they mooue the vpper iawe onely their neather iawe being ioined vnto their breast-bone Not many yeeres sithens passing vp the riuer of Nilus towards the citie of Cana standing in the vpper part of Egypt fower hundred miles from Cairo on a certaine night whilest wee were in the midst of our iourney the moone being ouershadowed with clouds the marriners and passengers all fast a sleepe and the barke vnder sailes I my selfe studying by candle-light in my cabben was called vpon by a deuout olde man in the barke who bestowed the same night in watching and praier and saide vnto me call I praie you some of your company who may helpe me to drawe vppe this peece of woode floting vpon the water which will serue to morrow for the dressing of our dinner My selfe sir quoth I will come and helpe you rather then wake any of our company in the dead of the night Nay quoth the old man I will trie whether I be able to drawe it vp alone or no. And so when the barke was neere vnto the woode as he supposed holding a rope in his hande to cast into the water he was sodainly intangled with a crocodiles long taile and was in a moment drawen vnder the water Whereupon I making a shoute all the people in the barke arose and striking sailes wee staide for the space of an hower diuers in the meane time leaping into the water to seeke the man but altogither in vaine and therefore all of them affirmed that he was caught by a crocodile As we sailed farther we sawe great numbers of crocodiles vpon the bankes of Islands in the midst of Nilus lie beaking them in the sunne with their iawes wide open whereinto certaine little birdes about the bignes of a thrush entring came flying foorth againe presently after The occasion whereof was tolde me to be this The crocodiles by reason of their continuall deuouring of beasts and fishes haue certaine peeces of flesh sticking fast betweene their 〈◊〉 teeth which flesh being 〈◊〉 breedeth a kind of 〈◊〉 wherewith they are cruelly tormented Wherefore the saide birds flying about and seeing the wormes enter into the crocodiles iawes to satisfie their hunger therewith But the crocodile perceiuing himselfe freed from the wormes of his teeth offereth to shut his mouth and to deuour the little birde that did him so good a turne but being hindred from his vngratefull attempt by a pricke which groweth vpon the birds head he is constrained to open his iawes and to let her depart The shee crocodile laying egges vpon the shore couereth them with sand and so soone as the yoong crocodiles are hatched they crawle into the riuer Those crocodiles that forsake the riuer and haunt the deserts become venemous but such as continue in Nilus are destitute of poison In Egypt there are many that eate the flesh of the crocodile and affirme it to be of an excellent taste His larde or grease is solde very deere at Cairo and is saide to be very medicinable for olde and cankered woundes They take the crocodile in manner following The fishers binding a strong and large rope vnto some tree or poste standing for the nonce vpon the banke of Nilus fasten vnto the end thereof an iron hooke of a cubite long and about the thicknes of a mans finger and vpon the hooke they hang a ramme or a goate by the bleating noise whereof the crocodile being allured commeth foorth of the water and swalloweth vp both the baite and the hooke wherewithal feeling himselfe inwardly wounded he strugleth mightily beateth the ground the fishers in the meane time pulling and slacking the rope till the crocodile falleth down vanquished dead then they thrusthim in with certaine dartes and iauelins vnder the shoulders and flanks where his skin is most tender and so make a quicke dispatch of him His backe is so harde and thicke that an harquebuse or caliuer will scarce pierce it Of these beasts I sawe aboue three hundred heads placed vpon the wals of Cana with their iawes wide open being of so monstrous and incredible a bignes that they were sufficient to haue swallowed vp a whole cowe at once and their teeth were great and sharpe The Egyptian fishers vse to cut off the heads of crocodiles and to set them vpon the wals of their cities and so doe hunters vse the heads of wilde beasts Of the dragon IN the caues of Atlas are founde many huge and monstrous dragons which are heauie and of a slowe motion bicause the midst of their body is grosse but their necks and tailes are slender They are most venemous creatures insomuch that whosoeuer is bitten or touched by them his flesh presently waxeth soft weake neither can he by any meanes escape death Of the Hydra THis serpent being short in proportion of body and hauing a slender taile and necke liueth in the Libyan deserts The poison thereof is most deadly so that if a man be bitten by this beast he hath none other remedie but to cut off the wounded part before the poison disperseth it selfe into the other members Of the creature called Dub. THis creature liuing also in the deserts resembleth in shape a Lizzard sauing that it is somewhat bigger and containeth in length a cubite and in bredth fower fingers It drinketh no water at all and if a man poure any water into the mouth thereof it presently dieth It laieth egges in manner of a tortoise and is destitute of poison The Arabians take it in the deserts and I my selfe cut the throate of one which I tooke but it bled a very little Being flaied and rosted it tasteth somewhat like a frogge In swiftnes it is comparable to a Lizzard and being hunted if it chanceth to thrust the head into an hole it can by no force be drawne out except the hole be digged wider by the hunters Hauing beene slaine three daies togither and then being put to the fire it stirreth it selfe as if it were newelie dead Of the Guaral THis beast is like vnto the former sauing that it is somewhat bigger and hath poison both in the head and taile which two parts being cut off the Arabians will eate it notwithstanding it be of a deformed shape and vgly colour in which respects I loathed alwaies to eate the flesh thereof Of the Camelion THe camelion being of the shape and bignes of a lizzard is a deformed crooked and leane creature hauing a long and slender tayle like a mouse and being of a slowe pace It is nourished by the element of ayer and the sun-beames at the rising wherof it gapeth and turneth it selfe vp and downe It changeth the colour according to the varietie of places where it commeth being sometimes black and sometimes greene as I my selfe haue seen it It is at great enmity with venemous serpents for when it seeth any lie sleeping vnder a tree it presently climeth vp the same tree and looking downe vpon the serpents head it voideth out
mountaine of Iron commonly called Gebelelhadih THis mountaine is not to be accounted any part of Atlas for it beginneth northward from the Ocean and southward it extendeth to the riuer of Tensift and diuideth Hea from Duccala and Maroco The inhabitants are called Regraga Vpon this hill are waste deserts cleere fountaines and abundance of hony and of oyle Arganick but of corne and pulse great scarcitie vnlesse they make prouision thereof out of Duccala Few rich men are heere to be founde but they are all most deuout and religious after their manner Vpon the toppe of this mountaine are many Hermites which liue onely vpon the fruits of certaine trees and drinke water They are a most faithfull and peaceable nation Whosoeuer among them is apprehended for theft or any other crime is foorthwith banished the countrey for certaine yeeres So great is their simplicitie that whatsoeuer they see the Hermites do they esteeme it as a miracle They are much oppressed with the often inuasions of their neighbours the Arabians wherefore this quiet nation choose rather to pay yeerely tribute then to maintaine warre Against the saide Arabians Mahumet the King of Fez directed his troupes insomuch that they were constrained to leaue their owne countrey and to flee into the mountaines But the people of the mountaines being aided with Mahumet his forces vanquished the Arabians so that three thousand of them were slaine and fower-score of their horses were brought vnto K. Mahumet After which prosperous battaile the said mountainers remained free from all tribute I my selfe while these things were a dooing serued the king It was in the yeere of the Hegeira 921. that is to say in the yeere of our Lord 1512. When this people vndertake any warre they bring commonly into the fielde an armie of twelue thousand men Of the region of Sus. NOw comes the region of Sus to be considered of being situate beyond Atlas ouer against the territorie of Hea that is to say in the extreme part of Africa Westward it beginneth from the Ocean sea and southward from the sandie deserts on the north it is bounded with the vtmost towne of Hea and on the east with that mightie riuer whereof the whole region is named Wherefore beginning from the west wee will describe all those cities and places which shall seeme to be woorthy of memorie Of the towne of Messa THree small townes were built by the ancient Africans vpon the sea shoare each being a mile distant from other in that very place where Atlas takes his beginning all which three are called by one onely name to wit Messa and are enuironed with a wall builte of white stones Through these three runneth a certaine great riuer called Sus in their language this riuer in sommer is so destitute of water that a man may easilie without perill passe ouer it on foote but it is not so in the winter time They haue then certaine small barkes which are not meete to saile vpon this riuer The place where the foresaide three townes are situate aboundeth greatly with palme trees neither haue they in a manner any other wealth and yet their dates are but of small woorth because they will not last aboue one yeere All the inhabitants exercise husbandry especially in the moneths of September and Aprill what time their riuer encreaseth And in May their corne groweth to ripenes But if in the two foresaide moneths the riuer encreaseth not according to the woonted manner their haruest is then nothing woorth Cattell are very scarce among them Not farre from the sea side they haue a temple which they greatly esteeme and honour Out of which Historiographers say that the same prophet of whom their great Mahumet foretold shoulde proceed Yea some there are which sticke not to affirme that the prophet Ionas was cast foorth by the whale vpon the shoare of Messa when as he was sent to preach vnto the Niniuites The rafters and beames of the saide temple are of whales bone And it is a vsuall thing amongst them to see whales of an huge and monstrous bignes cast vp dead vpon their shore which by reason of their hugenes and strange deformitie may terrifie and astonish the beholders The common people imagine that by reason of a certaine secret power and vertue infused from heauen by God vpon the saide temple each whale which woulde swim past it can by no meanes escape death Which opinion had almost perswaded me especially when at my being there I my selfe sawe a mightie whale cast vp vnlesse a certaine Iewe had tolde me that it was no such strange matter for quoth he there lie certaine rockes two miles into the sea on either side and as the sea mooues so the whales mooue also and if they chaunce to light vpon a rock they are easily wounded to death and so are cast vpon the next shore This reason more preuailed with me then the opinion of the people My selfe I remember being in this region at the same time when my Lord the Seriffo bare rule ouer it was inuited by a certaine gentleman and was by him conducted into a garden where he shewed me a whales rib of so great a size that lying vpon the grounde with the conuexe or bowing side vpwarde in manner of an arche it resembled a gate the hollow or inwarde part whereof aloft we could not touch with our heads as we rode vpon our camels backs this rib he said had lien there aboue an hundred yeeres and was kept as a miracle Here may you finde vpon the sea-shore great store of amber which the Portugal Fessan merchāts fetch from thence for a very meane price for they scarcely pay a duckat for a whole ounce of most choise and excellent amber Amber as some thinke is made of whales dung and as others suppose of their Sperma or seede which being consolidate and hardened by the sea is cast vpon the next shore Of Teijeut an ancient towne of Sus. TEijeut being as the report goeth built by the ancient Africans in a most pleasant place is diuided into three partes whereof each one is almost a mile distant from another and they all make a triangle or three-square This Teijeut containeth fower thousand families and standeth not farre from the riuer of Sus. The soile adiacent is most fruitfull for graine for barlie and for all kinde of pulse They haue here likewise a good quantitie of sugar growing howbeit because they know not how to presse boyle and trim it they cannot haue it but blacke and vnsauourie wherefore so much as they can spare they sell vnto the merchants of Maroco of Fez and of the land of Negros Of dates likewise they haue plentie neither vse they any money besides the gold which is digged out of their owne natiue soile The women weare vpon their heads a peece of cloth woorth a duckat Siluer they haue none but such as their women adorne themselues with The least iron-coine
there sell them For in old Fez neither gold nor siluer is coined nor any Mahumetans are suffered to be goldsmiths bicause they haue vsurers among them which will sell any peece of wrought siluer or golde deerer then the weight requireth albeit the same priuilege is by the gouernours of the citie granted vnto the Iewes Some there are also that onely make plate for the citizens who are paied hire onely for their worke That part of the citie which the kings attendants or guard once possessed is now inhabited by Iewes for now a daies the kings vse no such guard The Iewes indeed first dwelt in old Fez but vpon the death of a certaine king they were all robbed by the Moores whereupon king Abusabid caused them to remooue into new Fez and by that meanes doubled their yeerely tribute They therefore euen till this day doe occupie a long street in the said new citie wherin they haue their shops and synagogues and their number is maruellously encreased euer since they were driuen out of Spaine These Iewes are had in great contempt by all men neither are any of them permitted to weare shooes but they make them certaine socks of sea-rushes On their heads they weare a blacke dulipan and if any will goe in a cap he must fasten a red cloth thereunto They pay vnto the king of Fez monethly fower hundred duckats At length within the space of an hundred and forty yeeres this new citie was enuironed with most impregnable walles and adorned with temples colleges palaces and other such buildings as serue to beautifie a citie so that I thinke there was more bestowed in garnishing of the citie then in building of the walles Without the citie-walles are built many huge wheeles or engins for the conueying of riuer-water ouer the said walles into cesternes from whence it is conueied in certaine chanels and pipes vnto the temples gardens palaces The said wheeles were built not fully an hundred yeeres past before which time water was brought vnto the citie by a certaine conduct from a fountaine ten miles distant Of which artificiall conduct a certaine Genouese beeing then in great fauour with the king is reported to haue been the author but the wheeles they say were inuented by a Spaniard and in them there is maruellous cunning workmanship for to the conueiance of so huge a quantitie of water each wheele is turned about but fower and twentie times onely in a day and a night To conclude here are but few gentlemen in this citie except such as attend vpon the court for the residue are base and mechanicall people but such as carie any shew of honestie doe so hate and disdaine the kings courtiers and gentlemen that they will by no meanes vouchsafe to marie their daughters vnto them Of the fashions and customes vsed in the kings court AMongst all the princes of Africa I neuer red of any that was created by the common suffrages and consent of the people vnto his kingdome or princedome or that was called from any strange prouince or citie to beare rule Also by the law of Mahumet no man may beare any secular authoritie which may be called lawfull saue onely the Mahumetan patriarkes and prelates howbeit the saide patriarkes authoritie decreasing daily more and more the ringleaders of such people as ranged vp and downe the deserts began to inuade places inhabited ciuilized and by force of armes against Mahumets lawe and maugre his prelates to ordaine sundrie princes As for example in the East whereas the Turkes Cordians and Tartars haue vsurped dominion ouer such as were not able to repell them So likewise in the west parts first the families of Zeneta and Luntuna then the seditious Mahumetan preachers and afterward the family of Marin got the vpper hand Howbeit the family of Luntuna is reported to haue aided the western regions to haue released them from the furie of the seditious heretiques wherein they shewed themselues friends and not enimies but afterward their tyrannie began to shew it selfe And this is the reason why they do not now a daies attaine vnto gouernment by hereditarie sućcession or by election of the people or of the nobilitie But the prince himselfe when he feeles death seazing vpon him calleth about him all his peeres and nobles and bindeth them by oath to establish his sonne brother or anie other whom he most fauoureth in his kingdome But they after the princes decease neglecting their oath will chuse any other whom they list And this is ordinarily the election of the king of Fez who so soone as he is proclaimed king chuseth foorthwith some one of his nobles to be his chiefe counsellour and on him he bestoweth the thirde part of all his kingly reuenues Then chuseth another to be his secretarie treasurer and high steward of his houshold Then is created the captaine of the horsemen appointed for the kings guard and these horsemen with their horses liue most commonly in the fieldes Lastly he appointeth a new gouernour ouer euery citie vnto whom all the tributes and reuenues of the same place redound with condition that as often as any warres betide he shall maintaine a certaine companie of horses to the kings seruice After a while also he placeth certaine deputies and commissioners ouer his people inhabiting the mountaines and ouer the Arabians subiect vnto him The gouernours of cities diuersly administer iustice according to the custome of the place Some there are also appointed by the king to collect all the tributes and reuenues of his kingdome and duly to paie the same vnto him Likewise there are others chosen whom they call in their language keepers or guardians and vnto euery one of these the king giueth some castle or village whereby he may procure his owne maintenance and be able to serue the king in time of warre Moreouer the king of Fez maintaineth a troupe of light horsemen who so long as they serue the king in his campe haue their diet allowed them out of the kings prouision but in time of peace he findeth them corne butter and pouldered flesh for the whole yeere but money they haue very seldome Once a yeere they are apparelled at the kings cost neither do they prouide for their horses either within the citie or without for the king furnisheth them with all necessaries Those that giue attendance to their horses are Christian captiues which go shackled in great chaines and fetters But when the armie remooueth any whither the saide Christians are carried vpon camels backes Another officer there is that giueth attendance onely to the camels assigning certaine pastures vnto the heards-men and diuiding fields among them and making such prouision for the kings camels as himselfe shall thinke expedient Each camel-driuer hath two camels which are laden with the kings furniture according to the appointment of the gouernour Likewise the king hath a certaine purueiour or steward whose office is to prouide keepe and distribute corne
vnto his nobles I thinke said the king it hath beene sufficiently protested and affirmed sithence I haue bound it with a solemne oath in the presence of these fower for heere stande my chiefe secretarie the generall of my forces my father in lawe and the chiefe iudge and patriarke of Fez the testimonie of which fower may well satisfie you Whereupon Mahumet humblie falling at the kings feete 〈◊〉 heere the man quoth he that submissely acknowledgeth his fault and craueth the kings gratious pardon With that the king himselfe lifted him from the ground embraced him and saluted him with friendly speeches Then caused he both his daughters to be called which he bestowed vpon Mahumets sonnes all which being done he remooued his armie from that mountaine and returned conquerour vnto Fez. This was done in the yeere of the Hegeira 904. which was in the yeere of our Lord 1495. And in the yeere of the Hegeira 921. I my selfe was at the citie of Dubdu where I was most curteously entertained by the foresaid Mahumet in regard of certaine letters of commendation which I brought from the king of Fez and his brother Neither would he cease enquiring how all things passed at the king of Fez his court Of the citie of Teza or Tezza THis great noble and rich citie of Tezza was built by the Africans fiue miles from mount Atlas being distant from Fez fiftie from the Ocean an hundred and thirtie and from the Mediterran sea seuen miles and standing in the way from Garet to Chasasan It contained in times past about fiue thousand families the buildings of this towne are not very stately except noblemens palaces colleges and temples which are somewhat beautifull Out of Atlas springeth a little riuer which runneth through the chiefe temple of this citie and sometimes it falleth out that certaine people bordering vpon the citie vpon some quarrell with the citizens will cut off this riuer from the citie and turne the course thereof some other way which breedeth great inconueniences vnto the citizens for then they can neither builde houses nor get any water to drinke but onely corrupt water which they take out of certaine cesterns for which cause they are often constrained to make a league with those borderers This citie both for wealth ciuilitie and abundance of people is the thirde citie of all the kingdome and hath a greater temple then that at Fez heere are likewise three colleges with diuers bath-stoues and a great number of hospitals Each trade and occupation hath a seuerall place in this citie like as they haue in Fez the inhabitants are of a more valiant and liberall disposition then they of Fez heere are also great store of learned and rich men and the fieldes adiacent are exceeding fruitfull Without the citie wals are verie large plaines and many pleasant streames that serue to water their gardens which are replenished with all kinde of fruits heere are abundance of vines also yeelding verie sweete grapes whereof the Iewes being fiue hundreth families make excellent wine such as I thinke all Africa scarce affoordeth better In this towne standeth a faire castle where the gouernour hath his abode The king of Fez assigned the gouerment of this towne vnto his second sonne being rather a meete place for the kings owne residence in regard of the wholefome aire both in sommer and winter heere were the nobles of the Marin-family woont to remaine all summer both in respect of the holesomenes of the place and also that they might defend those regions from the Arabians dwelling in the deserts which Arabians resorted yeerely to Tezza to the end they might there furnish themselues with victuals and other necessaries and brought dates thither from Segelmese to exchange for come the citizens also receiued of the Arabians for corne great summes of money whereupon all of them in a manner grow exceeding rich neither are they annoied so much with any inconuenience as with durtie streetes in winter I my selfe was acquainted in this citie with a certaine aged sire whom the townesmen adored as if he had beene a god he was maruelous rich both in fruits grounds and other commodities which the people bestowed vpon him in great abundance The citizens of Fez vsed to come fiftie miles for so farre is Fez distant onely to visite the saide olde man My selfe conceiued some great opinion of this aged sire but after I had seene him I could finde no such superexcellencie in him saue onely that he deluded the fonde people with strange deuises The iurisdiction of this citie is very large containing diuers mountaines vnder it as we will foorthwith declare in order Of mount Matgara THis mountaine is very high difficult to ascend both by reason of the vast deserts the narrow passages and it is distant from Teza almost fiue miles the top of this hill is most fruitefull grounde and full of cleere fountaines the inhabitants being burthened with no exactions gather yeerely great store of corne flaxe and oile they haue likewise abundance of cattell and especially of goates neither doe they any whit regard princes Hauing vpon a day vanquished the king of Fez in battell they carried a certaine captaine of Fez taken prisoner vnto the toppe of the hill where in the kings owne presence they put him to a most cruell and miserable death whereupon the saide inhabitants haue beene at continuall discord with the people of Fez they haue almost a thousand soldiers and their mountaine containeth about fiftie villages and hamlets Of mount Gauata THis mountaine being as difficult to ascende as the former standeth westward of Fez almost fifteene miles both the sides and top of this mountaine are very fruitefull for barly and flaxe it is extended in length from east to west eight miles and in bredth about fiue miles manie deserts here are haunted with apes and leopards The greater part of the inhabitants are linnen-weauers people they are of a franke disposition neither can they till the fields adioining to their mountaine by reason of their continuall dissension with the king of Fez vnto whom they will pay no tribute nor custome at all perhaps because of the strong situation of their mountaine for that it aboundeth with all things necessarie for mans sustenance so that albeit this mountaine were besieged ten yeeres together yet could it by no meanes be woon neither is it euer destitute of water for thereupon are two huge fountaines which running downe into the plaine become the heads of two riuers Of mount Megesa THis mountaine also is somewhat difficult to ascend it is rough and full of woods and yeeldeth little corne but great plentie of oliues The inhabitants being most part weauers for their soile yeeldeth good store of flaxe are in the warres right valiant both on foote and horsebacke Their faces are white and that perhaps for the coldnes of the mountaine neither doe these pay any tribute at all Here also the exiles of Fez and Teza haue safe aboad
Hegeira 915. Of the towne called Vrbs. BY the name of this towne it sufficiently appeareth that the Romans were the first founders thereof Situate it is vpon the most beautifull plaine of al Africa which by reason of the abundance of fountaines is so wel stored with corne that from thence to Tunis which standeth 190. miles northward of this place and to other regions adioyning great plentie of corne is transported In this towne are to bee seene sundrie monuments of the Romans as namely images of marble and euerie where vpon the walles are sentences in Latin letters engrauen the towne-walles are most artificially and sumptuously built This towne the Gothes being assisted by the Moores surprised when as it contained the chiefe treasure and wealth that the Romanes enioyed in all Africa Afterward it remained for certaine yeeres desolate being at length notwithstanding inhabited a new yet so that it deserueth rather the name of a village then of a towne Not far from this towne runneth a certaine riuer vpon the which are diuers water-milles and this riuer taketh his beginning from a little hill but halfe a mile distant from the towne All the inhabitants are either weauers or husbandmen and are continually molested by the king of Tunis Howbeit if the fertilitie of the soyle the pleasantnes of the place and the holesome disposition of the aire were as well knowne to the king as they are to my selfe I thinke verily that he would leaue Tunis and goe and dwell in this region The Arabians are well acquainted with the place for from hence they yeerely transport great store of corne vnto their deserts Of the towne of Beggia THis towne built by the Romans vpon a mountaine almost twentie miles distant from the Mediterran sea and about eightie miles westward of Tunis standeth right in the way from Tunis to Constantina But because the name of this towne is no Arabian name it seemeth that the first name hath been oftentimes corrupted and changed The ancient walles of this towne are as yet standing and it is a most defensible place and well furnished with all kinde of necessaries It is inhabited with great store of weauers and husbandmen and the fields thereof are so large and fruitfull for all kindes of graine that the people of the same region could not sufficiently manure them vnlesse they were assisted by certaine bordering Arabians and yet a great part of their fields lieth vntilled howbeit they send continually great store of corne vnto Tunis The king of Tunis surchargeth them with continuall and greeuous exactions which is the cause why their estate so mightily decaieth Of the towne called Hain Sammit THis towne was in my time founded by the king of Tunis being distant almost thirtie miles from Beggia It was built they say of purpose that none of the fields thereabout might lie vntilled But it hath since beene destroied by the Arabians at the commandement of the king of Tunis and now there remaineth a tower and certaine other buildings onely whereof some haue roofes vpon them and others none Of the towne of Casba THis towne built by the Romans vpon a large plaine of twelue miles compasse is fower and twentie miles distant from Tunis The towne-wall remaineth strong as yet but the towne it selfe is destroied by the Arabians and the fields lie vntilled and all by the negligence of the king of Tunis and of the inhabitants of the same region Of the castle of Choros THis castle founded not many yeeres past by the Africans vpon the riuer of Magrida and being about ten miles distant from Tunis is enuironed with most fruitfull fields Neere vnto this towne groweth a certaine wood greatly abounding with oliues At length it was destroied by certaine Arabians called Beni Heli which make perpetuall warre against the king of Tunis and liue onely vpon theft and robberie Of the towne of Biserta THe ancient towne of Biserta otherwise called Bensart founded by the Africans vpon the Mediterran sea thirtie fiue miles from Tunis is but of a small bignes and is inhabited with most miserable people Neere vnto this towne entreth a certaine creeke or arme of the sea which at the first being very narrow increaseth by little and little into a maruellous bredth On either side there of dwell great store of fishers and husbandmen and westward of the said creeke lieth a most large and fruitfull plaine called Mater which is greeuously molested by the king of Tunis and by the Arabians In this creeke are taken abundance of fishes and after the moneth of October they catch a certaine fish called by the Africans Giarrafa which I take to be the same that is at Rome called Laccia for then by reason of the abundance of raine that falleth the salt water of the baye becommeth somewhat fresh wherewith those fishes they say are much delighted Very deepe it is and affoordeth good fishing till the end of May but then the fishes begin to decrease and to be much drier in taste then before like vnto the fishes taken in the riuer of Fez. Of the great citie of Carthage THis famous and ancient citie was built at the first by a certaine people that came out of Syria But others say that it was founded by a queene The African chronicler Ibnu Rachich is of opinion that it was built by a certaine people that came from Barca being expelled thence by the king of Egypt wherefore I cannot in this place affirme any certaintie as touching the founders thereof for besides that the African historiographers disagree about this matter there is none that hath left any writing thereof ancienter then the decay of the Roman empire when as all the Romans that were found in Africa were expelled by the Goths But afterward Tripolis of Barbaria and Capis being taken by the Mahumetans the inhabitants of them both went vnto Carthage whither the principall Romans and Goths had retired themselues who endeuoured by all meanes to withstand the Mahumetans and after many skirmishes the Romans fled to Bona and the Goths left Carthage for a pray vnto the Mahumetans so that it remained desolate many yeeres after till a certaine Mahumetan patriarke called Elmahdi brought in new colonies howbeit he could scarce furnish the twentith part with inhabitants There are to be seene at this day certaine ruines of the citie-walles till you come to a deepe and large cesterne And there remaineth as yet also a certaine conduct which conueieth water to the citie from a mountaine thirtie miles distant being like vnto the conduct of the great palace at Rome Neere vnto Carthage likewise are certaine great and ancient buildings the description whereof is out of my remembrance On the west and south part of this citie are diuers gardens replenished with all kinde of fruites which are carried from thence to Tunis in great abundance The plaines adioining to this citie are exceeding fruitfull though not very large for vpon the north part thereof lieth a mountaine the
