description therof PaÌ„go the chief town of this Prouince Don Francisco chiefe Gouernour of Pango The fift Prouince Batta the description thereof Batta the chiefe towne of all Batta The Preeminence of the Gouernour of Batta Don Pedro chiefe Gouernour of Batta The K. of CoÌ„go wil not suffer any natural borne subiect in Congo to haue an Arcubuse The reason why the K. of Congo permitteth Mani-Batta to haue Arcubusiers in his Prouince The Giacâ—â—â— The conditions of the people of Batta Their traffick The sixt Prouince Pemba and the situation thereof Don Antonio cheife Gouernor of Pemba The chiefe Cittie of all Congo is situate in this prouince of PeÌ„ba The Courtiers c. dwel for the most part in Pemba Conclusion of this booke The contents of the seconde booke The Territory of the chiefest Cittie in all Congo contayneth in compasse 20. miles about The chief Citty called San-Saluadore The situation of the Citty The mountaine wherevpon it standeth The soile the ayre the waters and the cattell The Otheiro The reason why they built in this place Fiue miles froÌ„ the bottome of the hill to the toppe A riuer at the hill foote The particucular situation of the Cittie A seuerall place for the Portingalles The principall Church and market place Good store of water The plaine very fruitfull Seuerall sortes of graine Luco White Milles called the Mazza of Congo Maiz Diuers kinds of trees bearing fruit Banana Diuers kindes of Palme-trees The oyle of Palme The bread of Palme The fruit of the Palme The wine and Vineger of Palme Great store of stone to build with all Lime timber and cattel to carry and draw Want of workmen to build Stuffe for building ships housing Hearbs and fruites The first trafficke of the Portingalles into Congo Mani Sogno the K. vncle entertaineth the Portingals Mani-Sogno conuerted become a Christian. The King of Congo promiseth to becom a Christian. The K. of Portingall sendeth Priestes to the K. of Congo to instruct him Mani-Sogno promoteth the Christian Religion The ships returne from Portingall 1491. Mani-Sogno his traine entertayneth the Portingals Mani-Sogno buildeth a Church Mani Sogno his sonne baptized What names the people of Congo had before they were christened A sermon coÌ„tayning the summe of Christian Religion Mani Sogno rehearseth the Sermon to his people The Portingals go to the Court to baptise the king The Courtiers of Congo meet the Portingals The king him selfe recceyueth them The Portingal Embassadour declareth his Embassage The K. reioyceth at the Embassage The people reioyce at it The K. vieweth the Presents sent vnto him by the K. of Portingall Consultation among the Portingals for the Christening of the K. for the building of a Church An insurrection raised by the Deuill to hinder the progresse of Christian Religion Mani-Sundi goeth against the rebelles The K. buildeth in haste a Church of timber The K. Q. of Congo Christened The Church of S. Saviours The Latine historie of the Indies doth report amisse of this rebellion Diuers Lordes baptised The K. goeth in person against the rebels and discomfiteth theÌ„ Mani-Sundi christened and many other with him Mani-Pango resisteth the Gospell Mani-Pango and his complices accuse Mani-Sundi to his father The K. depriueth Mani-Sundi of his gouernment Mani-Sogno maketh intercession for his brother Mani-Sundi restored The funerall of K. Iohn celebrated by K. Alfonso Mani-Pango rebelleth against his brother The Kinges power both slender and timorous The king to his souldiers The Kinges Souldiers depart from him Mani-Sogno meeteth with them The Fugitiues returne and aske the King forgiuenes The K. giueth thankes to God The King erecteth a Crosse of a great length A vision appeared to him The Armes of the King of Congo The proude message of Mani-Pango to the King The Kinges answere The King rewardeth his followers Certain timorous fugitiues runne to the Campe of Mani-Pango A stratagem of Mani-PaÌ„go Mani-Pango assaulteth the Cittie Mani-Pango discomfited without any fight Mani-Pango the seconde time discomfited in like manner Mani-Pango assaulteth the Cittieon both sides at once The stratagem of Mani-Pango turneth to his owne destruction The death of Mani-Pango The Rebelles yeeld to the kings mercie The building of the Church called Saint Crosses K. Alfonso dispatcheth the Portingal Embassadour mother of his owne into Portingall The K. commandeth all Idolles to be brought in all other things that are contrary to Christian Religion Their deuout worshipping of Idols Witches The K. burned all the Idols The king commandeth euery Lorde to build a Church in the Cittie of his owne gouernment The K. buildeth 3. Churches One to Saint Sauiour The second to our Ladie of Helpe The third to S. Iames