the Castle on the West The Mountain St. Jago beyond the River lieth the Mountain St. Jago so call'd from a little Chappel formerly erected there upon which the Dutch made a Redoubt of Earth immediately after the taking it to hinder the approaching and coming up of an Enemy to the Mountain This new Sconce holds four and twenty Rods square and twelve Foot in heighth encompassed with a Stone Wall Beyond Mount St. Jago lieth another of the like heighth from whence onely St. Jago can receive damage the rest lying at greater distance and much lower Over against St. Jago in the place where in the time of the Portugals stood two Lodges is now raised a Battery Planted with great Guns the better to defend the Fort against St. Jago's Hill On this Quarter the Castle was very weak while the Portugals held it being without Breast-works and scarce Fenced with a Mud-Wall onely there stood a Battery with six Mortar-Pieces and two small Pieces upon an old Gate as we mention'd before But on the Sea-quarter they made it strongest and Planted their chiefest and best Guns for they were of opinion that no Cannon could be got up the Mountain St. Jago and therefore took so little care thereof that they had suffer'd the Mountain to be over-grown with Bushes supposing that the Trees alone would be a sufficient hinderance to any Enemy but they found themselves greatly mistaken therein though indeed otherwise this Fort by the strong Walls and great heighth hath sufficient Defence In this Castle rises a fair Fountain of Water Fountains of Water and in the French-Battery another in both which may be kept Provision of Water for two hundred men for six moneths Besides those Fountains there is
a Trench over against the Town Myne by the Inhabitants call'd Dana cut out of the Rocks being enough to contain a thousand Pipes or more whereinto all the waste water falling from the two beforemention'd places and from the Souldiers Courts of Guard gathereth together This Trench without doubt cost the Portugals a very tedious and heavy labour By this water drawn from hence the Inhabitants are furnish'd as also the King of Fetu with his Army when in War supply'd and now accommodates the Dutch with marvellous plenty The conveniencies for Merchandise Provision of Food necessary Ammunition for Wars and other Commodities are in great abundance within this Fort for that the Ships coming out of the Countrey readily unload and go back again there being a Key for Landing or Shipping of all sorts of Commodities at a Water-Gate made for that purpose The Dutch suffer'd great prejudice so long as the Portugal's possess'd this Fort because they endeavour'd by all means to hinder their Trade with the Blacks whereupon they consulted and design'd to get it from them yet always were frustrated in their attempts till the year Sixteen hundred thirty and seven at which time the Castle was in a mean condition by reason of great disagreement among the Portugal's Then the General of Guinea and Angola being acquainted by the Kaboseroe's or Chief people of the Myne that the time was to undertake somewhat about it This Intelligence he communicated by Letter to the Commissioners of the West-India Company who provided nine Ships well Man'd Arm'd and Victual'd which in the Year Sixteen hundred thirty seven the Five and twentieth of July under Collonel Hans Koin went forth from Farnambuck to the African Coast and soon arriv'd there in safety whereof he sent notice to General Yperen who resided in the Town Moure two miles lower by Letter to this effect That he was there by Command of Grave Maurice and the Council furnish'd with Souldiers to undertake the Enterprise He desir'd therefore to know where was a fit place to Land upon the Enemies Quarters and to advise with him in what manner the Enterprise might be prudently accomplish'd That he would endeavour to win the Blacks with all possible Perswasions great Promises and Rewards to assist the Company and withal would watch the English who lay upon the Road and labour to prevent all other Impediments That they must keep all secret that the Enterprise might not be disappointed and in the interim he would be upon the Road before Albine or Assine to expect an Answer While thus Koyn ply'd upon the Coast the Negroes come with eighteen Canoo's to his Fleet and ask for Netherlandish Merchandise to barter for Elephants-Teeth But when 't was answer'd they had no Wares the Blacks began greatly to doubt but the Dutch to assure them friendship according to the custom of the Countrey let some drops of Sea-water fall into their eyes wherewith for the present satisfi'd they departed At length the Fleet appearing before Albine and Assine the Blacks came again with their Canoo's to Trade but our men put them off with delays for three or four days whereupon the Blacks said that these of Fetisson had understood by their Guardian God that seven bigger Ships were at hand at whose coming their Wares would fall in Price Koin who little regarded that and had somewhat else in his mind wrote Letters again almost of the same Contents whereto for answer he receiv'd Orders to remove with his Fleet before Commendo which was speedily perform'd and immediately inquiry made for the fittest place to Land to this purpose they sent out a Scout who returning brought intelligence that there was no Landing between the Myne and Cape de Kors but onely a Musquet-shot from the Myne where the Salt-River at low Water was not knee deep that the Mountain of St. Jago might be easily attempted with small Shot and that the Line was unfit to be long defended That the fresh River which lay about half a mile from the Myne had excellent Water and that the way from Cape de Kors to the Myne was very fit to March on in good order with the Souldiers After much courting at length and opening to them their whole design they gat the Youths of Commendo with Gifts and promises to furnish them with Water and other Provision whereupon on the Four and twentieth of August they went off to Cape de Kors They land at Cape de Kors and there Landed with great Canoo's and on the Twenty fifth day being Tuesday drew in good order to the Myne being about eight hundred Land-Souldiers and Five hundred Mariners drawn up in three Companies Coming about Noon to the fresh River the Souldiers rested and refresh'd themselves some Scouts were sent for discovery who brought intelligence that they discern'd about a thousand Blacks lye at the hanging of a Hill who having discover'd pursu'd them with a great cry upon this were sent out four Musquetteers who venturing too far were lost and their heads by the Blacks according to the manner of the Countrey cut off and carried in triumph But a greater force falling in soon put them to flight and possess'd the Hill whence the other were driven On Wednesday the six and twentieth those of Commendo drew our Mariners to the Town of Myne which they assaulted and took all their Cattel The Commander in Chief bending his whole thoughts to take the Castle caus'd in this interval two Passages to be made by cutting up the Bushes on the Mountain St. Jago the one leading towards the Shore by which to bring the Ammunition for the Souldiers and the other upon the top of the Mountain near the Fort. On Thursday were brought two Pieces of Ordnance with a Mortar-Piece to Mount St. Jago with which they made eight or ten Shot besides as many Granadoes but they fell short whereas by the shooting of the Enemy from the Castle two Centinels were kill'd Then the Negroes of Commendo approached towards the Town of Myne but driven back by the Enemies great Shot The Castle Summon'd quickly retreated Hereupon the Commander sent a Drummer to summon the besieg'd to surrender to which the Governor return'd That it was not in his power to consent without conferring with the Commanders of the Army and the Citizens and requir'd three days time but that was deni'd granting onely to the next day however nothing was then done for the Governor of the Fort the day being spent held the Gates shut and would not admit the Drummer Then the Forces from Mount St. Jago making a fierce Attacque though with little Success and battering with their Cannon a Messenger came forth requiring the Letter sent before by the Drummer but that was deni'd Whereupon after a short Consultation Messengers were sent to treat of an Agreement during which Treaty the Blacks of Commendo were requir'd to lay down Arms and to use no force to the Husbandmen of the Myne The Articles offer'd by the
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
related the Gold-Coast is reckon'd to end Thus much we have thought fit to speak of the Maritime parts of the Gold-Coast want of knowledge not affording farther Discoveries We now go to the In-land Countreys beginning with Igwira lying on the West of the Gold-Coast THE KINGDOM OF IGWIRA THe Kingdom of Igwira borders on the South The Kingdom of Igwira on Atzin and Small Inkassia on the North upon Great Inkassia and on the East on that of Mompa It is reported to yield great quantities of Gold for the Blacks say It is full of Gold that the Gold which comes from Assine and Albine fifteen miles Westward of Cape de tres Puntas is all Igwira's Gold At Little Commendo liv'd for some years two Citizens which had with a small stock of Merchandise so manag'd their affaris that they return'd back very Rich but the Ways are somewhat dangerous by reason of Thieves In this place the Portugals had a Fortification wherein they Traded and brought their Merchandise in Canoos up the River which flows through Igwira but after the Netherlanders began to frequent it the Portuguese soon deserted the place THE KINGDOM OF GREAT-INKASSIA OR INKASSAN GReat-Inkassia or Inkassan hath on the South Igwira in the East Great Inkassia Wassa and Wanquy These People are little esteem'd for Trade There is little Trade but they come sometimes and take their way throw the Kingdom of Adom and bring some small quantity of Gold especially if there be no Shipping before Assine and Albine The DOMINION of INKASSAN-IGGYMA THis Territory hath on the South great Inkassan Inkassan-Iggyma and on the East Wassa and Wanqui Little Commerce have the Whites in matter of Trade with these People The LORDSHIP of TABEU TAbeu a small Tract Tabeu borders on the South at the Kingdom of Anten lying at the Sea on the West and North on that of Adom and on the East on Guaffa where a small River makes a Boundary to both Men Women and Children drive altogether a Trade with Hens Mille and other Wares to Sama where the Hollanders have a Fort formerly all this used to be brought up by the Portuguese and sent to the Myne THE KINGDOM OF ADOM ADom lies Eastward of Tabeu and Guaffo Adom to the North of Wassa on the East North-East of Abramboe The Inhabitants come sometimes and bring Gold on the Shore by Small-Commendo to the Merchants there Dealing but this onely if the ways of Ante be not obstructed by Wars Mompa MOmpa hath on the West Igwira Mompa on the North Great-Inkassia Wassa and Adom and on the East Anten towards the Shore VVassa THe Countrey of Wassa hath for Borders on the North Wanque Wassa in the East Abramboe and Kuiforo on the West Great-Inkassia on the North-West Inkassia-Iggoma Full of Gold It hath the repute to yield great quantity of Gold insomuch that the Inhabitants are always at Work upon it neither caring to Till or Ear their Land that single Commodity bringing from their Neighbours store of Provision Most of these People come with those of Adom to Traffick there for Gold at the Sea-shore with the Whites for European Wares VVanquy WAnquy hath on the West Kassa Iggyma on the South Wassa Wanquy and on the North Bonoe It hath Gold and good Cloth which the Inhabitants who drive a Trade with the Akanists in the Countrey know how to make very Artificially Abramboe THis Territory borders on the West at Adom and Wassa Abrambe in the South at the Kingdom of Guaffa or Commendo lying at the Sea in the North at Kuyforo in the North-East at Akamy in the East at Atti and in the South-East on Fetu It is a very populous Countrey Trade and most of the Inhabitants maintain themselves by Husbandry yet many come also every Week to Moure to the Whites to barter Gold for Cloth and Linnen but especially Iron They are a Warlike People and no great friends of the Akanists because long since in the Wars with them many of them were Slain and most of their Towns Burnt yet they were afterwards united again in a new League of Friendship Kuyforo IT hath for Borders on the West Wassa on the South Abramboe Kuyfora on the North Bonoe and in the East Akany The Land wholly without Wood and the People mean and simple with whom Forreigners have little Commerce Bonoe BOnoe lies encompass'd on the West with Wanquy Bonoe on the South with Kuyforo on the East with Akany and Inta A Place little known and of small Trading Atty THe Territory of Atty is circumscribed in the West by Abramboe