Spaine returned with his armie ouer the sea and bent his course towarde Cairaoan And being in the meane space sent for by the letters of Qualid Califa he sailed into Egypt but arriuing at Alexandria it was tolde him by one Hescian brother vnto the saide Califa that the Califa his brother was fallen into a most dangerous disease wherefore he wished him not to goe presently vnto Damasco for feare least if the Califa died in the meane season those rich and sumptuous spoiles should be wasted and dispersed to no ende But Muse little regarding this counsell proceeded on to Damasco and presented all his spoiles to the Califa who within fiue daies after deceased After whom his brother succeeding Califa depriued Muse of his dignitie and substituted one Iezul into his roome whose sonne brother and nephewes succeeding gouerned the citie of Cairaoan till such time as the familie of Qualid was depriued of that dignitie and one Elagleb was appointed lieutenant who gouerned not the towne as a Califa from that time the Mahumetan Califas leauing Damasco remooued vnto Bagaded as we find recorded in a certaine Chronicle After the decease of Elagleb succeeded his sonne and the gouernment remained vnto his posteritie for an hundred threescore and ten yeeres till such time as they were depriued thereof by one Mahdi Califa But at the same time when Elagleb was gouernour the citie of Cairaoan was so increased both with inhabitants and buildings that a towne called Recheda was built next vnto it where the prince with his nobles vsed to remaine In his time also the Isle of Sicilia was woone for Elagleb sent thither a certaine captaine called Halcama who built vpon the said Island a towne in stead of a forte calling it according to his owne name Halcama which name is vsed by the Sicilians euen till this present Afterward this new towne was besieged by certaine people that came to aide the Sicilians Whereupon one Ased was sent with an armie so the Moores forces being augmented they conquered the residue of Sicilia by which meanes the dominions of Cairaoan began woonderfully to increase The citie of Cairaoan standeth vpon a sandie and desert plaine which beareth no trees nor yet any corne at all Corne is brought thither from Susa from Monaster and from Mahdia all which townes are within the space of forty miles About twelue miles from Cairaoan standeth a certaine mountaine called Gueslet where some of the Romaines buildings are as yet extant this mountaine aboundeth with springs of water and carobs which springs runne downe to Cairaoan where otherwise they shoulde haue no water but such as is kept in cesternes Without the wals of this citie raine water is to be found in certaine cesternes onely till the beginning of Iune In sommer time the Arabians vse to resort vnto the plaines adioining vpon this towne who bring great dearth of corne and water but exceeding plentie of dates and flesh with them and that out of Numidia which region is almost an hundred threescore and ten miles distant In this citie for certaine yeeres the studie of the Mahumetan lawe mightily flourished so that heere were the most famous lawyers in all Africa It was at length destroied and replanted againe with newe inhabitants but it coulde neuer attaine vnto the former estate At this present it is inhabited by none but leather-dressers who sende their leather vnto the cities of Numidia and exchange it also for cloth of Europe Howbeit they are so continually oppressed by the king of Tunis that now they are brought vnto extreme miserie Of the citie of Capes THis ancient citie built by the Romaines vpon the Mediterran sea was fortified with most high and stately walles and with a strong castle Iust by it runneth a certaine riuer of hot and salt water It hath continually beene so molested by the Arabians that the inhabitants abandoning their citie resorted vnto certaine plaines replenished with great abundance of dates which by a certaine arte are preserued all the yeere long Heere is also digged out of the grounde a kinde of fruite about the bignes of a beane and in taste resembling an almond This fruite being ordinarie ouer all the kingdome of Tunis is called by the Arabians Habhaziz The inhabitants of the foresaide plaine are blacke people being all of them either fishers or husbandmen Of the towne called El Hamma THis most ancient towne founded also by the Romans and being distant from Capes almost fifteene miles is enuironed with most stately and strong walles and vpon certaine marble stones therein are engrauen diuers monuments of antiquitie The streets and buildings of this towne are verie base and the inhabitants miserable and addicted to robberie Their fields are barren and vnprofitable and will bring foorth nought but certaine vnsauorie dates A mile and a halfe to the south of this towne beginneth a certaine riuer of hot water to spring which being brought thorough the midst of the citie by certaine chanels is so deepe that it will reach vp to a mans nauell howbeit by reason of the extreme heat of the water there are but few that will enter thereinto And yet the inhabitants vse it for drinke hauing set it a cooling almost an whole day At length this riuer not far from the towne maketh a certaine lake which is called the lake of leapers for it is of woonderfull force to heale the disease of leprosie and to cure leprous sores wherefore neere vnto it are diuers cottages of lepers some of whom are restored to their health The saide water tasteth in a manner like brimstone so that it will nothing at all quench a mans thirst whereof I my selfe haue had often triall Of the castle of Machres THe castle of Machres was built by the Africans in my time vpon the entrance of the gulfe of Capes to defend the same region from the inuasion of the enemie It is almost fiue hundred miles distant from the isle of Gerbi All the inhabitants are either weauers shipwrights or fishermen and haue traffick recourse ouer all the foresaid isle They haue al the same language that the people of the isle of Gerbi vse but because they want grounds and possessions al of them saue the weauers liue only vpon theft robbery Of the isle of Gerbior Zerbi where Iohn Leo the Author of this Historie was taken by Italian pirates and carried thence to Rome THis isle being neere vnto the firme land of Africa and consisting of a plaine and sandie ground aboundeth exceedingly with dates vines oliues and other fruits and containeth about eighteen miles in compasse It hath also certaine farmes and granges which are so farre distant asunder that you shall scarce finde two or three in one village Their ground is drie and barren which though it be neuer so well tilled will yeeld but a little barlie And here corne and flesh is alwaies at an 〈◊〉 rate At the sea shore standeth a strong castle wherin the gouernour
vnto Tunis standeth another high and colde mountaine called Zagoan inhabitants heere are none at all but a fewe that tende the Bee-hiues and gather some quantitie of barly Vpon the toppe of this mountaine the Romaines built certaine forts the ruines whereof are yet to be seene hauing 〈◊〉 engrauen vpon them in Latine letters From this mountaine vnto Carthage water is conueighed by certaine passages vnder the ground Of the mountaines of Beni Tefren and Nufusa THese high and colde mountaines are distant from the desert from Gerbi and from Asfacus almost thirtie miles and yeelde very small store of barly The inhabitants being valiant and renouncing the law of Mahumet do follow the doctrine of the patriarke of Cairaoan in most points neither is there any other nation among the Arabians that obserue the same doctrine In Tunis and other cities these people earne their liuing by most base occupations neither dare they openly professe their religion Of mount Garian THis high and cold mountaine containing in length fortie in bredth fifteene miles and being separated from other mountaines by a sandie desert is distant from Tripolis almost fiftie miles It yeeldeth great plentie of barly and of dates which vnlesse they be spent while they are new will soone prooue rotten Heere are likewise abundance of oliues Wherefore from this mountaine vnto Alexandria and other cities there is much oile conueighed There is not better saffron to be found in any part of the worlde besides which in regard of the goodnesse is solde very deere For yeerely tribute there is gathered out of this mountaine threescore thousand ducates and as much saffron as fifteene mules can carrie They are continually oppressed with the exactions of the Arabians and of the king of Tunis They haue certaine base villages vpon this mountaine Of mount Beni Guarid THis mountaine being almost an hundred miles distant from Tripolis is inhabited with most valiant stout people which liue at their owne libertie and are at continual war with the people of the next mountaines of the Numidian desert Of the castle called Casr Acmed THis castle builte vpon the Mediterran sea by a captaine which came with an armie into Africa standeth not farre from Tripolis and was at the last laide waste by the Arabians Of the castle of 〈◊〉 THe castle of Subeica erected about the same time when the Mahumetans came into Africa was in times past wel furnished with inhabitants being afterward destroied by the Arabians and nowe it 〈◊〉 a fewe fishers onely Of the Castle called Casr Hessin THis castle was founded by the Mahumetans vpon the Mediterran sea and was afterward destroyed by the Arabians Here endeth the fifth booke IOHN LEO HIS SIXTH BOOKE OF the Historie of Africa and of the memorable things contained therein Of the village called Gar. HAuing hitherto intreated of the mountaines it now remaineth that we say somewhat as touching 〈◊〉 villages hamlets and territories and afterward we will describe in order the cities of Numidia And first the village of Gar situate vpon the Mediterran sea and abounding with dates offereth it selfe the fields thereto belonging are drie and barren and yet bring they foorth some quantitie of barley for the sustenance of the inhabitants Of Garell Gare. IT is a certaine little territorie or Grange containing caues of a maruellous depth whence they say the stones were taken wherewith olde Tripolis was built because it is not far distant from that citie Of the village of Sarman THis large village standing not farre from old Tripolis aboundeth with dates but no corne will grow there Of the village called Zauiat Ben Iarbuh THis village being situate neer vnto the Mediterran sea yeeldeth great plentie of dates but no corne at all and is inhabited by certaine religious persons Of the village of Zanzor THis village also standing neere vnto the Mediterran sea within twelue miles of Tripolis is inhabited by sundrie artificers and aboundeth with great store of dates pomegranats and peaches The inhabitants haue beene verie miserable euer since Tripolis was taken by the Christians and yet they traffique with the citizens of Tripolis and carrie dates thither to sell. Of the village of Hamrozo IT standeth sixe miles from Tripolis and the gardens there of bring forth great plentie of dates and of all other kinde of fruits Of the plaine of Taiora THis plaine standing two miles eastward of Tripolis containeth many granges exceedingly replenished with dates and other fruits The surprise of Tripolis was verie profitable for this place for then many principall citizens fled hither for refuge The inhabitants being ignorant and rude people and altogither addicted to theft and robberie build their cottages with the boughes of palme-trees Their food is barley bread and Bezin before described all round about are subiect vnto the king of Tunis and the Arabians saue those onely that inhabit vpon this plaine Of the Prouince of Mesellata THis Prouince standing vpon the Mediterran sea about fiue and thirtie miles from Tripolis and being fraught with rich villages castles and inhabitants aboundeth also with great plentie of oliues and dates The inhabitants being free from all forren authoritie haue a Captaine among themselues which gouerneth their common-wealth and fighteth their battles against the Arabians and the soldiers of this Prouince are about 5000. Of the Prouince of Mesrata THis Prouince being situate also vpon the Mediterran sea about an hundreth miles from Tripolis hath manie villages both vpon the plaines and mountaines The inhabitants are rich and pay no tribute at all and exercise traffique with the Venetians resorting to this Prouince with their galleies carrying the Venetian wares to Numidia and there exchanging the same for slaues muske and ciuet which is brought thither out of Ethiopia Of the desert of Barca THis desert beginning at the vtmost frontire of Mesrata and extending eastward as farre as the confines of Alexandria containeth in length a thousand and three hundreth and in bredth about 200. miles It is a rough and vnpleasant place being almost vtterly destitute of water and corne Before the Arabians inuaded Africa this region was void of inhabitants but now certaine Arabians lead here a miserable and hungrie life being a great way distant from all places of habitation neither haue they any corne growing at all But corne and other necessaries are brought vnto them by sea from Sicilia which that euerie of them may purchase they are constrained to lay their sonnes to gage and then goe rob and rifle trauellers to redeeme them againe Neuer did you heare of more cruell and bloodie theeues for after they haue robbed merchants of all their goods and apparell they powre warme milke downe their throats hanging them vp by the heeles vpon some tree and forcing them to cast their gorge wherein the lewd varlets search diligently for gold suspecting that the merchants swallowed vp all their crownes before they entred that dangerous desert Of the citie of Tesset in Numidia IN the
first Booke of this present discourse we said that Numidia was accounted by the African Cosmographers the basest part of all Africa and there we alleaged certaine reasons for the same purpose we signified also in the second Booke writing of the Prouince of Hea that certaine cities of Numidia stood neere vnto mount Atlas Howbeit Sus Guzula Helchemma and Capes are within the kingdome of Tunis albeit some would haue them situate in Numidia But my selfe following the opinion of Ptolemey suppose Tunis to be a part of Barbarie Being therefore about to describe all the cities and townes of Numidia I will first begin with Tesset which ancient towne built by the Numidians neere vnto the Libyan deserts and enuironed with walles of sunne-dried bricke deserueth scarcely the name of a towne and yet containeth fower hundred families It is compassed round about with sandie plaines sauing that neer vnto the towne grow some store of dates of mill-seed and of barley which the miserable townesmen vse for food They are constrained also to pay large tribute vnto the 〈◊〉 inhabiting the next deserts They exercise traffique in the land of Negroes and in Guzula insomuch that they spend most of their time in forren regions They are of a blacke colour and destitute of all learning The women indeed teach their yoong children the first rudiments of learning but before they can attaine to any perfection they are put to labour and to the plough-tayle The said women are somewhat whiter then other women some of them get their liuing by spinning and carding of wooll and the residue spend their time in idlenes Such as are accounted richest in this region possesse but verie few cattell They till their ground with an horse and a camell which kinde of plowing is obserued throughout all Numidia Of the village of 〈◊〉 THis village situate vpon the Numidian desert neere vnto Libya is inhabited by most miserable and grosse people Here groweth nothing but dates and the inhabitants are at such enmitie with their neighbours that it is dangerous for them to go abroad Howbeit they giue themselues to hunting and take certaine wilde beasts called Elamth and ostriches neither do they eate any other flesh All their goates they reserue for milke And these people also are blacke of colour Of the castles of Ifran FOwer castles there are called by this name built by the Numidians three miles each from other vpon a certaine riuer which in the heat of sommer is destitute of water Neere vnto these castles are certaine fields greatly abounding with dates The inhabitants are verie rich for they haue traffique with the Portugals at the port of Gart Guessem whose wares they 〈◊〉 to Gualata and Tombuto These castles containe great store of inhabitants which make certaine brazen vessels to bee solde in the lande of Negros for they haue copper-mines in sundrie places thereabout Euery castle hath a weekly market but corne and flesh are at an extreme rate there They goe decently apparelled and haue a faire temple to resort vnto and a Iudge also that decideth none but ciuill controuersies for criminall matters they vse to punish with banishment onely Of the castles of Accha THree castles of this name built vpon the Numidian deserts not far from Lybia were in times past well stored with inhabitants but at length by ciuill wars they were vtterly dispeopled Afterward all matters being pacified there were by the meanes of a certaine religious man who gouerned the same people certaine new colonies planted Neither haue the poore inhabitants any thing to do but onely to gather dates Of the Prouince of Dara THis Prouince beginning at mount Atlas extendeth it selfe southward by the deserts of Lybia almost two hundred and fiftie miles and the bredth thereof is verie narrow All the inhabitants dwell vpon a certaine riuer which is called by the name of the Prouince This riuer sometime so ouerfloweth that a man would thinke it to be a sea but in sommer it so diminisheth that any one may passe ouer it on foote If so be it ouerfloweth about the beginning of Aprill it bringeth great plentie vnto the whole region if not there followeth great scarcitie of corne Vpon the banke of this riuer there are sundrie villages and hamlets and diuers castles also which are enuironed with walles made of sunne-dried bricke and mortar All their beames and planchers consist of date-trees being notwithstanding vnfit for the purpose for the wood of date-trees is not solid but flexible and spungie On either side of the said riuer for the space of fiue or sixe miles the fields abound exceedingly with dates which with good keeping will last many yeeres and as here are diuers kindes of dates so they are sold at sundry prices for a bushell of some is woorth a duckat but others wherewith they feede their horses and camels are scarce of a quarter so much value Of date-trees some are male and some are female the male bring foorth flowers onely and the female fruit but the flowers of the female will not open vnlesse the boughes and flowers of the male be ioined vnto them And if they be not ioined the dates will prooue starke naught and containe great stones The inhabitants of Dara liue vpon barlie and other grosse meate neither may they eate any bread but onely vpon festiuall daies Their castles are inhabited by goldsmithes and other artificers and so are all the regions lying in the way from Tombuto to Fez in this prouince also there are three or fower proper townes frequented by merchants and strangers and containing many shops and temples But the principall towne called Beni Sabih and inhabited with most valiant and liberall people is diuided into two parts either part hauing a seuerall captaine or gouernour which gouernours are oftentimes at great dissension and especially when they moisten their arable grounds by reason that they are so skanted of water A merchant they will most courteously entertaine a whole yeere together and then friendly dismissing him they will require nought at his hands but wil accept such liberalitie as he thinkes good to bestow vpon them The said gouernours so often as they fall a skirmishing hire the next Arabians to aide them allowing them daily halfe a duckat for their pay and somtimes more and giuing them their allowance euery day In time of peace they trim their harquebuzes handguns other weapons neither saw I euer to my remembrance more cunning harquebuziers then at this place In this prouince groweth great store of Indico being an herbe like vnto wilde woad and this herbe they exchange with the merchants of Fez and Tremisen for other wares Corne is very scarce among them and is brought thither from Fez and other regions neither haue they any great store of goats or horses vnto whom in stead of prouender they giue dates and a kinde of herbe also which groweth in the kingdome of Naples and is called by the Neapolitans Farfa
artificers but more husbandmen And bicause water is very scarce in this region and yet their fieldes stand in neede of continuall watering euery man may conueigh water into his field by a certaine sluce for the space of an hower or two according to the bredth or length of his ground and after one hath done watering his ground his next neighbour beginneth which oftentimes breedeth great contention and bloudshed Of the towne of Nefta NEfta is the name of the towne it selfe and also of the territorie adiacent which territorie containeth three castles the greatest whereof seemeth by the manner of building to haue beene founded by the Romains Inhabitants heere are great store being very rusticall and vnciuill people In times past they were exceeding rich for they dwell neere vnto Lybia in the very way to the land of Negros howbeit by reason of their perpetuall hostilitie with the kings of Tunis the king of Tunis that now is destroied their towne and themselues he partly slue and partly put to flight Likewise he so defaced the wals and other buildings that now a man woulde esteeme it to be but a base village Not farre from hence runneth a certaine riuer of hot water which serueth them both to drinke and to water their fields withall Of the towne of Teolacha IT was built by the Numidians and compassed with slender wals and hath a riuer of hot water also running thereby The fields adiacent yeeld plentie of dates but great scarcitie of corne The miserable inhabitants are oppressed with continual exactions both by the Arabians and also by the king of Tunis Yet are they extremely couetous and proud and disdainfull vnto strangers Of the towne of Deusen DEusen a very ancient towne founded by the Romains in the same place where the kingdome of Bugia ioineth to Numidia was destroied by the Mahumetans at their first entrance into Africa bicause of a certaine Romaine captaine which endured the Saracens siege for a whole yeere togither the towne being at length taken this captaine and all the men of the towne were put to the sword but the women and children were carried away captiue Howbeit after the towne was sacked the wall thereof remained entire by reason it was built of most hard stone and that a woonderfull thicknes though in some places it seemeth to be ruined which I thinke might be caused by an earthquake Not farre from this towne are diuers monuments of antiquitie like vnto sepulchers wherein are founde sundrie peeces of siluer coine adorned with certaine letters and hieroglyphicall figures the interpretation whereof I could neuer finde out Of the prouince of Biledulgerio FRom the territorie of Pescara this prouince extendeth it selfe vnto the Isle of Gerbi and one part thereof in which Cafsa and Teusar are situate is almost three hundred miles distant from the Mediterran sea It is an extreme hot and drie place bringing foorth no corne at all but great plenty of dates which bicause they are speciall good are transported vnto the kingdome of Tunis Here are diuers townes and cities which we will describe in their due place Of the towne of Teusar THis ancient towne built by the Romans vpon the Numidian desert neere vnto a certaine riuer springing foorth of the southren mountaines was enuironed with most stately impregnable wals and had an ample territorie thereunto belonging but it was since so destroied by the Mahumetans that now instead of the woonted sumptuous palaces thereof it containeth nought but base cottages The inhabitants are exceeding rich both in wares and money for they haue many faires euerie yeere whereunto resort great numbers of merchants from Numidia and Barbarie The foresaid riuer diuideth the towne into two parts one whereof being inhabited by the principall gentlemen and burgo-masters is called Fatnasa and in the other called Merdes dwell certaine Arabians which haue remained there euer since the towne was destroyed by the Mahumetans They are at continuall ciuill wars among themselues and will performe but little obedience to the king of Tunis for which cause he dealeth alwaies most rigorously with him Of the towne of Caphsa THE ancient towne of Caphsa built also by the Romans had for certaine yeeres a gouernour of their owne but afterward being sacked by one Hucba a Captaine of Hutmen Califa the walles thereof were razed to the ground but the castle as yet remaineth and is of great force for the wall thereof being fiue and twentie cubits high and fiue cubits thick is made of excellent stones like vnto the stones of Vespasians Amphitheatre at Rome Afterward the towne-walles were reedified and were destroyed againe by Mansor who hauing slaine the Gouernour of the towne and all the inhabitants appointed a new Gouernour ouer the same place Now this towne is verie populous all the houses thereof except the temple and a few other buildings being verie deformed and base and the streets are paued with blacke stones like vnto the streets of Naples and Florence The poore inhabitants are continually oppressed with the exactions of the king of Tunis In the middest of the towne are certaine square large and deepe fountaines walled round about the water whereof is hot and vnfit to bee drunke vnlesse it be set an hower or two a cooling The ayre of this place is verie vnholesome insomuch that the greatest part of the inhabitants are continually sicke of feuers People they are of a rude and illiberall disposition and vnkinde vnto strangers wherefore they are had in great contempt by all other Africans Not far from this towne are fields abounding with dates oliues and pome-citrons and the dates and oliues there are the best in all the whole prouince here is likewise most excellent oyle The inhabitants make themselues shooes of buckes leather Of the castles of Nefzaoa THree castles there are of this name being well stored with inhabitants but verie homely built and oppressed with the king of Tunis his continuall exactions And they are distant from the Mediterran sea about fiftie miles Of the region of Teorregu THis little territory belonging to the kingdome of Tripolis bordering vpon the desert of Barca containeth three castles of the same name which abound greatly with dates but haue no corne at all The inhabitants being farre distant from other townes and cities lead a most miserable life Of the territorie of Iasliten IT lieth vpon the Mediterran sea and containeth many villages abounding with dates The inhabitants because they dwell so neere the sea haue great traffique with the people of Sicilie and Egypt Of the region of Gademes THis large region hauing many castles villages therin standeth southward of the Mediterran sea almost three hundred miles The inhabitants being rich in dates and all other kinde of merchandise and trafficking into the land of Negros pay tribute vnto the Arabians albeit for a certaine time they were subiect vnto the king of Tunis and the Prince of Tripolis Corne and flesh are maruellous scarce here Of the region of Fezzen THis
ample region containing great store of castles and villages and being inhabited with rich people and bordering vpon the kingdome of Agadez the Libyan desert and the land of Egypt is distant from Cairo almost threescore daies iourney neither is there any village in all that desert besides Augela which standeth in the bounds of Libya This region of Fezzen hath a peculiar gouernour within it selfe who bestoweth the reuenues of the whole region according to his owne discretion and payeth some tribute vnto the next Arabians Of corne and flesh heere is great scarcitie so that they are constrained to eate camels flesh onely A description of the deserts of Libya and first of Zanhaga HAuing hitherto described all the regions of Numidia letvs now proceed vnto the descriprion of Libya which is diuided into fiue parts as we signified in the beginning of this our discourse We will therefore begin at the drie and forlorne desert of Zanhaga which bordereth westward vpon the Ocean sea and extendeth eastward to the salt-pits of Tegaza northward it abutteth vpon Sus Haccha and Dara regions of Numidia and southward it stretcheth to the land of Negros adioyning it selfe vnto the kingdomes of Gualata and Tombuto Water is here to be found scarce in an hundred miles trauell being salt and vnsauorie and drawen out of deepe wels especially in the way from Segelmesse to Tombuto Here are great store of wilde beasts and creeping things whereof we will make mention in place conuenient In this region there is a barren desert called Azaoad wherein neither water nor any habitations are to be found in the space of an hundred miles beginning from the well of Azaoad to the well of Araoan which is distant from Tombuto about 150. miles Here both for lacke of water and extremitie of heat great numbers of men and beasts daily perish Of the desert inhabited by the people called Zuenziga THis desert beginneth westward from Tegaza extending eastward to the desert of Hair which is inhabited by the people called Targa northward it bordereth vpon the deserts of Segelmesse Tebelbelt and Benigorai and southward vpon the desert of Ghir which ioineth vnto the kingdome of Guber It is a most barren and comfortlesse place and yet merchants trauell that way from Telensin to Tombuto howbeit many are found lying dead vpon the same way in regard of extreme thirst Within this desert there is included another desert called Gogdem where for the space of nine daies iourney not one drop of water is to be found vnlesse perhaps some raine falleth wherefore the merchants vse to carrie their water vpon camels backes Of the desert inhabited by the people called Targa THis desert beginneth westward vpon the confines of Hair and extendeth eastward to the desert of Ighidi northward it bordereth vpon the deserts of Tuath Tegorarin and Mezab and is inclosed southward with a certaine wildernesse neere vnto the kingdome of Agadez It is a place much more comfortable and pleasant then the two deserts last described and hath great plentie of water also neere vnto Hair The ayre is maruellous holesome and the soyle aboundeth with all kinde of herbes Not farre from Agadez there is found great store of Manna which the inhabitants gather in certaine little vessels carrying it while it is new vnto the market of Agadez and this Manna being mingled with water they esteeme very daintie and pretious drinke They put it also into their pottage and being so taken it hath a maruellous force of refrigerating or cooling which is the cause that here are so few diseases albeit the ayre of Tombuto and Agadez be most vnholsome and corrupt This desert stretcheth from north to south almost 300. miles Of the desert inhabited by the people of Lemta THE fourth desert beginning at the territorie of Ighidi and extending to another which is inhabited by the people called Berdoa bordereth northward vpon the deserts of Techort Guarghala and Gademis and southward vpon the kingdome of Cano in the land of Negros It is exceeding drie and verie dangerous for merchants trauelling to Constantina For the inhabitants chalenge vnto themselues the signiorie of Guargala wherefore making continuall warre against the prince of Guargala they oftentimes spoile the merchants of all their goods and as many of the people of Guargala as they can catch they kill without all pitie and compassion Of the desert inhabited by the people called Berdoa THE fift desert beginning westward from the desert last mentioned and stretching eastward to the desert of Augela adioyneth northward vpon the deserts of Fezzen and Barca and trendeth southward to the desert 〈◊〉 Borno This place is extremely drie also neither haue any but the Gademites which are in league with the people of Berdoa safe passage through it for the merchants of Fezzen so often as they fall into their enimies hands are depriued of all their goods The residue of the Libyan desert that is to say from Augela to the riuer of Nilus is inhabited by certaine Arabians and Africans commonly called Leuata and this is the extreme easterly part of the deserts of Libya Of the region of Nun. THis region bordering vpon the Ocean sea containeth many villages and hamlets and is inhabited with most beggerly people It standeth betweene Numidia and Libya but somewhat neerer vnto Libya Here groweth neither barley nor any other corne Some dates here are but verie vnsauorie The inhabitants are continually molested by the Arabians inuasions and some of them traffique in the kingdome of Gualata Of the region of Tegaza IN this region is great store of salt digged beeing whiter then any marble This salt is taken out of certaine caues or pits at the entrance wherof stand their cottages that worke in the salt-mines And these workmen are all strangers who sell the salt which they dig vnto certaine merchants that carrie the same vpon camels to the kingdome of Tombuto where there would otherwise be extreme scarcitie of salt Neither haue the said diggers of salt any victuals but such as the merchants bring vnto them for they are distant from all inhabited places almost twentie daies iourney insomuch that oftentimes they perish for lacke of foode when as the merchants come not in due time vnto them Moreouer the southeast winde doth so often blind them that they cannot liue here without great perill I my selfe continued three daies amongst them all which time I was constrained to drinke salt-salt-water drawen out of certaine welles not far from the salt-pits Of the region of 〈◊〉 AVgela beeing a region of the Libyan desert and distant fower hundred and fiftie miles from Nilus containeth three castles and certaine villages Dates heere are great plentie but extreme scarcitie of corne vnlesse it be brought hither by merchants out of Egypt Through this region lieth the way by the Libyan desert from Mauritania to Egypt Of the towne of Serte SErte an ancient towne built according to the opinion of some by the Egyptians of others by the