The ships returne from Portingall with Friers Priestes King Alfonso dyeth Don Piedro succeedeth him The Isle of S. Thomas beginneth to be inhabited The King of Portingall sendeth one to be Bishop of the Isle of S. Thomas and of Congo The entertainment of the Bishop in Congo The Bishoppe foundeth the Cathedrall Church of S. Crosses The Bishop dyeth The second B. dyeth The K. Don Piedro dyeth Don Francesco succeedeth dyeth Don Diego the fift King The K. Diego very sumptuous The third B. of S. Thomas of Congo Dissention betweene the Friers and Priests the new Bishop After the death of K. Diego three Princes at once challenge the Kingdom and all three slaine The Portingalles slaine dispearsed Don Henrico created king K. Henrico dieth Don Aluaro succeedeth and so the stocke of of the ancient Kings of Congo ceased K. Aluaro restoreth the Portingals The B. of S. Thomas returneth into Congo The B. of S. Thomas dieth K. Aluaro liueth licentiously Francesco Bulla Matare an ill companion counsellour to the King Bullamatare dyeth What people the Giachas are Their conditions weapons The Giachas spoile the prouince of Batta The Giachas come to the Royall Cittie of Congo K. Aluaro flieth into the Isle of Horses The Giachas surprise the Cittie and rule ouer all the kingdom The King those that followed him plagued with an extreame famine Many of the bloud Royall sold for slaues to the Portingalles King Aluaro falleth into a Dropsie K. Aluaro sendeth to the K. of Portingall for succor Don Sebastian the King of Portingal sendeth succour vnto him Francesco di Gouea restoreth the King and driueth the Giachas out of Congo Francesco di Gouea after foure yeares returneth into Portingal with letters for mo Priestes The K. becommeth a good Christian marieth The K. of Portingal sendeth to make search in Congo for mettal Mines Francesco Barbuto disswadeth the King from making the search auoydeth it by pollicy The inconuenience of not suffering the mettall mines to be digged melted The K. sendeth new Embassadours into Portingall for mo priests The Portingal K. delayeth to send mo Priestes The King of Congo sendeth Don Sebastiano Aluarez to entreat for Priestes to redeeme certaine of his nobilitie that were in
dead is Don Aluaro father to the King that now is renewed and made another of the same bignes that the first was of in remembraunce of such a miracle For the old Crosse was in time decaied and consumed and quite fallen downe The aforesaid vision did greatly confirme the minds of the Cittizens which before were quailed and did wonderfully appall and fully terrifie the enemies when they vnderstood the news thereof Notwithstanding Mani-Pango sent vnto the King signified vnto him and to all the rest that were with him that if they did not incontinently yeelde themselues and deliuer the Cittie vnto him and create and sweare him for their King and withall abandon and relinquish their newe Christian Religion he would put them all to the edge of the sworde but if they would so do hee woulde freely pardon them Herevnto the Lordes that stood on the Kinges parte answered that they were most ready to die in defence of their Prince and of the Christian Faith But in particular the King sent him this message that he nothing feared his terrible threates but rather as his kind brother was very sory euen from his hart to see that he walked in darkenes and strayed out of the way of light that the kingdome did by law belong vnto him and was not fraudulently vsurped by him And that the Religion which he had receyued was assuredly deliuered him from God who no doubt woulde protect and maintaine him therein And withall besought him that he would estraunge himselfe from his false beliefe and worshipping of the Deuill wherein he had beene nourished and brought vp and that he wold be baptized for so hee shoulde become the childe of God and mertie the Glorie Celestiall Then the King sent to fetch his iewelles and other rich ornamentes of housholde which he had at home and the better to encourage these Lordes that tooke his part hee most graciously distributed them amongst them all wherewith they remayned very greatly satisfied and bounde themselues to prosecute his enterprise and to followe his ensigne with a most ardent courage This being done the very same night the one halfe almost of the base people that were in armes being surprised with a very great feare did secretly flie into the Campe of Pango and hauing thus reuolted gaue Mani-Pango to vnderstand that the King and all the rest of his retinue were vtterly dismaied and discouraged that euery man was deuising with himselfe how he might escape that they had none other meane to saue themselues but onely by taking the lane that leadeth downe to the