Atty on the South by Fetu Sabou and Fantyn and in the North by Dahoe The Inhabitants maintain themselves most by Tillage but us'd before the Wars with those of Sabou to trade with Forreign Merchants which the Akanists have taken from thence Here is held a great Market or Fair extraordinarily crowded with a full concourse of People from far distant places who come thither to Purchase Iron and other Wares bought of the Whites Akanien THis Kingdom Akanien whose Inhabitants are known to Traders by the name of Akanists hath for Boundaries in the West Kuyforo and Bonoe in the South Dahoe Atty and Abramboe on the North Inta and in the East Akim or Great-Akamy The Akanists are a plain-dealing people The Custom and Nature of the Inhabitants just and honest in point of Trade and to defend their Priviledges stout in the Wars knowing well how to use both Shields Azagians and Swords Their Language holds great affinity with that of Fetu Language Atty Sabou Commendo Abramboe and Attyn but more pleasant and consequently more acceptable Such as Trade on the Sea-shore besides their own usually speak Portugals They are Rich in Gold They are rich and great Traders and Slaves and so great Traders that two Thirds of the Gold which the Whites fetch yearly from the Gold-Coast comes from their hands For they come to the Sea-shore to Little-Commendo Kormantyn and Moure where many of them dwell with their Wives and Children They shew great Industry and Diligence Travelling with the Goods they Buy from the Whites carry'd by their Slaves to divers Markets up in the Countrey and passing through the countreys of Atty Sabou and other Neighbouring Regions without hindrance enjoying every where much Freedom and for their Merchandise are courteously entertain'd by the People Inta and Ahim. INta hath in the South Akany in the West and North Unknown Land Inta in the East Ahim and Akam Little can be said of this Place as to matter of Trade Ahim otherwise call'd Great-Akany hath on the West for Limits Akany on the South Aqua and Sonqua on the North Inta Akam Kuahoe and in the East Aqumboe The Inhabitants are naturally Stately and Proud Their Nature which proceeds from their Wealth consisting chiefly in Slaves These come very seldom to
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
bold Fowls by reason they are seldom shot or catcht some bearing the same shape with those of Europe other differing and strange As first blew Parrots which taken young out of their Nest learn much better to speak than such as have flown Wild but they never learn to Speak so plain as the green Brasilian Parrots There are also a kind of Green Birds with Orange Spots on their Bills and long Tails which the Blacks call Ahuront and we Paraketo's Paraketo's and another like the former somewhat bigger and of a Blood-red Colour with a black Spot on their Bills and a black Tail A kind of Gold-Finch yellow Body'd Breeds here likewise but for fear of the Serpents and other venemous Beasts build their Nests on slender Boughs of high Trees In the Fields amongst the Mille Nest a sort of Bull-Finches which the Blacks put alive in their Mouths and eat with the Skin and Feathers on so Sparrows also and many other small Birds There are other Birds like Cranes with a head like a Turky-Cock but so mischievously devouring that the Blacks to prevent their coming down carry them Food to the Mountains they continually dabble in the Dirt and all manner of noisome Filth that they stink even at a distance as bad as the most loathsome Carrion Also Water-Snipes Turtle-Doves with a black Ring on their Necks Pheasants Spotted with white but the Flesh unsavoury and Peacocks in shape like ours but with some difference of Feathers The Bird Pettoir the Blacks look upon as a great Presager of good or ill Fortune and therefore esteem it much The Cranes Hearons Storks Crows and Lapwings differ not much from those with us onely the Crows are Parti-colour'd such as we have in England about Royston and therefore styl'd Royston-Crows Owls Batts Gnats and great black Pismires that make holes in the earth like Field-Mice and do much hurt to Bees which they rob both of Honey and Wax Land-Crabbs or Tortoises by them call'd Bonzeronzes of a Purple Colour Land-Crabs or Lobsters which keep under ground like Moles they eat with delight as a most desirable Dainty Serpents and Adders of an extraordinary magnitude are found here Serpents using both the Land and Water having a Belly and Mouth so big that they can swallow Hens and Geese whole Some of the Negro's think their flesh fit to be eaten but how it nourishes their Diseases caus'd by such foul Feeding give the best account Sometimes these Countries are plagu'd with Locusts Locusts or Grashoppers which come flying out of Arabia in such numerous Shoals They spoil the Fruits of the Field as cloud the Sun and where they fall eat up all they find whether Corn Grass or Fruits which certain hazard makes the People so careless and unconcern'd for the future that they never lay up any Store of Corn but Sow and Plant onely so much as they guess they may spend in the whole Year Divers Villages lying near the Sea Salt have Salt-Pans as Antin Labbede Sinko and others but the best are at Antin and Sinko from whence carry'd thorow the whole Countrey to be sold They make their Salt very Fine and White How it is made and with little trouble by reason it needs to be but once boyl'd When made ready in manner aforesaid they put it into small Rush Baskets like Loaf-Sugar covering it over with green Leaves that it may not grow brown by the heat of the Sun The whole Countrey produces Gold The Countrey is full of Gold which the Blacks call Chilea some found on the Shore and at Low-water sought for by the Women and found by Pieces to the valew of a Noble But that which chiefly comes to Europe From whence the Gold comes is Digged out of the Rivers or Mynes by the Blacks far up within Land and by them brought and sold to those of Fantyn Akanian Adom Akara and other places in Barter for European Wares for few which live in these places know the Mynes nor hath any Whites ever been by or near the same For every particular King sets secure Guards upon the Mynes within his Dominion wherein he imploys his Slaves to work and when he hath gotten a quantity together he Trafficks for it with others lying nearer the Shore till by the passing through many hands it at last arrives in the Trading Ships of the European Merchants In some places How the Gold is taken up in the River especially at the plentiful Gold-River Atzine under the Cliffs and Water-falls shooting down from the Mountains Gold is taken up in this manner They Dive with a hollow Woodden Tray to the bottom and rake there among the Earth Stones and all that they can come at with which having filled their Dishes they come up above Water and washing the Mass find the Gold for sometimes whole pieces are wash't down by force of the Water through the Gold-Veins whereof the King of Egwira hath a great many which he keeps for his Fancy ascribing a secret Power and Vertue to it Sometimes they get by this Diving good store of Gold but otherwhiles in whole days make no advantage Besides this Diving In what manner the Gold is found Gold is found in divers other manners viz. in pieces like Beans or in Dust as small as Sand or Filings of Copper yet being very ragged like broken Coral or Stone and intermingled with Grit Clay or Earth which they cleanse in the running Streams yet not so but that much Dross remains among it Many hold opinion In what Tract of Land the Gold is found that all the Gold found and had near the Coast of Guinee is gotten within twenty miles of the Sea-shore in a Tract of Land from Cape de Tres Puntas till they come beyond Pichy and Sinko so concluding for that they of Soko lying onely three or four days Journey from the Shore know of no Gold neither have they any Trade in it and beyond Pichy and Sinko they have scarcely heard how they dig it Adjoining to the Village Little Commendo near the Sea lies a Hill A Gold-Mountain near Little-Commende which appearing to contain in its bowels much Gold in the Year Sixteen hundred twenty two the Inhabitants begun to dig for it but because they were ignorant in the method of Myning the hollowed Earth fell in smothering divers of the Workmen wherefore the King of Guaffo by advice Issued out an Edict that none might dig any more therein and so that Work remain'd ever since unattempted The Natives make strange reports of unusual Apparitions within the Mynes as that sometimes there is such a noise and tumult heard Conceit of the Blacks of the Gold-Mynes that none dares stay there and that otherwhiles the Laborers are driven thence by force and violence without seeing any thing and that sometimes a Golden Dog or such like Beast appears to them on a sudden and straightway vanishes again
have great skill in Swimming but the Men within Land use it so little that they seem afraid at the sight of any great River They can keep long under Water and Dive exceeding deep wherefore the Portugals bring of the expertest from hence to the West-Indies to use them in the Pearl-fishing in the Island Margaretta Children not exceeding two years of Age betake themselves instantly to the Water and learn to Swim because unskilfulness therein is counted a great shame The Women are slender-Body'd and cheerful of disposition but have such great Breasts that they can fling them over their Shoulders and give their Children Suck that hang at their backs They have great inclinations to Dancing The Women are inclin'd to Dancing so that when they hear a Drum or other Instrument they cannot stand quiet but must shew their Skill They meet usually in the Evenings to Revel while some Dance others Play upon Instruments as Copper Panns struck with Buttons or Drums made of a hollow Tree and cover'd over with a Goats Skin or such like barbarous Musick They Dance commonly two and two together The use of Castinetto's came from Africa Leaping and Stamping with their Feet Snapping with their Fingers and Bowing their Heads one to another some have Horses Tails in their Hands which they cast one while upon one Shoulder and one while upon the other others with Wisps of Straw in their hands which they let fall then again suddenly reaching it they cast it up aloft and catch it in their hands This Dancing having continu'd an hour or an hour and a half every one returns home Besides these Evening-Pastimes they have a sort of Dancing-Schools wherein the younger Breed are taught These People are seldom free from Lice The Blacks are Lowsie though Clean. and Fleas although they keep themselves clean in their Bodies for they Wash every Morning and Evening from Head to Foot and anoint themselves with Oyl of Palm or Suet to make them look Smooth and that the Flies may not bite their Naked Body The Women moreover anoint themselves with Civet and fine smelling Herbs to be the more acceptable to their Husbands They count it a great shame to Break Wind in the presence of any they never do their Easement upon the ground but make a Hut whereinto they retire and when full burn them to Ashes They cannot Evacuate their Water in a continu'd Current as usual in humane Creatures but rather like Hoggs by intermissive girdings When they meet any of their Friends or Acquaintance in the Morning Their Salutation they Salute them with great Courtesie Imbracing one the other in their Arms and closing the two first Fingers of the Right Hand snap two or three times together each time bowing their Heads and saying Auzy Auzy that is Good Morrow Good Morrow Another as it were innate quality they have to Steal any thing they lay hands of Exquisite in Stealing especially from Foreigners and among themselves make boast thereof as an ingenious piece of Subtilty and so generally runs this vicious humor through the whole Race of Blacks that great and rich Merchants do sometimes practise small Filching for being come to the Trading Ships they are not at rest till they have taken away something though but Nails or Lead that is Nail'd to the outside of the Ships to prevent Worm-eating which no sooner done then with a singular sleight of hand they convey from one to another but if they chance to be trapp'd they all leap instantly over-Board for fear of Beating but if caught and soundly Bastinado'd then as past doubt of other punishment they never avoid the Ship but come again the next day to Trade They little esteem any Promises made to Foreigners They keep little of their Promises but break them if they can see any advantage in it in brief they are a treacherous perjur'd subtle and false People onely shewing Friendship to those they have most need of When they make a Promise or Oath to the Whites they cast their Face to the Ground then bowing speak these words thrice Jau Jau Jau every time striking their hands together and stamping upon the ground with their feet and lastly