on the north Tombuto on the east and the kingdome of Melli on the south In length it containeth almost fiue hundred miles and extendeth two hundred and fiftie miles along the riuer of Niger and bordereth vpon the Ocean sea in the same place where Niger falleth into the saide sea This place exceedingly aboundeth with barlie rice cattell fishes and cotton and their cotton they sell vnto the merchants of Barbarie for cloth of Europe for brazen vessels for armour and other such commodities Their coine is of gold without any stampe or inscription at all they haue certaine iron-money also which they vse about matters of small value some peeces whereof weigh a pound some halfe a pound and some one quarter of a pound In all this kingdome-there is no fruite to be found but onely dates which are brought hither either out of Gualata or Numidia Heere is neither towne nor castle but a certaine great village onely wherein the prince of Ghinea together with his priestes doctors merchants and all the principall men of the region inhabite The walles of their houses are built of chalke and the roofes are couered with strawe the inhabitants are clad in blacke or blew cotton wherewith they couer their heads also but the priests and doctors of their law go apparelled in white cotton This region during the three moneths of Iulie August and September is yeerely enuironed with the ouerflowings of Niger in manner of an Island all which time the merchants of Tombuto conueigh their merchandize hither in certaine Canoas or narrow boats made of one tree which they rowe all the day long but at night they binde them to the shore and lodge themselues vpon the lande This kingdome was subiect in times past vnto a certaine people of Libya and became afterward tributarie vnto king Soni Heli after whom succeeded Soni Heli Izchia who kept the prince of this region prisoner at Gago where togither with a certaine nobleman he miserably died Of the kingdome of Melli. THis region extending it selfe almost three hundred miles along the side of a riuer which fâ—lleth into Niger bordereth northward vpon the region last described southward vpon certaine deserts and drie mountaines westward vpon huge woods and forrests stretching to the Ocean sea shore and eastward vpon the territorie of Gago In this kingdome there is a large and ample village containing to the number of sixe thousand or mo families and called Melli whereof the whole kingdome is so named And here the king hath his place of residence The region it selfe yeeldeth great abundance of corne flesh and cotton Heere are many artificers and merchants in all places and yet the king honorably entertaineth all strangers The inhabitants are rich and haue plentie of wares Heere are great store of temples priests and professours which professours read their lectures onely in the temples bicause they haue no colleges at all The people of this region excell all other Negros in witte ciuilitie and industry and were the first that embraced the law of Mahumet at the same time when the vncle of Ioseph the king of Maroco was their prince and the gouernment remained for a while vnto his posterity at length Izchia subdued the prince of this region and made him his tributarie and so oppressed him with greeuous exactions that he was scarce able to maintaine his family Of the kingdome of Tombuto THis name was in our times as some thinke imposed vpon this kingdome from the name of a certain towne so called which they say king Mense Suleiman founded in the yeere of the Hegeira 610. and it is situate within twelue miles of a certaine branch of Niger all the houses whereof are now changed into cottages built of chalke and couered with thatch Howbeit there is a most stately temple to be seene the wals whereof are made of stone and lime and a princely palace also built by a most excellent workeman of Granada Here are many shops of artificers and merchants and especially of such as weaue linnen and cotton cloth And hither do the Barbarie-merchants bring cloth of Europe All the women of this region except maid-seruants go with their faces couered and sell all necessarie victuals The inhabitants especially strangers there residing are exceeding rich insomuch that the king that now is married both his daughters vnto two rich merchants Here are many wels containing most sweete water and so often as the riuer Niger ouerfloweth they conueigh the water thereof by certaine sluces into the towne Corne cattle milke and butter this region yeeldeth in great abundance but salt is verie scarce heere for it is brought hither by land from Tegaza which is fiue hundred miles distant When I my selfe was here I saw one camels loade of salt sold for 80. ducates The rich king of Tombuto hath many plates and scepters of gold some whereof weigh 1300. poundes and he keepes a magnificent and well furnished court When he trauelleth any whither he rideth vpon a camell which is lead by some of his noblemen and so he doth likewise when hee goeth to warfar and all his souldiers ride vpon horses Whosoeuer will speake vnto this king must first fall downe before his feete then taking vp earth must sprinkle it vpon his owne head shoulders which custom is ordinarily obserued by them that neuer saluted the king before or come as ambassadors from other princes He hath alwaies three thousand horsemen and a great number of footmen that shoot poysoned arrowes attending vpon him They haue often skirmishes with those that refuse to pay tribute and so many as they take they sell vnto the merchants of Tombuto Here are verie few horses bred and the merchants and courtiers keepe certaine little nags which they vse to trauell vpon but their best horses are brought out of Barbarie And the king so soone as he heareth that any merchants are come to towne with horses he commandeth a certaine number to be brought before him and chusing the best horse for himselfe he payeth a most liberall price for him He so deadly hateth all Iewes that he will not admit any into his citie and whatsoeuer Barbarie merchants he vnderstandeth to haue any dealings with the Iewes he presently causeth their goods to be confiscate Here are great store of doctors iudges priests and other learned men that are bountifully maintained at the kings cost and charges And hither are brought diuers manuscripts or written bookes out of Barbarie which are sold for more money then any other merchandize The coine of Tombuto is of gold without any stampe or superscription but in matters of smal value they vse certaine shels brought hither out of the kingdome of Persia fower hundred of which shels are worth a ducate and sixe peeces of their golden coine with two third parts weigh an ounce The inhabitants are people of a gentle and cherefull disposition and spend a great part of the night
in singing and dancing through all the streets of the citie they keepe great store of men and women slaues and their towne is much in danger of fire at my second being there halfe the town almost was burnt in fiue howers space Without the suburbs there are no gardens nor orchards at all Of the towne of Cabra THis large towne built without walles in manner of a village standeth about twelue miles from Tombuto vpon the riuer Niger and here such merchants as trauel vnto the kingdomes of Ghinea and Melli 〈◊〉 themselues Neither are the people or buildings of this towne any 〈◊〉 inferiour to the people and buildings of Tombuto and hither the Negros resort in great numbers by water In this towne the king of Tombuto appointeth a iudge to decide all controuerfies for it were tedious to goe 〈◊〉 so oft as need should require I my selfe am acquainted with Abu Bacr sirnamed Pargama the kings brother who is blacke in colour but most beautifull in minde and conditions Here breed many diseases which exceedingly diminish the people and that by reason of the fond and loathsome mixture of their meats for they mingle fish milke butter and flesh altogither And this is the ordinarie food also in Tombuto Of the towne and kingdome of Gago THE great towne of Gago being vnwalled also is distant southward of Tombuto almost fower hundred miles and enclineth somewhat to the southeast The houses thereof are but meane except those wherein the king and his courtiers remaine Here are exceeding rich merchants and hither continually resort great store of Negros which buy cloth here brought out of Barbarie and Europe This towne aboundeth with corne and flesh but is much destitute of wine trees and fruits Howbeit here is plentie of melons citrons and rice here are many welles also containing most sweete and holesome water Here is likewise a certaine place where slaues are to be sold especially vpon such daies as the merchants vse to assemble and a yoong slaue of fifteene yeeres age is sold for sixe ducates and so are children sold also The king of this region hath a certaine priuate palace wherein he maintaineth a great number of concubines and slaues which are kept by eunuches and for the guard of his owne person he keepeth a sufficient troupe of horsemen and footmen Betweene the first gate of the palace and the inner part thereof there is a place walled round about wherein the king himselfe decideth all his subiects controuersies and albeit the king be in this function most diligent and performeth all things thereto appertayning yet hath he about him his counsellors other officers as namely his secretaries treasurers factors and auditors It is a woonder to see what plentie of Merchandize is dayly brought hither and how costly and sumptuous all things be Horses bought in Europe for ten ducates are here sold againe for fortie and sometimes for fiftie ducates a piece There is not any cloth of Europe so course which will not here be sold for fower ducates an elle and if it be any thing fine they will giue fifteene ducates for an ell and an ell of the scarlet of Venice or of Turkie-cloath is here worth thirtie ducates A sword is here valued at three or fower crownes and so likewise are spurs bridles with other like commodities and spices also are sold at an high rate but of al other commodities salt is most extremelie deere The residue of this kingdome containeth nought but villages and hamlets inhabited by husbandmen and shepherds who in winter couer their bodies with beasts skins but in sommer they goe all naked saue their priuie members and sometimes they weare vpon their feet certaine shooes made of camels leather They are ignorant and rude people and you shall scarce finde one learned man in the space of an hundred miles They are continually burthened with grieuous exactions so that they haue scarce any thing remaining to liue vpon Of the kingdome of Guber IT standeth eastward of the kingdome of Gago almost three hundred miles betweene which two kingdomes lieth a vast desert being much destitute of water for it is about fortie miles distant from Niger The kingdome of Guber is enuironed withhigh mountaines and containeth many villages inhabited by shepherds and other herdsmen Abundance of cattell here are both great and small but of a lower stature then the cattell in other places Heere are also great store of artificers and linnen weauers and heere are such shooes made as the ancient Romans were woont to weare the greatest part whereof be carried to Tombuto and Gago Likewise heere is abundance of rice and of certaine other graine and pulse the like whereof I neuer saw in Italie But I thinke it groweth in some places of Spaine At the inundation of Niger all the fields of this region are ouerflowed and then the inhabitants cast their seede into the water onely In this region there is a certaine great village containing almost sixe thousand families being inhabited with all kinde of merchants and here was in times past the court of a certaine king who in my time was slaine by Izchia the king of Tombuto and his sonnes were gelt and accounted among the number of the kings eunuches Afterward he sent gouernours hither who mightily oppressed and impouerished the people that were before rich and most part of the inhabitants were carried captiue and kept for slaues by the said Izchia Of the citie and kingdome of Agadez THe citie of Agadez standing neere vnto Lybia was not long since walled round about by a certaine king The inhabitants are all whiter then other Negros and their houses are stately built after the fashion of Barbarie The greatest part of the citizens are forren merchants and the residue be either artificers or stipendaries to the king Euery merchant hath a great many of seruants and slaues who attend vpon them as they trauell from Cano to Borno for in that iourney they are exceedingly molested by certaine theeues called Zingani insomuch that they dare not trauell the same way vnlesse they be well appointed in my time they vsed crossebowes for their defence when the said merchants be arriued at any towne they presently employ all their slaues about some busines to the end they may not liue in idlenes ten or twelue they keepe to attend vpon themselues and their wares The king of this citie hath alwaies a notable garde about him and continueth for the most part at a certaine palace in the midst of the citie He hath greatest regarde vnto his subiects that inhabite in the deserts and fields for they will sometime expell their king and choose another fo that he which pleaseth the inhabitants of the desert best is sure to be king of Agadez The residue of this kingdome lying southward is inhabited by shepherds and herdsmen who dwell in certaine cottages made of boughes which cottages they carrie about vpon oxen from place to place They erect their
the high and lowe grounds of Egypt haue receiued either too little or too much or conuenient moisture all which customes and ceremonies being duely performed there followeth so great a solemnitie and such a thundering noise of drums and trumpets throughout all Cairo that a man would suppose the whole citie to be turned vpside downe And then euery familie hath a barge adorned with rich couerings and carpets and with torch-light and furnished with most daintie meates and confections wherewith they solace themselues The Soldan also with all his nobles and courtiers resorteth vnto that sluce or conduct which is called the great conduct and is compassed round about with a wall who taking an axe in his hand breaketh the said wall and so doe his nobles and courtiers likewise insomuch that the same part of the wall being cast downe which stopped the passage of the water the riuer of Nilus is so swiftly and forcibly carried through that conduct and through all other conducts and sluces in the city and the suburbes that Cairo at that time seemeth to be another Venice and then may you rowe ouer all places of the land of Egypt Seuen daies and seuen nights together the foresaide festiuall solemnitie continueth in Cairo during which space the merchants and artificers of the citie may according to the custome of the ancient Egyptians consume spend in torches perfumes confections musique such like iollities al their gaines that they haue gotten the whole yeere past Without the citie of Cairo neere vnto the suburbe of Beb Zuaila standeth the castle of the Soldan vpon the side of the mountaine called Mochattan This castle is enuironed with high and impregnable walles and containeth such stately and beautifull palaces that they can hardly be described Paued they are with excellent marble and on the roofes they are gilt and curiously painted their windowes are adorned with diuers colours like to the windowes in some places of Europe and their gates be artificially carued and beautified with gold and azure Some of these palaces are for the Soldan and his familie others for the familie of his wife and the residue for his concubines his eunuches and his garde Likewise the Soldan had one palace to keepe publique feastes in and another wherein to giue audience vnto forren ambassadours and to exalt himselfe with great pompe and ceremonies and another also for the gouernours and officials of his court But all these are at this present abolished by Selim the great Turke Of the customes rites and fashions of the citizens of Cairo THe inhabitants of Cairo are people of a merrie iocund and cheerefull disposition such as will promise much but performe little They exercise merchandize and mechanicall artes and yet trauell they not out of their owne natiue soile Many students there are of the lawes but very few of other liberall artes and sciences And albeit their colleges are continually full of students yet few of them attaine vnto perfection The citizens in winter are clad in garments of cloth lined with cotton in summer they weare fine shirts ouer which shirts some put on linnen garments curiously wrought with silke and others weare garments of chamblet and vpon their heads they carrie great turbants couered with cloth of India The women goe costly attired adorning their foreheads and necks with frontlets and chaines of pearle and on their heads they weare a sharpe and slender bonet of a span high being very pretious and rich Gownes they weare of woollen cloth with streite sleeues being curiously embrodered with needle-worke ouer which they cast certaine veiles of most excellent fine cloth of India They couer their heads and faces with a kinde of blacke scarfe through which beholding others they cannot be seene themselues Vpon their feet they weare fine shooes and pantofles somewhat after the Turkish fashion These women are so ambitious proud that all of them disdaine either to spin or to play the cookes wherefore their husbands are constrained to buie victuals ready drest at the cookes shops for very few except such as haue a great familie vse to prepare and dresse their victuals in their owne houses Also they vouchsafe great libertie vnto their wiues for the good man being gone to the tauerne or victualling-house his wife tricking vp her selfe in costly apparell and being perfumed with sweet and pretious odours walketh about the citie to solace her selfe and parley with her kinsfolks and friendes They vse to ride vpon asses more then horses which are broken to such a gentle pace that they goe easier then any ambling horse These asses they couer with most costly furniture and let them out vnto women to ride vpon together with a boy to lead the asse and certaine footmen to run by In this citie like as in diuers others great store of people carrie about sundrie kindes of victuals to be sold. Many there are also that sell water which they carrie vp and downe in certaine leather bags vpon the backs of camels for the citie as I said before is two miles distant from Nilus Others carrie about a more fine and handsome vessell with a cocke or spout of brasse vpon it hauing a cup of Myrrhe or christall in their hands and these sell water for men to drinke and for euery draught they take a farthing Others sell yoong chickens and other fowles by measure which they hatch after a woonderfull and strange manner They put great numbers of egges into certaine ouens built vpon sundrie loftes which ouens being moderately het will within seuen daies conuert all the said egges into chickens Their measures are bottomlesse which being put into the basket of the buier and filled full of chickens they lift it vp and so let the chickens fall into the basket Likewise such as buie those chickens hauing kept them a few daies carrie them about to sell againe The cookes shops stand open very late but the shops of other artificers are shut vp before ten of the clocke who then walke abroad for their solace and recreation from one suburbe to another The citizens in their common talke vse ribald and filthie speeches and that I may passe ouer the rest in silence it falleth out often times that the wife will complaine of her husband vnto the iudge that he doth not his dutie nor contenteth her sufficiently in the night season whereupon as it is permitted by the Mahumetan law the women are diuorced and married vnto other husbands Among the artizans whosoeuer is the first inuentour of any new and ingenious deuise is clad in a garment of cloth of gold and carried with a noise of musitians after him as it were in triumph from shop to shop hauing some money giuen him at euery place I my selfe once saw one carried about with solemne musicke and with great pompe and triumph because he had bound a flea in a chaine which lay before him on a peece of paper for all men to behold And if any
is recorded to be the brother of Chus and the sonne of Cham. Chibith The towne of Pharao The 〈◊〉 of Ioseph Extreme pestilence The French maladie most rife in Egypt The increase of Nilus Ancient traffique of the 〈◊〉 vnto Alexandria Alexandria surprised and sacked by the king of Cyprus The water of Nilus brought by a sluce into Alexandria Certaine Christians called Iacobites Iohn Leo was at Rasid the same time 〈◊〉 Selim the great Turke passed that way The fruits called Mose Sugar Great abundance of Sugar * 1526. Delicate drinks made of all kind of fruits 〈◊〉 Ghauri A stately 〈◊〉 These asses are somewhat like to Banks his curtall that plaid his prizes all England ouer Soothsaying birds Saint 〈◊〉 The place where balme groweth The manner of measuring the increase of Nilus This piller is called by Plinie Niloscopium The attire of the women of Cairo The libertie of the women of Cairo Birds hatched after a strange manner in Egypt The reward of new and ingenious deuises Fower seuer all sects of the Mahumetan religion permitted in the citie of Cairo An horrible kind of execution The nauel being cut is present death Women 〈◊〉 Iohn Leo was thrise in Egypt The 〈◊〉 The originall of the Mamaluks * There is such an officer in the court of England called The Maister of the Reuells The 〈◊〉 The citie of 〈◊〉 Egyptian 〈◊〉 Store of the graine called Sesama Most excellent hempe Crocodiles The place where Ioseph was buried * It is otherwise read in the x. chap. of Genesis verse 6. * Dubium Emralds Antonio Galuano maketh large mention of this citie The hauen of Chossir Suachen * Bugiha are those which in 〈◊〉 time were called Troglodytae The great trauels of Iohn Leo. * Or 〈◊〉 * Or Muluia A riuer of hot and salt water * Or Guartguessen Sundry opinions concerning 〈◊〉 The manner of taking elephants in 〈◊〉 * Here is a word wanting in the originall * In all parts of the world which the author at that 〈◊〉 knew The African 〈◊〉 are the best Three kinds of camels Camels of a woonderfull swiftnes otherwise called Dromedaries The camels great abstinence from drinke How the Camels of 〈◊〉 learne to dance Morses fedde with camels milke Targets made of a skin The manner of gathering ciuet Amber A medicine for the leprosie The craft of the Crocodile in taking both men and beasts Little birds flying into the crocodiles mouth to picke wormes from betweene their teeth The manner of taking the crocodile How the camelion killeth the serpent A strange narration A strange 〈◊〉 * Or fathomes * That is in Barbarie Numidia Libya the lande of Negros and Egypt * Of this mountaine read in the discourse before the beginning of Leo. 〈◊〉 most 〈◊〉 in gold The kings armes A 〈◊〉 course A recrely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 fire from the 〈◊〉 to his 〈◊〉 princes * Described by Leo in his fifth booke vnder the name of Lharais * Or Miramonin The maner how the Xeriffos aspired to the kingdomes of Maroco Sus and Fez. * Or the kingdomes of Maroco and Fez. * Or Abnet * Or Azaphi Artillerie cast by French Renegados Caruuen the principall Mahumetan temple in Fez being a mile and an 〈◊〉 about Read Leo lib. 3. These are a militarie order like vnto them which hold land 〈◊〉 vs vnder the 〈◊〉 of knights seruice * Mine author heere much mistaketh the matter * Or Emina * Or Haly. G. B. B. Rel. vn part 1. lib. 2. dell ' Asia With this frier Ascelline was sent Iohannes de Plano Carpini whose voiage is put downe in the first volume of the 〈◊〉 voiages Or Olouchali * Or Coptitae * As the church in all the hither parts of Europe hath beene called the western and that of Greece and Asia the 〈◊〉 church * Whātsoeuer Dresserus think eth yet diuers other authors of good note do hold the dominions of Prete Ianni to be nothing so large * These Mores are called Dobas Acts of the Apost cap. 8. verse 26. Matthew the first ambassador sent from Aethiopia to Portugall * This ambassage was at the first vndertaken by Odoardo Galuano who dying at the isle of 〈◊〉 in the Red sea it was performed by Rodrigo de Lima. Zagazabo the second ambassador sent from AEthiopia to Portugall * Whereas the Iewes circumcised the males 〈◊〉 * Yet in the time of Pope Paule the 4. were sent certaine priests with a new created Patriarke and two 〈◊〉 who notwithstanding when they went 〈◊〉 about to bring in the 〈◊〉 religion and the supremacie of the Pope were crossed by the Emperour in all their proceedings The Emperour of Ethiopia wil by no meanes admit the supremacie and religion of the Romish church Adamas a new Emperour of Ethiopia Fartac a countrey of Arabia Felix the king whereof subdued the isle of Zocotera 1482. * So are the inhabitants of Congo called * So called by Osorius lib. 3. de Reb. Gest. Eman. But by Phil. Pigafetta lib. 2. Cap. 2. Mani-Pango * Osorius de Reb. Gest. Eman. lib. 3. * Called by Philippo Pigafetto 〈◊〉 Concerning these Giacchi otherwise called Agag read the discourse of Mohenemugi before the beginning of Iohn Leo. * Not Mazagan vpon the coast of Barbarie
seuerallie and thinketh Niger to be that which is now called Rio grande This riuer taketh his beginning as some thinke out of a certain desert to the east called Seu or springeth rather out of a lake and after a long race falleth at length into the western Ocean It increaseth also for the space of fortie daies like Nilus and is for so long space decreasing about the verie same time by which inundation it bringeth such fruitfulnes vnto all the land of Negros certain mountaines onely excepted as no place in the world can be imagined more fertile Senaga or Canaga a most notable riuer called as some thinke Baratis by Ptolemey and for the length therof and manifold strange creatures therein contained comparable to Nilus seuereth by his winding chanel the barren and naked soile from the greene and fruitefull Moreouer it maketh a separation betweene nations of sundrie colours for the people on this side are of a dead ash-colour leane and of a small stature but on the farther side they are exceeding blacke of tall and manly stature and very well proportioned howbeit neere vnto the riuer on either side they are of a meane colour complexion and stature betweene both the aboue mentioned It falleth into the sea by two mouthes the principall whereof is about a mile broad vp into the which the sea entreth almost 60. miles It springeth according to Iohn Barros out of two lakes the greater whereof is now called the lake of Gaoga but heretofore by Ptolemey Chelonidae paludes and the lesser Ptolemey calleth Nubaepalus as also out of a riuer named by Ptolemey Ghir This riuer of Senaga hath great variety of strange fishes and other creatures that liue in the water as namely sea-horses crocodiles winged serpents and such like neere vnto it also are great store of Elephants wilde bores lyons and leopards Gambra or Gambea a very great riuer lying betweene Senaga and Niger and esteemed by Sanutus to be that which Ptolemey called Stachir fetcheth his originall from the lake of Libya and from the fountaines which Ptolemey assigneth to the riuer of Niger this riuer in greatnes and depth exceedeth Senaga and hath many vnknowne riuers falling thereinto and bringeth foorth all kindes of liuing creatures that Senaga doth In the midst of this riuer standeth the Isle of Elephants so called in regarde of great numbers of those beasts The riuer Zaire beginneth out of the same lake from whence Nilus springeth this being one of the greatest riuers of all Africa and vtterly vnknowne vnto ancient writers containeth at the mouth eight and twentie miles in bredth hauing a very safe harbour for ships to ride in also there are many and great Islands in the chanell thereof and sundrie riuers do fall thereinto the principall whereof are Vumba Barbela Coanza and Lelunda in briefe this riuer Zaire running through the kingdome of Congo disgorgeth it selfe into the maine Ethiopian sea Out of the same lake which is the very fountaine of Nilus springeth another notable and famous riuer which after a long race toward the south and east is diuided into two branches the northerly branch which is exceeding great for it 〈◊〉 fixe great riuers thereinto and is nauigable for the space of seuen hundred miles being properly called Cuama and the other branch more southerly which is verie great also being named Manich or Magnice or Rio del spirito santo The promontories capes or headlands of Africa be verie many the most famous and principal wherof are The cape of Buena esperança or good hope Cabo verde and Cabo de los corrientes The cape of Buena esperança or good hope is the extreame southerly point of all Africa being a most renowmed and dangerous promontorie which in the yeere one thousand foure hundred nintie seuen was the second time discouered by Vasco da Gama at the commandement of Don Emanuel king of Portugal this cape the mariners were woont to cal the lion of the Ocean and the tempestuous cape by reason of the ruffling and roring of the windes which they found there for the most part very boisterons for the sea thereabout is exceeding rough by reason of the continual fury of the windes neither will any nauigatours touch vpon the cape except they be enforced by meere necessitie Cabo verde or The greene head-land is esteemed by some to be the same which Ptolemey calleth Promontorium Arsinarium is compassed on either side by the riuers of Senega and Gambra Cabo de los corrientes otherwise called the cape of San Sebastian stretcheth foorth it selfe right ouer against the south ende of the great Isle of Madagascar it is a cape well knowne by reason it is so dangerous to double which the Moores durst not passe for a very long time And heere as concerning the strange beasts fishes serpents trees plants and roots of Africa as likewise touching the diseases whereto the African people are most subiect and the varietie of languages excepting the Chaldaean Egyptian Turkish Italian and Spanish toongs which are now and haue beene of ancient times spoken in Africa I refer the Reader to the first and last bookes of Iohn Leo and to other places where they are at large and purposely intreated of Moreouer this part of the worlde is inhabited especially by fiue principall nations to wit by the people called Cafri or Cafates that is to say outlawes or lawlesse by the Abassins the Egyptians the Arabians and the Africans or Moores properly so called which last are of two kinds namely white or tawnie Moores and Negros or blacke Moores Of all which nations some are Gentiles which worship Idols others of the sect of Mahumet some others Christians and some Iewish in religion the greatest part of which people are thought to be descended from Cham the cursed son of Noah except some Arabians of the linage of Sem which afterward passed into Africa Now the Arabians inhabiting Africa are diuided into many seuerall kinds possessing diuers and sundrie habitations and regions for some dwell neere the sea shore which retaine the name of Arabians but others inhabiting the inland are called Baduini There bee likewise infinite swarmes of Arabians which with their wiues and children leade a vagrant and roguish life in the deserts vsing tents in stead of houses these are notable theeues and very troublesome both to their neighbour-inhabitants and also to merchants for which cause trauellers and merchants dare not passe ouer the African deserts alone but onely in Carouans which are great companies of merchants riding and transporting their goods vpon their camels and asses who go very strong and in great numbers for feare of the said theeuish Arabians Ptolemey in his fourth booke of Geography diuideth Africa into twelue regions or prouinces namely Mauritania Tingitana Mauritania Caesariensis Numidia Africa propria Cyrenaica Marmarica Libya propria AEgyptus superior AEgyptus inferior Libya interior AEthiopia sub AEgypto AEthiopia
camels backs At this towne of Suez they haue no fresh water but all their water is brought them from a place sixe miles distant vpon camels backs being notwithstanding brackish and bitter The western shore of the Red sea is inhabited with people called in old time Troglodytae which at this present do all of them yeelde obedience to the great Turke who considering that the fleets of the Portugales entered very often into the Red sea and were there receiued by the subiects of Prete Gianni and did him great domage hath thereupon taken occasion not onely to conquer the Troglodytae but also to wast and subdue a great part of Barnagasso the most Northerlie prouince of the said Prete So that the audacious attempts of the Portugales in those partes haue bred two most dangerous and bad effects the one is that the Arabians haue most strongly fortified all their sea-townes which before lay naked and without fortification the other for that the Turke also hath bin occasioned thereby to make warre against the Prete Wherefore they ought not to haue vndertaken any such enterprise but with full resolution and sufficient forces to accomplish the same for lesser attempts serue to no other end but onely to rouze and arme the enimie which was before secure and quiet Neither is it heere to be omitted that in the foresaide sea a man can saile in no ships nor barks but only those of the great Turke or at least with his licence paying vnto him for tribute a good part of the fraight For this purpose he hath certaine Magazines or store-houses of timber which is brought partly from the gulfe of Satalia and partly from Nicomedia and other places vpon the Euxin sea vnto Rosetto and Alexandria from whence it is afterward transported to Cairo and thence to Suez This sea is called the Red sea not in regard that the waters thereofbe all red but as some thinke from certaine red rushes which growe vpon the shore and as others are of opinion from a kinde of red earth which in sundry places it hath at the bottome which earth dieth not the very substance of the water red but by transparence causeth it especially neere the shore to appeere of that colour Africa Troglodytica THat sandie barren and desert part of Africa which lieth betweene Nilus and the Red sea especially to the south of the tropike was in old times inhabited by the Troglodytae a people so called bicause of their dwelling in caues vnder the ground Along this westerne coast of the Red sea runneth a ridge of mountaines which being an occasion that the inland riuers can not fall into the saide sea they are forced to discharge themselues into Nilus The foresaide mountaines and sea coast are now inhabited by Mahumetans being partly Arabians and partly Turkes which not many yeeres ago haue attempted to saile that sea and to inuade the regions adioining The naturall inhabitants are a rude barbarous people and very poore and beggerly The chiefe places of habitation are Corondol a speciall good porte Alcosser a place well knowne bicause that neere vnto it the saide mountaines open themselues and giue passage to the bringing in of the fruits and commodities of Abassia Suachen esteemed one of the principall ports in all the streights and being made by an island Here resideth the Bassa of the great Turke which is called the gouernour of Abassia with three thousand soldiers or thereabout Next followeth Ercoco the onely hauen towne of the Prete lying ouer against the little isle of Mazua and heere the mountaines make an other opening or passage for transporting of victuals out of the lande of the saide Prete Ianni From hence almost to the very entrance of the Red sea the coast is at this present vninhabited forlorne and desert Likewise from Suachen to Mazua is a continuall woode the trees whereof are but of small woorth Iust within the saide entrance standeth the towne and port of Vela vnder the iurisdiction of the king of Dancali a Moore Vpon all this west shore of the Red sea as likewise vpon the contrary east shore scarcitie of water is the cause why there are so fewe and so small places of habitation and the people runne and flocke togither where they may finde any pit or fountaine of water Some curious reader might here expect because I haue nowe passed so neere the frontiers of Egypt that I should make an exact description of that most famous and fruitefull prouince and likewise of the great city of Alcair and of the inundation and decrease of Nilus all which because they are expressed in most orient liuelie colours by our author Iohn Leo I should shew my selfe both iniurious to him and tedious to all iudiciall readers in anticipating and forestalling that before the beginning of his booke which he so neere the end doth in such large and particular wise intreate of Now therefore let vs proceed to the vpper or inner Ethiopia beginning with the first and most northerly prouince thereof called Nubia Nubia PAssing therefore westward from the Island of Siene you enter into the prouince of Nubia bordering on the west vpon Gaoga eastward vpon the riuer Nilus towards the North vpon Egypt and southward vpon the desert of Goran The inhabitants thereof called by Strabo 〈◊〉 liue at this present as Francisco Aluarez reporteth a most miserable and wretched kinde of life for hauing lost the sinceritie and light of the gospel they do embrace infinite corruptions of the Iewish and Mahumetan religions At the same time when the foresaid Aluarez was in Abassia there came certaine messengers out of Nubia to make suit vnto the Prete that he would send them priests and such persons as might preach and administer the sacraments vnto them But he returned answere that he coulde not in regard of the scarcitie of great cler-giemen in his dominions The said messengers reported that the Nubians had sent often to Rome for a bishop but being afterward by the inuasions of the Moores and the calamitie of warre cut short of that assistance they fell for want of teachers and ministers into extreme ignorance of Christian religion and by little and little were infected with the impious and abominable sects of the Iewes and Mahumetans Some Portugals trauailing to those parts sawe many churches destroied by the handes of the Arabians and in some places the pictures of saints painted vpon the wals They are gouerned by women and call their Queene Gaua Their principall citie called Dangala and consisting of about ten thousand housholds is a place of great traffike bicause it is so neere vnto Egypt and the riuer Nilus All their other habitations are villages and base cottages Their houses are built of claie and couered with strawe The chiefe commodities of this region are rice stone-sugar sanders iuorie for they take many elephants as likewise abundance of ciuet and golde in great plentie The countrey is for the most part sandie howbeit there