Riuer which as wee haue tolde you was distant from the Cittie about the space of a mile At the end of which lane betweene the Riuer and the hill there was a little Moore about two foot deepe on the right hande and on the left hand were the mountaines and the garrisons of Pango that had besieged beset the hill so that there was none other issue for them to escape but onely by passing ouer the Moore which was in length as farre as the shotte of an Arcubuse could reach and as much in bredth and then to come to the Riuer Mani-Pango beleeuing all this that they had related vnto him sent presently to stop that passage with planting sharpe stakes in the bottome of the Moore which were couered with water to the ende that if his enemies shoulde flie in the darke of the night because they would not be seene they shoulde be all staked and taken therein All that night he with all his armie remayned in great ioy and awaited the fresh morning that he might giue the assault vpon the Cittie bethinking himselfe in the meane while what course might be most easie and conuenient for him to attempt the same But Don Alfonso on the other side hauing confessed himselfe and consulted with all the most faithful and loyall frendes that hee had expected his enemie who assuring himselfe of the victorie and hauing now granted all the Cittizens goodes and all the states and Gouernementes of the kingdome to his great Lords about him very earely in the morning with a furious violence gaue assault to the Cittie on that side which is towardes the North where the great and wide plaine restrayning it selfe into a narrow straite entreth as it were into a rounde circle naturally compassed about with certaine hilles and then maketh a large way as broade as a man maye shoote with a Gunne vntill you come to the site or place where the Cittie standeth which is a little plaine of two miles compasse wherein as it hath beene tolde you the Cittie and the Church and the Lordes houses and the kings court are situate In this place did Don Alfonso with those few that he had with him settle himselfe against the Pagans and against his Enemie Brother who before hee coulde confront the Kinge was vtterly discomfited dispearsed and put to flight Wherevppon the king perceyuing that he was ouerthrowne and driuen to runne away was wonderfully amazed not knowing himselfe how this matter came to passe seeing that he had not ioyned battel nor fought with his enemies and therefore must needes thinke that it so fell out by some hidden and secreate meanes to him vnknowne Notwithstanding the day following Mani-Pango returned to the assault in the same place but hee was in the same manner once again discomfited and constrained to flie whereby hee knew assuredly that this his losse and ouerthrow was not occasioned by the valour of his enemies but onely by some miracle So that the people of the Cittie mocking and scorning those Idolaters and taking stomacke vnto them for these two victories thus happened beganne nowe to make no reconing of them and woulde with all violence haue runne vpon them To whome their aduersaries made this aunswere Tush you are not the men that haue thus vanquished vs but it was a certaine faire Lady all in white which with her admirable brightnesse had blindeded vs and a Knight riding vppon a white palfrey that had a redde Crosse vppon his breast and hee it was that fought against vs and turned vs to flight Which when the King vnderstoode he sent to tell his brother that of those two the one was a Virgin the Mother of Christ whose faith he had embraced and the other was S. Iames who both were sent from God to succour and relieue him and that if he also would become a Christian they would likewise shew great grace and fauour vnto him But Mani-Pango would not accept of this message but all the night following did put himselfe in a readinesse to besiege the Cittie vpon both sides at once the one with one part of his Armie at the straite aboue mentioned and the other with another parte of his people himselfe in his owne person compassing about by the lane that ascendeth from the riuer and so in a place vtterly vnprouided of eyther watch or ward he