kiss their Fetisy or Sants which they wear upon their Legs and Arms. Most of their Food is Bread Most of their Food is Bread by them call'd Kankaiens Bak'd or Boil'd of Mille How it is made ready mix'd with Oyl of Palm and sometimes with green Herbs the Mille they prepare by Pounding in a Stone-Mortar afterwards cleanse it in a Woodden Shovel then the Women Grinde it every day twice upon a flat Stone which stands a mans height from the Earth with another Stone a Foot long just as the Painters usually Grind their Colours which is no small labour though little regarded by the men Thus made into Meal they mingle it with water and make Cakes or Balls as big as both ones Fists which they Boyl or Bake upon a hot Hearth bound up in Cloth Others add thereto Maizr They seldom eat Flesh Other Food but all sorts of Fish Potatoes also and Injames which they Boyl as also Bananasses Bakovens Rice and several other sorts of Fruit which the Countrey affords Their daily Drink is Water and Palm-Wine Drink yet they make another Liquor of Mace which they call Poitou The Men Drink stoutly especially hot Liquors such as Palm-Wine The Men are inclin'd to Drinking Brandy and other Wine so that the Evening seldom sees them Sober In Drinking they use strange Customs for the first Drinker must lay his Hands upon his Head and with a loud voyce cry out Tautosi Tautosi After Drinking they poure a little as an Oblation to their Fetisi upon the Earth crying aloud I. O. U. which if they omit they are perswaded it will do them no good but vomit it up presently Nor have they a less Voracity in Eating being scarcely satisfi'd with Food Gluttony in Eating their Caninus Appetitus being so insatiate that when they have as it were but newly swallow'd the last they will fall to afresh as if pin'd for hunger nor do they chew it like us but take it in broken Gobbets with the three middle-Fingers Unmannerly and throw them into their Mouthes down their Throat without ever casting it beside ¶ WAlled Cities they have none nor good Towns near the Sea Towns or Villages what they are onely upon the Shore some Villages appear of no great consequence being ill-favoredly built and worse order'd for they so stink of Dirt and Filthiness that sometimes when the Land-Wind blows the Stench may be smell'd a mile and a half in the Sea The Towns more within the Land are much bigger and fuller of Trade and People who live more at ease for such as live at the Sea are Interpreters Brokers Rowers Skippers or Seamen Servants Fishers and Slaves of the other But although as we said the Towns lie open
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
Silk wrought all over with Gold upon which they wear fine white and thin Cotton Cloathes so that the glance of the Gold shines through it The Women are so addicted to Dancing The kind of the Inhabitants that they cannot forbear upon the hearing of any Instrument though they be loaden with one Child in their Belly and another at their Backs where they commonly carry them Both Men and Women keep their Bodies very clean washing every morning and evening the Women anoint themselves usually with Civet and other sweet smelling Herbs and Plants to seem the more acceptable to their Husbands When a young Man intends to put himself into a Marry'd condition and hath observ'd a Maid that pleases his eye instantly he seeks to make acquaintance with her which hath no difficulty because of the great freedom they have by which means it happens often that a mean young Man gets a Noblemans Daughter and if they agree between themselves the Marriage is concluded without need of acquainting the Parents on either side A Nobleman may Marry as many Wives as he pleaseth and every year over and above gets two or three of his Companions Daughters eight or ten years old who serve him as Naked as they came from their Mothers Womb till he enjoys them and then they obtain a little Garment on and are esteem'd for Women The confirmation of the Marriage is by giving two or three little Clothes by the Bride-groom to the Bride and seven or eight Pots of Drink to the Friends and Neighbours to make merry with A Common Man as before is declar'd may Marry as many Wives as he can keep yet for all that they run a Whoring and must not be found fault with but if a Woman go Astray the Man may reject or sell her so that hereby it seems The Conditions of the Women that they are much subjected to their Husbands yet they are inclin'd to Wantonness wherein they neglect no opportunities to satiate their Lusts and this causes in many an absolute sterility in others a seldom pregnancy so that they have but few Children perhaps two or three in their whole lives if some happen to have eight or ten they win infinite respect both from the Husband and other Friends whereas the Barren are despis'd by all and although they love multiplicity of Children by one Woman yet they question that Womans honesty that has more than one at a Birth At Funerals they have many solemn Ceremonies The Funeral for all the Neighborhood attend and the Nobleman in whose Precinct the Deceas'd formerly liv'd gives Clothes to wind up the Corps in which is then laid in a Vault of his own Dwelling-house bravely Hang'd with Mats Their own Mother-Tongue is with them little esteem'd which they seldom speak but most of all the Alkomysh which in that Countrey is held to be a noble Language The Europeans drive here a great Trade especially in Little Arder Their Merchandise whither they bring several Commodities to exchange for Slaves Cotton Clothes and Akori but the readiest Merchandise which the Blacks Barter for here are little Horns call'd Bousiers found under the Islands of Maldivi's and brought over out of Goa and Kochin in stead of Ballast but it happens sometimes that the Bousiers are hard to be gotten and dear every Pound worth Four Shillings and then in stead of them other Wares are brought thither especially fine Red Beads but when the Trade is manag'd with Bousiers they Barter usually one third part of Bousiers and two third parts of other Merchandise The other Commodities fit for Dealing and to Purchase Slaves are Javan White and Red Damasks Gold Leather Cypress Cloth Red Cloth and broad Lists Staves of Iron Red Copper Pieces Fine Linen Copper Armlets Red Beads White Horse Tails with the Dock Black Hats with flat Crowns and broad Brims Cambrick Gilded Looking-Glasses Brandy Gold and Silver Red Cloth Mariners Knives Italian Tape but no other Colours besides red and white Strip'd Armosines or Doublets with white Stripes for the Ground Light Damasks Flowers wrought with Gold and Silk White Flower'd East-India Damasks Indian Armosines or Habits and the like But all these Wares or Commodities are not onely esteem'd in the Coast of Arder but also at Benyn and Kio Lagos The Inhabitants of Little Arder Their Maintenance and of all the other Towns lying near the Sea maintain themselves partly by Fishing and making of Salt and partly by Merchandise but within the Countrey by Tillage onely The Method of their Husbandry and Solemnity of their Seed-time Tillage is the same with that we described of the Gold-Coast In the Village Ba every four days they have a free Market of Salt Merchandise brought from Jojo in great quantities by Canoos and from thence carri'd to the Territory of Ulkuma where 't is ready Barter Four or five Miles from Ba by a great Tree a free Market is kept every day where the Inhabitants sometimes to the number of three or four thousand come with all sorts of Commodities When the Merchants Land at Arder they are brought to the King where they must give an account of their Trading to him in the Portugal Tongue for none may Trade there before he hath first offer'd his Goods to the King that as he says his Subjects might not have the best Merchandise and he the course besides this they must give to the King for a Present a Lump of fine Coral six Pieces of Cypress Cloathes three of Maurisses and one of Diaper yet nevertheless the Whites must seem to set out the best Wares as Silk and the like uppermost though generally they conceal better because then the Subjects must have the worst onely which would not be for the Merchants profit however as we said they must seem to correspond After the delivery of the Silk Wares and some other sleighter yet in the King's Court several Presents must be given to his Son to the Foella or Captain of the Whites to the Porters or Door-keepers and to divers other of the Courtiers After leave obtain'd from the King to Trade all the Nobility conduct the Whites off to the Stock-fish Town lying a Mile from the South-West Shore where a convenient place is appointed for them to Truck for Slaves But for liberty to Trade for Akory they must pay more forty Pieces of yellow Armlets twenty Hens a Cabriet or Sheep besides other things to those that make Proclamation that every one that will Trade with the Whites may now do it freely The Wages for carrying the Merchandise to the King is two yellow Rings for a Chest or Pack carri'd by two Men and four for what four Men carry As soon as they come to Land there must be something given to the Honga or Captain of the Boat for which he must be ready at all times with his Boat on the Shore for fear of any mishap to preserve Goods and People because by the
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
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
Fighting they defend themselves from the Enemies Arrows with the flat Sides thereof in stead of a Shield and turn every way with such readiness that they void all the Shafts aimed at them They wear also Ponyards in Scabbards of Serpents-skins in Belts of Elephants-hides three Fingers broad and two thick Some have Shields made of Wood cover'd with the Skin of the Beast Dant They worship the Sun as their chief Deity in the Shape of a Man Religion next to that the Moon in the Figure of a Woman But besides these every one hath his peculiar Idol When they go to Battel they sacrifice to their Idol out of which their Devil speaks very plain and tells them what they must do The Anzikos live under a peculiar King call'd the Great Makoko Government whom they report to possess thirteen Kingdoms making him one of the most Puissant in Africa The Jages have three Governors the first entitul'd Singe the second Kobak and the third Kabango of which every one leads a distinct Army They maintain continual Wars against other Blacks and eat as is before-mention'd all the Slain but sell the Prisoners and in defect of Buyers kill and eat them also Such as desire to List themselves in their Companies must first receive the usual Marks viz. knock out the two upper and the two lower Teeth before and make a hole through the middle of their Noses into which they thrust Feathers There are at present no Jages to be found of the first Race but those that now assume that Name derive their Extract out of the several Countreys wherein they have Warred and been Victorious being chosen thereto in this manner So soon as they have won a Battel The Jages how they are bred they search among the Prisoners for the handsomest Youths of whose Courage they make tryal by shooting at them by and over their Heads Wherein if any discover a fear of the Arrows as Cowards and unfit for Service they knock on the Head and eat but those that appear fearless and undaunted they make holes through their Noses and Ears knock out their Fore-teeth and so bring them up to all Savage Cruelty who by practice at last stray so far from Humanity that they exceed the natural Jages These possess not only this Countrey of Ansiko but wander almost through all Africa although now they have their chief Residence here and in the South-East of Angola The Natural Jages as the Ancientest People of Angola relate are not the Indigene of that Countrey but came many years since with an Army of an hundred thousand out of Serre-Lyons and over-ran the whole Coast beyond the Kingdom of Benguella But finding themselves too weak to make further way and not willing to return they setled hereabouts but not contented with that Resolution they ranged till they came to the Kingdom of Monomotapa who overcame them in a Fight and made them retreat Others contradict this averring it improbable at least that the Jagos should first come out of Serre-Lyons and conquer as far as the Kingdom of Benguella a Tract of above seven hundred Leagues wherein they must pass so many Kingdoms great Rivers and Mountains The Jurisdiction of KAKONGO KAkongo takes beginning in the North at the River Lovango Lovize Boundaries of the Kingdom of Kakongo in about fourteen Degrees and a half South Latitude and borders in the South and West at the Kingdom of Goy and ends at the River Sambo some Miles up in the Countrey The Chief City is pleasant and well built Chief City abounding with all sorts of Provisions From Kakongo Southwards all the Countrey by the Sea-coast for thirteen Miles and for