are certaine mightie lakes by the benefite whereof a great part of Nubia is watred and made fruitfull The Isle of Meroe MEroe called at this time by the names of Guengare Amara and Nobe being the greatest and fairestisle which Nilus maketh and resembled by Herodotus to the shape of a target containeth in bredth a thousand and in length three thousand stadios or furlongs It aboundeth with golde siluer copper iron Eben-wood palme-trees and other such commodities as are in Nubia Some write that there growe canes or reeds of so huge a bignes that the people make botes of them Heere also you haue minerall salt and lions elephants and leopards This island is inhabited by Mahumetans who are confederate with the Moores against Prete Ianni Strabo affirmeth that in old time the authoritie of the priests of this island was so great that by a meane and ordinarie messenger they woulde command the king to murther himselfe and woulde substitute an other in his roome But at length one king hauing in a certaine temple put all the saide priests to death quite abolished that monstrous custome And heere as Nilus vnfoldeth himselfe into two branches to embrace this Islande he receiueth from the east the riuer of Abagni and from the west the riuer Sarabotto which haue likewise other smaller riuers falling into them The Abassins are of opinion that the Queene of Saba which trauelled so farre to heare the wisedome of Salomon was mistresse of this isle Paulus Ionius saith here are three kings one a Gentile the second a Moore and the third a Christian subiect vnto the Prete From Meroe to Siene it is accounted fifteene daies iourney by water Abassia or the empire of Prete Ianni THe Abassins are a people subiect to Prete Ianni whose empire if we consider the stile which he vseth in his letters hath most ample confines For he intituleth himselfe emperour of the great and higher Ethiopia king of Goiame which as Botero supposeth is situate betweene Nilus and Zaire of Vangue a kingdome beyond Zaire of Damut which confineth with the land of the Anzichi and towards the south he is called king of Cafate and Bagamidri two prouinces bordering vpon the first great lake which is the originall fountaine of Nilus as likewise of the kingdomes of Xoa Fatigar Angote Baru Baaliganze Adea Amara Ambea Vaguc Tigremahon Sabaim where the Queene of Saba gouerned and lastly of Barnagaes and lorde as farre as Nubia which bordereth vpon Egypt But at this present the center or midst of his Empire as Iohn Barros writeth is the lake of Barcena For it extendeth eastward towarde the Red sea as farre as Suaquen the space of two hundred twentie and two leagues Howbeit betweene the sea and his dominions runneth a ridge of mountaines inhabited by Moores who are masters of al the sea-coast along except the porte of Ercoco which belongeth to the Prete And likewise on the west his empire is restrained by another mountainous ridge stretching along the riuer of Nilus where are founde most rich mines of golde amongst which are the mines of Damut and of Sinassij wholie in the possession of Gentiles which pay tribute vnto the Prete Northward it is bounded by an imaginarie line supposed to be drawen from Suachen to the beginning of the isle Meroe aboue mentioned which line extendeth an hundred and fiue and twentie leagues From thence the Abassin borders trend south somewhat crookedly in manner of a bowe as farre as the kingdome of Adea from the mountaines whereof springeth a riuer called by Ptolemey Raptus which falleth into the sea about Melinde for the space of two hundred and fiftie nine leagues next vnto the which borders inhabite certaine Gentiles of blacke colour with curled haire And heere the 〈◊〉 empire is limited by the kingdome of Adel the head citie whereof called Arar standeth in the latitude nine degrees So that all this great empire may containe in compasse sixe hundred threescore and two leagues little more or lesse It is refreshed and watered by two mightie riuers which conuey their streames into Nilus called by Ptolemey Astaboras and Astapus and by the naturall inhabitants Abagni and Tagassi the first whereof taketh his originall from the lake of Barcena and the second from the lake of Colue Barcena lieth in seuen degrees of north latitude Colue vnder the verie Equinoctiall The first besides Abagni ingendereth also the riuer of Zeila and the second besides Tagassi giueth essence to the riuer of Quilimanci Between Abagni and the Red sea lieth the prouince of Barnagasso betweene Abagni and Tagassi are the kingdomes of Angote and Fatigar and more towards the bay of Barbarians the prouinces of Adea and of Baru and somewhat lower that of Amara In briefe beyond the riuer of Tagassi ly the regions of Bileguanzi and of Tigremahon The Abassins haue no great knowledge of Nilus by reason of the mountaines which deuide them from it for which cause they call Abagni the father of riuers Howbeit they say that vpon Nilus do inhabite two great and populous nations one of Iewes towards the west vnder the gouernment of a mighty king the other more southerly consisting of Amazones or warlike women whereof wee will speake more at large in our relation of Monomotapa Throughout all the dominion of the Prete there is not any one city of importance either for multitude of inhabitantes for magnificent buildings or for any other respect For the greatest townes there containe not aboue two thousand housholds the houses being cottage-like reared vp with clay and couered with straw or such like base matter Also Ptolemey intreating of these partes maketh mention but of three or foure cities onely which he appointeth to the south of the Isle Meroe Howbeit in some places vpon the frontiers of Abassia there are certaine townes verie fairely built and much frequented for traffique The Portugales in their trauailes throughout the empire haue often declared vnto the Abassins how much better it were for auoiding of the outragious iniuries and losses daily inflicted by the Moores and Mahumetans both vpon their goods and persons if the emperour would build cities and castles stronglie walled and fortified Whereunto they made answere that the power of their Neguz or emperour consisted not in stone-walles but in the armes of his people They vse not ordinarily any lime or stone but onely for the building of churches saying that so it becommeth vs to make a difference between the houses of men and churches dedicated to God and of their Beteneguz or houses of the emperour wherein the gouernours of prouinces are placed to execute iustice These Beteneguz stand continually open and yet in the gouernours absence no man dare enter into them vnder paine of being punished as a traytour Moreouer in the city of Axuma esteemed by them to haue beene the seate of the Queene of Saba stand certaine ruinous buildings like vnto pyramides which by reason of their greatnes
be seene to his subiects but onely vpon solemne dayes At other times it was held as a great fauour if he did shew but the halfe part of his feete to ambassadours and to his fauorites And no maruel for amongst the Ethiopians it hath beene an ancient custome as Strabo writeth To adore their kinges like gods who for the most part liue enclosed at home This so strange and stately kinde of gouernment did exceedingly abase his subiects whom the Prete vsed like slaues so that vpon the smallest occasions that might be he would depriue them of all honour and dignity were they neuer so great Abassia containeth many large plaines and very high mountaines all fruitfull In some places you shall haue most extreame coulde and frostie weather but not any snowe throughout the whole empire no not in the mountaines The Prete hath many moores in his dominions and vpon his borders but the most populous of all others are the Moores called Dobas who are bound by a law neuer to marry till they can bring most euident testimony that each of them hath slaine twelue Christians Wherefore the Abassin merchantspasse not by their country but with most strong guardes A particular and briefe relation of all the kingdomes and prouinces subiect to the Christian Emperour of Abassia commonly called Prete Ianni 〈◊〉 OF all the prouinces subiect vnto the Prete that of Barnagasso is best knowne vnto vs bicause it is so neere vnto the Red sea ouer against the shore whereof it stretcheth in length from Suachen almost as farre as the very mouth or entrance of the streight being as is before saide bounded on the south part with the mightie riuer of Abagni which runneth westward out of the lake of Barcena into Nilus Howbeit it hath no other port vpon the Red sea but onely Ercoco situate neere the Isle of Mazua neither hath the Prete any porte but this in all his dominions so that he is as it were on all sides land-locked which is one of the greatest defects in any empire kingdome or state that can be imagined This prouince is full of townes villages as likewise of riuers and pooles which make it exceeding fruitfull The Viceroy or gouernour hereof called also by the name of Barnagasso resideth in the citie of Beroa otherwise called Barua and by Ptolemey as Sanutus thinketh Coloue situate vpon a pleasant riuer abounding with fish Vnto him likewise are subiect the gouernments of Danfila and of Canfila neere vnto the borders of Egypt Certaine yeeres past the great Turkes forces haue mightily afflicted this prouince destroying the townes and leading the people captiue so that in the end Isaac the lorde Barnagasso was inforced to compound with the Turkes lieutenant bearing title The Bassa of Abassia and residing in Suachen for the yeerely tribute of a thousand ounces of golde Ouer and besides he paieth euery yeere vnto his soueraigne the Prete an hundred and fiftie excellent horses with cloth of silke and of cotton and other matters On the most westerly part of Barnagasso beginneth a mightie ridge of mountaines which for a good space waxing narrower and narrower at length in the kingdome of Angote dilateth 〈◊〉 selfe into a rounde forme enuironing with the steepe sides and impassable tops thereof many fruitefull and pleasant vallies for the space of fifteene daies iourney in compasse within which vallies as it were in walled castles all persons whatsoeuer both male and female of the Abassin bloud royall are vnder paine of most extreme punishment togither with their whole families limited to remaine Within this great roundell or enclosure of mountaines there is among many others contained one lesser which is begirt arounde with a mountainous wall so craggie steepe and vnscaleable that no man can come in or out but onely by a certaine basket drawne vp and downe vpon a rope neither is it possible to famish the parties within by a siege be it neuer so long for they haue fruitefull ground with houses a church a monasterie cesternes of water and all other necessaries for the continuall maintenance of fiue hundred persons Within this strong citadell of mountaines for the auoiding of all tumults and seditions are locked vp those great personages which come neerest in bloud to the Prete and are in possibilitie of the crowne and here must they all liue and die except a very few of them who attaine at length vnto the gouernment of the empire The Abassins haue a tradition that one Abraham an emperour of theirs being admonished in a dreame that he shoulde keepe his dominions in tranquillitie by the meanes aforesaid was the first that founde this mountaine and vsed it for the same purpose Tigremahon TIgremahon a very large kingdome lieth betweene the riuer Marabo Nilus the Red sea and the kingdome of Angote The gouernour heere of paieth for yeerely tribute vnto the Prete two hundred Arabian horsés a great quantitie of silke and cotton-cloth and very much golde Vnto this kingdome is subiect the prouince of Tigray wherein standes the citie of Caxumo sometimes the royall seate of the Queene of Saba which they say was called Maqueda of whom Salomon begat a sonne named Melich before mentioned which citie was the seate likewise of Queene Candace Also to the said kingdome of Tigremahon belong the prouinces of Sabaim Torrates Balgada and others Angote THis kingdome standing betweene the kingdomes of Tigremahon and Amara is full of mountaines and valleies and aboundeth mightilie with all kinde of corne and cattell The inhabitants eate but one meale in fower and twentie howers and that alwaies in the night their foode is most commonly rawe flesh with a kinde of sauce made of an oxegall In stead of money they vse salte and little balles of iron as is before saide Vnto this kingdome do belong the prouinces of Abuguna and Guanamora with other regions and places Amara THe kingdome of Amara bordering north vpon Angote east vpon Xoa south vpon Damut and extending west almost as farre as Nilus is for the most part a plaine region without mountaines very fertile and abounding with cattell Vpon the frontiers of this kingdome standeth the foresaide large high and 〈◊〉 mountaine wherein the sonnes brethren and kinsfolkes of the Prete are most warily kept and from whence after his decease the heire apparant is brought to be inuested in the empire The kingdome of Xoa situate betweene the kingdomes of Amara Damut and Fatigar containeth many deepe vallies and aboundeth with all kinde of corne and cattell In the kingdome of Goiame are two mightie lakes from which Nilus is saide to fetch his originall Heere is exceeding plentie of golde vnrefined the north part of this region is full of deserts and mountainous places Bagamidri one of the largest kingdomes in all the vpper Ethiopia extendeth in length by the riuer Nilus the space almost of six hundred miles and in 〈◊〉 kingdome are many mostrich siluer-mines The kingdome of Fatigar lying betweene
said riuer so exceedingly to swel that the waters thereof couer al the plaine countrie of Egypt In all the foresaid dominions of the Prete they vse not to write one to another neither do the officers of Iustice commit any of their affaires to writing but all matters are dispatched by messengers and by wordes of mouth onely it was told me that the reuenues and tributes of the Prete are put downe in writing both vpon the receite and at the disbursement The emperour Prete Ianni hath two speciall princely names to wit Acegue which signifieth an emperour and Neguz a king The Patriarke or arche-prelate of all Abassia is called Abuna that is to say Father neither is there any in all the whole empire which ordaineth ministers but onely hee There is no wine of the grape made publiquely in any place but onelie in the houses of the Prete and of the Patriarke for if it be made anie other where it is done by stealth The wine which is vsed in their communions they make of raisins steeped ten daies in water and afterward streined in a wine-presse and it is a most cordiall delicate and strong wine In this countrey is great abundance of golde siluer copper and tinne but the people are ignorant how to worke it out of the mines neither haue they any coine of golde or siluer but all their bargaines are made by bartering of one commoditie for another Also they trucke little peeces of gold some weighing a dram and some an ounce But salt is the principall thing which runneth currant for money throughout all the emperours dominions Some places there are which yeeld wheat and barly and others millet in great plentie and where the saide graines are not reaped there groweth Tafo daguza a seede vtterly vnknowne in these parts as likewise lentiles beanes pease fitches and all kinde of pulse in abundance Heere are infinite store of sugar canes which they know neither how to boile nor refine but eate it rawe There be great plentie of faire grapes and peaches which are ripe in the moneths of Februarie and Aprill Of orenges limons and citrons the quantitie is innumerable for they growe most naturally out of the Abassin soile garden-herbes there are but fewe bicause the people delight neither to set nor sowe them All the whole countrey is full of Basill which groweth very tall both in the woods and vpon the mountaines so are there likewise other odoriferous herbes of diuers sorts but vnknowen vnto vs. Of trees common with vs I remember none other kinds growing there but onely Cypresses damsin-trees sallowes by the waters side and trees of Iuiubas Honie there is exceeding great plentie all the countrey ouer neither are their bee-hiues placed abroad in the open aire as ours are but they set them in chambers where making a little hole in the wall the bees go thicke in and out and come home laden with honie Wherefore there is great quantitie gathered in all the empire but especially in the monasteries where they make it a great part of their sustenance There are founde also swarmes of bees in the woodes and vpon the mountaines neere whom they place certaine hollowe boxes made of barke which being filled with honicombes they take vp and carrie home to their houses They gather much waxe whereof they make their candles because they haue no vse of tallow They haue no oyle of oliues but of another kinde which they call Hena and the hearbe whereout they straine it is like a little vine-leafe neither hath this oyle any smell at all but in colour it is as beautifull as gold Heere likewise they haue store of flax but they know not how to make cloth thereof Here is also great plenty of cotton whereof they make cloth of diuers colours One countrie there is so extreamely colde that the people are inforced to clad themselues in very course cloth of a darke tawnie Concerning phisicke and the cure of diseases they know verie little or nothing but for aches in any partes of their bodies the onely remedy which they vse is to apply cupping-glasses and for head-aches they let the great vaine of the temples bloud Howbeit they haue certaine herbes the iuice whereof being drunke serueth them in steede of a purgation There would in this conntrie be gathered infinite store of fruit and far greater quantitie of corne were not the poore commons most miserablie oppressed by their superiours who extorte all their substance from them so that they neuer till nor plant any more then they must of meere necessitie In no place wheresoeuer I trauelled could I see any shambles of flesh but onely at the court of the Prete for in other places no man may kill an oxe though it bee his owne without licence from the gouernour of the countrie As touching their ordinary proceeding in iustice they vse not to put any to sudden death but beate them with bastonados according to the quality of the offence and likewise they plucke out their eyes and cut off their handes and feete howbeit during mine abode there I saw one burnt for robbing of a church The common sort speake truth very seldome though it bee vpon an oathe vnlesse they be forced to sweare By the head of the King They feare exceedingly to be excommunicated so that being enioined any thing that tendeth to their preiudice if they do it at all it is done for feare of excommunication Their depositions or othes are performed in this manner The partie to be deposed goeth accompanied with two priests carrying with them fire and incense to the church-doore whereon he layeth his hande and then the said priests adiure him to tell the truth saying If thou sweare falsly as the lyon 〈◊〉 the beasts of the forest so let the diuell deuoure thy soule and as corne is ground vnder the mill-stone so let him grinde thy bones and finally as the fire burneth vp the wood so may thy soule burne in the fire of hell and the partie sworne answereth to euery of the former clauses Amen But if thou speake truth let thy life be prolonged with honour and thy soule enter into Paradise with the blessed and he againe answereth Amen Which being done hee giueth testimonie of the matter in question No person may sit in their churches nor enter into them with his shooes on nor spit within them neither may any dogge or any other creature voide of reason come within them They confesse themselues standing vpon their feete and so standing likewise receiue absolution They 〈◊〉 their forme of publike praier after one and the same manner both in the churches of their Canons and of their friers which friers haue no wiues but the Canons and priests are permitted to haue Where the Canons liue togither they go each man to diet at his owne house but the friers eate their meate in common Their ecclefiasticall gouernours are called Licanati The sonnes of the Canons are as it were by
at the confluence or meeting of the riuer last mentioned and the riuer Luiola with a small number of Portugals ioined to the aide sent him from the king of Congo and from certaine princes of Angola his confederates he gaue the foresaid king notwithstanding his innumerable troupes of Negros diuers sundry ouerthrowes The said riuer Coanza springeth out of the lake of Aquelunda situate westward of the great lake whereour Nilus takes his originall In this kingdome are the mountaines of Cabambe abounding with rich and excellent siluer mines which haue ministred the chiefe occasion of all the foresaid warres This region aboundeth also with other minerals and with cattell of all sorts Most true it is that dogs-flesh is heere accounted of all others the daintiest meate for which cause they bring vp and fatten great plentie of dogs for the shambles Yea it hath beene constantly affirmed that a great dogge accustomed to the bull was sold in exchange of two and twentie slaues the value of whom coulde not amount to much lesse then two hundred and twentie ducats The priests of Angola called Gange are helde in such estimation and account as the people are verily perswaded that they haue in their power abundance and scarcitie life and death For they haue knowledge of medicinable hearbes and of deadly poisons also which they keepe secret vnto themselues and by meanes of their familiaritie with the diuell they often foretell things to come Towards the lake of Aquelunda before mentioned lieth a countrey called Quizama the inhabitants whereof being gouerned after the manner of a common wealth haue shewed themselues very friendly to the Portugals and haue done them speciall good seruice in their warres against the king of Angola Thus hauing briefely pointed at the former three bordering countries let vs now with like breuitie passe through the kingdome of Congo it selfe This kingdome therefore accounting Angola as indeede it is a member thereof beginneth at Bahia das vacas in thirteene and endeth at Cabo da Caterina in two degrees and an halfe of southerly latitude True it is that the coast neere vnto the saide Bay of Cowes is subiect to the king of Congo but the inland is gouerned by him of Angola East and west it stretcheth from the sea in bredth as farre as the lake of Aquelunda for the space of sixe hundred miles and is diuided into sixe prouinces namely the prouince of Pemba situate in the very hart and center of the whole kingdome Batta the most easterly prouince where the ancient writers seeme to haue placed Agisymba Pango which bordereth vpon the Pangelungi Sundi the most Northerly prouince Sogno which stretcheth ouer the mouth of the great riuer Zaire and Bamba which is the principall of all the rest both for extension of ground for riches and for militarie forces In the prouince of Pemba or rather in a seuerall territorie by it selfe standeth the citie of Sant Saluador in former times called Banza being the metropolitan of all Congo and the seate of the king situate an hundred and fiftie miles from the sea vpon a rockie and high mountaine on the verie top whereof is a goodly plaine abounding with fountaines of holesome and sweete water and with all other good things which are requisite either for the sustenance or solace of mankinde and vpon this plaine where Sant Saluador is seated there may inhabite to the number of an hundred thousand persons In this citie the Portugals haue a warde by themselues separate from the rest containing a mile in compasse and about that bignes also is the palace or house of the king The residue of the people dwell for the most part scatteringly in villages It is a place enriched by nature with corne cattell fruits and holesome springs of water in great abundance The principall riuer of all Congo called Zaire taketh his chiefe originall out of the second lake of Nilus lying vnder the Equinoctiall line and albeit this is one of the mightiest riuers of all Africa being eight and twentie miles broad at the mouth yet was it vtterly vnknowen to ancient writers Amongst other riuers it 〈◊〉 Vumba and Barbela which spring out of the first great lake In this countrey are sundry other riuers also which fetch their originall out of the lake of Aquelunda the principall whereof are Coanza which diuideth the kingdome of Congo from that of Angola and the riuer Lelunda which breedeth crocodiles water-horses which the Greeks call Hippopotami of which creatures the isle of horses in the mouth of the riuer Zaire taketh denomination The Hippopotamus or water-horse is somewhat tawnie of the colour of a lion in the night he comes on lande to feed vpon the grasse and keepeth in the water all the day time The Africans tame and manage some of these horses and they prooue exceeding swift but a man must beware how he passe ouer deepe riuers with them for they will sodainly diue vnder water Also in these riuers of Ethiopia are bred a kinde of oxen which liue euery night vpon the lande Here likewise breedeth another strange creature called in the Congonian language Ambize Angulo that is to say a hogge-fish being so exceeding fatte and of such greatnes that some of them weie aboue fiue hundred pound This abūdance of waters togither with the heat of the climate which proceedeth from the neerenes of the sunne causeth the countrey to be most fruitfull of plants herbes fruits and corne much more fertile would it be if nature were helped forward by the industrie of the inhabitants Heere also besides goates sheepe deere Gugelle conies hares ciuet-cats and ostriches are great swarmes of tigres which are very hurtfull both to man and beast The Zebra or Zabra of this countrey being about the bignes of a mule is a beast of incomparable swiftnes straked about the body legges eares and other parts with blacke white and browne circles of three fingers broad which do make a pleasant shew Buffles wilde asses called by the Greekes Onagri and Dante 's of whose hard skins they make all their targets range in heards vp and downe the woods Also here are infinite store of elephants of such monstrous bignes that by the report of sundrie credible persons some of their teeth do weigh two hundred pounds at sixteene ounces the pound vpon the plaines this beast is swifter then any horse by reason of his long steps onely he cannot turne with such celeritie Trees he ouerturneth with the strength of his backe or breaketh them between his teeth or standeth vpright vpon his hinder feete to browse vpon the leaues and tender sprigs The she elephants beare their brood in their wombes two yeeres before they bring foorth yoong ones neither are they great with yoong but onely from seuen yeeres to seuen yeeres This creature is saide to liue 150. yeeres hee is of a gentle disposition and relying vpon his great strength he
corne in May and in October they gather their dates but from the midst of September they haue winter till the beginning of 〈◊〉 But if September falleth out to be rainie they are like to lose most part of their dates All the fields of Numidia require watering from the riuers but if the mountaines of Atlas haue no raine fall vpon them the Numidian riuers waxe drie and so the fields are destitute of watering October being destitute of raine the husbandman hath no hope to cast his seede into the ground and he despaireth likewise if it raine not in Aprill But their dates prosper more without raine wherof the Numidians haue greater plentie then of corne For albeit they haue some store of corne yet can it scarcely suffice them for halfe the yeere Howbeit if they haue good increase of dates they cannot want abundance of corne which is sold vnto them by the Arabians for dates If in the Libyan deserts there fall out change of weather about the midst of October if it continue raining there all December Ianuarie and some part of Februarie it is wonderful what abundance of grasse and milke it bringeth foorth Then may you finde diuers lakes in all places and many fennes throughout Libya wherefore this is the meetest time for the Barbarie-merchants to trauell to the land of Negros Here all kinde of fruits grow sooner ripe if they haue moderate showers about the ende of Iuly Moreouer the land of Negros receiueth by raine neither any benefite nor yet any dammage at all For the riuer Niger together with the water which falleth from certaine mountaines doth so moisten their grounds that no places can be deuised to be more fruitfull for that which Nilus is to Aegypt the same is Niger to the land of Negors for it increaseth like Nilus from the fifteenth of Iune the space of fortie daies after and for so many againe it decreaseth And so at the increase of Niger when all places are ouerflowen with water a man may in a barke passe ouer all the land of Negros albeit not without great perill of drowning as in the fift part of this treatise we will declare more at large Of the length and shortnes of the Africans liues ALl the people of Barbarie by vs before mentioned liue vnto 65. or 70. yeeres of age and fewe or none exceed that number Howbeit in the foresaide mountaines I sawe some which had liued an hundred yeeres and others which affirmed themselues to be older whose age was most healthfull and lustie Yea some you shall finde here of fowerscore yeeres of age who are sufficiently strong and able to exercise husbandrie to dresse vines and to serue in the warres insomuch that yoong men are oftentimes inferiour vnto them In Numidia that is to say in the land of dates they liue a long time howbeit they lose their teeth very soone and their eies waxe woonderfully dimme Which infirmities are likely to be incident vnto them first because they continually feede vpon dates the sweetnes and naturall qualitie whereof doth by little and little pull out their teeth and secondly the dust and sand which is tossed vp and downe the aire with easterne windes entring into their eies doth at last miserably weaken and spoile their eie-sight The inhabitants of Libya are of a shorter life but those which are most strong and healthfull among them liue oftentimes till they come to threescore yeeres albeit they are slender and leane of bodie The Negros commonly liue the shortest time of al the rest howbeit they are alwaies strong lustie hauing their teeth sound euen till their dying day yet is there no nation vnder heauen more prone to venerie vnto which vice also the Libyans and Numidians are to too much addicted To be short the Barbarians are the weakest people of them all What kindes of diseases the Africans are subiect vnto THE children and sometimes the ancient women of this region are subiect vnto baldnes or vnnaturall shedding of haire which disease they can hardly be cured of They are likewise oftentimes troubled with the head-ache which vsually afflicteth them without any ague ioined therewith Many of them are tormented with the tooth-ache which as some thinke they are the more subiect vnto because immediately after hot pottage they drinke cold water They are oftentimes vexed with extreme paine of the stomacke which ignorantly they call the paine of the hart They are likewise daily molested with inwarde gripings and infirmities ouer their whole body which is thought to proceede of continuall drinking of water Yea they are 〈◊〉 subiect vnto bone-aches and goutes by reason that they sit commonly vpon the bare ground and neuer weare any shooes vpon their feete Their chiefe gentlemen and noblemen prooue gowtie oftentimes with immoderate drinking of wine and eating of daintie meats Some with eating of oliues nuts and such course fare are for the most part infected with the scuruies Those which are of a sanguine complexion are greatly troubled with the cough because that in the spring-season they sit too much vpon the ground And vpon fridaies I had no small sport and recreation to goe and see them For vpon this day the people flocke to church in great numbers to heare their 〈◊〉 sermons Now if any one in the sermon-tile falles a neezing all the whole multitude will neeze with him for companie and so they make such a noise that they neuer leaue till the sermon be quite done so that a man shall reape but little knowledge by any of their sermons If any of Barbarie be infected with the disease commonly called the French poxe they die thereof for the most part and are seldome cured This disease beginneth with a kinde of anguish and swelling and at length breaketh out into sores Ouer the mountaines of Atlas and throughout all Numidia and Libya they scarcely know this disease Insomuch that oftentimes the parties infected trauell foorthwith into Numidia or the land of Negros in which places the aire is so temperate that onely by remaining there they recouer their perfect health and 〈◊〉 home sound into their owne countrie which I sawe many doe with mine owne eies who without the helpe of any phisitian or medicine except the foresaide holesome aire were restored to their former health Not so much as the name of this maladie was euer knowen vnto the Africans before 〈◊〉 the king of Castile expelled all Iewes out of Spaine after the returne of which Iewes into Africa certaine vnhappie and lewd people lay with their wiues and so at length the disease spread from one to another ouer the whole region insomuch that scarce any one familie was free from the same Howbeit this they were most certainly perswaded of that the same disease came first from Spaine wherefore they for want of a better name do call it The Spanish poxe Notwithstanding at Tunis and ouer all Italie it is called the French disease It is so called likewise in