raine And so it falleth out that by reason of these raines their winter as it is aforesaid is nothing so colde because the waters do engender a certayne kind of warmth in those hot regions This is then the cause of the increase of Nilus other riuers in that Climate whereof the ancients of old times made so great doubt and inuented so many fables and errours But in their sommer which is our winter there blow other windes that are quite opposite to the former euen in Diametro and are noted in the Carde from the South to the southeast which out of all question must needes be colde because they breath from the contrary Pole Antarctike and coole all those countreyes euen for all the worlde as our windes in Sommer doo coole our countreyes And whereas there with them these windes do make the ayre very fayre and cleere so doo they neuer come vnto vs but they bring with them great store of raine And this commeth to passe by a certain naturall disposition of the earth which is gouerned by the Heauens and the Clymates thereof and by the soueraigne prouidence of God who hath parted the heauen and the course of the sunne and of the other planets in such sort that euery countrey vpon the face of the earth doth inioy the vertue of their lightes both in heate and in colde and also in all other seasons of the yeare by a most singular measure and proportion And certainly if the breath of these winds did not refresh and coole these countries of Aethiopia Congo and other places neere about them it were not possible for them to endure the heate considering that euen in the night tyme they are constrayned to hange two coueringes ouer them to keep away the heat The same cooling and refreshing by windes is common also to the inhabitants of the Isle of Candie of the Islandes in Arcipelago and of Cyprus and of Asia the lesse and of Soria and of Aegypt which doe liue as it were with this refreshing of the foresaid winds of the Northwest and of the West so that they may well be called as they are in Greeke Zephyri quasi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 breeders of life Let it bee also remembred that in the mountaines of Aethiopia and of Congo the regions neere adioyning there falleth no snow neither is there any at all in the very toppes of them sauing onely towardes the Cape of Good-Hope and certaine other hilles which the Portugalles call Sierra Neuada that is to say the Snowie mountaines Neyther is there anye ice or snow to bee founde in all the Countrey of Congo which would bee better esteemed there then golde to mingle with their drinkes So that the riuers there doo not swell and increase by melting of snow but because the raine doth fall out of the cloudes for fiue whole Moones continually together that is to lay in April May Iune Iuly August the first raine sometimes beginning on the xv day and sometimes after And this is the cause why the newe waters of Nilus which are so greatly desired expected by the inhabitaunts there do arriue sooner or later in Aegipt Chap. 3. Whether the children which are begotten by Portugalles being of a white skinne and borne in those Countries by the women of Congo bee blacke or white or Tawney like a wilde oliue whom the Portugals call Mulati AL the auncient writers haue certainly beleeued that the cause of blacke colour in men is from the heate of the Sun For by experience it is founde that the neerer wee approach to the cuntries of the South the browner blacker are the inhabitants therein And contrariwise the farther you go towardes the north the whiter shall you finde the men as the French the Dutch the English and others Notwithstanding it is as certaine a thing as may be that vnder the Equinoctiall there are people which are borne almost all white as in the kingdome of Melinde Mombaza situate vnder the Equinoctial in the Isle of San Thomas which lieth also vnder the same Clymate and was at the first inhabited by the Portingalles though afterwardes it was disinhabited and for the space of a hundred yeares and vpwardes their children were continually white yea and euery day still become whiter and whiter And so likewise the children of the Portingals which are borne of the women of Congo do incline somewhat towards white So that Signor Odoardo was of opinion that the blacke colour did not spring from the heate of the Sunne but from the nature of the seede being induced thereunto by the reasons aboue mentioned And surely this his opinion is confirmed by the testimony of Ptolome who in his discription of the innermost partes of Lybia maketh mention of white Ethiopians which hee calleth in his language 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is to say white Moores and in another place also of white Elephants which are in the same countrey Chap. 4. Of the circuite of the Kingdome of Congo and of the borders and confines thereof And first of the Westerne coast THe Kingdome of Congo is distinguished by foure borders The first of the West which is watered with the Ocean sea the seconde of the North the thirde of the east the last which is towardes the South And to beginne with the border lying vpon the sea the first part of it is in the Bay called Seno delle Vacche is situate in the height of 13. degrees vpon the Antarctik side and stretcheth all along the coast vnto 