two Miles and a half Northward of the before-mention'd River Lovango Lovize lies very low but afterwards grows Mountainous beyond this rising still higher The Blacks call it Kaskais but the Europeans the Highland of Kaskais about which place a Mile Southerly a great Water falls into the Sea This Kingdom can shew onely one good River The River of Kakongo call'd also Kakongo which mingles with the Sea in five Degrees South Latitude gliding some eighteen Leagues through the Countrey A Mile Southward of this Stream lieth the Village Molemba The Village Molemba upon a great Bay making a convenient Haven or Road for Ships The Countrey thereabouts call'd Little Kaskais spreads the Bay of Cabinde in five Degrees and five and twenty Minutes South Latitude being both before and all along the Coast very Rocky and full of Cliffs yet between the chief City and the River Sonho full of Woods pleasant Fields and high Mountains but cannot boast any Fertility because for the most part untill'd although so Populous that it dares number Inhabitants with Lovango it self The Natives are treacherous Constitution of the Inhabitants revengeful turbulent and quarrelsom yet shew but little Spirit in the Wars all their Neighbours especially those of Goy continually infesting them without fear of revenge and perhaps would utterly destroy them but that the King of Lovango interposes in their behalf whose Mediation in such Cases prevails much with all his Neighbors Trades and Handicrafts are common with these People and those of Lovango Trade such are Husbandry Fishing and dealing in Clothes black stitch'd Caps broad Irons Beetles Hammers or Mattocks Tobacco Red-wood or Takoel and Linnen which Commodities they carry to Congo Sonho and other Places and there exchange for Slaves The Merchandises brought thither out of Europe and desired by the Inhabitants are one and the same with those Vented in Lovango but the Presents given for the permission of Trade are less Their Customs Shape Cloathing Riches Administration of Justice Inheritance Government and Religion differ little or nothing from what we have already described we will not therefore nauseate the Reader with a needless Repetition The King of Cakongo may not touch or wear any European Wares A Command on the King nor dares any habited therewith touch him because forsooth commanded by the Moquisie In all other things agreeing with Lovango At the River Sonho the Kings of Lovango and Cakongo keep a continual Watch to receive the Custom of the travelling Merchant and to observe that none should act any thing prejudicial to the Countrey At the side of the River Cakongo lieth the Territory of Serre or Sarri The Territory of Sarri subject to the King of Cakongo but was some years since for a Mutiny and Rebellion against him in a manner totally laid waste Upon the Edge of this and near neighboring to Goy The Territory of Lemba a Territory call'd Lemba claims a situation being a high-High-land comprehending onely one Village of the same Name whither the Whites come to Trade for Elephants-Teeth Slaves and Copper the last of which they bring from more adjacent Mynes that produce every year no small quantities The Dominion of GOY. GOy borders in the West upon the Shore on the South
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-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
a Dance by them call'd Quimboara in which they say the Devil certainly enters one of them and out of him informs them of future and answers to past events But now many of them by the endeavour of the Portugal Jesuites The Angolians become Christians have been brought to the Catholick Religion especially in the year fifteen hundred eighty four at which time many thousands receiv'd Baptism insomuch that in Fifteen hundred and ninety there were above twenty thousand Families of Angolians found that were Christians and in the same year fifteen hundred more were converted the Portuguese to this day labour very much in the same good Work Every Sova hath a Chaplain in his Banza or Village to Christen Children and Celebrate Mass which on many works effectually to their confirmation though others in publick appearing Christians yet in private adhere to their damnable Idolatry The Supervising and Command of Lovando Sante Paulo Government of the City Lovando Sante Paulo by the Portuguese and the rest of Angola subject to the King of Portugal in matters of State lies in the hands of a Governor two Bradores or Burgesses and one Ovidor or Chief Justice for matters Criminal and two Judges call'd Jeuses with one Secretary The King of Portugal hath great Revenues from Angola The Revenues of the King of Portugal from Angola partly by the yearly Tributes of the Sovasen and partly by the Customs and Taxes set upon Exported and Imported Goods and Slaves This Revenue for all Rights and free Transportation to Brazil Rio dela Plata and other places is said to amount to a great summe of Money yearly which in Lisbon is Farm'd to one or more by the name of Contractadore who keeps his Factor in Lovando in the nature and with the authority of Consul deciding all matters of Trade and Money-businesses He hath to attend him one Secretary two Notaries and two Porteras or Door-keepers The Church-Government of the Portuguese in Lovando a Bishop manages Church-Government who is Suffragan of him of the Island of Sante Thombe by reason that Island prescribes antiquity and as shewing the first claims to be there the Mother-Church of the Christians The Island of LOVANDO BEfore the City Lovando Sante Paulo in eight degrees The Island Lovando and eight and forty minutes South-Latitude lies the Island of Lovando five miles with its North-Point to the West of the River Bengo making a good and convenient Haven for Shipping The whole being not above seven miles in length but in the broadest place it is not above half a League over insomuch as those that Sail by in a Ship may easily see the Sea run between it and the main Land Pigafet supposes it to have begun from the setlings of Sand and Mud thrown up there in heaps by force of the two greater Waters of Bengo and Quansa The whole spot appears an even Champaign but very dry and Sandy onely in some places may be seen a few Bushes and Brambles and on the North-side here and there some Haw-thorn Shrubs The Land by the Sea-side shoots down so steep and sloaping that the Sea not above a Musket-shot from the Shore hath above seven or eight and twenty Fathom Water and a mile from thence a Line of a hundred Fathom can reach no ground Pigafet places on this Island seven Towns Towns call'd Libar by the Inhabitants call'd Libar or Libata but Linschot will hardly allow them Villages however the Portuguese attribute to the best the title of Sante Esprit Here are two Churches or Chappels for the exercise of Religion and the Portuguese have divers Gardens and Orchards wherein grow Oranges Lemmens Citrons Pomegranates excellent Figs Bananos Coco-nuts Grapes and other Fruits but Corn is so great a stranger to it that they are compell'd to fetch Supply from other places This little Tract produces the great Tree by the Natives call'd Ensada by Clusius the Indian Fig-Tree by Linschot in Portuguese Arbor de Raiz that is the Rooting-Tree It springs up commonly with one thick body to a great height at the top shooting forth many branches from which pendulously descend several small Strings of a Golden colour which once touching the ground take fast root and spring up again like new Plants and in short time increase to a large Bulk from whence as the former fall new Pendulums that rooting again spread and so ad infinitum so that sometimes one single Tree will extend its bounds above a thousand paces and seems like a little Wood or Thicket The great Sprouts with so many close Boughs deny the Sun-beams a peeping place to view the inside of those vaulted Cavities whose redoubled Mazes yield three or four times reiterated Ecchos to such whose retirements draw them thither for divertisement and shadow The Leaves of the young Boughs resemble those of the Quince-Tree being of a whitish green and woolly The Fruit within and without red springs between the Leaves of the young Branches like an ordinary Fig. Very credible eye-witnesses report that under one of these Trees three thousand men may shelter Under its outermost or first Bark Of its Bark Clothes are woven they find somewhat like a Thred or Yarn which being beaten cleans'd and drawn out at length the common People make Cloth of This Tree grows also in Gon and the Indies where the Inhabitants by cutting away the thin Boughs make Arbors under them for cooleness and shade It seems contrary to the ordinary rules of experience Pigafet and therefore strange that digging here two or three hands breadth deep very swift Water rises at the time of the Seas flowing whereas digging at the time of ebb it cometh forth salt or brackish The Islanders use Canoos of the bodies of Date Trees joyn'd together in which they fight at Sea Formerly the Jages abode here but the Portuguese drove them out in the year Fifteen hundred seventy eight and pursu'd them to Massingan at the same time raising a Fort there for their security Under this Island are the Simbos taken up Here is the fishing of Simbos which carry'd to Congo and other places go for current Money so that this place may justly be term'd the Mint of Congo This Island obeys the King of Congo although by report The Island Lovando is under Congo beyond it he doth not possess one foot of ground Southward of Bengo upon the main Land however by that he claims to himself all the Revenue of the Fishery aforesaid and hath his Governor to oversee the same and take the King 's due which is indeed what he pleases and by compute amounts to eleven thousand Duckets Annually And although on all the Shores of Congo these fashion shells are found yet those of Lovando have the highest esteem by reason of their thin and shining black or gray colour This Island makes the Haven before the City Lovando Barra de Korimba where lieth two Entrances one on the South
call'd Barra de Korimba formerly bearing above five Fathom water but is at present almost fill'd up and choak'd with Sand on the other side of this Entrance heretofore the Portuguese had two Batteries but the force of the water hath almost wash'd them away About two miles from Barra de Korimba on the main Land Punto de Palmarinho appears a little Promontory in Portuguese call'd Punto del Palmarinho A mile and a half more Southerly lieth the Sleepers-Haven Sleepers-Haven and also the Clay-Ovens or Lime-Kilns where the Portuguese burn Lime and Oyster-shells Four miles and a half from Sleepers-Haven you come to the River Quansa where formerly stood a Fort of the Netherlanders which we mention'd before call'd Moll 's The Territory of Quisama or Quissamba THe Territory of Quisama or according to Pigafet Quissamba The Territory of Quisama lieth on the South-side of the River Quansa and spreads thence twenty miles upward and more This Countrey as the rest comprehends divers Dominions It is divided into diver Dominiens of all which Motchima claims the rule as chief Lord viz. Zourube Godgo Zautatsa Molunua Katakahajo and Zuino The Natives here need not complain of Nature as a Step-mother the Land without any great labour producing abundance of Mille for Bread besides other useful Plants and Trees as particularly The Alikonda eight or ten Fathom round but very porus and weak Trees Alikenda fit for no use but to make Trays to hold water their innermost Bark some convert into a kind of Thred whereof they make Aprons or Coats to wear about their bodies The Portugueses Quacumburez which the natives call Quisamo Trees Quacumburez never grows bigger than a mans Waste with few Leaves but thick and large the Wood so tender that a strong man with a Sword may cut it quite in two out of the rifts in the body flows a great deal of juyce like Milk but of so poysonous and destroying a quality that if any one should get the least drop thereof in their Eyes they would instantly grow blind The same juyce pour'd into the water will immediately cause the Fish to swim at the top as if they were dead The Blacks hold the shadow of this Tree poyson and will not be perswaded to rest under it for they say that the juyce is so great a corrosive as 't will gnaw their bowels in pieces without possibility of help or Antidote as hath been experienc'd by a Lord that was poyson'd with it by his Slaves The Beasts breeding in these Parts Beasts are Hogs Goats Bucks Sheep wild Cows Elephants Tygers and Leopards In short the same conveniences may be had here as in Ilamba and Enraka Fresh Water they have none Want of Water save such as is gather'd in the time of Rain and preserv'd in Troughs made of hollow Trees and the Places where they keep them are reserved by the Fetisies command with so strict a secrecy that if by misfortune any fall into the