christall water falling into a cesterne within the porch at each corner of the saide porch standeth the image of a leopard framed of white marble which is naturally adorned with certaine blacke spots this kinde of particoloured marble is no where to be founde but onely in a certaine place of Atlas which is about an hundreth fiftie miles distant from Maroco Not farre from the garden stands a certaine woode or parke walled round about And here I thinke no kinde of wilde beasts are wanting for heere you may behold elephants lions stagges roes and such like howbeit the lions are separated in a certaine place from other beasts which place euen to this day is called The lions den Wherefore such monuments of antiquity as are yet extant in Maroco albeit they are but few do not withstanding sufficiently argue what a noble citie it was in the time of Mansor At this present al the courts and lodgings before described lie vtterly voide and desolate except perhaps some of the kings ostlery which tend his mules and horses do lie in that court which we saide euen now was to lodge archers and crossebowe-men all the residue are left for the fowles of the aire to nestle in That garden which you might haue named a paradise in olde time is now become a place where the filth and dung of the whole citie is cast foorth Where the faire and stately librarie was of old at this present there is nothing else to be founde but hens dooues and other such like foules which builde their nests there Certaine it is that the foresaid Mansor whom we haue so often mentioned was a most puissant and mightie prince for it is well knowen that his dominion stretched from the towne of Messa to the kingdome of Tripolis in Barbary which is the most excellent region of Africa and so large that a man can hardly trauell the length therof in fourescore ten daies or the bredth in fifteene This Mansor likewise was in times past Lord of all the kingdome of Granada in Spaine Yea his dominion in Spaine extended from Tariffa to Aragon ouer a great part of Castilia and of Portugall Neither did this Iacob surnamed Mansor only possesse the foresaid dominiōs but also his grandfather Abdul Mumen his father Ioseph his sonne Mahumet Enasir who being vanquished in the kingdome of Valençia lost 60000. soldiers horsemen footemen howbeit himselfe escaped returned to Maroco The Christians being encouraged with this victorie refrained not from warre till within 30. yeeres space they had woon all the townes following to wit Valençia Denia Alcauro Murcia Cartagena Cordoua Siuillia Iaen and Vbeda After which vnhappie warre succeeded the decay of Maroco The said Mahumet deceasing left behinde him ten sonnes of a full and perfect age who contended much about the kingdome Hereupon it came to passe while the brethren were at discord and assailed each other with mutuall warres that the people of Fez called Marini and the inhabitants of other regions adiacent began to vsurpe the gouernment The people called Habdulvad enioyed Tremizen expelling the king of Tunis and ordaining some other whom they pleased in his stead Now haue you heard the end of Mansor his progenie and successors The kingdome therefore was translated vnto one Iacob the sonne of Habdulach who was the first king of the familie called Marin And at length the famous citie of Maroco it selfe by reason of the Arabians continuall outrages fell into most extreme calamitie so great is the inconstancie of all earthly things That which we haue here reported as touching Maroco partly we saw with our owne eies partly we read in the historie of one Ibnu 〈◊〉 Malich a most exact chronicler of the affaires of Maroco and partly we borrowed out of that treatise which our selues haue written concerning the law of Mahumet Of the towne of Agmet THE towne of Agmet built of old by the Africans vpon the top of a certaine hill which beginneth almost from Atlas is distant from Maroco about fower and twentie miles In times past when Muachidin was prince thereof it contained moe then sixe thousand families at what time the people were very ciuill and had such plentie and magnificence of all things that many would not sticke to compare this towne with the citie of Maroco It had on all sides most 〈◊〉 gardens and great store of vines whereof 〈◊〉 grew vpon the mountaine it selfe and others on the valley By the foote of this hill runneth a faire riuer which springing foorth of Atlas falleth at length into Tensift The field which lieth neere vnto this riuer is said to be so fruitfull that it yeeldeth euery yeere fiftie fold encrease The water of this riuer looketh alwaies white albeit if a man stedfastly behold the said riuer it may seeme vnto him in colour to resemble the soile of Narnia or the riuer Niger of Vmbria in Italie And 〈◊〉 there are which affirme that the very same riuer runneth vnder ground to Maroco and not to breake foorth of the earth till it come to a certaine place very neere vnto the said citie 〈◊〉 princes in times past being desirous to know the hidden and intricate passages of the said riuer sent certaine persons into the hollow caue who the better to discerne the same carried candles and torches with them But hauing proceeded a little way vnder ground there met them such a flaw of winde that blew out their lights and perforce draue them backe to the great hazard of their liues so that they said they neuer felt the like They affirme likewise that the riuer being full of rocks which the water driueth to and fro and by reason of the manifold chanels and streames their passage was altogether hindred Wherefore that secret remaineth vnknowne euen till this day neither is there any man so hardie as to attempt the same enterprise againe I remember that I read in some histories that king Ioseph which built Maroco being forewarned by the coniecture of a certaine astrologer that the whole region should perpetually be vexed with warre prouided by arte-magique that the passage of this riuer should alwaies bee vnknowen least if any enimie should afterward practise 〈◊〉 he might cut off the course thereof from the saide citie Neere vnto this riuer lies the common high way which crosseth ouer mount Atlas to Guzula aregion of Maroco Howbeit the citie of Agmet which I haue now described vnto you hath at this day no other inhabitants but woolues foxes deere and such other wilde beasts Except onely at my being there I found a certaine Hermite who was attended vpon by an hundred persons of his owne sect all of them were well-horsed and did their best endeuour to become gouernours and commanders but their forces were insufficient With this Hermite I staide as I remember for the space of tenne daies and founde one amongst his followers with whom I had old 〈◊〉 and familiaritie
a certaine storie of his maketh mention of Tedsi which he saith is neere vnto Segelmesse and Dara but he declareth not whether it bee built vpon mount Dedes or no. Howbeit for mine owne part I thinke it to be the very same for there is no other citie in the whole region The inhabitants of Dedes are in very deede most base people of whom the greater part dwell in caues vnder the ground their foode is barly and Elhasid that is to say barly meale sodden with water and salt which we mentioned before in our description of Hea For heere is nothing but barly to be had Goates and asses they haue in great abundance The caues wherein their cattell lodge are exceedingly full of Nitre so that I verily thinke if this mountaine were neer vnto Italy the saide Nitre woulde yeerely be woorth fiue and twentie thousand ducates But such is their negligence and vnskilfulnes that they are vtterly ignorant to what purposes Nitre serueth Their garments are so rude that they scarce couer halfe their nakednes Their houses are very loathsome being annoied with the stinking smell of their goates In all this mountaine you shall finde neither castle nor walled towne when they builde an house they pile one stone vpon another without any morter at all the roofe whereof they make of certaine rubbish like as they doe in some places of Sisa and Fabbriano the residue as we haue saide do inhabite in caues neither sawe I euer to my remembrance greater swarmes of fleas then among these people Moreouer they are trecherous and strong theeues so giuen to stealing and quarrelling that for one vnkinde worde they wil not onely contend but seeke also the destruction one of another They haue neither iudge priest nor any honest gouernour among them No merchants resort vnto them for being giuen to continuall idlenes and not exercising any trades or handie-crafts they haue nothing meet for merchants to buy If any merchant bring any wares into their region vnlesse he be safe conducted by their captaine he is in danger to be robbed of altogither And if the wares serue not for their owne necessarie vses they will exact one fourth part of them for custome Their women are most forlorne and sluttish going more beggerly apparelled then the men So continual and slauish are the toiles of these women that for miserie the life of asses is not comparable to theirs And to be briefe neuer was I so wearie of any place in all Africa as I was of this howbeit in the yeere of the Hegeira 918. being commanded by one to whom I was in dutie bound to trauell vnto Segelmesse I could not choose but come this way IOHN LEO HIS THIRD BOOKE OF the Historie of Africa and of the memorable things contained therein A most exact description of the kingdome of Fez. THE kingdome of Fez beginneth westward at the famous riuer Ommirabih and extendeth eastward to the riuer Muluia northward it is enclosed partly with the Ocean and partly with the Mediterran sea The said kingdome of Fez is diuided into seuen prouinces to wit Temesna the territorie of Fez Azgar Elhabet Errif Garet and Elchauz euery of which prouinces had in olde time a seuerall gouernour neither indeed hath the citie of Fez alwaies beene the kings royall seate but being built by a certaine Mahumetan apostata was gouerned by his posteritie almost an hundred and fiftie yeeres After which time the familie of Marin got the vpper hand who here setling their aboad were the first that euer called Fez by the name of a kingdome the reasons why they did so we will declare more at large in our small treatise concerning the Mahumetan religion But now let vs as briefly as we may describe the foresaid seuen prouinces Of Temesna one of the prouinces of Fez. WEstward it beginneth at the riuer Ommirabih and stretcheth to the riuer Buragrag eastward the south frontire thereof bordereth vpon Atlas and the north vpon the Ocean sea It is all ouer a plaine countrie containing in length from west to east almost fowerscore miles and in breadth from Atlas to the Ocean sea about threescore This prouince hath euer almost beene the principall of the seuen before named for it contained to the number of fortie great townes besides three hundred castles all which were inhabited by Barbarian Africans In the 323. yeere of the Hegeira this prouince was by a certaine heretike against the Mahumetan religion called Chemim the sonne of Mennal freed from paying of tribute This bad fellow perswaded the people of Fez to yeeld no tribute nor honour vnto their prince and himselfe he professed to be a prophet but a while after he dealt not onely in matters of religion but in commonwealth-affaires also At length waging war against the king of Fez who was himselfe then warring with the people of Zenete it so befell that a league was concluded betweene them conditionally that Chemim shoulde enioy Temesne and that the king should containe himselfe within his signiorie of Fez so that from thencefoorth neither should molest other The said Chemim gouerned the prouince of Temesne about fiue and thirtie yeeres and his successours enioyed it almost an hundred yeeres after his decease But king Ioseph hauing built Maroco went about to bring this prouince vnder his subiection Whereupon he sent sundry Mahumetan doctors and priestes to reclaime the gouernour thereof from his heresie and to perswade him if it were possible to yeelde vnto the king by faire meanes Whereof the inhabitants being aduertised they consulted with a certaine kinsman of the foresaid gouernour in the citie called Anfa to murther the king of Maroco his ambassadours and so they did Soone after leuying an armie of fiftie thousand men he marched towards Maroco intending to expell thence the familie of Luntuna and Ioseph their king King Ioseph hearing of this newes was driuen into woonderfull perplexitie of minde Wherefore preparing an huge and mighty armie he staied not the comming of his enemies but on the sudden within three daies hauing conducted his forces ouer the riuer of Ommirabih he entred Temesne when as the foresaid fiftie thousand men were so dismaied at the kings armie that they all passed the riuer Buragrag and so fled into Fez. But the king so dispeopled and wasted Temesne that without all remorse he put both man woman and childe to the sword This armie remained in the region eight daies in which space they so razed and demolished all the towns and cities thereof that there scarce remaine any fragments of them at this time But the king of Fez on the other side hearing that the people of Temesne were come into his dominions made a truce with the tribe of Zenete and bent his great armie against the said Temesnites And at length hauing found them halfe famished neere vnto the riuer of Buragrag he so stopped their passage on all sides that they were constrained to run vp the craggie mountaines
the kings brother will make a truce Which the Portugals no sooner yeelded vnto but the sauage and merciles Moores put them euery one to the sword sauing three or fower onely who were saued at the request of a captaine in the Moores campe The Portugals Generall being sore dismaied with this slaughter for thereby he had lost all his principal soldiers craued aide of a certaine other captaine which by chance arriued there with a mightie fleete being accompanied with a great number of noblemen and gentlemen Howbeit he was so hindred by the Moores who daily did him all the villanie they could and sunke diuers of his ships that he was not able to performe that which he desired In the meane space newes was published among the Portugals of the king of Spaines death whereupon diuers ships were prouided and many Portugals were sent into Spaine Likewise the captaine of the said new forte seeing himselfe destitute of all succour leauing the forte embarked himselfe in those ships which then lay vpon the riuer But the greatest part of the fleete were cast away at their setting foorth and the residue to escape the Moores shot ran themselues a-ground on the flats and shouldes of the riuer and were there miserably slaine by the Moores Many of their ships were here burnt and their ordinance sunke in the sea So many Christians were then slaine some say to the number of ten thousand that the sea-sea-water in that place continued red with their blood for three daies after Soone after the Moores tooke vp fower hundred great peeces of brasse out of the sea This huge calamitie befell the Portugals for two causes first because they would with such a small number make so rash an assault vpon the Moores whom they knew to be so strong and secondly whereas the Portugall-king might at his owne cost haue sent another fleete for a new supply he would by no meanes ioine his owne people and Castilians together For by reason of the diuersitie of counsels and of people there is nothing more pernicious then for an armie to consist of two nations yea the Moores certainly expect the vpper hand when they are to fight with such an armie I my selfe was present in the foresaid warre and sawe each particular accident a little before my voyage to Constantinople Of the towne called Tefelfelt THis towne is situate vpon a sandie plaine fifteene miles eastward of Mahmora and almost twelue miles from the Ocean sea Not far from this towne runneth a certaine riuer on both sides whereof are thicke woods haunted with more fierce and cruell lions then the last before mentioned which greatly endanger those trauellers that haue occasion to lodge thereabout Without this towne vpon the high way to Fez standeth an olde cottage with a plancherd chamber therein here the mulettiers and carriers are said to take vp their lodging but the doore of the said cottage they stop as sure as they can with boughes and thornes Some affirme that this rotten cottage while the towne was inhabited was a most stately inne But it was defaced in the foresaid war of Sahid A description of Mecnase THis towne was so called after the name of the Mecnasites who were the founders thereof From Fez it is 36. miles about fiftie from Sella and from Atlas almost 15. miles distant It is exceeding rich and containeth families to the number of six thousand The inhabitants hereof while they dwelt in the fields liued a most peaceable life howbeit at length they fell to dissension among themselues and the weaker part hauing all their cattell taken from them and hauing nothing in the fields to maintaine their estaste agreed among themselues to build this citie of Mecnase in a most beautifull plaine Neere vnto this towne runneth a little riuer and within three miles thereof are most pleasant gardens replenished with all manner of fruits Quinces there are of great bignes and of a most fragrant smell and pomegranates likewise which being very great and most pleasant in taste haue no stones within them and yet they are sold exceeding cheape Likewise here are plentie of damascens of white plums and of the fruite called Iujuba which being dried in the sunne they eate in the spring and carrie a great number of them to Fez. They haue likewise great store of figs and grapes which are not to be eaten but while they are greene new for their figs being dried become so brittle that they waste all to powder and their grapes when they are made raisins prooue vnsauorie Peaches and oranges they haue in so great quantitie that they make no store of them but their limons are waterish and vnpleasant Oliues are sold among them for a duckat and a halfe the Cantharo which measure containeth a hundred pounds Italian Moreouer their fields yeeld them great plentie of hempe and flaxe which they sell at Fez and Sela. In this towne are most stately and beautifull temples three colleges and ten bath-stoues Euery monday they haue a great market without the towne-walles whereunto the bordering Arabians doe vsually resort Here are oxen sheepe and other such beastes to be sold butter and wooll are here plentifull and at an easie rate In my time the king bestowed this towne vpon a certaine noble man of his where as much fruits are reaped as in the third part of the whole kingdome of Fez. This towne hath beene so afflicted by warres that the yeerely tribute thereof hath beene diminished sometime fortie thousand and fiftie thousand duckats and somtimes more and I haue red that it hath beene besieged for sixe or seuen yeeres together In my time the gouernour thereof the king of Fez his cozen relying vpon the fauour of the people rebelled against his kinsman and soueraigne Whereupon the Fessan king with a great armie besieged the towne two moneths together and because it would not yeeld so wasted and destroied all the countrie thereabout that the gouernour lost by that means fiue and twentie thousand duckats of yeerely reuenue What then shall we thinke of the sixe and seuen yeeres siege before mentioned At length those citizens which fauoured the king of Fez opened the gates and stoutly resisting the contrarie faction gaue the king and his soldiers entrance Thus by their meanes the king wan the citie carrying home to Fez the rebellious gouernour captiue who within fewe daies escaped from him This most strong and beautifull citie hath many faire streetes whereinto by conducts from a fountaine three miles distant is conueied most sweet and holesome water which serueth all the whole citie The mils are two miles distant from the towne The inhabitants are most valiant warlike liberall and ciuill people but their wits are not so refined as others some of them are merchants some artificers and the residue gentlemen They count it vnseemely for any man to send an horse-lode of seede to his husbandman or farmer They are at continuall iarre with the citizens of Fez
esteemed of yet are they sold at a most easie price for a man may buie 30 or at least 20. pound weight for one Liardo Greene beanes likewise in time of yeere are sold good cheape Not far frō the place before mentioned are certaine shops wherein lumps or steakes of flesh beaten in a morter thē fried with oile seasoned with much spice are to be bought euery one of the said lumps or steakes being about the bignes of a fig being made only of dried beefe On the north side of the temple is a place whither all kind of herbes are brought to make sallets withall for which purpose there are 40. shops appointed Next wherunto is The place of smoke so called by reason of continuall smoke here are certaine fritters or cakes fried in oile like vnto such as are called at Rome Pan Melato Of these fritters great store are daily vttered for euery day they vse to breake their fasts therwith especially vpon festiual daies vnto which fritters they adde for a conclusion either rostmeat or honie somtimes they steepe them in an homely kinde of broth made of bruised meat which being sodden they bray the second time in a morter making pottage therof colouring it with a kinde of red earth They roste their flesh not vpon a spit but in an ouen for making two ouens one ouer another for the same purpose in the lower they kindle a fire putting the flesh into the vpper ouen when it is wel het You would not beleeue how finely their meat is thus rosted for it cannot be spoiled either by smoke or too much heat for they are all night rosting it by a gentle fire and in the morning they set it to sale The foresaid steakes fritters they sell vnto the citizens in so great abūdance that they daily take for them mo thē 200. duckats For there are 15. shops which sell nothing else Likewise here are sold certaine fishes flesh fried a kind of excellent sauorie bread tasting somwhat like a fritter which being baked with butter they neuer eat but with butter and honie Here also are the feet of certaine beasts sodden wherewith the husbandmen betimes in the morning breake their fast and then hie them to their labour Next vnto these are such as sell oile salt butter cheese oliues pome-citrons capers their shops are full of fine earthen vessels which are of much greater value then the things contained in them Their butter and honie they sell by certaine criers which are porters appointed for the same office Neither doe they admit euery one to fill their vessels but that worke is reserued for certaine porters appointed to doe it which also fill the measures of oile when merchants buie the same The said vessels are sufficient to containe an hundred and fiftie pounds of butter for so much butter the countrie-people put into each vessell Then follow the shambles consisting of about fortie shops wherein the butchers cut their flesh a peeces and sell it by weight They kill no beastes within the shambles for there is a place allotted for this purpose neere vnto the riuer where hauing once dressed their flesh they send it to the shambles by certaine seruants appointed for that end But before any butcher dare sell his flesh vnto the citizens he must carrie it to the gouernour of the shambles who so soone as he seeth the flesh he sets downe in a peece of paper the price thereof which they shew together with their meate vnto the people neither may they in any case exceed the said price Next vnto the shambles standeth the market where course cloathes are sold which containeth at least an hundred shops the said cloth is deliuered vnto certaine criers which are about threescore in number who carrying the cloth from shop to shop tell the price thereof and for the selling of euery duckats-woorth they haue two Liardos allowed them This traffique of cloth indureth from noone till night to the merchants great aduantage Then follow their shops that scowre and sell armour swordes iauelings and such like warlike instruments Next vnto them stand the fishmongers who sell most excellent and great fish taken both in the riuer of Fez and in other waters exceeding cheape for you may buie a pound of fish for two farthings onely There is great abundance of the fish called in Rome Laccia and that especially from the beginning of October till the moneth of Aprill as we will declare more at large when we come to speake of the riuers Next vnto the fishmongers dwell such as make of a certaine hard reed coopes and cages for fowles their shops being about fortie in number For each of the citizens vseth to bring vp great store of hennes and capons And that their houses may not be defiled with hennes-dung they keepe them continually in coopes and cages Then follow their shops that sell liquide sope but they be not many for you shall finde more of them in other partes of the citie Neither make they sope at Fez onely but also in the mountaines thereabout from whence it is brought vnto the citie vpon mules backes Next of all are certaine of their shops that sell meale albeit they are diuersly dispersed throughout the whole citie Next vnto them are such as sell seed-graine and seed-pulse which you cannot buie of any citizen because that euery one had rather keepe his corne in store many there are likewise in the same place that will carrie pulse or corne to mules or horses whithersoeuer you will haue them A mule vseth to carrie three measures of pulse vpon his backe which the muliter is enioined to measure in three sacks lying one vpon another Then are there ten shops of them that sell straw Next them is the market where threed and hempe is to be sold and where hempe vseth to be kempt which place is built after the fashion of great houses with fower galleries or spare-roomes round about it in the first whereof they sell linnen-cloth and weigh hempe in two other sit a great many women hauing abundance of sale-threed which is there solde by the criers who carrie the same vp and downe from noone till night In the midst of this place growe diuers mulberie trees affoordiug pleasant shade and shelter vnto the merchants and hither such swarmes of women resort that a man shall hardly withdraw himselfe from among them good sport it is sometime to see how they will barret and scould one at another yea and oftentimes you shall see them fall together by the eares Let vs now come to the west part which stretcheth from the temple to that gate that leadeth vnto Mecnase Next vnto the smokie place before mentioned their habitations directly stand that make leather-tankards to draw water out of wels of whom there are some fourteene shops Vnto these adioine such as make wicker-vessels and other to lay vp meale and corne in and these enioy
of digestion consisting of bread melons grapes or milke but in winter they haue sodden flesh together with a kinde of meate called Cuscusu which being made of a lumpe of dowe is set first vpon the fire in certaine vessels full of holes and afterwarde is tempered with butter and pottage Some also vse often to haue roste-meat And thus you see after what sort both the gentlemen common people lead their liues albeit the 〈◊〉 fare somewhat more daintily but if you compare them with the noblemen and gentlemen of Europe they may seeme to be miserable and base fellowes not for any want or scarcitie of victuals but for want of good manners and cleanlines The table whereat they sit is lowe vncouered and filthie seats they haue none but the bare ground neither kniues or 〈◊〉 but only their ten talons The said Cuscusu is set before them all in one only platter whereout as well gentlemen as others take it not with spoones but with their clawes fiue The meat pottage is putal in one dish out of which euery one raketh with his greasie fists what he thinkes good you shall neuer see knife vpon the table but they teare and greedily deuoure their meate like hungrie dogs Neither doth any of them desire to drinke before he hath well stuffed his panch and then will he sup off a cup of cold water as big as a milke-bowle The doctors indeede are somewhat more orderly at meales but to tell you the very truth in all Italie there is no gentleman so meane which for fine diet and stately furniture excelleth not the greatest potentates and lords of all Africa The manner of solemnizing mariages AS touching their mariages they obserue these courses following So soone as the maides father hath espoused her vnto her louer they goe foorthwith like bride and bridegroome to church accompanied with their parents and kinsfolkes and call likewise two notaries with them to make record before all that are present of the couenants and dowrie The meaner sort of people vsually giue for their daughters dowrie thirtie duckats and a woman-slaue of fifteene duckats price as likewise a partie-coloured garment embrodered with silke and certaine other silke skarfs or iags to weare vpon her head in stead of a hood or vaile then a paire of fine shooes and two excellent paire of startups and lastly many pretie knackes curiously made of siluer and other metals as namely combes perfuming-pans bellowes and such other trinkets as women haue in estimation Which being done all the guests present are inuited to a banket whereunto for great dainties is brought a kinde of bread fried and tempered with honie which wee haue before described then they bring roste-meate to the boord all this being at the bridegroomes cost afterward the brides father maketh a banket in like sort Who if he bestow on his daughter some apparell besides her dowrie it is accounted a point of liberalitie And albeit the father promiseth but thirtie duckats onely for a dowrie yet will he sometimes bestow in apparell and other ornaments belonging to women two hundred yea sometimes three hundred duckats besides But they seldome giue an house a vineyarde or a field for a dowrie Moreouer vpon the bride they bestowe three gownes made of costly cloth and three others of silke chamlet or of some other excellent stuffe They giue her smockes likewise curiously wrought with fine vailes and other embrodered vestures as also pillowes and cushions of the best sort And besides all the former giftes they bestow eight carpets or couerlets on the bride fower whereof are onely for seemelines to spread vpon their presses and cupboords two of the courser they vse for their beds and the other two of leather to lay vpon the floore of their bed-chambers Also they haue certaine rugs of about twenty elles compasse or length as likewise three quilts being made of linnen and woollen on the one side and stuffed with flockes on the other side which they vse in the night in manner following With the one halfe they couer themselues and the other halfe they lay vnder them which they may easily doe when as they are both waies about ten elles long Vnto the former they adde as many couerlets of silke very curiously embrodered on the vpperside and beneath lined double with linnen and cotton They bestow likewise white couerlets to vse in summer-time onely and lastly they bestow a woollen hanging diuided into many partes and finely wrought as namely with certaine peeces of gilt leather whereupon they sowe iags of partie-coloured silke and vpon euery iag a little ball or button of silke whereby the saide hanging may for ornaments sake be fastened vnto a wall Here you see what be the appurtenances of their dowries wherein some doe striue so much to excell others that oftentimes many gentlemen haue brought themselues vnto pouertie thereby Some Italians thinke that the husband bestowes a dowrie vpon his wife but they altogether mistake the matter The bridegroome being ready to carrie home his bride causeth her to be placed in a woodden cage or cabinet eight-square couered with silke in which she is carried by porters her parents and kinsfolkes following with a great noise of trumpets pipes and drums and with a number of torches the bridegroomes kinsmen goe before with torches and the brides kinsfolkes followe after and so they goe vnto the great market place and hauing passed by the temple the bridegroome takes his leaue of his father in lawe and the rest hying him home with all speed and in his chamber expecting the presence of his spouse The father brother and vncle of the bride lead her vnto the chamber-doore and there deliuer her with one consent vnto the mother of the bridegroome who as soone as she is entred toucheth her foote with his and foorthwith they depart into a seuerall roome by themselues In the meane season the banket is comming foorth and a certaine woman standeth before the 〈◊〉 doore expecting till the bridegroome hauing defloured his bride reacheth her a napkin stained with blood which napkin she carrieth incontinent and sheweth to the guestes proclaiming with a lowd voice that the bride was euer till that time an vnspotted and pure virgine This woman together with other women her companions first the parents of the bridegroome and then of the bride doe honourably entertaine But if the bride be found not to be a virgine the mariage is made frustrate and she with great disgrace is turned home to her parents At complete mariages they make for the most part three bankets the first the same day when the bridegroome and bride are ioined in wedlocke the second the day following for women onely and the third seuen daies after whereat all the kinsfolks and friends of the bride are present and this day the brides father according to his abilitie sendes great store of daintie dishes vnto his sonne in lawe but so soone as the new married man goeth foorth