4. degrees and a halfe on the North side neere to the Equinoctial which space contayneth 630. miles This Seno delle vacche is a hauen but of a moderate bignes and yet a good one able to receiue any ship that arriueth It is called Seno delle vacche that is to say the Bay of Cowes because thereabouts there are pasturing very many heardes of that kind of Cattel The country is plain aboundeth with all manner of victuailes and there you shall find some kinde of mettels to be publikely solde especially siluer and it is subiect to the King of Angola A little more forwarde lyeth the Riuer Bengleli where a certaine Lorde being subiect to the King of Angola doth specially commande and about the said Riuer is a great compasse of countrey much like to the former And a little further runneth the riuer Songa so called by the Portingalles wherein you may sayle 25. miles vpwardes in a country also like to the former The followeth the riuer Coanza which issueth out of a little lake fedde by a certaine riuer that floweth out of a great lake being the chiefe and principal spring or head of Nilus wherof in the other part of this discourse we shall haue occasion to write Coanza at the mouth of it is two miles broade and you may sayle with small barkes vpwardes against the streame about 100. miles but
hath no hauen And here it is to be noted that all this Country which we haue here described was wont to be subiect to the king of Congo but a while ago the Gouernour of that countrey is become the absolute Lorde thereof and professeth himselfe to bee a friende to the king of Congo but not his vassall and yet sometimes he sendeth the King some present in manner of a tribute Beyond the Riuer Coanza is the hauē of Loanda being in ten degrees made as it is said by a certaine Island called Loanda which signifieth in that lauguage Bald or Shauen because it is a Countrey without any hilles and very low for indeed it scarce rayseth it selfe aboue the sea This Island was framed of the sand and durt of the sea and of the riuer Coanza whose waues meeting together and the filthy matter sinking downe there to the bottome in a continuance of time it grew to be an Island It may be about 20. miles long and one mile broade at the most and in some places but onely a bowshoote But it is a maruellous thing that in such a sandy ground if you shall digge to the depth of two or three hande-breadthes you shall finde sweete water the best in all those Countreyes Wherein also there is a very strange effect that when the Ocean ebbeth this water becommeth somewhat salte but when it floweth to the top it is most sweete A thing that falleth out also in the Islande of Cadis in Spayne by the report and testimony of Strabo This Islande is the Mine of all the money which the King of Congo spendeth and all the people thereaboutes For vppon the shores you shall haue certayne women that vse to diue and ducke into the sea two yardes deepe and more and fill their baskets with sand and afterwardes diuide the grauell from certayne smal Shel-fishes that are among it which are called Lumache when these Lumache are seuered by themselues then doe they picke out the Males from the Females which they may easily do because the Female is more fine then the Male and greatly esteemed for her colour which is very neat bright and pleasant to the sight These Lumache doo breede in all the shores of the kingdome of Congo but the best of all are those of Loanda because they looke very fine and of a very bright colour some gray or ashecoloured and some of other colours not so precious And here you must note that gold and siluer and mettell is not of any estimation nor in vse of money in these countreyes but onely these Lumache so that neither with golde nor siluer in masse or in coine you shal buy any thing there but with these Lumache you shall buy both golde and siluer or any thing els In this Islande there are 7. or 8. Townes called in that Country language Libata the principal whereof is Spirito sancto and therein dwelleth the Gouernour which is sent from Congo to minister iustice and to gather the treasure of the moneyes of these Lumache Here are also Goates and Sheepe and Boares in great numbers which being tame at the first do afterwardes become wilde and liue in the woods Here groweth also a tree called Enzanda which is a great one and alwaies greene and endued with a singular qualitie For from the bowes of it that sproute vpwardes there hang downe certaine threedes as it were which creeping into the earth do take roots out from these roots do rise other trees so they multiply And within the outmost barke thereof there groweth a certaine kind of pil like fine linnen which being beaten and cleansed they spreade out in length and in