Enemies hand he will rather be cut in pieces than be brought to discover them In the Lordships of Zuina Salt-Mynes Gungo and Katta Kabajo great Mountains lift up their Heads whose open'd sides shew many Salt-pits which those Blacks subject to the Sovasen under whose power they are may freely fetch out by their Slaves paying the appointed Custom This they dig out in Pieces of a Dutch Ell long and a Hand broad every one weighing eighteen or twenty Pounds as clear as a piece of Ice or Crystal and as white as our best Salt and of so good a savor that a little Piece put in a Pot or Kettle give both the Liquor and Meat a pleasant seasoning From the bowels they dig Iron Iron-Mynes but enough onely to make Arms and Implements for Tillage or Husbandry The best Trade of these Quisamites consists in the fore-recited Salt and Mille Trade which they exchange for Slaves to be employ'd in the digging of it for they work not themselves out of an opinion of their noble Extract And not onely the Blacks but the Portuguese also buy great quantities of it for their People no other being to be got unless from Lovando The Blacks of Lovando appropriate to themselves the whole Countrey on the South-side of Quansa for twenty Leagues The Island of LIBOLO IN the next place follows The Territory of Libolo towards the South Libolo bordering with one Point to the East on the Empire of Monopotapa but in the South at Rio Longo near Benguelle 'T is parted into many Sub-divisions thirty of which the Portuguese brought under some years ago and keep them still in strict Command and obedience reaping great advantage from Cattel which are the same here as we mention'd before in other parts of Angola and exceeding them in nothing but plenty of Bees and Honey More we cannot inform you of from hence for that they lie as yet undiscover'd to our European Merchants The Countrey of BENGUELA or BEGALA THis Countrey Modern Geographers place at the Sea-Coast and make it spread from the River Quansa to Cabo Negro in the heighth of sixteen Degrees though others will have it go farther than Rio Longo in eleven Degrees and four Minutes South Latitude The Places Rivers Bays and Villages lying at the Sea-Coast within that compass may be these About three miles from the South Point of Quansa lieth Maysotte-Bay before which a small Rock hides it self Three miles and a half forward you arrive at Cabo Ledo And five from thence appears Cabo de tres Puntas Cabo Ledo And two miles yet Southerly Cabo Falso And five beyond that another Six miles and a half from Cabo St. Bras lieth Hens-Bay Hen-Bay so call'd from the abundance of Hens thereabouts and between both Benguella Viella that is Old Benguela a Champaign and very fruitful Countrey The Hen-Bay contains about a mile and a half in breadth holding ten or twelve Fathom Water with muddy Ground On the South-side stands a great Village on a Hill where large Cows Sheep Hens and Elephants-Teeth may be had yet they have no fresh Water Three miles and a half from this Bay lieth Rio Longo Rio Lengo otherwise call'd Rio Moreno in eleven Degrees and four Minutes South Latitude so shallow at the Mouth that a small Boat cannot go in or out without difficulty In former times the Portuguese attempted to enlarge the Entrance into this River but by reason of its shoalness the strong Water-falls and great numbers of Rocks they found it not feasible Five miles from Rio Longo appears a great Village nam'd Manikikongo upon the Ascent a high Mountain where the Portuguese once had a Store-house and bought Cows Hogs and Elephants-Teeth for Linnen and East-India pressed Clothes The Inhabitants here are very earnest for Musquets and Powder Eleven miles from Manikikongo runs the Salt River Katon-belle dividing it self in two or three Branches being free from all Winds
Cazado dangerous to Sailers being sometimes cover'd with Water The Air bears a good temper and the Earth though sandy towards the Sea yet affords all things necessary for the use of Man The Mountains rich not onely in Crystal but other Minerals Northerly it becomes more full of Trees to the heighth of two and twenty Degrees South Latitude from whence there drives into the Sea a hundred and fifty Miles from the Shore certain green Weeds call'd Saigossa and seems as a Mark to Sea-men whereby they know how near they are to the Main Land of Africa At a great distance also are seen many Mews or Sea-Pies with black Feathers at the end of their Wings which assure the Mariners by their appearance two or three together that they are infallibly near the African Continent The Government of this Jurisdiction rests in the hands of a King Government who as an absolute Monarch Commands all at his pleasure yet some Lords whose Commands lie by the Sea-shore pride themselves with the empty Title of Kings while they neither possess Wealth or Countreys whose Products are sufficient to make them known to Foreigners of the least esteem Kaffrarie or the Countrey of Kaffers otherwise call'd Hottentots KAffrarie The Countrey of the Kaffers or according to Marmol Quefrerie took Denomination from the Kaffers the Natives thereof which others name Hottentots by reason of their lameness and corruption of Speech without either Law or Religion Maginus spreads this Countrey along the Sea-Coast from the West-side of Cabo Negro lying in sixteen Degrees and fourteen Minutes to Cape of Good Hope or Cabo de bona Esperansa and from thence up Northward to the River Magnice otherwise call'd St. Esprit but with what ground of reason we must leave to de determin'd Sanutus begins Kaffrarie at the Mountains of the Moon near the Tropick of Capricorn in three and twenty Degrees and a half South Latitude so along the Western Coast to the Cape of Good Hope This beginning of Kaffrarie according to most Authors Davitii Lahasse Ethiopie p. 475. from that remarkable Boundary the Tropick of Capricorn hath been indisputably setled but they spread the end of it as we said to the Cape of Good Hope and Zanguebar Between which Northward along the Sea-Coast are none or very few distinct Kingdoms and therefore this being the outermost Southern Borders may not inconveniently be extended to Zanguebar so that the whole Tract lying Southward of Zanguebar and the Kingdom of Monomotapa are to be understood in the general Name of Kaffrarie So then according to this last limiting it hath on the East and South the Indian and in the West the Ethiopick-Sea which meet together to the Southward of the Cape of Good Hope and on the North at Mataman and Monopotapa This Countrey so Bounded lieth encompassed in the North with those high cold bushy and sharp Mountains of the Moon always cover'd with Snow nevertheless it hath about the Cape in some places several large and pleasant Valleys into which flow divers Rivulets from the Hills It is not divided into any particular or known Kingdoms yet inhabited by several People some Govern'd by Kings others by Generals and some are without any Government at all We will give you a glimpse of them in their Customs and Natures as far as any Discovery hath hitherto given us any information and that from the hands of such as for some time lived on the Spot The chiefest People hitherto discover'd in this Southerly part of Africa are the Gorachouqua's Goringhaiqua's Goringhaikona's Kochoqua's Great and Little Kariguriqua's Hosaa's Chaniouqua's Kobona's Sonqu's Namaqua's Heusaqua's Brigoudins and Hankumqua's the eight first neighbor the Cape and the farthest not above threescore miles from it The three first viz. Gorachouqua's and Goringhaiqua's have their Dwellings within four or five hours Journey of the Great Cape but the Gorinhaikona's or Water-men are within a quarter of an hours walk from thence GORINGHAICONAS THe Goringhaicona's or Water-men have a Governor call'd Demtaa who was once taken Prisoner by the Hollanders but was afterwards by carrying himself with Civility released and setled in his old Dominion Their best Seat contains scarce five Houses and not above fifty People with Women and Children living in a condition of Poverty below all the rest of the Hottentots GORACHOUQUAS THe Gorachouqua's are about three or four hundred fighting Men besides Women and Children and maintain themselves by Pasturage and Profit of good Cattel as Sheep and Cows Their Governor call'd Chora hath a Brother call'd Jakin both going in tallow'd Skins but they have great store of Cattel GORINHAIQUAS THe Goringhaiqua's or Cape-mans by reason that they always lived nearest to it are more than equal in People to those last mention'd for they can between both raise about a thousand fighting Men yet all their Towns and Villages make up but ninety five poor Huts cover'd with Mats These People obey a Governor whom they call Gogosoa who was in the Year Sixteen hundred sixty two according to the averment of such as had been there a hundred years of age and had two Sons the eldest nam'd Osinghiakanna and the other Otegnoa both which alway sought to over-Rule their Father but chiefly the eldest by inventing all means to make him away In the Year Sixteen hundred fifty nine The original of the War between the Gorinbaiqua's and the Notherlanders there grew between these People and the Hollanders a Dissention for the possession of the Countrey about the Cape where the Natives endeavor'd to turn them out alledging they had possessed it beyond all remembrance and with such malice did they manage it that they slew many of the Dutch when they saw opportunity at the same time robbing them also of Cattel which they drove away so swift that they could not be shot always chusing to Fight in stormy and rainy Weather as well knowing that then they could do but little Execution with their Arms. These upon information received by advice of one of their own People by them call'd Nomoa and by the Netherlanders Doman who went from thence to Battavie in one of the Companies Ships and stay'd there five or six years observing their actions with such inquisitive diligence that he remembred no small part thereof Doman being come again to the Cape in those Ships which were order'd for Holland kept a great while amongst them in Dutch Habit but at last betook himself to his old Companions informing and instructing them in all the actions and intentions of the Netherlanders as also the manner and use of their Arms. He together with another stout Soldier by the Hottentots call'd Garabinga were always their Captains and with great skill and conduct led on and brought off their followers always with success After the War had continued three Moneths A Skirmish between five Hottentots and five Netherlanders in August Sixteen hundred fifty and nine on a Morning went out five Hottentots one of
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-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
their Ancestors brought with them Madagaxo or Magodoxo AS you Travel more Northerly towards the Red-Sea you come to the Kingdom of Magadaxo which hath been formerly so powerful that all the Mahumetans on this Coast were subject to it The Countrey spreads it self according to Urette betwixt ninety and a hundred Leagues in breadth but he seems to include therein the Kingdom of Adea This Territory produces great abundance of Barley with variety of Fruits and feeds huge Droves of Horses and other Cattel Some of the Inhabitants are brown some black and some white yet notwithstanding this difference of complexion they agree in Language all speaking Arabick The Head City Madagaxo hath gain'd the repute of great Wealth by the Trade of the Kambayan and Aden Merchants bringing thither all sorts of Clothes Drugs and Spices and receiving from thence in Barter Gold Ivory and Wax They use in their Wars no other Arms but poyson'd Arrows The Kingdom of Adea THe Kingdom of Adea begins in the middle of Adel on the Main Land Borders bordering in the South at Madagaxo in the West at Oyja belonging to Abyssinie in the North at Adel and Eastward border'd with the Indian-Sea The most famous Place of this Realm hath the Name Barraboa that is The good Shore though it be somewhat distant from the Sea and in passing to it you go up against the Stream in a Skiff by an Arm of the River Oby or Quilmanzi The Dominion of Granze comes next having for Limits the Kingdom of Oyja Xoa and Gorage then Barra Maa which is Bad Shore because no Ships can come near it At last upon the Skirts of this Realm you find a Place call'd Ogabra Ograbra This Countrey hath many great Woods insomuch that the Inhabitants are forced to cut down the Trees to make the Ways Nature hath served them with a plentiful hand so that they want no Provision having extraordinary Herds of Cattel They have a peculiar Mahumetan Prince Government but dependent upon the Abyssine Emperor to whom he pays Tribute The Inhabitants in general are zealous of Mahomet's Superstition Religion but those of Granze are partly Idolaters and partly Christians Adel or