for which cause they pay no tribute vnto the king of Fez vnlesse it be for their fieldes which is very little They reape much commoditie out of those mountaines for there groweth great abundance of boxe whereof the Fessan combes are made A description of Errif one of the seuen regions of Fez. WEstward this region beginneth neere vnto the streites of 〈◊〉 and extendeth eastward to the riuer of Nocor which distance containeth about an hundred and fortie miles Northward it bordereth vpon the Mediterran sea and stretcheth fortie miles southward vnto those mountains which lie ouer against the riuer Guarga and the territorie of Fez. This region is very vneeuen being full of exceeding colde mountaines and waste deserts which are replenished with most beautifull and straight trees Here is no corne growing they haue great store of vines figs oliues almonds The inhabitants of this region are valiant people but so excessiuely giuen to drinking that they scarcely reserue wherewithall to apparell themselues Head-cattell they haue but fewe howbeit vpon their mountaines they haue great plentie of goates asses and apes Their townes are but few and their castles and villages are very homely built without any plancher or stories much like to the stables of Europe and are couered with thatch or with the barke of trees All the inhabitants of this region haue the balles of their throat-pipes very great and are vnciuill and rude people Of the towne of Terga THis small towne as some thinke built by the Goths vpon the shore of the Mediterran sea is distant from the streites of Gibraltar about fowerscore miles and containeth to the number of fiue hundred families The towne wall is of no force The inhabitants are most part of them fishers who getting great abundance of fish salt them and carrie them to sell almost an hundred miles southward This towne was in times past well stored with people but since the Portugals entered the same region it hath fallen greatly to decay Not farre from this towne groweth abundance of 〈◊〉 vpon the ragged and cold mountaines And albeit the inhabitants are valiant yet are they rusticall and void of all humanitie Of Bedis otherwise called Velles de 〈◊〉 THis ancient towne built vpon the Mediterran sea shore 〈◊〉 by the Spaniards Velles de Gumera containeth about sixe hundred families Some writers there are that affirme it to be built by the Africans and others by the Gothes so that it remaineth as yet vncertaine who were the true founders therof It standeth betweene two high mountaines and not farre from it there is a faire and large valley from whence commeth a little riuer or streame to the towne alwaies when it raineth In the midst of the towne standeth the market place which containeth great store of shops Here is also a verie stately temple to be seene Water for drinke is exceeding scarce among them for they are all constrained to resort vnto one pit or well being in the suburbes neere vnto the sepulchre of a certaine man that was in times past very famous among them Howbeit in the night it is dangerous to fetch water from thence because it is so full of blood-suckers or horse-leeches The townesmen are of two sorts for some be fishers and the residue are pirates which daily doe great harme vnto the Christians Vpon the mountaines grow great store of wood verie commodious for the building of ships and of galleies The inhabitants of which mountaines are almost wholly employed about carrying of the said wood from place to place They haue very little corne growing for which cause most of them eate barley bread Their principall foode are certaine fishes which the Italians call Sardelli together with other like fishes They haue such abundance of fish that one man alone is not able to draw vp a net wherefore whosoeuer will assist the fishermen in that busines are rewarded with good store of fishes for their labour yea sometimes they will freely bestow fishes vpon such as passe by They salt the foresaid Sardelli and send them to the mountaines to be sold. In this towne there is a long street inhabited with Iewes wherin dwell sundry vintners that sell excellent wines So that in calme euenings the citizens vse to carrie wine aboord their barkes in the sea and to spend their time in drinking and singing In this towne standeth a faire castle but not strong wherein the gouernour hath his aboad And neere vnto this castle the saide gouernour hath a palace whereunto belongeth a most pleasant garden Vpon the shore the gouernour buildeth galleies and other ships wherewith they greatly molest the Christians Whereupon Ferdinando king of Spaine taking a certaine Iland within a mile of the towne built a fort thereon and so planted it with ordinance and souldiers that neither their temples nor themselues walking in the streets were free therefrom but were daily slaine Wherefore the gouernour of the towne was constrained to craue ayde from the king of Fez who sent out a great 〈◊〉 against the Christians but they were partly taken and partly slaine so that verie few escaped backe vnto Fez. The Christians kept this isle almost two yeeres and then it was betrayed by a false trecherous Spaniard who slew the gouernour of the isle because he had taken his wife from him into the Moores possession and all the Christians were slaine not a man of them escaped saue onely the Spanish traitour who in regard of his treason was greatly rewarded both by the gouernour of Bedis and also by the king of Fez. Being at Naples I heard the whole relation of this matter from a certaine man that was present at all the former exploits who said that they were done about the yeere of our Lord 1520. But now the said island is most diligently kept by a garrison of souldiers sent from Fez for Bedis is the neerest hauen-towne vnto Fez vpon the Mediterran sea shore although it be an hundred and twenty miles distant Euerie yeere or euerie second yeere the Venetian galleies vse to resort vnto this isle and to exchange wares for wares with the inhabitants or sometimes to buy for readie money which wares the Venetians transport vnto Tunis Venice Alexandria and sometime to Barutto Of the towne of Ielles THis towne being built vpon the Mediterran sea shore is almost sixe miles distant from Bedis the hauen thereof is very commodious and much frequented by ships in fowle and tempestuous weather Not farre from this towne are diuers mountaines and waste deserts growing full of pine trees In my time it remained voide of inhabitants by reason of certaine Spanish pyrates which haunted the same and now there are but a few poore cottages of fishers who standing in dayly dread of the Spaniards keepe continuall and circumspect watch to see if they can escrie any ships making towards them which if they do they flee foorthwith vnto the next mountaines bringing from 〈◊〉 a sufficient number of armed men to withstand
quinces and pome-citrons and dwelling but fiue and thirtie miles distant from Fez they carrie all their fruits and commodities thither They are almost all gentlemen and verie proude and high minded so that they would neuer pay any tribute at all for they know that their mountaine is so fortified by nature that it cannot easily be subdued here likewise all such as are banished out of Fez except onely adulterers are friendly entertained for the inhabitants are so iealous that they will admit no adulterers into their societie The king of Fez granteth them many priuileges and fauours in regard of the great commodities which he reapeth out of their mountaine Of mount Beni Guazeuall THis mountaine is almost thirtie miles long and about fifteen miles broad it is diuided into three parts and betweene this and the mountaines aforesaid run certaine little riuers The inhabitants are most valiant warlike people but extremely oppressed and burthened with exactions by the gouernor of Fez who euery yeere demaundeth of this mountaine for tribute eighteen thousand ducates the mountaine indeed aboundeth with grapes oliues figs and flaxe whereby great summes of mony are raised howbeit whatsoeuer they can gather goeth presently to the gouernour of Fez who hath his officers and receiuers in the mountaine which doe miserably oppresse and bribe the inhabitants in this mountaine are a great number of villages and hamlets that containe some an hundred and some two hundred families and aboue of most expert trained soldiers they haue aboue fiue twentie thousand are at continuall war with those that border vpon them But the king of Fez for those that are slaine on both parts requireth great sums of mony so that he gaineth much by their dissensions In this mountaine there is a certaine towne indifferently well peopled and furnished with all kinde of artificers whereunto the fields belonging maruellously abounde with grapes quinces and pome-citrons all which are sold at Fez here are likewise great store of linnen weauers and manie iudges and lawyers They haue also a good market whereunto the inhabitants of the neighbour mountaines resort Vpon the top of this mountaine there is a certaine caue or hole that perpetually casteth vp fire Some woondering greatly at the matter haue cast in wood which was suddenly consumed to ashes I my selfe neuer saw the like miracle in any other place so that a great manie thinke it to be hell-mouth Of mount Benigueriaghell IT standeth neer vnto the mountaine last mentioned and yet the inhabitants of these mountaines are at continnall warre and discord At the foot of this mountaine there is a large plaine which extendeth to the territorie of Fez and through the same runneth that riuer which the inhabitants call Guarga This mountaine greatly aboundeth with oyle corne and flaxe for which cause here are great store of linnen-weauers The greatest part of al their commodities is gathered for the kings vse so that they which otherwise would prooue exceeding rich becom by this meanes starke beggers and that especially by reason of the courtiers continuall extortions They are people of an ingenuous and valiant disposition Souldiers they haue almost twelue thousand and to the number of threescore villages Of mount Beni Achmed THis mountaine is eighteene miles long and seuen miles broad It is verie steepe and containeth many waste deserts and yeeldeth likewise great store of grapes oliues figs howbeit the soile is not so apt for corne All the inhabitants are continually oppressed with the exactions of the Fessan king At the foote of this mountaine are diuers springs and small streames the water whereof is muddie and vnpleasant in taste for in regard of the nature of the sande or earth it tasteth of chalke There are many in this place the balles of whose throte-pipes are verie great and sticke farre out like vnto those abouementioned All of them drinke pure wine which being boyled will last fifteene yeeres howbeit they boyle not all their wine but some they keepe vnboyled and they yeerely make great quantity of boiled wine which they vse to put in vessels that are narrow at the bottome and broad at the top They haue euerie weeke a great market where wine oyle and raisins are to bee sold. The people of this mountaine likewise are extreme poore and beggerly as a man may coniecture by their apparell They haue had continuall and ancient quarrels among themselues which make them oftentimes fall together by the eares Of mount Beni Ieginesen THis mountaine bordereth vpon Beni Achmed stretcheth in length almost ten miles And betweene it and mount Beni Achmed runneth a certaine small riuer The inhabitants are too much addicted to drunkennes by reason that their wines are so excellent No fruits grow vpon this mountaine but onely great abundance of grapes Goates they haue which liue continually in the woods neither haue they any other flesh to eate but goates-flesh I my selfe had great acquaintance with the inhabitants by reason that my father had some possessions vpon the mountaine but he hardly got any rents or money at their hands for they are the woorst paymasters that euer I knew Of mount Beni Mesgalda THis mountaine bordereth vpon the mountaine last mentioned and vpon the riuer of Guarga The inhabitants make great store of liquid sope for they know not how to make hard sope At the foote of this mountaine there is a large plaine possessed by certaine Arabians who haue often combates with them of the mountaine They pay yeerly to the K. of Fez an huge summe of mony and it is a woonder to see with what new exactions they are daily burthened In this mountaine are many Doctors of the Mahumetan lawe and diuers inferior students who put the inhabitants to great damage Themselues forsooth will drinke wine and yet they perswade the people that it is 〈◊〉 for them to drinke it albeit some do giue them little credit The inhabitants of this mountaine pay in respect of others no great tribute and that perhaps because they maintaine the foresaid Doctors and students Of mount Beni Guamud THis mountaine standeth so neere vnto the territorie of Fez that they are diuided onely by a riuer All the inhabitants make sope out of which commoditie the king of Fez reapeth sixe thousand ducates of yeerely tribute The villages of this mountaine are about fiue and twentie in number All the sides thereof bring foorth corne and cattell in great abundance sauing that they are sometimes destitute of water The inhabitants are verie rich and carrie all kinde of wares to Fez where they gaine exceedingly by them This mountaine yeeldeth nothing but is commodious for mans vse From Fez it is almost ten miles distant Of Garet one of the seuen Prouinces of the Fessan kingdome HAuing described all the chiefe townes and mountaines of the prouince of Errife it now remaineth that we say somewhat of Garet which is the sixt Prouince of Fez. This Prouince beginneth westward from the riuer
Melulo and bordereth eastward vpon the riuer Muluia southward it is enclosed with the mountaines next vnto the Numidian desert and northward it extendeth to the Mediterran sea The bredth of this region along the sea shore stretcheth from the riuer Nocor to the foresaide riuer of Muluia the southern bredth is bounded with the riuer Melulo westward with the mountaines of Chauz The length of this Prouince is fiftie and the bredth fortie miles The soyle is rough vntilled and barren not much vnlike to the deserts of Numidia The greater part hath beene destitute of inhabitants especially euer since the Spaniards tooke two of the principall townes in all the Prouince as we will in due place record Of the towne of Melela in Garet THis great and ancient towne built by the Africans vpon a certaine bay or hauen of the Mediterran sea containeth almost two thousand families It was in times past well stored with inhabitants as being the head-citie of the whole prouince It had a great iurisdiction or territorie belonging thereto and collected great abundance of yron and honie whereupon the towne it selfe was called Mellela which word in their language signifieth honie In the hauen of this towne they fish for pearles and get great store of oisters wherein pearles doe breed This towne was once subiect vnto the Goths but fell afterward into the Mahumetans possession The Goths being chased thence fled ouer to Granada which citie is almost an hundred miles distant to wit so farre as the bredth of the sea is ouer In my time the king of Spaine sent a great armie against this towne before the arriuall whereof the townesmen sent vnto the king of Fez for aide who making warre as then against the people of Temesna could send but small forces to succour them Which the townesmen being aduertised of and fearing least their small forces would prooue too weake for the Spanyards great armada they tooke all the bag and baggage that they could carrie and fled vnto the mountains of Buthoia Howbeit the captaine of the Fessan soldiers both to be reuenged vpon the townesmens cowardice and also to leaue nothing for the Spanyards to inioy burnt downe all the houses temples and 〈◊〉 This was done in the yeere of the Hegeira 896 which was in the yeere of our Lord 1487. But the Spanyards for all they found the citie so wasted would not depart thereupon but first built a strong castle and afterward by little and little repaired the towne-walles and by that meanes haue kept possession thereof euen till this day Of the towne of Chasasa THis towne is from Mellela aboue twenty miles distant It hath beene a famous towne and strongly walled with a royall hauen belonging thereunto which was yeerely frequented by Venetian ships The townesmen haue alwaies had great traffique with the people of Fez to the exceeding commoditie of them both At length while the king of Fez was seriously imployed in the warres Don Ferdinando king of Spaine came with great forces against it and wan it very easily for the inhabitants being aduertised of the Spanyards approch betooke themselues wholy to flight Of the towne of 〈◊〉 IT standeth vpon an high grauelly hill almost fifteene miles from Chasasa and hath but a narrow passage to ascend vp vnto it Within the towne they haue no water but onely out of one cesterne The founders hereof are reported to haue beene some of the familie of Beni Marin before they attained vnto great dominions and in this towne they laid vp their corne and other of their commodities At that time were all the deserts of the region adiacent void of danger for the Arabians were not as yet possessed of Garet 〈◊〉 after the familie of Beni-Marin began to flourish they left this towne and all the region of Garet vnto their neighbours and went to inhabit better prouinces Howbeit in the meane season Ioseph the sonne of king Iacob of the Marin-familie I know not vpon what occasion in a manner vtterly destroied Tezzota but after the Christians were 〈◊〉 of Chasasa one of the king of Fez his captaines being a valiant man and borne in Granada got licence of his prince to reedifie it againe The inhabitants of this reedified towne are Moores and are at continuall warre with the Christians of Chasasan Of the towne of Meggeo THis little towne standeth vpon the top of an exceeding high mountaine being westward from Tezzota ten miles almost 6. miles southward of the Mediterran sea Founded it was by the Africans and is inhabited with people of a noble and liberall disposition At the foote of this mountaine there are most fruitfull corne-fields Likewise great store of iron is digged out of the mountaines adioining The gouernment of this towne was committed vnto one of the blood-royall namely of the familie of 〈◊〉 whose father was not very rich but being a weauer he taught his sonne the same occupation Afterward the valiant yoong man being aduertised of the estate and nobilitie of his ancestors left his loome and went to serue the king at Bedis where he continued an horseman for a certaine time but because he was an excellent musitian the king loued him most intirely for his skill in musick A while after the gouernour of Tezzota requiring the kings aide against the Christians this woorthie yoong gentleman with three hundred horsemen was sent to succour him who as he had valiantly behaued himselfe oftentimes before so now also he appeered to be a most resolute commander Howbeit the king regarded not his valour so much as his excellent skill in musicke which the yoong gallant disdaining went at length to Garet vnto certaine gentlemen of his acquaintance there who ioining fiftie horsemen vnto him appointed him gouernour of the castle of Meggeo and afterward he was so wel beloued by all the inhabitants of the next mountaines that each man according to his abilitie pleasured and gratified him At length the gouernour of Bedis hauing assembled an armie of three hundred horsemen and a thousand footmen went about to expell the foresaid yoong gouernour out of Meggeo who presently with that small troupe which he had so valiantly encountred his enemies that he put them to flight and so growing famous in regarde of his manifolde victories the king of Fez bestowed very large reuenues vpon him which he had giuen before-time vnto the gouernours of Bedis to the ende he might wholy indeuour himselfe to expell the Spanyards out of that region And of this noble gouernour the Moores learned great skill in warlike affaires The king of Fez hath now doubled his yeerely allowance so that at this present he hath two hundred horsemen at command who are of greater force then two thousand soldiers of any other captaines there about Of mount Echebdeuon THis mountaine extendeth from Chasasa eastward as farre as the riuer Muluia and from the Mediterran sea southward it stretcheth vnto the desert of Garet The inhabitants are exceeding rich
and valiant and the mountaine it selfe aboundeth with honie barlie and all kinde of cattel Here are likewise great store of pleasant and greene pastures But since that Chasasa was taken by the Spanyards the people of this mountaine seeing that for want of soldiers they were not able to withstande the violence of their enemies abandoned their owne mountaine burnt their houses and fled vnto the mountaines next adioining Of mount Beni Sahid WEstward this mountaine extendeth almost to the riuer Nocor for the space of fower and twentie miles The inhabitants are rich valiant and liberal and entertaine all strangers with great courtesie and bountie They haue abundance of iron and of barlie and their pastures are very commodious abounding with store of cattell and yet in those pastures are their iron-mines where they sometime lacke water neither pay they any tribute at all Their houses that dig the iron are not farre distant from the iron-mines This iron the merchants sell at Fez in rude lumpes because they vse not to frame it into barres neither indeede haue they the cunning so to frame it Also they make culters spades and such like tooles of husbandrie and yet their iron hath no steele at all in it Of mount Azgangan THis mountaine beginning southward from Chasasa is inhabited with most rich and valiant people for besides the great plentie of all things in the mountaine it selfe it hath the desert of Garet adioining vpon it The inhabitants of which desert haue great familiaritie and traffique with the people of the said mountaine howbeit this mountaine also hath remained void of inhabitants euer since the taking of Chasasa Of mount Beni Teuzin THe south part of this mountaine bordereth vpon the mountaine last mentioned the length whereof from the desert of Garet to the riuer Nocor is almost ten miles and on the one side thereof lie most beautifull pleasant plaines The inhabitants are all free paying no tribute at all and that perhaps because they haue more soldiers then Tezzota Meggeo and Bedis can affoord Moreouer they are thought in times past so to haue assisted the gouernour of Meggeo that by their aide he attained vnto that gouernment They haue alwaies been great friends with the people of Fez by reason of that ancient familiaritie which they had before Fez was gouerned by a king Afterward a certaine lawyer dwelling at Fez who was borne in this mountaine so represented vnto the king the said ancient familiaritie that he obtained freedome for his countrie-men At length also they were greatly beloued by the Marin-familie perhaps bicause the mother of 〈◊〉 sahid the third king of the saide familie was borne of noble parentage in the foresaide mountaine Of mount Guardan THe north part of this mountaine ioineth vnto the former and it stretcheth in length toward the Mediterran sea twelue miles and in bredth to the riuer of Nocor almost eight miles The inhabitants are valiant rich Euery saturday they haue a great market vpon the banke of a certaine riuer and hither resort many people from the mountaines of Garet and diuers merchants of Fez who exchange iron and bridles for oile for in these mountaines grow great plentie of oliues They haue little or no wine at all notwithstanding they are so neere vnto mount Arif where the people carouse wine in abundance They were for a certaine time tributarie to the gouernour of Bedis but afterward by the meanes of a learned Mahumetan preacher the king granted them fauour to pay each man so much tribute as themselues pleased So that sending yeerely to the king some certaine sum of money with certaine horses and slaues they are put to no further charge Of the extreme part of the desert of Garet THe prouince of Garet is diuided into three parts the first whereof containeth the cities and townes the second the foresaide mountaines the inhabitants whereof are called Bottoia and the thirde comprehendeth the deserts which beginning northwarde at the Mediterran sea and extending south to the desert of Chauz are bounded westward with the foresaide mountaines and eastward with the riuer of Muluia The length of these deserts is 60. miles and the bredth thirty They are vnpleasant and dry hauing no water but that of the riuer Muluia There are many kinds of beasts in this desert such as are in the Lybian desert next vnto Numidia In sommer time many Arabians take vp their abode neere vnto the riuer Muluia and so do another kinde of fierce people called Batalisa who possesse great abundance of horses camels and other cattell and maintaine continuall warre against the Arabians that border vpon them A description of Chauz the seuenth prouince of the kingdome of Fez. THis prouince is thought to comprehend the thirde part of the kingdome of Fez. It beginneth at the riuer Zha from the east extendeth westward to the riuer Guruigara so that the length thereof is an hundred fowerscore and tenne and the bredth an hundred threescore and ten miles for all that part of mount Atlas which lieth ouer against Mauritania ioineth vpon the bredth of this region Likewise it containeth a good part of the plaines and mountaines bordering vpon Lybia At the same time when Habdulach the first king of the Marin-family began to beare rule ouer Mauritania and those other regions his kinred began also to inhabite this region This king left fower sonnes behinde him whereof the first was called Abubdar the second Abuichia the third Abusahid and the fourth Iacob this Iacob was afterward chosen king bicause he had vanquished Muachidin the king of Maroco had conquered the city of Maroco it selfe the other three brethren died in their nonage howbeit before Iacob had woon Maroco the old king assigned vnto each of them three one region a peece The other three parts were diuided into seuen which were distributed among the fower kinreds of the Marin-family and two other tribes or families that were growen in great league with the same family insomuch that this region was accounted for three regions They which possessed the kingdome were ten in number and the regions onely seuen The foresaid king Habdulach was author of the saide partition who left the region of Chauz after his decease in such estate as we will foorthwith orderly describe Of the towne of Teurerto THis ancient towne was built vpon a mountaine by the Africans not farre from the riuer Zha The fields hereof not being very large but exceeding fruitfull adioine vpon a certaine dry and barren desert The north part of the same bordereth vpon the desert of Garet and the south vpon the desert of Adurha eastward thereof lieth the desert of Anghad which is neere vnto the kingdome of Telensin and westward it is enclosed with the desert of Tafrata which bordereth likewise vpon the towne of Tezza This Teurerto was in times past a most populous and rich towne and contained about three thousand families heere also are stately palaces temples and other such
and albeit they haue great store of gardens and vineyards yet are they no wine-drinkers Soldiers they haue to the number of seuen thousand and almost fortie villages Of mount Baronis THis mountaine standeth fifteene miles northward of Teza The inhabitants are rich and mighty and possesse great store of horses neither doe they pay any tribute at all This hill aboundeth with plentie of corne fruits and grapes and yet they make no wine at all Their women are white and fat and adorne themselues with much siluer In this place also they entertaine exiles but if any of them offer to haue familiaritie with their wiues they punish him most seuerely for of all iniuries they cannot indure this Of the mountaine called Beni Guertenage THis is an exceeding high and impregnable mountaine both in regard of the ragged rocks and of the vast desertes being distant from Teza about thirtie miles This mountaine affoordeth great store of corne flaxe oliues pome-citrons and excellent quinces They haue likewise all sorts of cattell in great abundance except horses and oxen The inhabitants are valiant and liberall and as decently apparelled as any citizens The villages and hamlets of this mountaine are about thirtie fiue and the soldiers almost three thousand Of mount Gueblen THis high cold and large mountaine containeth in length about thirty and in bredth about fifteene miles Eastward it bordereth vpon the 〈◊〉 of Dubdu and westward vpon mount Beni-Iazga and it is distant from Teza almost fiftie miles southward At all times of the yeere the top of this mountaine is couered with snowe The inhabitants in times past were most rich and valiant people and liued in great libertie but afterward when they began to play the tyrants the people of all the mountaines adioyning hauing gathered great forces inuaded this mountaine slew them euerie one and so burned and wasted their townes and villages that vnto this day it hath remained voide of inhabitants except onely a few which detesting the cruell tyrannie of their parents conueied themselues and all their goods vnto the top of the mountaine where they liued an abstinent and vertuous life wherefore these were spared and their posteritie remaineth in the mountaine till this present they are all learned and of honest conuersation and well esteemed of by the king of Fez one of them in my time being a very learned and famous old man was vsed by the king of Fez both about treaties of peace and in other serious affaires and in this man the king reposed all his confidence as if he had beene some petie-god for which cause all the courtiers had him in great detestation Of mount Beni Iesseten THis mountaine is subiect vnto the gouernour of Dubdu being inhabited with most base and beggerly people Their houses are made of sea-rushes and so likewise are their shooes made of such rushes when they trauel any iourney whereby a man may coniecture the miserable estate of this people The mountaine yeeldeth nought but panicke whereof they make bread and other victuals but at the foote thereof are certaine gardens replenished with grapes dates and peaches Their peaches they cut into fower quarters and casting away the nuts or stones they drie them in the sunne and keepe them an whole yeere which they esteeme for great dainties Vpon this mountaine are many iron-mines and they frame their iron in manner of horse-shooes which serueth themsometimes in stead of money whereof they haue great want in this mountaine vnlesse the smithes by their arte keepe this money in store who besides horse-shooes make certaine daggers with blunt points Their women weare iron-rings vpon their fingers and eares for a great brauerie but they are more basely apparelled then the men and remaine continually in the woods both to keepe goates and to gather fewell They haue neither ciuilitie nor learning but liue after a brutish manner without all discretion and humanitie Of mount Selelgo THis woodie mountaine is full of pine-trees and fountaines Their houses are not made of stone but of sea-rushes so that they may easily be remooued from place to place which is very commodious to the inhabitants for euery spring they leaue the mountaine and descend into the vallies from whence about the end of May they are expelled by the Arabians which inhabit the deserts who by reason of their abundance of goates and other cattell forsaking the said deserts seeke vnto the fountaines and moist places but in winter because their camels are so impatient of cold they resort vnto the woods and warme regions In this mountaine are great store of lions leopards and apes And from the said mountaine runneth a certaine streame of water with such violence that I haue seene a stone of an hundred pound waight carried with the force thereof and here Subu taketh his beginning which is the greatest riuer of all Mauritania Of mount Beni Iasga THe inhabitants of this mountaine are rich and ciuil people it standeth so neere the mountaine last mentioned that they are onely separated with the foresaid riuer and to the end they may the easilier passe from one moūtaine to another they haue made a certaine strange bridge in the midst and that in manner following on either side stand certaine postes through the which runneth a rope vpon a truckle or pulley vnto which rope is fastened a great basket that will containe ten persons and that in such sort that so often as they will passe ouer to the opposite mountaine they enter into the basket and drawing the rope whereon it hangeth they are easily carried aloft in the aire ouer the riuer by the helpe of the foresaid pulleyes but somtimes with great hazard of their liues especially if the basket or the rope be worne in any place yea and the distance of place is often an occasion of great terrour In this mountaine there is great store of cattel but little wood It aboundeth likewise with most excellent fine wooll whereof their women make cloth comparable vnto silke which is solde at Fez for a great price Here also is great plentie of oile The king of Fez is lord of this mountaine the yeerely tribute whereof amounting wel nigh to eight thousand duckats is paid to the gouernour of old Fez. Of mount Azgan THis mountaine bordring eastward vpon Selelgo westward vpon mount Sofroi southward vpon the mountaines by the riuer Maluia and northward vpon the territorie of Fez containeth in length fortie and in bredth about fifteene miles It is of an exceeding height and so intolerably cold that onely that side therof is habitable which looketh towards Fez. It aboundeth greatly with oliues and other fruites and from thence also run great store of fountaines into the plaines and fields adiacent which are most fruitfull for barlie flaxe and hempe In my time there were abundance of mulberie-trees planted vpon this plaine which beare white berries and bring foorth silke-wormes The inhabitants in winter dwell in most base cottages Their water is most
extremely cold insomuch that I my selfe knew one who with drinking onely a cup thereof suffered most intolerable gripings and tortures in his bowels for three moneths after Of the towne of Sofroi THis towne being situate at the foote of mount Atlas and standing about fifteene miles southward of Fez almost in the way to Numidia was built by the Africans betweene two riuers on either sides whereof grow great abundance of grapes and all kinde of fruites The towne for fiue miles compasse is enuironed with oliue-trees but the fieldes are apt onely for hempe and barlie The inhabitants are very rich notwithstanding they goe in meane apparell and greazie with oile the occasion whereof is in that they carie oile vnto Fez to sell. There is no memorable thing in all their towne saue onely a certaine temple through the midst whereof runneth a large riuer and at the doores standeth a fountaine of most pure water Howbeit the greatest part of this towne is fallen to decay by the negligence of one of the kings brothers that now raigneth is ruined in many places Of the towne of Mezdaga THis towne being situate likewise at the foote of Atlas and standing about eight miles westward of Sofroi is compassed with a faire wall and albeit the houses thereof are but meane yet euery one hath a fountaine of cleere water belonging vnto it Most of the inhabitants are potters because they haue such abundance of porcellan earth whereof they make great store of earthen vessels and send them to be sold at Fez from whence they are but twelue miles distant southward Their fields are most fruitfull for barlie flaxe and hempe and they gather yeerely great abundance of figs and of other fruits In the forrests about this towne as also about the former are maruellous store of lions being not very hurtfull for any man may driue them away with a little sticke Of the towne of Beni Bahlul THis 〈◊〉 towne standing vpon the side of Atlas towards Fez is distant from Fez about twelue miles not farre from the high way leading to Numidia Through the midst of this towne run certaine little riuers from the next mountaine neither doth it differ much in situation from Mezdaga sauing that the south frontier thereof is ful of woods whereout the inhabitants get timber and fewell and carrie it vnto Fez to be solde They are oppressed with continuall exactions of courtiers and others neither haue they any ciuilitie at all among them Of the towne called Ham Lisnan THis towne built by the Africans vpon a certaine plaine enuironed with mountaines in the way from Sofroi to Numidia borrowed the name thereof from the fountaine of an idoll vpon the occasion following At the same time while the Africans were as yet idolaters they had a temple standing neere vnto this towne whither at certaine times of the yeere resorted in the night great multitudes of people both men and women where hauing ended their sacrifices they vsed to put out their lights and euerie man to commit adulterie with that woman which hee first touched But the women which were present at this abominable sport were forbidden to lie with any man for a yeere after and the children begotten in the saide adulterie were kept and brought vp by the priest of the temple as being dedicated to sacred vses In the same temple there was a fountaine which is to be seene at this day but neither the temple it selfe nor any monument or mention of the towne is remaining because they were vtterly demolished by the Mahumetans Of the towne of Mahdia THis towne being situate vpon a plaine betweene mount Atlas and certaine woods and riuers is about ten miles distant from the former The founder thereof was a certaine Mahumetan preacher of that nation which was borne in the next mountaine and it began to be built at the same time when the familie of Zeneta were lords of the Fessan kingdome But when king Ioseph of the Luntune family got possession of the said kingdom this towne was so wasted and destroyed that the beautifull temple with some part of the towne wall onely was left standing and the inhabitants became tributarie to the king of Fez this was done in the yeere of the Hegeira 515. Of Sahblel Marga that is The plaine of the valiant man THis plaine containeth in longth fortie and in bredth almost thirtie miles neere vnto it are certaine mountains which border vpon mount Atlas and in these mountaines are waste deserts ful of goodly timber here are likewise a great number of cottages inhabited with colliers for the most part who carrie abundance of coales from the said mountaines to 〈◊〉 The lions that are here doe so haunt the poore colliers that sometimes they deuour them From hence likewise are carried to Fez store of excellent and great beames of timber All the plaine is so barren and drie that it will scarce bring foorth any good thing at all Of the plaine called Azgari Camaren THis plaine also is inuironed around with woodie mountaines being a kinde of medowe-ground for it is couered all ouer with most pleasant herbes and grasse wherfore in the sommer time they vse to keepe their cattell heere and to defend them with high and strong hedges from the fury of the lions Of mount Centopozzi VPon this high mountaine are great store of most ancient buildings neere vnto the which there is a hole or drie pit of so great a depth that the bottome thereof can in no wise be seene Into this pit some mad fellowes will haue themselues let downe by ropes carrying a candle or torch in their hands and beneath they say it is diuided into manie roumes and as it were chambers and last of all they come to a most large place hewen out of the rocke with instruments and compassed about as it were with a wall in which wall are fower doores which lead to other more narrow places where they say that fountaines of springing water are And sometimes it falleth out that some miserably ende their liues here for if their lights chaunce to be blowen out with anie sudden blast of wind they can by no meanes finde the place where the rope hangeth but are there constrained to die for extreme famine It was told me by a certaine nobleman of Fez that there were ten persons who being desirous to see the woonders of this pit and being prepared for the same purpose went first three of them downe who when they were come to the foresaid fower doores two of them went one way and the third went alone another way And being thus diuided after they had proceeded almost a quarter of a mile there came great swarmes of bats flying about their lights insomuch that one light was put out at length being come to the springing fountaines they found there certaine white bones of men and fiue or sixe candles whereof some were new and others were olde and worne with long lying there but hauing found