breadth and therewith they cloath their men and women that are of the basest sort In this Islande they haue certaine vessels made of the bodies of Palme-trees ioyned together and framed after the manner of our boates with a prowe and a sterne wherin they passe from place to place both with oares and sayles In these boates they vse to fish about the riuers which are indeede exceeding full of fish and sometime also they will go ouer to the firme lande In that part of this Islande which is towardes the maine land in certaine lowe places there grow certaine trees which when the water of the Ocean ebbeth discouer themselues and at the feet thereof you shal find certaine other Shel-fishes cleauing as fast to the trees as may bee hauing within them a great fish as bigge as a mans hande and very good meate The people of the countrey know them very well and call them Ambiziamatare that is to say the Fishe of the Rocke The shels of these fishes they vse to burne and thereof make very good lime to builde withall And being like the corke or barke of the tree which is called Manghi they dresse their Oxe hydes withall to make their shooe soles the stronger To be briefe this Island bringeth forth neither corne nor wine but there is great store of victuaile brought thether from all parts thereaboutes to fetch away these Lumache For as in all other places all things may be had for money of mettell so all things here are had for Lumache Whereby may bee noted that not onely here in this kingdome of Congo but also in her neighbour Ethiopia and in Africa and in the kingdomes of China certaine others of the Indies they vse moneyes of other matter then of mettall that is to say neyther golde nor siluer nor copper nor any other mixture tempered of these For in Aethiopia their money is Pepper and in the kingdome of Tombutto which is about the Riuer Nigir otherwise called Senega their money is Cockles or Shelfishe and among the Azanaghi their moneyes are Porcellette and in the kingdome of Bengala likewise they vse Porcellette and mettall together In China they haue certaine Shelfishes called also Porcellette which they vse for their money in other places Paper stamped with the kings seale and the barks of the tree called Gelsomora Whereby it appeareth that the money which is payed for euerie thing is not mettall all the worlde ouer as it is in Europe and in many and sundry other countries of the earth This Islande in the straitest part of it is very neere to the firme lande and the people do oftentimes swimme ouer the channell there In this straite there arise out of the Ocean certaine Islettes which shewe themselues forth from the water when it ebbeth and are couered againe when it floweth And in those Islettes you shall see great trees and most excellent Shelfishes cleauing fast to the bodies of them such as I tolde you of before Neere to this Islande towardes the outwarde coast to the sea there swim an innumerable sorte of Whales that looke blacke and fighting one with another doe kill themselues which afterwardes being by the waues cast vp vpon the shore as bigge as a midling
marchants shippe the Negroes goe forth with their boates to fetch them and to take the oyle out of them which being mingled with pitch they vse to trimme their vessels withall Vpon the ridges or backes of these creatures there growe many Shelfishes made like Snailes Cockles and Whelkes whereof Signor Odoardo affirmed that hee had seene great store He was also of opinion that Amber commeth not from these fishes For ouer all the coast of Congo where there is an infinite number of them you shal not finde either Ambregriz or any other Amber blacke or white in any place And yet if it should come from these creatures there must haue beene of necessity great store of it founde vpon these Shores The principall hauen of this Island hath his entrance towardes the North and on that side it is halfe a mile broade and of a very great depth Vpon the firme land directly ouer against the Island is a towne called villa di San Paulo altogether inhabited with Portingalles and their wiues which they brought with them out of Spaine and yet it is not fortified All this channell is very full of fish especially of Sardinaes and of Anchioues whereof there is so great store that in the winter time they will of themselues leape vp to land Other kindes of most excellent fishes there are as Soles and Sturgeons and Barbelles and all manner of dainty fish and great Crabbes in straunge aboundance and all very wholesome so that the greatest parte of the people that dwel about the banks there do liue vpon them Into this channell runneth the Riuer called Bengo which is a very great one nauigable vpwardes xxv miles This Riuer with that other