Zeila THe Kingdom of Adel Borders so call'd by the Portuguese but by the Natives Zeila lying at the Sea-shore borders in the North at the Beglierbeyat or Provinces of the Bassa of Suaquen near the Straits of Meche in the South at Adea in the West upon Fatigar in Abyssinie and in the East at the Indian Sea Pigafet makes the Southermost Places of this Kingdom to be Meth and Barbosa together with a part of the Arabian Gulf and the Cape of Guardafu It extends in length from Zeila to the Cape of Guardafu Bigness along the Sea-coast seventy two Miles and from Guardafu along the Eastern Coast about eight and forty but in breadth fifty six The Chief City of this Kingdom is Ara situate in nine Degrees North Latitude by some call'd Arika Gurrele but by Marmol Arat who places the same eighteen Miles from Zeila he settles also here the Royal City Adel and the Towns Orgabra Migiate Sequeta Bali Mautra Doara Komizara Novecara and Soceli On the Sea-coast Pigafet tells of a small Place nam'd Asuin or Affion well stored with Provision but wanting a Haven and so consequently little frequented by Merchants Then follows the Cape of Guardafu or Guardafuy by many taken for the Aromata of Ptolomy lying in twelve Degrees and a half North Latitude and very famous because the Easterly Coast of Africa ends there It lies almost at the entrance of the Arabian Gulf so that the Ships which come out of India and will go to Aden and Ziden or to Zeila and Barbara Sail close by it On the Coast of Adel appears a Place call'd Salie which Sanutus takes for that which Ptolomy denominates Mosilon Next to Salir follows Barbara and Meth the first lieth to the North on the Shore of the Red Sea eleven Miles from the City Zeila the latter according to Sanutus a small City Afterwards cometh Zeila one of the best Places on this Coast being in eleven Degrees and twenty Minutes North Latitude six and twenty Miles saith Marmol from the Straits of Meche This City though built on a low and Sandy Ground boasts not onely a large Extent but a very convenient Haven for Ships It stands within the Kingdom of Adel in the Province Baragian which includes the two other small Jurisdictions of Dalacha and Malacha all under the Obedience of the Turks The Houses in Zeila are built of Stone and the Streets curiously Pav'd and daily frequented with Swarms of People The In-land Countreys of Adel lie even and plain The nature of the Soil onely here and there some easie and pleasant Ascents The Plains yield plentiful Returns to the Labouring and Industrious Husbandman answering his Expectation in the abundant Product both of Plants and Beasts having withal the River Haoax which takes its original out of that vast Range of Mountains on the Borders of Xaoa and Ogge and feeds the lesser Stream of Mach with Water Some have not stuck to aver it to be little inferior to the Nile but nothing near so long because it overflows not above six thousand Paces Neither doth it reach how full of Water so ever it be to the Sea but is quite drank up by the dry and thirsty Earth before it cometh so far The City Zeila hath no fresh Water within two days Journey nor other Ground than Sand but the Fields at further distance afford such Plenty of all things that out of this Haven and that of Barbara on the same Coast Ships Transport Provisions to feed Adom and Ziden especially Corn Beans Barley and Oyl not press'd out of Olives but extracted from the Seed of a Plant call'd Zerzelin or Gerzeluin or Grugioline but indeed no other than Sesamos Beasts breeding here are Sheep of two sorts Beasts one with Tails of twenty five pound weight black Necks and Heads and the remainder of their Bodies white the other quite white with Tails as long as a Mans Arm and crooked as a Vine-Branch Some of their Cows have Horns like a Stag black Hair and wilde others are red but with one Horn on their Foreheads of a Span and a half long but turning backwards The Inhabitants as far as Barbara are Olivaster-colour'd Nature of the Inhabitants but from thence more to the North about Zeila and Barrazan they grow much blacker naturally quarrelsom and apt to make Wars upon any trivial occasion They go cover'd from their Navel to their Knees with Cotton but the upper part of their Bodies remain naked onely Persons of Quality wear Coats which in Arabick they call Bernuz This Dominion possesses much Gold and Ivory besides such a liberal Provision of Victuals that they feed their Neighbors of several other Countreys They vend also Clothes Myrrhe Pepper and Slaves The Merchants of Cambaya and
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 Sanutââ 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
cold Next Adel to the side of Mombaza you arrive at Bahali or Bali Daâali or Bali then to that of Oecie shooting inwardly to the main-Main-Land then to Ario or Aro limited in the North by Dunkala and in the West by the Territory of Oifate Fategar hath in the North the River Aoaxe in the West Fategar the Kingdom of Oge and in the South the Territory of Gamat Sanutus places at the utmost borders hereof Adel and adds also Xaoa In this Kingdom on the Borders of Adel stands the Ague-Mountain near a place by the people of Europe call'd The Market because the Inhabitants of both Realms come thither to Trade Then you come to the Mountain of the Lake whose sides boast the Ornament of many Churches and Cloysters and the top shews a Lake three miles in circumference Zengero comes next and after that Rozenagus Zengero from thence travelling Northerly into the Countrey you come to Roxa or Boxa bordering upon Zingero and Eastwards on Goiame Close to Narea lieth Zeth or Zesta deep into the Countrey upon which the Kingdom of Konche borders as that upon Mahaola Faskulon takes place between two Branches of the Nyle Eastward of Goiame and Dambea and Southward of Bizamo Jarrik reckons from Dambea to Faskulon five days journey Thus we have handed you through the Kingdoms we will now set out the Provinces remaining and so proceed to other matter The Territory of Magaza the Northern part of this Kingdom Territories scituate between the River Mareb and Takasa borders towards the North upon Nengini and in the West touches Fungi or Bugihe Seguede the next borders North-East upon Magaza North with Fungie West at Olkait and South at Semen and Salait Olkait conterminates in the East Sequede in the North Fungie in the West Dambea and in the South Salait Salait hath for limits to the North the Territory of Seguede in the West that of Seinen and the Kingdom of Dambea and in the South Abargale Cenen or Semnen so call'd by Balthazar Tellez in stead of Ximench or Ximen but by Sanutus Terra di Giudei jewen-Jewen-Land and by the Abyssines themselves Xionenche borders in the North at Seguede in the East at Salait Sanutus saith this Jews Countrey lieth Inclos'd between Mountains and Wildernesses which in the East spread towards the Nyle and Abyssine and South to the Equinoctial from whence they shoot to Congo in the West are unknown Mountains and Wildernesses towards Benin and in the North a ridge of great Hills over-topping the edges of Dauma and Medra Abargale stands bounded in the North by Salait in the East by the River Takara and in the South by the Territory of Salaoa The limits of Salaoa are in the North at Abargale in the East at the foremention'd River Takaze in the South Bagameder and in the West Dambea Ozeka hath the neighborhood of Amaza North Marabett East Upper-Xaoa South and in the West Goiame Doba lieth in the middle of Bagameder all the other Southern Territories formerly belonging to Abyssine the Gala's possess as the Turks do the Eastern Countreys towards the Red-Sea Most Geographers have plac'd in Abyssine two Arms of the Nyle The Island Meââe anciently by Ptolomy nam'd Astapus and Astaboras The first of these two at present Niger calleth Abani Barros Abansi and Vossius Mareb The other being Takaze or Takassen lies in fifteen Degrees and twenty Minutes Northern Latitude and fifteen days Sail from Siena wherein lies the Island Meroe often remembred by ancient Greek and Latin Writers Diodorus thinks it took that Name from Meroe the Mother of Cambyses King of Persia But Strabo from his Sister which died there The Inhabitants denominate it Naulebahe that is The Mother of Good Havens and Marmol Neuba Some differ from all before and will have it nam'd in the Countrey Idiom sometimes Saba then Bed Amara and anon Tevet Many others intitle it Gueguere which Jovius denies maintaining Gueguere to be the same with Syene Sanutus reckons the length of this Island to be three hundred and fifty Italian Miles or seventy Dutch Miles But Jovius makes it bigger than England though without any Reason and contrary to the Vogue of all Ages and Authors Some Modern Writers seem to make the Kingdom of Goiame Balthazar Tellez almost surrounded by a Branch of the Nyle to be this Island Meroe but Vossius contradicts both the first and last Opinions affirming That the Ancients never had any true knowledge of this Island but have made one in Imagination where never was any contrary to Strabo and many others The City Meroe situate by Ptolomy at the North end of the Island Pliny and others set seventy thousand Paces more to the South and Vossius thinks that 't is the same at this day call'd Beroa or Baroa the Head-City of Barnagas and adds moreover That the Netherlanders have greatly mistaken in setting it so far from the Red-Sea an Error caus'd as he imagines by the tedious uncouthness of the Way For the whole Coast lies so full of craggy and high Mountains as makes it almost unpassable and their Backs so chain'd together that you have no way to it but by the Haven of Ercocco and Suachem and that so troublesom that Travellers can scarce ride above three or four thousand Paces in one day And therefore saith he it is no wonder Ancient Geographers who in a few known Countreys were necessitated to take the Distance of Places by the Days-Journey should extend the Countrey between Meroe and the Red-Sea so far This Empire of the Abyssines may justly claim the advantage of divers good Rivers especially the middlemost and principal Channel of the Nyle Rivers and other fertilizing Branches thereof as Mareb or Morabo Tacaze Anquet and Malegh The River Mareb takes its Rise in the Kingdom of Tigre The River Mareb two small Miles from Baroa on the West-side and runneth on to the South passing into the dry Countrey of the Caffers where one Branch burying it self under ground for a while and afterwards re-appearing with an inverted Course turns back towards its Head till at last it shoots in a direct Line to the Kingdom of Denghini and so at last unites with the River Tacaze Tacaze which Mercator according to Tellez holds to be the Assabaras mention'd by Ptolomy hath its Head-Fountain in the Borders of Angote The River Tacaze in the Mountains of Axgua near Bagameder from three Head-springs about a stones cast one from another whose Waters conjoyn'd make this River It takes a Course a days Journey to the West between the Precinct of Dagana and Hoaga running from thence beyond the Kingdom of Tigre then cuts through the Territory of Sire having on the East-side Fruitful and Tilled Grounds and on the West the Wilderness or Desart of Oldeba formerly boasting many Cloysters like Egyptian Thebes from thence taking a view of Holcait it falls through the Caffers Countrey with a great contribution of Water