nothing but water in the said fountaines they returned backe againe the same way that they came and they had scarce gone halfe way but their other light also was blowen out with a sudden blast Afterward seeking earnestly vp and downe and being wearie of manie falles that they caught among the rockes they found that there was no hope of returne wherefore in this desperate case committing themselues with teares into the hands of God they vowed if they 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this danger neuer to aduenture any more They that stood at the 〈◊〉 mouth being ignorant of their companions mishappe expected their 〈◊〉 and hauing staide ouer long at length they let downe themselues by the rope and began with lights to seeke their fellowes making a great noise and at length found them heauie and sad But the third who was wandring vp and downe those darke places they could by no meanes finde wherefore leauing him they returned foorth of the caue And he that was left behinde heard at length a noise like the barking of little dogs and shaping his course toward them he found immediately fower strange and as it should seeme new-borne beasts after which followed the damme being not much vnlike to a shee-woolfe sauing that she was bigger wherefore he began exceedingly to feare howbeit there was no danger for being about to flee the beast came towards him fawning gently vpon him with her taile And so at length after long seeking he found the holes mouth with great ioy and escaped the danger For within a while he saide that he began to see some glimmering of light as they do which haue long bin in the darke But after a certaine time this caue was filled with water vp to the top Of the mountaine of rauens called Cunaigel Gherben THis mountaine standeth verie neere the former and is full of woods and lions Here is no citie nor any other place of habitation perhaps by reason of the extreme coldnes of the place From this mountaine runneth a certaine little riuer and here is a rocke of an exceeding height whereupon keepe infinit swarmes of crowes and rauens which some thinke to haue beene the occasion of the name of this mountaine Sometime the terrible northerly windes bring such abundance of snow vpon this mountaine that such as trauell from Numidia towards Fez loose their liues thereby as hath beene signified in the first booke Euerie sommer the Arabians next inhabiting beeing called Beni Essen vsually resort vnto this mountaine in regard of the coole water and pleasant shadowes notwithstanding they knowe it to be haunted with great store of lions and leopards Of the towne of Tezerghe THis little towne was by the Africans built in manner of a fort vpon the side of a small riuer which runneth by the foote of the foresaid mountaine both the inhabitants and their houses are most base and destitute of all ciuilitie Their fields being enuironed with the mountaines adioyning bring foorth some small quantitie of barley and peaches The inhabitants are all subiect vnto certaine Arabians called Deuil Chusein Of the towne called Vmen Giunaibe THis auncient towne beeing destroyed by the Arabians was situate about twelue miles from Tezerghe vpon the south side of Atlas It is so dangerous a place by reason of the often inuasions of certaine Arabians that none almost dare trauell that way There lyeth a way neere this towne which a man may not passe without dauncing and leaping vnlesse he will fall into an ague the certaintie where of I haue heard many auouch Of mount Beni Merasen THe inhabitants of this exceeding high and colde mountaine haue great plentie of horses and asses here are store of mules likewise which carie wares vp and downe without either bridle or saddle Their houses are built not with walles of stone but of rushes The people are very rich and pay no tribute to the king perhaps in regard of the strong situation of their mountaine Of mount Mesettaza THis mountaine extendeth in length from east to west almost thirtie miles and twelue miles in bredth The west part thereof adioineth vpon the plaine of Edecsen which bordereth vpon Temesna It is like vnto the foresaid mountaine both in regard of the inhabitants and also for plentie of horses and mules At Fez there are great store of learned men which were borne in this mountaine they pay no tribute at all but onely send the king such gifts as themselues please Of the mountaines of Ziz. THese mountaines are thought to haue borrowed their name from a certaine riuer springing out of them Eastward they begin at Mesettaza and extend westward to the mountaines of Tedla and Dedis southward they border vpon that part of Numidia which is called Segelmesse and northward vpon the plaines of 〈◊〉 and Guregra in length they containe an hundred and in bredth almost fortie miles in number they are fifteene being extremely cold and difficult to ascend and sending foorth many streames of water The inhabitants are called Sanaga and are men most patient of all boisterous and cold weather They weare but one coate at all seasons of the yeere ouer which they cast a kinde of cloke or mantle their legs and 〈◊〉 they wrap in certaine clothes as it were in swathing bands and they goe at all times bare-headed In this mountaine are great store of mules asses and other cattell but very few deserts The inhabitants are a most lewd and villanous generation being wholy addicted to theft and robberie They are at continuall dissension with the Arabians and practise daily mischiefes and inconueniences against them and to the end they may prouoke them to greater furie they will sometimes throwe their camels downe headlong from the top of some high mountaine In these mountains there happeneth a certaine strange and incredible matter for there are serpents so familiar with men that at dinner-time they wil come like dogs cats and gather vp the crums vnder the table neither wil they hurt any body vnlesse they be offered some iniurie The walles of their houses are made of chalke and the roofes are couered with thatch There are also another kinde of inhabitants in these mountaines who possesse more droues of cattell then the former and dwell for the most part in cottages made of rushes And these carrie vnto Segelmese butter and wool to be sold but at that time only when the Arabians inhabite the deserts for it often falleth out that they are encoūtred by them spoiled of their goods These people are most valiant warriours for they will fight euen to the last gaspe rather then be taken of their enemies they carrie fower or fiue iauelins about with them wherewith they know right well how to defend themselues from the enemie They fight alwaies on foote neither can they be vanquished but with a great number of horsemen and they vse to carrie swords and daggers with them also In my time they obtained safe conduct of the Arabians and the Arabians of
them likewise which was a cause that the merchants of both partes trauelled more securely Of the towne of Gerseluin THis ancient towne was built by the Africans at the foote of one of the foresaid mountaines not farre from the riuer of Ziz. It is enuironed with an impregnable and stately wall the founder whereof was a certaine king of the Marin-familie In regard of the walles and bulwarks it is a most beautifull towne But being once entred thereinto you shall see most base and beggerly houses and scarce any inhabitants dwelling in them and that by the iniurie of certaine Arabians who when they reuolted from the Marin-familie tooke this towne and grieuously oppressed the citizens Their drie and barren fields lie open to the north Vpon the riuer are diuers mils and by the side thereof are many gardens replenished with grapes and peaches which they vse to drie in the sunne and to keepe an whole yeere They haue great scarcitie of cattell which causeth them to liue a most 〈◊〉 life This towne was built by the familie of Zeneta in stead of a fort to the end it might be a place of refuge onely in their iournie to Numidia but afterward it was surprised and vtterly destroied by the familie of Luntuna Here also are great store of such domesticall serpents as we reported to be in the mountaines of Ziz. Here endeth the third booke IOHN LEO HIS FOVRTH BOOKE OF the Historie of Africa and of the memorable things contained therein A description of the kingdome of Telensin THis kingdome beginneth westward from the riuers of Zha Muluia eastward it bordereth vpon The great riuer southward vpon the desert of Numidia and northward vpon the Mediterran sea This region was called by the Romanes Caesaria and was by them inhabited howbeit after the Romanes were expelled it was fullie possessed by the ancient gouernours thereof called Beni Habdulguad and being a generation of the familie of Magraua And it remained vnto them and their successors three hundred yeeres vntill such time as a certaine mightie man called Ghamrazen the sonne of Zeijen tooke possession thereof His posteritie changing at length their ancient name were called Beni Zeijen that is the sonnes of Zeijen and they enioied this kingdome for the space almost of 380. yeeres At length the kings of Fez of the Marin-familie greatly molested them so that those ten kings which succeeded Zeijen were some of them vnfortunate in battell some slaine some taken captiue and others expelled their kingdome and chased to the next mountaines Neither were they free from vexation of the kings of Tunis howbeit the kingdome of Telensin remained still to this familie and they continued in peace for almost an hundred and twentie yeeres being endammaged by no forren power sauing that one Abu Feris king of Tunis and his sonne Hutmen made them to pay tribute for certaine yeeres vnto Tunis till the decease of the said Hutmen This kingdome stretcheth in length from east to west 380. miles but in bredth from north to south that is from the Mediterran sea to the deserts of Numidia not aboue fiue and twentie miles which is the occasion that it is so often oppressed by the Arabians inhabiting the Numidian deserts The kings of Telensin haue alwaies endeuoured by great gifts to gaine the good will and friendship of the Numidians but they could neuer satisfie their insatiable couetice A man shall seldome trauell safely through this kingdome howbeit here are great store of merchants perhaps either because it adioineth to Numidia or else for that the way to the land of Negros lieth through it It hath two most famous frequented hauen-townes the one called Horam and the other Marsa Elcabir whither vse to resort great store of Genoueses and Venetians But afterward both these townes were taken by Don Ferdinando the Catholike king to the great inconuenience of all this kingdome for which cause the king then raigning called Abuchemmeu was expelled his kingdome and put to flight by his owne subiects afterward Abuzeijen was restored to the kingdome who had for certaine yeeres been imprisoned by his nephew Abuchemmeu howbeit he enioied the kingdome but a very short space For he was at length miserably slaine by Barbarossa the Turke who conquered the kingdome of Tremizen by force of war Whereof Abuchemmeu that was expelled by his owne subiects hauing intelligence sent to craue aide of the emperour Charles the fift whereby he hoped to recouer his kingdome Which request being granted he leuied a puissant armie and made warre against Barbarossa and hauing driuen him out he recouered his kingdome and seuerely punished them that had conspired his banishment And then he gaue the Spanish soldiers their pay sent the captaines home with great rewardes and allowed Charles the emperour a large yeerely reuenue so long as he liued After his decease succeeded his brother Habdulla who neglecting the league made before betweene the emperour and his brother and relying vpon Soliman the great Turke refused to pay any more tribute vnto the emperour Charles and hath kept possession of the kingdome till this present The greater part of this region is vntilled drie and barren especially towards the south Howbeit the sea coast is somewhat more fertill The territorie adiacent to the citie of Telensin is full of woods sauing that the westerne part towardes the sea is mountainous Likewise the regions of Tenez and Alger containe mountaines abounding with all kinde of commodities In this part ate but few cities and castles howbeit it is a most fruitfull and blessed place as we will hereafter declare in particular Of the desert of Angad THis barren drie and vntilled desert being vtterly destitute of water and wood is situate vpon the westerne frontire of the kingdome of Telensin and extendeth in length fowerscore and in bredth almost fiftie miles Here are great store of roes deere and ostriches Such merchants as trauell from Fez to Telensin passe ouer this desert not without great danger by reason of certaine Arabians which liue onely vpon theft aud robberie especially in winter when as the soldiers appointed to defend the said desert from those lewd vagabonds doe vsually retire themselues into Numidia Many shepherds there are in this desert who are daily vexed with multitudes of fierce lions which sometime seaze not onely vpon cartell but also vpon men Of the castle of Temzegzet THis castle standing in the same place where the foresaid desert adioineth vnto the territorie of Telensin and built by the Africans vpon a rocke was in times past very strong and often annoied by the people ofFez for it standeth in the high way from Fez to Telensin Through the fields adiacent runneth a certaine riuer called in their language Tefme The said fields adiacent sufficiently abound with all things necessarie for the sustenance of the inhabitants Heretofore being subiect vnto the kings of Telensin it well deserued the name of a citie but since the Arabians got
almost an hundred yeers after which time it was reinhabited by certaine people of Granada which came thither with Mansor which Mansor repaired the towne to the end it might alwaies be a place of refuge for his soldiers After whose decease and the death of his sonne Mudaffir all the soldiers were expelled by the tribes or people of Zanhagia and Magraoa and this second desolation of that towne happened in the yeere of the Hegeira 410. Of the great citie of Telensin other wise called Tremizen TElensin is a great citie and the royall seate of the king but who were the first founders thereof it is vncertaine howbeit most certaine it is that this citie was very small at the beginning and began greatly to be augmented at the same time when Haresgol was laid waste For then a certaine family called Abdulguad bearing rule it increased so exceedingly that in the raigne of king Abu Tesfin it contained sixteene thousand families And then it was an honourable and well-gouerned citie howbeit Ioseph king of Fez continually molested it and with an huge armie besieged it for seuen yeeres together This Ioseph hauing built a fort vpon the east side of the towne put the besieged citizens to such distresse that they could no longer endure the extreme famine wherefore with one accord they all went vnto their king beseeching him to haue compassion vpon their want The king to make them acquainted with his daintie fare which he had to supper shewed them a dish of sodden horse-flesh and barlie And then they well perceiued how little the kings estate was better then the estate of the meanest citizen of them all Soone after the king hauing procured an assemblie perswaded his people that it was much more honourable to die in battel for the defence of their countrie then to liue so miserable a life Which words of the king so inflamed all their mindes to the battell that the day following they resolued to encounter the enemie and valiantly to fight it out But it fell out farre better for them then they expected for the same night king Ioseph was slaine by one of his owne people which newes being brought vnto the citizens with 〈◊〉 courage they marched all out of the towne easily vanquishing and killing the confused multitude of their enemies after which vnexpected victorie they found victuals sufficient in the enemies campe to relieue their long and tedious famine About fortie yeeres after the fourth king of Fez of the Marin-familie called Abulhesen built a towne within two miles westward of the citie of Telensin Then he besieged Telensin for thirty moneths together making daily and fierce assaults against it and euery night erecting some new fort so that at length the Fessan forces next vnto Telensin easily entred the citie and hauing conquered it caried home the king thereof captiue vnto Fez where he was by the king of Fez beheaded and his carcase was cast foorth among the filth of the citie and this was the second and the greater dammage that Telensin sustained After the decay of the Marin-familie 〈◊〉 began in many places to be repaired and replenished with new inhabitants insomuch that it increased to twelue thousand families Here each trade and occupation hath a peculiar place after the manner of Fez sauing that the buildings of Fez are somewhat more stately Here are also many and beautifull temples hauing their Mahumetan priestes and preachers Likewise here are fiue colleges most sumptuously built some by the king of Telensin and some by the king of Fez. Here also are store of goodly bathes and hot-houses albeit they haue not such plentie of water as is at Fez. Also here are very many innes built after the manner of Africa vnto two of which innes the merchants of Genoa and Venice doe vsually resort A great part of this citie is inhabited with Iewes who were in times past all of them exceeding rich vpon their heads they weare a Dulipan to distinguish them from other citizens but in the yeere of the Hegeira 923 vpon the death of king Abuhabdilla they were all so robbed and spoiled that they are now brought almost vnto beggerie Moreouer in this citie there are many conducts the fountaines whereof are not farre from the citie-walles so that they may easily be stopped by any forren enemie The citie-wall is very high and impregnable hauing fiue great gates vpon it at euery one of which there is placed a garde of soldiers and certaine receiuers of the kings custome On the south side of the citie standeth the kings palace enuironed with most high walles and containing many other palaces within it which are none of them destitute of their fountaines and pleasant gardens this royall palace hath two gates one leading into the fields and the other into the citie and at this gate standeth the captaine of the garde The territorie of Telensin containeth most pleasant habitations whither the citizens in summer-time vse to retire themselues for besides the beautifull pastures and cleere fountaines there is such abundance of all kinde of fruites to delight both the eies and the taste that to my remembrance I neuer sawe a more pleasant place their figs they vse to drie in the sunne and to keepe vntill winter and as for almonds peaches melons and pome-citrons they grow here in great plentie Three miles eastward of this citie are diuers mils vpon the riuer of Sefsif and some other there are also not far from the citie vpon the mountaine of Elcalha The south part of the citie is inhabited by Iewes lawyers and notaries here are also very many students and professours of diuers artes which haue maintenance allowed them out of the fiue forenamed colleges The citizens are of fower sorts to wit some artificers some merchants others schollers and doctors and all the residue soldiers The merchants are men most iust trustie liberall and most zealous of the common good who for the most part exercise traffique with the Negros The artificers liue a secure quiet and merrie life The kings soldiers being all of a comely personage and of great valour receiue very large and liberall pay for they are monethly allowed three peeces of the gold-coine of Telensin which are worth three Italian duckats and one second part All students before they attaine to the degree of a doctor liue a bare and miserable life but hauing attained thereunto they are made either professours or notaries or priestes The citizens and merchants of this citie are so neate and curious in their apparell that sometimes they excell the citizens of Fez in brauerie The artificers weare short garments carrying seldome a Dulipan vpon their heads and contenting themselues with plaine caps their shooes reach vp to their mid-leg Of all others the soldiers go woorst apparelled for wearing a shirt or iacket with wide sleeues they cast ouer it a large mantle made of cotton and thus they are clad both sommer and winter sauing that in winter they haue certaine
Constantina caused certaine faire houses to be built thereabouts for the said merchants of Genoa to repose themselues and their goodes therein and vpon a mountaine not farre off he built a strong 〈◊〉 for the securitie and defence of the said merchants from all enemies whatsoeuer From the said hauen to Constantina the high way is paued with certaine black stones such as are to be seene in some places of Italie being there called Le strade Romane which is a manifest argument that Sucaicada was built by the Romans Of the citie of Constantina NO man can denie the Romans to haue beene founders of this citie that shall consider the great strength height and antiquitie of the walles and how curiously they are beset and adorned with blacke stones This citie standeth vpon the south side of an exceeding high mountaine and is enuironed with steepe rocks vnder which rocks and within the compasse whereof runneth the riuer called Sufegmare so that the said deepe riuer with the rocks on either side serueth in stead of a towne-ditch to Constantina The north part is compassed with a wall of great thicknes and there are two extreme narrow passages onely to enter into the citie one on the east part and another on the west The citie-gates are very large and stately The citie it selfe containeth aboue eight thousand families Buildings it hath very sumptuous as namely the chiefe temple two colleges three or fower monasteries and other such like Here euery trade and occupation hath a seuerall place assigned and the inhabitants are right honest and valiant people Here is likewise a great companie of merchants whereof some sell cloth and wooll others send oile and silke into Numidia and the residue exchange linnen-cloth and other wares for slaues and dates Neither are dates so cheape in any region of all Barbarie besides The kings of Tunis vsually commit the gouernment of Constantina vnto their eldest sonnes and so he that is now king of Tunis bestowed Constantina vpon his eldest sonne in like sort who waging warre against the Arabians was slaine in the first battel Then fel the gouernment of Constantina vnto his second sonne whose intemperate life was the cause of his sudden and vntimely death After him succeeded the third and yoongest sonne who in regarde of his insolent and shamelesse behauiour was so hated of all the citizens that some had determined to kill him whereof his father hauing intelligence sent for him and kept him for certaine yeeres prisoner at Tunis Afterward he committed the gouernment of Constantina to a certaine Renegado that of a Christian became a Mahumetan this Renegado he trusted as his owne brother for he had made former triall of him who for many yeeres gouerned the place with great tranquillitie Vpon the north part of the citie standeth a certaine strong castle built at the same time when the citie it selfe was built which castle was more strongly fortified then before by one Elcaied Nabil the kings lieutenant and this castle greatly bridled both the citizens and all the bordering Arabians whose great captaine it held as prisoner and released him not till he had left his three sonnes for hostages At length the said Elcaied grew so hautie that he coined money to the great contempt of his king and soueraigne whom notwithstanding he endeuoured by many giftes and presents to appease But when men perceiued Elcaied to degenerate from his first forme of gouernment they that before loued him and had him in high regarde were presently of another minde and vtterly forsooke him So that laying siege vnto a certaine citie of Numidia called Pescara he perceiued some treason to be attempted against him and thereupon returning foorthwith to Constantina he found the citie-gates shut against him from whence he presently tooke his iourney to the king of Tunis and was by him cast into prison and not restored to libertie till he had paid an hundred thousand duckats Afterward by the kings aide he was restored to his former gouernment but when he began to tyrannize ouer some of the chiefe citizens he againe prouoked the whole citie vnto armes who besieged foorthwith the castle whereunto he fled which was such a corrasiue vnto Elcaied his minde that within few daies he died for sorrow And so the people after they were reconciled to their king would fromthencefoorth neuer admit any forren gouernour wherefore the king of Tunis was as is aforesaid againe constrained to send his owne sonnes thither The fields belonging to this citie are exceeding fertil And on either side the riuer which runneth through the plaines there are most commodious gardens if they were well husbanded Also without the citie stand many faire and ancient buildings About a mile and a halfe from the citie standeth a certaine triumphall arch like vnto the triumphall arches at Rome which the grosse common people thinke to haue beene a castle where innumerable diuels remained which they say were expelled by the Mahumetans when they came first to inhabite Constantina From the citie to the riuer they descend by certaine staires hewen out of the rocke and neere vnto the riuer standeth a little house so artificially cut out of the maine rocke that the roofe pillers and walles are all of one continued substance and here the women of Constantina wash their linnen Neere vnto the citie likewise there is a certaine bath of hot water dispersing it selfe among the rocks in this bath are great store of snailes which the fond women of the citie call Diuels and when any one falleth into a feuer or any other disease they suppose the snailes to be the authors thereof And the onely remedie that they can apply vpon such an occasion is this first they kill a white hen putting her into a platter with her feathers on and then verie solemnly with waxe-candles they carry her to the bathe and there leaue her and many good fellowes there are which so soone as the silly women haue set downe their hens at the bath wil come secretly thither and conuey away the hens to their owne kitchins Somewhat farther from the citie eastward there is a fountaine of extreme cold water and neere vnto it standeth a certaine building of marble adorned with sundrie Hieroglyphicall pictures or emblemes such as I haue seene at Rome and at many other places of Europe But the common people imagine that it was in times past a Grāmar-schoole because both the masters and schollers thereof were most vitious they were transformed say they into marble The inhabitants twise euerie yeere send great store of wares into Numidia and because as they trauell they are in danger of the Arabian theeues they hire certaine Turkish Harquebusiers for great wages to guard them The merchants of Constantina trauelling to Tunis pay no tribute at all but onely at their departure foorth of Constantina for the worth of euerie 100. ducates in merchandise they allow two ducates and a halfe Of the towne of Mela. THis
of the whole Island and his retinue haue their abode Not farre from hence there is a certaine village where the Christian Mauritanian and Turkish merchants haue their place of residence in which place there is a great market or faire weekely kept whither all the merchants of the Island and many Arabians from the maine land with great store of cattle and wooll doe resort The inhabitants of the Isle bring cloth thither to sell which they themselues make and this cloth togither with great store of raisins they vsually transport vnto Tunis and Alexandria to be solde Scarce fiftie yeeres sithence this Isle was inuaded and conquered by Christians but it was immediately recouered by the king of Tunis And presently after newe colonies being heere planted the foresaide castle was reedified which the kings of Tunis afterwarde enioied But after the death of king Hutmen the Islanders returned to their former libertie and presently broke the bridge from the Island to the maine lande fearing least they shoulde be inuaded by some land-armie Not long after the said Islanders slaying the king of Tunis his gouernours of the Isle haue themselues continued gouernours thereof till this present Out of this Island is gathered the summe of fowerscore thousand Dobles euery Doble containing an Italian ducate and one third part for yeerely tribute by reason of the great concourse and resort of the merchants of Alexandria Turkie and Tunis But now because they are at continuall dissension and controuersie their estate is much impaired In my time Don Ferdinando king of Spaine sent a great armada against this Island vnder the conduct of the duke of Alua who not knowing the nature of the same commanded his soldiers to land a good distance from thence but the Moores so valiantly defended their Island that the Spaniards were constrained to giue backe and so much the greater was their distresse in that they coulde not finde water sufficient to quench their extreme thirst Moreouer at the Spaniards arriuall it was a full tide but when they woulde haue returned on bourd it was so great an ebbe that their ships were constrained to put to sea least they shoulde haue beene cast vpon the sholdes The shore was drie for almost fower miles togither so that the Spanish soldiers were put vnto great toile before they coulde come to the waters side And the Moores pursued them so eagerly that they slew and tooke prisoners the greatest part of them and the residue escaped by shipping into Sicilia Afterwarde the Emperour Charles the fift sent a mightie fleete thither vnder the conduct of a Rhodian knight of the order of Saint Iohn de Messina who so discreetly behaued himselfe in that action that the Moores compounded to pay fiue thousand Dobles for yeerly tribute vpon condition of the Emperours league and good will which yeerely tribute is payde vntill this present Of the towne of Zoara THis towne built by the Africans vpon the Mediterran sea standeth eastward from the Isle of Gerbi almost fiftie miles The towne wall is weak and the inhabitants are poore people being occupied about nothing but making of lime and plaistring which they sell in the kingdome of Tripolis Their fields are most barren and the inhabitants haue continually beene molested by the inuasions of the Christians especially since the time that they woon Tripolis Of the towne of Lepide THis ancient towne founded by the Romans and enuironed with most high and strong walles hath twise beene sacked by the Mahumetans and of the stones and ruines thereof was Tripolis afterward built Of the olde citie of Tripolis OLde Tripolis built also by the Romans was after woon by the Goths and lastly by the Mahumetans in the time of Califa Homar the second Which Mahumetans hauing besieged the gouernour of Tripoli six moneths together compelled him at length to flee vnto Carthage The citizens were partly slaine and partly carried captiue into Egypt and Arabia as the most famous African Historiographer Ibnu 〈◊〉 reporteth Of the new citie of Tripolis in Barbarie AFfter the destruction of old Tripolis there was built another city of that name which city being inuironed with most high and beautifull wals but not verie strong is situate vpon a sandie plaine which yeeldeth great store of Dates The houses of this citie are most stately in respect of the houses of Tunis and heere also euerie trade and occupation hath a seuerall place Weauers here are many They haue no wels nor fountaines but all their water is taken out of cesterns Corne in this citie is at an exceeding rate for all the fields of Tripoli are as sandie and barren as the fields of Numidia The reason whereof is for that the principall and fattest grounds of this region are ouerflowed with the sea The inhabitants of this region affirme that the greatest part of their fields northward are swallowed vp by the Mediterran sea the like wherof is to be seene in the territories of Monaster Mahdia Asfacos Capes the Isle of Gerbi and other places more eastward where the sea for the space of a mile is so shallow that it will scarce reach vnto a mans nauell Yea some are of opinion that the citie of Tripolis it selfe was situate in times past more to the north but by reason of the continuall inundations of the sea it was built and remooued by little and little southward for proofe whereof there stand as yet ruines of houses drowned in certaine places of the sea In this citie were many faire temples and colledges built and an hospitall also for the maintenance of their owne poore people and for the entertainment of strangers Their fare is verie base and homely beeing onely the forenamed Besis made of barley meale for that region affoordeth so small quantitie euen of barley that he is accounted a wealthie man that hath a bushell or two of corne in store The citizens are most of them merchants for Tripolis standeth neere vnto Numidia and Tunis neither is there any citie or towne of account between it and Alexandria neither is it farre distant from the Isles of Sicilia and Malta and vnto the port of Tripolis Venetian ships yeerly resort and bring thither great store of merchandize This citie hath alwaies beene subiect vnto the king of Tunis but when Abulhasen the king of Fez besieged Tunis the king of Tunis was constrained with his Arabians to flee into the deserts Howbeit when Abulhasen was conquered the king of Tunis returned to his kingdome but his subiects began to oppose themselues against him and so that common-wealth was afterward grieuously turmoyled with ciuill dissensions and warres Whereof the king of Fez hauing intelligence marched the fifth yeere of the said ciuill warre with an armie against the citie of Tunis and hauing vanquished the king thereof and constrained him to flee vnto Constantina he so straitly besieged him that the citizens of Constantina seeing themselues not able to withstād the king of Fez opened their citie gates