of Coanza whereof I tolde you before doe make the Isle of Loanda because when their waters do meete together they leaue their sande and filth behind them and so increase the Island There runneth also into it another great Riuer called Dande which wil receiue vessels of an hundred tunne then another Riuer called Lemba which neither hath Hauen neyther do any Shippes enter into it Very neere vnto this there is also another Riuer called Ozone which issueth out of the same Lake whence Nilus likewise springeth and it hath a hauen Next to Ozone there is another called Loze without any hauen and then another great one with a hauen called Ambriz which runneth within foure leagues neere to the Royall Citty of Congo Last of all is the Riuer Lelunda which signifieth a Trowtfish and watereth the rootes of that great hil wheron the pallace of Congo standeth called by the Portingalles the Oteiro This Riuer Lelunda springeth out of the same Lake from whence Coanza issueth and taketh into it by the way another Riuer that commeth from the great Lake and when it doth not raine then you may passe ouer Lelunda on foote because it hath so little store of water in it Next vnto this is the Zaire a huge Riuer and a large and in deed the greatest in all the kingdome of Congo The original of this Riuer commeth out of three Lakes one is the great Lake from whence Nilus springeth the second is the little Lake aboue mentioned and the third is the second great Lake which Nilus engendreth And certainely when you will consider the aboundance of water that is in this Riuer you will say that there was no nede to haue any fewer or lesser springes to make so huge a streame as this carrieth For in the very mouth of it which is the onely entraunce into it the Riuer is 28. myles broad and when it is in the height of his increase he runneth fresh water 40. or 50. miles into the sea and sometimes 80. so that the passengers doe refresh themselues withal by the troublesomnes of the water they know the place where they are It is nauigable vpwardes with great barkes about 25. miles vntill you come to a certaine straite betweene the rockes where it falleth with such a horrible noise that it may be hearde almost 8. miles And this place is called by the Portingalles Cachiuera that is to say a Fall or a Cataracte like to the Cataractes of Nilus Betweene the mouth of this Riuer and the fall thereof there are diuers great Islands well inhabited with townes and Lordes obedient to the king of Congo which sometimes for the great enmitie that is among them doo warre one against another in certaine boates hollowed out of a stocke of a tree which is of an vnmesurable bignes these boats they call Lungo The greatest boates that they haue are made of a certaine tree called Licondo which is so great that sixe men cannot compasse it with their armes and is in length of proportion aunswerable to the thicknesse so that one of them will carrie about 200. persons They rowe these boates with their oares which are not tyed to any loopes but they holde them at libertie in their handes and moue the water therewith at pleasure Euery man hath his oare and his bowe and when they fight together they lay downe their oare and take their bowe Neyther do they vse any other Rudders to turne and gouerne their boates but onely their oares The first of these Islandes which is but a little one is called the Isle of Horses because there are bredde and brought vp in it great store of those creatures that the Greekes call Hippopotami that is to say Water-horses In a certaine village within this Islande doe the Portingals dwel hauing withdrawen themselues thether for their better securitie They haue their vesselles to transporte them ouer the water to the firme lande vpon the south banke of the Riuer which lande is called the hauen of Pinda where many shippes doe ryde that arriue therein In this Riuer there are liuing diuerse kinds of creatures and namely mighty great Crocodiles which the Countrey people there call Caiman and Water-horses aboue named And another kind of creature that hath as it were two hands and a taile like a Target which is called Ambize Angulo that is to say a Hogge-fishe because it it as fat as a Porke The flesh of it is very good and thereof they make Larde and so keepe it neyther hath it the sauour or taste of a fish although it bee a fishe It neuer goeth out from the fresh water but feedeth vpon the grasse that groweth on the banks hath a mouth like the mozell of an Oxe There are of these fishes that weigh 500. poundes a peece The fishermen vse to take them in their little boates by marking the places where they feed and then with their hookes and forkes striking and wounding them they drawe them dead forth of the water and when they haue cut them in peeces they carry them to the king For who soeuer doth not so encurreth the penaltie of death and so doe they likewise that