from the River Mareb it visits the Kingdom of Denghini the Moors Bagihos or Fuches and at length pours its Water by the City Jalak into the Nyle The Rivers Anquet and Maleg lying furthest and most Southerly The Rivers Anquet and Maleg arise in Damut so flowing through Bizamo and joyning their Streams make the Westerly Channel of the Nyle yet retain the name of Maleg for eighty Miles till meeting with the middle Current of the Nyle they lose their less known resuming its more famous Name In the South of Abyssinie two other well-known Rivers discover themselves The River Haoax the one call'd Zebe and the other Haoax which latter by Godignus call'd Oara springs out of a vast Mountain upon the united Borders of Xaoa and Ogge whence flowing North-East and increased by the conjunction of the River Machi passeth into Adel or Zeila and so through the midst of Gurrule with a full Stream insomuch that Godignus hath not feared to affirm it to surpass the Nyle in Plenty of Water onely it reacheth nothing near so far for it hath not as the Nyle and other Rivers its Out-let into the Sea but is trencht away by the Husbandmen of Adel into many Brooks and Rivulets for the watering of their Grounds because it seldom raineth in that Conntrey The other call'd Zabee beginneth in the Kingdom of Narea The River Zabee and shoots at the beginning to the West with a strong Current Thence it floweth Southwards and encompasseth the Dominion of Gingiro Afterwards passing to the South and as Godignus will have it by Mombaza floweth into the Sea But Johannes Barros asserts it to be Oby having near Melinde its Out-let into the Sea changing the name into Quilmanzi The before-mention'd Godignus reckons five Lakes of eminency in those Parts Lakes viz. Aicha Dambeabahar or Bar-dambea Zella Zacala and Zoay Aicha the smallest of all lieth in the Kingdom of Angote Dambea-bahar The Lake Bar-dambea or Bar-dambea is so call'd by the Abyssines partly for its bigness and partly from its Situation in the Kingdom of Dambea but Ptolomy stiles it Coloe and Joannes Barros and Mercator Barcena In the common Maps it hath two Names that to the South part Zambre and the North part Zaire where they say the River Zaire which parts Congo and Angola taketh its original lying in thirty Degrees and a half South Latitude and receiveth a great increase of Water out of many several Streams and Brooks which pour down out of the circumadjacent Mountains Plains and Woods It reacheth according to Godignus in length sixty Italian Miles four of which make a German Mile and in breadth five and twenty But Balthazar Tellez a Portuguese Jesuit makes its greatest length on the South-side to be twenty and the breadth taken in the midst and broadest place ten or twelve Spanish Miles They say this Lake can shew eight and twenty Islands viz. Deck which contains twenty Acres of Land the others less Upon seven or eight of which there are Jesuits Cloysters now by length of time much decay'd Most of these little Spots are fruitful producing Oranges Lemons Pome-citrons and other Fruits The Water of the Lake is light very clear healthy to drink and full of Fish besides Sea-Horses which come on Land and devour the Fruits of the Field to the great prejudice of the Husbandmen And therefore there is a Reward appointed to all that kill them who have also a further advantage in selling their Flesh accounted a good Food and their Skins to make Alenga's far more useful to such as ride than Spurs because they jerk hard and strike better But here breed neither Efts Lizards nor Crocodiles though they abound in other places of the Nyle perhaps because these Creatures love not a clear Water and rather chuse troubled and muddy Streams Therefore the Cattel feed in safety upon these Shores and the People inhabit there without any disturbance The Abyssines of these Islands pass this Lake with small Boats made of the Plant call'd Papyrus by the ancient Grecians of which also the Egyptians formerly made Boats and used the Leaves in stead of Paper whereof we have treated more largely before in Egypt This Lake about the Summer Solstice increases for from the vast Mountains of Dambea pour down exceeding many great Streams Dambea whereby it would swell exceeding high if it did not find an Out-let into the greatest Channel of the Nyle Many have thought that the Nyle takes its original out of this Lake but without good ground it being rather a Receptacle for it to pass through However it is certain That this Lake affords it a convenient Supply by the way Into one of these Islands the Emperor banishes Rebels and Out-laws and in another strengthned with a Fort keeps part of the Treasure of the Empire The Lake Zella Zella or Zoay lieth in the Kingdom of Oecie or Ogge on that side towards the Kingdoms of Adel and Mombaza The Lake of Xacala Xacala or Sacala lieth not far from that of Zella and each about a days Journey in length Sanutus sets in the beginning of Amara on the East-side the Lake of St. Stephen two Miles long and half a Mile broad and an Island in it in which stands St. Stephen's Cloyster This Empire hath many and very high Mountains viz. Mountains In the Kingdom of Tigre between Fremona and Dambea one call'd Lamalmon Balthazar Tellez and another adjoyning call'd Guca It is half a days Journey to climb up to the top by an Ascent going always round and turning by steps like a pair of winding Stairs but with very dangerous Precepices and steep falls On the top lieth a great Plain a Mile about where the wearied Travellers and Caravans bait and rest themselves because the next day they have a very troublesom and dangerous way to go through very small narrow and sharp and on each side so steep that the sight cannot reach the depth By these narrow Paths coming to the bottom you meet with Lamalmon three hundred Cubits high like a continaul Hewn Rock which out in the Countrey seems a high and strong Castle where the Passage is narrow and troublesom yet Nature hath provided it with certain Steps in manner of winding Stairs which run up from one side to the other very steep and exceeding dangerous to climb up Aloft upon this Mountain also is a Plain about half a Mile in compass and a Musket-shot broad The People in this Mountain live in safety without fear of being assaulted by their Enemies and richly provided of Fresh-water and Victuals From the top of this Mountain they have the Prospect of the whole Kingdom of Tigre Northwards and North-Westwards lieth a Ridge of Mountains which all together make as it were a great Fence or Inclosure The Kingdom of Amara appears full of craggy steep Mountains among which the Ape-Hills are not the least There are also certain Ports call'd Aquisagi hewn in the
other Commodities but the dearest Merchandises are Frankincense Pepper and Myrrhe which they barter for Gold Their Arms are Lances or Darts and Back-swords Arms. They use many Bowes and Arrows but not with Feathers For defence they put on Helmets and very strong round Shields Pieces of Cannon and Muskets they bought of the Portuguese at a dear Rate yet use for the most part Darts Arrows and Slings The Horse-men in whom their greatest Strength consists wear long Coats of Mail which come down to their Knees close Helmets and round Shields with Scymitars and Lances They that go without a Helmet to the Wars cover their Heads with red Hair Caps like those of the Mamalucks in Aegypt They provide themselves also with Elephants Arm'd and loaden with Towers and have Copper Trumpets and Drums brought thither from Cairo with other Drums of Wood cover'd over with a Skin as among us The King of Abyssine hath many Enemies but chiefly upon one side the Turk who planted themselves along the Red Sea and not only wrested that whole Coast from him but lends his other Enemies great Assistance On the other side lieth the Emperor of Monomotapa who continually keeps his Realm in Arms. The King of Congo neighbors close by that of Goyame who is said to have kept himself quiet since he made Peace with King David But the most dangerous and strongest Enemies are the Galas or Galles as the Abyssines call them who in the foregoing Age have bereaved the Abyssines of a third part of their Dominions But those of Tigrai have oftentimes worsted them and especially in the year Sixteen hundred and seven When Prester-John doth intend to make War against the Nubians or any other People he causes a Cloth in form of a Banner to be carried on the top of a Lance to proclaim the War through all the Countrey The Government is absolutely Monarchical Government and the Chief known by the Title of Acegue that is Emperor for the great number of Kingdoms he was wont to possess But his Subjects entitle him Negus that is King the Moors Asiklabassi and the Arabians Sultan Asiklabassi But in his Letters to the European Princes and others he calls himself Negus Negas that is King of Kings by reason of his Substitute Kings or Viceroys Off-spring of the Tribe of Judah Son of David Son of Solomon Son of the Pillar of Sion Son of the Seed of Jacob Son of the hand of Mary Son of Nahu according to the Flesh Emperor of the Upper or Higher Ethiopia King of Xaoa Caffate Fatigar Angote Baru Amarr Baga Mediri Dambea c. We generally call him Prester-John and by some in corrupt Latin Pretiose Joannes that is Precious John to which last Name two Abyssines coming into Europe gave occasion themselves for when these heard in Europe that the Emperor was every where call'd Prester-John they endeavor'd to preserve the Title seeking to find out Words of their Mother-Tongue from which the same might be derived for which purpose they consultd Belulgian Beldigiam and other Names Amongst those which first introduced the Word Belulgian here in Europe was one Zagarab an Ambassador sent from the Emperor of the Abyssines to John the third King of Portugal and another Abyssine call'd Peter who at the same time accompanied Francois Alvarez a Portuguese Priest as Ambassador to Pope Clement the seventh The first caus'd Damaiaco a Goez the second Paulus Jovius to mistake the Name asserting that Belulgian is a compound word of Belul and Gian the first signifies Precious and the other John as if they would hint by that Name that there was nothing more precious than the Abyssines Others would have it that Prester-John was a corrupt word of Pharasta-Jan that is to say A Lyon on Horseback because this Emperor is said to exceed all the Kings of Africa as the Lyon excells all the Beasts They give also the Title of Lyon because descended from the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah alledging that he had Meliloc for his Predecessor that is King of Excellency Son of Makeda Queen of Sheba which came to hear the Wisdom of Solomon But it is certain the Name of Prester-John neither proceeded from Belulgian nor Beldigian nor Pharasta-Jan or from any other such like Abyssine Word but it was by accidentally apply'd to the Abyssine Emperor when he first of all began to be known to the King of Portugal But the better to discover the truth we must observe that as the Kings of Egypt were by a general Name first call'd Pharaohs and afterwards Ptolomies those of Persia Xerxes and Artaxerxes and afterwards Sofi the Moorish Kings Xeriffs and the Roman Emperors Caesars so is also the Name of Prester-John a general Name and signifies a Royal Title or Dignity of some Christian Princes who Reigned a very long time ago But these Prester-Johns have not Reigned in Ethiopia or in any other part of Africa as many imagine contrary to the opinion of the most experienced Geographers who unanimously agree they Reign'd in Asia yet in what Place not fully known for some making them to have been Kings of Cathay causeth greater doubt and obscurity by reason that in the next following years it came to be known that Cathay belong'd to China as Matthias Riccius and after that Benedictus Goez both Jesuits and next them several others have found But besides the Tract of Land by the Name of Cathay plac'd within the Confines of China Godignus and with him Kircher judge it to be probable that there is yet a greater Countrey about the Asiatick Scythia Seres Massagetania and other neighboring People bordering in the South and West at the Confines of China which had the Name of Cathay of which many years ago Prester-John had the Dominion This Countrey Ptolomy calls Scythia beyond the Mountain Imaus and the Inhabitants Dalanguer and Negrecet begins at the Foot of Mount Taurus and spreads to the Icy Sea dividing Scythia in two Paulus Marcus the Venetian calls it The Dominion of the great Cham and the holy Scripture according to the testimony of Arias Montanus Gog and Magog One of the chiefest Kingdoms of this Great Cathay is Tebeth near the Kingdom of Belor or Balor the antient Dwelling-place of the Zaker near which the Geographers according to the example of Marcus Paulus the Venetian place the City Cambalu so then Cathay compasseth that whole Part of Asia Cambalu is by many taken for the great City Poking in China which Ptolomy placeth beyond the Mountain Imaus and borders in the East on the Ocean and China in the South on the Head-Spring of the River Ganges at the Mountain Caucasus Parapanisus and Aria in the West on whole Scythia within the Mountain Imaus and lastly in the North at the Icy Sea Whereby it appears that all Great Tartary lying beyond the Mountain Imaus with the Name of Cathay must be understood to be the Countreys of Gog and Magog for Cathay which signifieth
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
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
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
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-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