his streames into the said sea It containeth most beautifull houses and palaces built vpon the shore of Nilus and a faire market-place enuironed on all sides with shops of merchants and artizans with a stately and sumptuous temple also hauing some gates towards the market-place and others toward Nilus and certaine commodious staires to descend into the same riuer Neere vnto the temple there is a certaine harbour for the safetie of ships and barks of burthen that carrie wares vnto Cairo for the citie being vnwalled resembleth a village rather then a citie About this citie stand diuers cottages wherein they vse to thrash rice with certaine wooden instruments to make ready each moneth three thousand bushels thereof A little farther from this citie there is a place like vnto a village wherein great store of hackney-mules and asses are kept for trauellers to ride vpon vnto Alexandria neither neede the trauellers to guide the saide hackneyes but to let them run their ordinarie course for they will goe directly to the same house or inne where they ought to be left and their pace is so good that they will from sunne-rising to sunne-set carrie a man fortie miles they trauell alwaies so neere the sea-shore that sometimes the waues thereof beat vpon the hackneyes feete Neere vnto this citie are many fields of dates and grounds which yeeld aboundance of rice The inhabitants are of a cheerefull disposition and courteous to strangers especially to such as loue to spend their time in iollitie and disport Here is a stately bath-stoue also hauing fountaines both of cold and hot water belonging thereunto the like whereof for stately and commodious building is not to be found in all Egypt besides I my selfe was in this citie when Selim the great Turke returned this way from Alexandria who with his priuate and familiar friends beholding the said bath-stoue seemed to take great delight and contentment therein Of the citie called Anthius THis citie was built vpon the easterne banke of Nilus by the Romans as many Latin inscriptions engrauen in marble and remaining til this present do beare sufficient record It is a beautifull and well-gouerned citie and is furnished with men of all kinde of trades and occupations The fields adiacent abound with great plentie of rice corne and dates The inhabitants are of a cheerefull and gentle disposition and gaine much by rice which they transport vnto Cairo Of the citie of Barnabal THis citie was founded at the same time when the Christian religion began to take place in Egypt vpon the easterne banke of Nilus in a most pleasant and fruitfull place Here is such abundance of rice that in the citie there are more then fower hundred houses for the thrashing and trimming thereof But they that impose this taske vpon the inhabitants are men of forren countries and especially of Barbarie which are so lasciuiously and riotously giuen that almost all the harlots of Egypt resort hither vnto them who shaue off their haires to the very bones without any cizzers or rasors Of the citie of Thebe BY whom this ancient citie of Thebe standing vpon the westerne banke of Nilus should be built our African chroniclers are of sundry opinions Some affirme it to be built by the Egyptians some by the Romans and others by the Grecians because there are as yet to be seene most ancient monuments partly in Latine partly in Greeke and partly in Egyptian characters Howbeit at this present it containeth but three hundred families in all being most of them very stately and sumptuously built It aboundeth with corne rice and sugar and with certaine fruits of a most excellent taste called Muse. It is also furnished with great store of merchants and artificers but the most part of the inhabitants are husbandmen and if a man walke the streetes in the day-time he shall see none but trim and beautifull women The territorie adiacent aboundeth with date-trees which grow so thicke that a man cannot see the citie till he approcheth nigh vnto the walles Here grow likewise store of grapes figs and peaches which are carried in great plentie vnto Cairo Without the citie there are many ancient monuments as namely pillers inscriptions and walles of a great thicknes built of excellent stone and such a number of ruinous places that this citie seemeth in times past to haue beene very large Of the citie of Fuoa THis citie being distant about 45. miles southward from Rosetto was built by the Egyptians on the side of Nilus next vnto Asia The streetes there of are narrow being otherwise a well gouerned and populous citie and abounding with all necessarie commodities Heere are likewise very faire shops of merchants and artificers albeit the inhabitants are much addicted vnto their ease and pleasure The women of this towne liue in so great libertie that they may go whither they will all the day-time returning home at night without any controlement of their husbands The fieldes adiacent abounde greatly with dates and neere vnto them there is a certaine plaine which is very apt for sugar and corne howbeit the sugar canes there bring not foorth perfect sugar but in steede thereof a certaine kinde of honie like sope which they vse throughout all Egypt because there is but little other hony in the whole countrey Of Gezirat Eddeheb that is to say the golden Isle OVer against the foresaid city the riuer of Nilus maketh an Isle which being situate on an high place bringeth forth all kinde of fruitefull trees except Oliues Vpon this Island are many palaces and beautifull buildings which cannot be seene through the thicke and shadie woods The soile of this Island being apt for sugar and rice is manured by most of the inhabitants but the residue are imploied about carrying of their merchandize vnto Cairo Of the citie of Mechella THis citie builte by the Mahumetans in my time vpon the easterne shore of Nilus and enuironed with a lowe wall containeth great store of inhabitants the most part of whom being either weauers or husbandmen are voide of all curtesie and ciuilitie They bring vp great store of geese which they sell at Cairo and their fields bring foorth plentie of corne and flaxe Of the citie of Derotte WHen Egypt was subiect to the Romaine empire this towne was built also vpon the easterne banke of Nilus which as it is very populous so is it adorned with stately buildings and large streets hauing merchants shops on either side of them They haue a most beautifull temple and the citizens are exceeding rich for their grounde yeeldeth such abundance of sugar that they pay yeerely vnto the Soldan an hundred thousande peeces of golde called in their language Saraffi for their libertie of making and refining thereof In this citie standeth a certaine great house like 〈◊〉 a castle wherein are their presses and caldrons for the boiling and preparing of their sugar Neither did I euer in all my life see so many workemen emploied about
that busines whose daily wages as I vnderstood by a certaine publike officer amounted to two hundred Saraffi Of the citie called Mechellat Chais THe Mahumetans hauing conquered Egypt built this citie vpon an high hill standing by the westerne banke of Nilus The fields of this citie being high ground are apt for to plant vines vpon bicause the waters of Nilus cannot ouerflow them This towne affoordeth new grapes vnto Cairo almost for halfe the yeere long but the inhabitants are 〈◊〉 people being most of them watermen and bargemen A description of the huge and admirable citie of Cairo CAiro is commonly reputed to be one of the greatest and most famous cities in al the whole world But leauing the common reports opinions thereof I will exactly describe the forme and estate wherin it now standeth And that I may begin with the Etymology or deriuation of the name Cairo is an Arabian word corruptly pronounced by the people of Europe for the true Arabian worde is El Chahira which signifieth an enforcing or imperious mistresse This citie built in ancient times by one Gehoar Chetib a Dalmatian slaue as I haue before signified in the beginning of my discourse containeth within the wals not aboue eight thousand families being inhabited by noblemen gentlemen and merchants that sell wares brought from all other places The famous temple of Cairo commonly called Gemih Hashare that is to say the glorious temple was built also by the foresaide slaue whom we affirmed to be the founder of the citie and whose surname was Hashare that is to say famous being giuen him by the Mahumetan patriarke that was his prince This city standeth vpon a most beautifull plaine neere vnto a certaine mountaine called Mucatun about two miles distant from Nilus and is enuironed with stately wals and fortified with iron gates the principall of which gates is called Babe Nansre that is the gate of victory which standeth eastward towards the desert of the red sea and the gate called Beb Zuaila being next vnto the old citie and to Nilus and also Bebel Futuh that is to say the gate of triumph standing towards the lake and the fieldes And albeit Cairo aboundeth euerie where with all kinde of merchants and artificers yet that is the principall streete of the whole citie which stretcheth from the gate of Nansre to the gate of Zuaila for in it are builte most stately and admirable palaces and colleges and most sumptuous temples among which is the temple of Gemith Elhechim the third schismaticall Califa of Cairo Other temples there are of a maruellous bignes which to describe in particular I thinke it superfluous Heere are many bath-stoues also very artificially built Next of all is the streete called Beinel Casrain containing to the number of threescore cooks or victualers shops furnished with vessels of tinne there are 〈◊〉 other shops also wherein are to be solde delicate waters or drinkes made of all kinds of fruits being for noblemen to drinke of and these waters they keepe most charily in fine vessels partly of glasse and partly of tinne next vnto these are shops where diuers confections of hony sugar vnlike vnto the confections of Europe are to be sold then follow the fruiterers shops who bring outlandish fruits out of Syria to wit quinces pomegranates and other fruits which grow not in Egypt next vnto them are the shops of such as sell egges cheese and pancakes fried with oile And next of all there is a streete of the principall artificers shops Beyond which streete standeth a college built by the Soldan called Ghauri who was slaine in a battaile against Selim the great Turke And next vnto the college are diuers rankes of drapers shops In the first ranke there is most excellent outlandish linnen cloth to be sold as namely fine cloth of cotton brought from Balabach and cloth called Mosall brought from Ninou of a maruellous bredth and finenesse whereof noblemen and others of account haue shirts made them scarffes to weare vpon their Dulipans Besides these there are certaine mercers shops where the rich stuffes of Italy namely silke damaske veluet cloth of golde and such like are to be bought vnto which stuffes I neuer sawe anie comparable to my remembrāce in Italy where they vse to be made Next vnto the mercers are the woollen drapers which bring cloth out of Europe as namely from Florence Venice Flanders and other places Next of all there are chamblets to be sold and from thence the way lieth to the gate of Zuaila at which gate dwell great store of artificers Neere vnto the saide way standeth the famous Burse called Canel Halili wherin the Persian merchants dwell It is built very stately in maner of a kings palace and is of three stories high beneath it are certaine conuenient roomes whither merchants for the exchange of rich and costly wares do resort for heere do the principall and most wealthie merchants abide whose wares are spices precious stones cloth of India and such like Next vnto the Burse standeth a streete of shops where all kinde of perfumes namely ciuet muske amber and such like are to be solde which commodities are heere in so great plentie that if you aske for twentie pounds of muske they will presently shewe you an hundred Next followeth the streete of the paper-merchants where you may buie most excellent and smooth paper heere also are to be sold iewels and precious stones of great value which the brokers carrie from one shop to another Then come you to the goldsmiths streete being inhabited for the most part by Iewes who deale for riches of great importance And next vnto the goldsmiths are certaine streetes of vpholsters or brokers who sell the apparell and rich furniture of noblemen and other citizens at the second hande which are not cloakes coates napery or such like but things of exceeding price and value amongst which I my selfe once sawe a beautifull pauilion embrodered with needle-worke and beset with pearles that weighed fortie pounds which pearles being taken out of it were solde for ten thousand Saraffi In this citie also there is a most stately hospitall builte by Piperis the first Soldan of the Mamalucks race the yeerely reuenues whereof amount vnto two hundred thousand Saraffi Hither may any impotent or diseased persons resort and be well prouided of phisitions and of all things necessarie for those that are sicke who if they chance to die heere all their goods are due vnto the hospitall Of the suburb called Beb Zuaila THis great suburbe belonging vnto Cairo and containing about twelue thousand families beginneth at the gate of Zuaila and extendeth westward almost a mile a halfe southward it bordereth vpon the palace of the Soldan stretcheth northward for the space of a mile vnto the suburbe called Beb Elloch Heere dwell as many noble men and gentlemen almost as within the citie it selfe and the citizens haue shops both heere and in the citie as
forth of the mountaines of Gumera and stretching westward ouer the plaines of Habat and Azgar passeth by the city of Casar Elcabir and neare vnto Harais a city of Azgar vpon the borders of Habat dischargeth it selfe into the main-Ocean in the mouth of this riuer lyeth the hauen of the foresaid city being very difficult to enter Of the riuer of Mulullo MVlullo arising out of mount Atlas betweene the cities of Teza and Dubdu runneth through the desert and barren plaines of Terrest and Tafrata and at length exonerateth it selfe into the riuer Muluia Of the riuer of Muluua THe famous riuer of Muluua taking his originall from that part of Atlas which is situate in the region of Cheuz about fiue and twentie miles from the citie of Gherseluin and passing ouer dishabited and drieplaines as also amidst the deserts of Angad and of Garet and by the foote of mount Beni Ieznaten falleth not farre from the towne of Chasasa into the Mediterran sea This riuer a man may wade ouer alwaies in sommer in the mouth whereof are caught most excellent fishes Of the riuer of Za. THis riuer springing out of mount Atlas runneth through a certaine plaine of the desert of Angad whereas the kingdomes of Fez and of Telensin confine one vpon an other which though it be exceeding deepe yet neuer did I see the water thereof thicke or muddie It aboundeth with fishes but the inhabitants being destitute of fit instruments can not take them neither indeed be the waters conuenient to fish vpon bicause they are so cleere Of the riuer of Tefne THe small riuer of Tefne issuing foorth of the mountaines bordering vpon Numidia and continuing a northerly course ouer the desert of Angad falleth into the Mediterran sea about fifteene miles from Telensin and it affourdeth nought but a fewe small fishes Of the riuer Mina THis riuer flowing out of certaine mountaines neere vnto Tegdent passeth through the fieldes of the citie of Batha and thence runneth northerly into the Mediterran sea Of the riuer Selef THis great riuer falling from the mountaines of Guanseris and descending through barren plaines to the confines of the kingdomes of Telensin and Tenez separateth Mezagran from Mustuganin and then entreth into the Mediterran sea in the mouth of which riuer are caught very excellent fishes of diuers kinds Of the riuer Sefsaia THis small riuer beginning from mount Atlas passeth ouer the plaine of Mettegia neere vnto Alger and not farre from the ancient towne of Temendefust dischargeth it selfe into the Mediterran sea Of that which is called The great riuer THis riuer ariseth out of the mountaines adioining vpon the region of Zeb from whence running along it disemboqueth into the Mediterran sea about three miles from Bugia It ouerfloweth not but in rainie and snowie weather neither vse the people of Bugia to fish therein hauing the sea so neere them Of the riuer called Sufgmare IT springeth out of the mountaines bordering vpon mount Auras and passeth on through the barren fields vnto the territorie of the citie Constantina and gliding along by the borders thereof it receiueth a small riuer and so holding a Northerly course it falleth into the Mediterran sea about the same place where it separateth the fields of Chollo from the fieldes of the castle called Iegel Of the riuer Iadog THis small riuer issuing foorth of the mountaines neere Constantina and stretching by the same mountaines towards the east disburdeneth it selfe into the sea not farre from the citie of Bona. Of the riuer called Guadilbarbar IT proceedeth out of certaine mountaines adioining vpon the fieldes of the citie called Vrbs and gliding by the hils and mountaines it runneth in such a crooked chanell that such as trauell from Bona to Tunis must crosse ouer it without either boates or bridges aboue twentie times And so at length it falleth into the sea not farre from the forsaken port of Tabraca and about fifteene miles from the citie of Bege Of the riuer of Megerada THe mightie riuer of Megerada springing foorth of the mountaines neere vnto the citie Tebessa vpon the borders of the prouince of Zeb continueth a northerly course vntill at a place called Gharel Meleh fortie miles distant from Tunis it exonerateth itselfe into the Mediterran sea In rainie weather it so increaseth that trauellers bicause there are neither boates nor bridges are constrained to staie two or three daies by the riuers side till it be decreased especially within sixe miles of Tunis And hereby you may see how the Africans of these times degenerate both in wit and courage from the ancient Africans who made the people of Rome to tremble so often at their valour Of the riuer of Capis IT proceedeth from a certaine southerne desert and passing through sandie plaines falleth into the sea by a towne of that very name The water thereof is salt and so hot that whosoeuer listeth to drinke of it must set it a cooling for the space of an hower Thus much concerning the principall riuers of Barbarie let vs nowe proceede on to describe the Numidian riuers Of the riuers of Numidia and first of the riuer called Sus. THe great riuer of Sus flowing out of the mountaines of Atlas that separate the two prouinces of Hea and Sus in sunder runneth southward among the saide mountaines stretching into the fields of the foresaid region and from thence trending westward vnto a place called Gurtuessen where it dischargeth itselfe into the maine Ocean In winter time it mightily ouerfloweth but in sommer it is verie shallow Of the riuer of Darha THis riuer taking his originall from mount Atlas about the confines of Hascora passeth southward to the prouince called Darha from whence proceeding through the deserts it is dispersed among certaine fieldes and pastures where bicause of the abundance of grasse the Arabians feede their camels In sommer it is so dried vp that a man shall not wet his shooes in going ouer it but it so increaseth in winter that it cannot be passed ouer in boats And by extreme heate of the sunne the waters thereof prooue bitter Of the riuer of Ziz. THis riuer springing out of the mountaines of Atlas inhabited by the people called Zanaga and running along by many other mountaines and by the city of Gherseluin holdeth on his course through the fields of Cheneg Metgara and Reteb and entreth the territorie of the city Segelmesse from whence it proceedeth by the desert castle of Sugaihila and beyond the said castle falleth into a lake amidst the sandie deserts where no inhabitants are to be found whither notwithstanding the Arabian hunters vsually resort for that they finde great store of game there Of the riuer of Ghir THe riuer of Ghir issuing also forth of mount Atlas stretcheth southward by certaine deserts and then passing through the region of Beni-gumi transformeth it selfe likewise into a lake in the very midst of the deserts Whereas in the beginning of this my discourse intreating of the
mans flesh They dwell vpon the left banke of Nilus betweene the first and second lake The Anzichi also haue a shambles of mans flesh as we haue of the flesh of oxen They eate their enimies whom they take in war they sell their slaues to butchers if they can light on no greater prise and they inhabit from the riuer Zaire euen to the deserts of Nubia Some others of them are rather addicted to witchcraft then to idolatrie considering that in a man the feare of a superior power is so naturall that though he adore nothing vnder the name and title of a God yet doth he reuerence and feare some superioritie although he know not what it is Such are the Biafresi and their neighbours all of them being addicted in such sort to witchcraft as that they vaunt that by force of enchantment they can not onely charme and make men die much more molest and bring them to hard point but further raise windes and raine and make the skie to thunder and lighten and that they can destroy all herbes and plants and make the flockes and heards of cattell to fall downe dead Whereupon they reuerence more the diuell then any thing else sacrificing vnto him of their beasts and fruits of the earth yea their owne bloud also and their children Such are likewise the priests of Angola whom they call Ganghe These make profession that they haue in their hands dearth and abundance faire weather and foule life and death For which cause it can not be expressed in what veneration they are held among these Barbarians In the yeere 1587. a Portugall captaine being in a part of Angola with his souldiers a Ganga was requested by the people to refresh the fields which were drie and withered with some quantitie of water He needed no great intreatie but going forth with diuers little bels in presence of the Portugals he spent an halfe hower in fetching suudry gambols skips vttering diuers superstitious murmurings and behold a cloud arose in the aire with lightning and thunder The Portugals grew amazed but all the Barbarians with great ioy admired and extolled vnto heauen their Ganga who now gaue out intolerable brags not knowing what hung ouer his head For the windes outragiously blowing the skie thundring after a dreadfull manner in stead of the raine by him promised there fell a thunderbolt which like a sword cut his head cleane from his shoulders Some other idolaters not looking much aloft worship earthly things such were the people of Congo before their conuersion and are at this day those that haue not yet receiued the Gospell For these men worship certaine dragons with wings and they foolishly nourish them in their houses with the delicatest meates that they haue They worship also serpents of horrible shape goats tygers and other creatures and the more they feare and reuerence them by how much the more deformed and monstrous they are Amongst the number of their gods also they reckon bats owles owlets trees and herbes with their figures in wood and stone and they do not onely worship these beasts liuing but euen their versy kins when they are dead being filled with straw or some other matter and the manner of their idolatrie is to bow downe before the foresaid things to cast themselues groueling vpon the earth to couer their faces with dust and to offer vnto them of their best substance Some lifting vp their mindes a little higher worship starres such be the people of Guinie and their neighbours who are enclined to the worship of the sunne the greatest part of them and they hold opinion that the soules of those dead that liued well mount vp into heauen and there dwell perpetually neere vnto the sunne Neither want there amongst these certaine others so superstitious as they worship for God the first thing they meete withall comming out of their houses They also hold their kings in the account estimation of Gods whom they suppose to be descended from heauen their kings to maintaine themselues in such high reputation are serued with woonderfull ceremonies neither will they be seene but very seldome Of the Iewes THe Iewes who haue bene dispersed by god throughout the whole world to confirme vs in the holie faith entered into Ethiopia in the Queene of Sabas daies in companie of a son that Salomon had by her to the number as the Abassins affirme of twelue thousand and there multiplied their generation exceedingly In that they not onely filled Abassia but spred themselues likewiseall ouer the neighbour prouinces So that at this day also the Abassins affirme that vpon Nilus towards the west there inhaibteth a most populous nation of the Iewish stock vnder a mightie K. And some of our moderne Cosmographers set downe a prouince in those quarters which they call The land of the Hebrewes placed as it were vnder the equinoctiall in certaine vnknowne mountaines betweene the confines of Abassia and Congo And likewise on the north part of the kingdome of Goiame and the southerly quarter of the kingdome of Gorham there are certaine mountaines peopled with Iewes who there maintaine themselues free and absolute through the inaccessiable situations of the same For in truth by this means the inhabitants of the mountaines speaking generally are the most ancient and freest people in that the strong situation of their natiue soile secureth them from the incursions of forraine nations and the violence of their neighbours Such are the Scottes in Britaine and the Biskaines in Spaine But to return againe to our purpose the Anzichi who extend from the bankes of the riuer Zaire euen to the confines of Nubia vse circumcision as also diuers other bordering people do a thing that must necessarilie haue been brought in by the Iewes yet remayning stil in vse after the annihilation of the Mosaicall law amongst them Some also think that the people called Cafri or Cafates at this day who are gentiles draw their originall from the Iewes but being enuironed on euery side by Idolaters they haue by little and little swarued from the law of Moses and so are become as it were insensibly Idolaters On the other side the Iewes being woonderfully increased in Spaine passed one after an other into Affricke and Mauritania and dispersed themselues euen to the confines of Numidia especiallie by meanes of traffick and the profession of goldsmithes the which being vtterly forbidden the Mahumetans is altogether practised amongst them by the Iewes as are likewise diuers other mechanicall crafts but principallie that of black smithes A thing which notablie appeareth in mount Sefsaua in the kingdome of Maroco and in mount Anteta It is said that Eitdeuet a towne in the kingdome of Maroco was inhabited by the Iewes of the stock as they affirme of Dauid who notwithstanding by little and little are growne Mahumetans The Iewes encreased afterwards in Affrick when first 〈◊〉 king of Spaine called The catholicke and after him Emanuell king of Portugal put
also to embrace it In times past Ethiopia was gouerned by Queenes onely Whereupon we reade in the history of the old testament that the Queene of the south came to King Salomon from Saba to heare his admirable wisedome about the yeere of the world 2954. The name of this Queen as the Ethiopians report was Maqueda who from the head-city of Ethiopia called Saba which like an Isle is enuironed on all sides by the riuer Nilus trauelled by Egypt and the Red sea to Ierusalem And she brought vnto Salomon an hundred twenty talents of gold which amount to 720000. golden ducates of Hungarie that is seuen tunnes of gold and 20000 Hungarian ducates besides This mightie sum of gold with other things of great value she presented vnto Salomon who likewise requited her with most princely giftes She contended with him also in propounding of sage questions obscure riddles Amongst other matters as it is reported by Cedrenus she brought before him certaine damosels and yoong men in maides attire asking the king how he could discerne one sexe from another He answered that he would finde them out by the washing of their faces And foorthwith he commanded all their faces to be washed and they which washed themselues strongly were found to be males but the residue by their tender washing bewraied themselues to be damosels The Ethiopian kings suppose that they are descended from the linage of Dauid and from the family of Salomon And therefore they vse to terme themselues the sonnes of Dauid and of Salomon and of the holy patriarkes also as being sprung from their progenie For Queene Maqueda say they had a sonne by Salomon whome they named Meilech But afterward he was called Dauid This Meilech as they report being growen to twentie yeeres of age was sent backe by his mother vnto his father and instructor Salomon that he might learne of him wisedome and vnderstanding Which so soone as the said Meilech or Dauid had attained by the permission of Salomon taking with him many priests and nobles out of all the twelue tribes he returned to his kingdome of Ethiopia and tooke vpon him the gouernment thereof As likewise he carried home with him the law of God and the rite of circumcision These were the beginnings of the Iewish religion in Ethiopia And it is reported that euen till this present none are admitted into any ministry or canonship in the court but such as are descended of their race that came first out of Iury. By these therfore the doctrine of God in Ethiopia was first planted which afterward tooke such deepe root as it hath since remained to all succeeding ages For the Ethiopians did both retaine the bookes of the Prophets and trauailed also to Ierusalem that they might there worship the true God reuealed in the kingdome of Israel Which manifestly appeereth out of the Historie of the Ethiopian Eunuch whose name was Indich which was a principall gouernour vnder Queene Candaces properly called Iudith For he about the tenth yeere after the death and resurrection of our blessed Sauiour trauailed for the space of two hundred and fortie miles to Ierusalem Where hauing performed due worship vnto God returning homeward as he sate in his chariot he read the prophet Esaias And by the commandement of the holy Spirit Philip one of Christ his disciples was sent vnto him And when they were both come to the citie Bethzur three miles distant from Ierusalem the Eunuch at the foote of a mountaine espied a certaine water wherein he was baptized by Philip. And being returned into Ethiopia this Eunuch baptized the Queene and a great part of her family and people From which time the Ethiopians began to be Christians who since that haue continually professed the Christian faith They beleeue also that Philip sent into Ethiopia a disciple of his called Lycanon who as they suppose ordained the verie forme of religion which they now holde Now these beginnings aswel of the Iewish as the christian religion among the Ethiopians being thus declared we are next to intreat of the doctrine religion it selfe togither with the rites ceremonies vsed at this present in the Ethiopicke church so far foorth as we can gather out of the ambassages which haue bin performed from these parts thither backe againe Besides which there is no historie nor discourse of any worth to be found which entreateth of the religion maners and customes of the Ethiopians So as it is a matter very strange that for so many hundred yeeres togither Ethiopia was so barred from our knowledge that we had not so much as any report thereof Vntill about the yeere of our Lord 1440. certaine ambassadours sent from thence to Pope Eugenius returned backe with his letters and Papall benediction to their king Which letters are most charily kept among the records of this Ethiopian king and are preserued for perpetuall monuments From which time also as though Ethiopia had beene againe quire debarred from the knowledge and conuersation of our men there were not any Europeans that went into Ethiopia nor any Ethiopians that came into Europe till the yeere of our Lord 1486. what time Iohn the second king of Portugall sent Pedro de Couilham and Alonço de Paiua to search out Ethiopia This Pedro was a man very learned eloquent skilfull in sundrie languages painfull in his endeuors fortunate in his attempts and most desirous to finde out new countries and people both by sea and land He therefore in the yeere aboue mentioned togither with his companion Alonço de 〈◊〉 who died in the voiage trauailed first to Alexandria and Cairo in Egypt from whence in the companie of certaine Mores of Fez and Tremizen he proceeded on to El Tor an hauen towne vpon the Arabian shore of the Red sea and thence to Aden situate without the entrance of the Arabian gulfe Where hauing embarqued himselfe in a ship of Mores he trauailed to Calicut Goa and other places of the east Indies and being fully informed of the state of the Spiceries he crossed ouer the maine Ocean to çofala sailed thence to Ormuz and then returned backe to Cairo From whence hauing dispatched letters vnto his king in the company of Rabbi Ioseph a Iew he made a second voiage to Ormuz and in his returne he tooke his iourney towards Ethiopia the Emperour whereof at that time was called Alexander Vnto whom when he had deliuered a letter and a mappe of the world sent from king Iohn he was most kindly entertained and rewarded with many rich gifts And albeit he most earnestly desired to returne into his owne countrey yet could he neuer obtaine leaue but had wealth honour and a wife of a noble family bestowed vpon him to asswage his desire of returning home Wherefore in the yeere 1526. which was fortie yeeres after his departure out of Portugall hee was left by Rodrigo de Lima the Portugall ambassadour still remaining in the court of Prete Ianni In all this meane