good During the War between the Crown of Portugal and the States of the United Provinces this Island was in the year Sixteen hundred forty one on the second day of October overcome in the following manner Jol whom we mention'd before landed with his People two Miles from Pavoason by a Sugar-Mill at St. Anns where he took his Repose that Night and the next day the Ships came under the Castle and the Soldiers march'd thither by Land where arriving they found all void either of People or Garrison onely the place was Fortifi'd by six Pieces of Ordnance From thence having reduc'd it they went to the great Fort surrounded with a Wall of twenty eight Foot high where after a long Fight for want of Ladders to scale the Walls they were necessitated to Retreat with the loss of many Men But the City Pavaoson they easily gain'd being void of Citizens Soldiers and all moveable Goods Afterwards the foremention'd Fort was surrendred by the Governor who with eighty Garrison-Soldiers Blacks Whites and Mulatos march'd out and with five and twenty Soldiers of the Kings Band were Shipp'd over to Lisbon In the Fort came to the Victors hands six and thirty great Pieces of Ordnance of which twenty were of Brass abundance of Powder Match and Bullets but Victuals scarce for one Moneth The City and Fort thus taken the Admiral Jol caused the Portuguese to be call'd into the City again to Treat with him upon Equitable Concerns whereupon two of the chiefest came and bought off the Destruction of the Mills and preservation of their Canes for five thousand and five hundred Crusadoes and ten thousand Arohas of Sugar But the Kings Revenue and Treasure came to the Victors Formerly in the year Sixteen hundred and ten this Island had been master'd by the Dutch the City burnt and the Plunder consisting of a thousand Chests of Sugar a great many Elephants Teeth Silk Woollen Cloth and one and twenty Pieces of Ordnance Shipp'd away But the Admiral himself and the Vice-Admiral together with seventeen Seas and all the Land-Officers except one and the number of a thousand poor Soldiers died there as hath been already mention'd Ilha Rolles ANother small Island in Portuguese call'd Ilha Rolles lieth to the Southward of St. Thomas about three Musket-shot distant with a convenient Passage between both and good Anchorage for Ships Onely there appear between this and Ilha del Cabres seven Rocks above Water which the Portuguese Sea-men call Los Sette Pedros The Island Ilha del Cabres IN the next place you come to Ilha del Cabres or Goats-Isle about two Musket-shot from St. Thomas with a Channel for Ships between The Countrey rises Mountainous and full of Wild Lemon-Trees The Island Caracombo BElow the River Gaba or Gabon not far from the Aequinoctial-Line Linschet writes of it in Gniuee lieth the Island Caracombo whose Soil produceth many unknown Fruits Beasts and Fowl There are oftentimes an hundred Birds-Nests upon one Branch of a Tree made there by a wonderful Art to keep the Serpents from them The Women are yellow and impudently immodest prostituting themselves before any Spectators Some Ships riding at an Anchor at a certain time under this Island there came off from it in a Barque eight and twenty Men to the Ship side with a Drum and a hollow Stick in stead of a Pipe Four or five of them went aboard whereof one whose Countenance Breast and Arms were white held a green Branch with a Clock and a Bird whom the Master entertain'd with Victuals wherewith they seem'd highly pleas'd Afterwards a Pot of Palm-Wine was set before them out of which they drank to one another At length some of the Sea-men went with them ashore to Barter as they had desir'd Iron against Ivory and coming into the Village they saw a Hut of about three Foot high with a Roof but somewhat open at one side where stood a Crock cover'd with a Net which they would suffer no body to touch or to see what was within On a Stick close by stood a Childs Scull with a Bone in the one Eye and by that lay several other Bones both of Fishes and Beasts on the Ground whence they guess'd it to be a Burying-place These People have neither Faith nor Religion yet Circumcise their Children The Island of St. Matthias MOre towards the West in one Degree and fifty Minutes South-Latitude you arrive at St. Matthews Isle so call'd by the Portuguese from the day of its Discovery A small Spot desolate and not inhabited though heretofore some Portuguese dwelt upon it It hath one Brook of very good fresh Water Ilhas das Ascension or Ascension-Island TOwards the South appeareth Ascension-Isle in Portuguese Ilhas das Ascension It lieth eight Degrees and a half Southward of the Line one hundred and ninety Spanish Miles North-West from St. Hellens but larger and full of Mountains It hath no fresh Water at all nor one green Branch or Leaf but all wither'd dry and scorch'd Onely infinite numbers of Fowl as big as Geese frequent it because they find plenty of Fish to feed upon The Island of St. Hellen. HELENâ The Air seems very temperate and healthful insomuch that sick Men Air. brought ashore there in a short time recover Yet the Heat in the Valleys is almost intollerable whereas the Mountains have as great an excess of Cold. It rains there commonly every day in Showres five or six times so that want of Water causes not the Barrenness of the Soil For besides the Rain it hath other good and wholesom Water particularly in the Church-Valley whither Sea-men come for Fresh-Water as also to two neighboring Places And further notwithstanding the general accusation of Sterility the Ground of its own accord brings forth Pease and Beans wild that for want of Gatherers falling make a new Increase also whole Woods of Orange Lemon and Pomegranate Trees all the year through laden both with Blossoms and Fruits very good Figs abundance of Ebony and Rose-Trees Besides in the Valleys Parsley Mustard-seed Purslain Sorrel and wild Roman Cummin-seed The Woods and Mountains are full of Goats very large Rams and Wild Swine but difficult to be catch'd When the Portuguese did first discover this Place they found neither four-footed Beasts nor Fruit-Trees but onely Fresh-Water The Fruit-Trees they brought thither afterwards which so increas'd since that at present all the Valleys stand full of them to the great wonder of the Beholders seeing the Island is seldom frequented and not at all Inhabited Lastly Partridges Pidgeons Moor-hens and Peacocks breed here numerously whereof a good Marksman with his Gun and not otherwise may soon provide a Dinner for his Friends On the Cliff-Islands at the South side of this are thousands of grey and black Meawes or Sea-Pies and also white and colour'd Birds some with long and some with short Necks who lay their Egs on the Rocks and so unaccustomed to fear that they suffer themselves to be taken
which Seamen pull up and fetch for Fuel and Coloquintida which grows in so great quantities that it cannot be destroy'd There are many Tortoises very good in taste and so big that the Sea-men who touch at this Island for fresh Water are compell'd to hale them Aboard with Ropes They come every night in June and July out of the Sea to the Land when the Inhabitants casting them upon their backs by reason of their weight they cannot turn themselves again The Countrey hath many Rocks but little Water The Goats they kill for their Skins which they send yearly to Portugal in great quantities Their Inhabitants are Blacks who live there very soberly without Recreation fetching their Water in Leather Sacks made of Goats Skins in the Year Sixteen hundred twenty three they were onely nineteen persons eight Men seven Women and four young Girls Ilha de Mayo a Rocky and dry Land with little Grass affords onely some few Figg-trees which by the heat of the Climate and dryness of the Ground never bear any ripe Fruit for though the Figgs have a promising colour yet they are insipid or tastless But Goats or Cabriets or Sheep breed so numerously that above five thousand Skins are carry'd thence yearly They have also some little Horses Asses Oxen and Cows Turkeys and Hens of the bigness of a Pheasant with white and black mix'd and speckled Feathers but all wild and in a manner untameable There are many Salt-Pans which after they have let in the Salt-Water being shut up the heat of the Sun consolidates and brings to a Gray-Salt but 't is a toilsome work to gather it and yet more troublesome to get on Ship-board because the Boats are not without great danger of being swallow'd up by the Whirlpits The Inhabitants are Whites and Blacks usually sent thither from St. Jago In the Year Fifteen hundred and five they were two hundred and five and twenty Whites and Blacks Old and Young Exiles and Slaves but in the Year Sixteen hundred twenty and eight there were onely fifty besides Women The Inhabitants have neither Corn nor Clothing unless brought them from St. Jago but there are many Goats which the Portuguese and Blacks there resident catch up with Dogs partly for the Skins and partly for the Flesh St. Anthonio has many Woods and therein several sorts of Fruits as Oranges Lemons Dates Pomegranates Sugar-Canes Bakovens and Melons One Orchard lieth in this Island of which nothing can be seen from Sea but a high Palm-Tree which the people of the Ships in the Bay of St. Vincent discern plainly and commonly send their Boats to barter Knives and other such small Toys for Fruit with the people who have a Portuguese Governor their number generally about five hundred most of them Blacks who from another Orchard bring the Fruits upon Asses to the Shore side to sell to the Sea-men In the latter end of December they have great ripe Citrons Lemons and Oranges many Bananoes but unripe Potatoes and Melons very large and singular good The Island Goree THe Island Goree lieth in fourteen degrees and fifteen minutes North-Latitude about a Stones throw from the firm Land of Cape de Verd in South South-East about half a Canon shot in length and a Musket shot in breadth This Island hath one little Bay with a Road for Ships from whence the Sea-men go Ashore no other place affording that conveniency neither hath it any Brooks or Rivers of fresh Water but fetch all they use from Cape Verd. In the Year sixteen hundred and seventeen King Biram of Cape Verd gave it to the Netherlanders who in a little time erected a Fort there The Fort SNASSAO ORANGE upon the Island GOEREE Het FORT NASSOU van Binnen met ORANJE op â EILANT GOEREE INSULAE CANARIAE alias FORTUNATAE dictae In the Year Sixteen hundred sixty three both these Forts together with the whole Island were taken by Captain Holmes so the Royal African English Company but the year following on the four and twentieth of October by Admiral de Ruyter regain'd It was at that time possess'd with about sixty English Souldiers under Sir George Abercromy Chief Governor of the Island all which with convenient Boats for their hire were carry'd to the River Gamboa Then both the Forts together with the whole Island was left possessed with about an hundred and fifty Hollanders Commanded by Johannes Cellarius who presently caus'd the fall'n Batteries to be made up raising the upper Fort with a Breast-Work of three Foot higher and fully repairing the lower The Canary Islands or Islands of the Canaries THe Canary Islands by the consent of most eminent Geographers are held to be the Insulae fortunatae or Fortunate Islands of Ptolomy and Pliny though Ptolomy placeth them not far enough to the North setting the most Northerly part of them but at sixteen degrees North-Latitude whereas they extend to the thirtieth degree and therefore we may suppose that they mistook them for the Islands of Cape Verd last before mention'd Some will that the Canaries receiv'd that name from the Spaniards who attributed to all the proper Denomination of the most Eminent which they call'd Canary from the many Dogs found at the first discovery thereof Can signifying a Dog in Spanish whereas the name of Canary was known a long time before by Pliny and Ptolomy the Moors of Barbary call it Elbard from the Pike-Mountain of Teneriff Ptolomy computes the number of these Islands to six and names them Gramage lib. 9. c. 3. Apropite Here or Autolala Pluitalia Casperia Canaria and Centuria Pliny makes the same number but differences their names thus Ombrio great and small Junonie Capraria Niraria and Canaria There are that make Ombrio and Junonie the same with Porto Santo and Madera Pluitalia for Lancerote Casperia or Capraria for Fuerte-ventura Canaria for the Grand Canary which still holds its name At this day the Canary Islands the Holy Haven and Madera being included are seven and known to all by the same names viz. As the Island of Palma Fierro or Ferro Gomere Teneriff Grand Canary Fuerta-Ventura Lancerota or Lanceroto to which number Purchas adds Lobos Rocha Gravosa Santa Clara Alegranca and Inferno by Sanutus reckon'd in this order Vecchio Marino Sante Clare Rocho Gravosa and Alegoranca Ortelius brings among them one that he calleth Selvaia or Savage the most Northerly of all plac'd in the same rank with that of Alegranca and besides Gravosa and Coro which Thevet calleth the Heart Island But these small Spots are of such little concern that many do not so much as name them These Canary Islands whereof Lasaretto Fuerte-Ventura Grand Canary Situation and Teneriff are the chiefest they have their scituation between six and twenty degrees and thirty minutes and twenty degrees and thirty minutes North-Latitude opposite to Cape Nun in Morocco seventy or eighty Miles from the main-Main-Land of Barbary and nine or ten distant from each other They were for many