more then two ioyntes In their feeding they vse to shake and roote vp the great trees with the force of their shoulders and strength of their whole backes But the smaller trees they take between both their teeth and so bowe them and plucke them downe that they may feede vpon the leaues of them insomuch as sometimes they breake one of their teeth with so doing And this is the cause why you shall find diuers of them in the fieldes that haue lost their teeth They chawe their meate with their short teeth which are not seene as their two long tuskes are and they carry it to their mouth by their long Snout or Tronke which is to them in steed of an arme a hand The tip of their Tronke is fashioned diuided into little slits and as it were fingers wherewith they will take vp very small thinges as Nuttes and Strawes and Berries so reach them to their mouth as I Philippo Pigafetta haue seene my selfe at Lisbone The Females of these creatures doe beare their broode in their wombe for the space of two yeares and no more And forasmuch as the younge Elephant cannot so quickly bee brought vp for it groweth very slowly the milke is kept from it and so it waxeth apt to feede of it selfe And therefore Mother Nature hath prouided that the Elephantes are not great with young but from seauen yeares to seauen yeares Their skinne is harde beyond all credite For being fower fingers thicke it cannot bee pearced no not with the shot of an Arcubuse And Signor Odoardo reported that with a little Gunne which is called a Petreraa one of them was stricken without any wound making but indeede he was grieuously bruised so that he ranne away from that place all in a rage the space of three daies iourney and there died after hee had slaine certaine slaues that he met by the way The people of that Countrey haue not the skill to tame these beastes Whereby they might reape great commodity and profite for carrying their stuffe from place to place for diuerse other good vses But yet they take them by digging certaine deepe trenches in the places where they vse to pasture which trenches are very narrowe at the bottome and broade aboue to the end the beast may not help himselfe leape out when he is fallen into them These trenches they couer with Soddes of earth and grasse and leaues because the beast shoulde not see their traine but passing ouer them remaine there entrenched Whereupon the Gentleman beforenamed tolde mee that hee had seene with his owne eyes a very straunge and admirable thing in Coanza namely that a younge Elephant following his damme fell downe by chaunce into one of these pittes and after that shee coulde not with all her skill and strength drawe him out of it she buried him therein and couered him with earth with branches and with bowes insomuch as she filled the pit vp to the toppe to the ende that the hunters shoulde not enioy her calfe choosing rather to kill it her selfe then to leaue it to the mercie of the cruell huntsemen This louing and kind mother not fearing the people that stood round about her shouted against her threatned her with sundryweapons vttered straunge clamours and noyses to affray her cast many fiers at her but assuring her selfe in her owne stronge and valiant nature did labour and toyle from morning till night that she might draw her calfe out of the pitte and when shee founde that it was not possible for her to atchieue what she desired then shee couered it in manner as wee haue tolde you The Elephant is a very gentle beast and trusteth greatly in his natural strength He feareth nothing nor hurteth any man that doth not trouble him and haunteth neere to mens houses without doing any harme at all If he espie men that go in his walke he wil not meddle with them vnlesse they seeke to molest him sauing that sometimes peraduenture hee will gently with his snowte hoyse them vpwardes into the ayre whom he meeteth withall in his way and that is all the hurt hee will doo vnto them These Elephantes doo greatly delight in waters and if a man be desirous to see them his best way is to lie somewhere nigh to the Riuers and Lakes where they vse to haunt about noone tide to drinke to refresh themselues and to bathe their bodies in the water for there they will stande vp to their bellies and all the rest of their bodie that is aboue the water they will wash all ouer with the water that they snuffe vp into their snout for that purpose And because there are so many foords pastures as is said in the kingdome of Congo therefore is there very great store of these creatures in that countrey For Signor Odoardo affirmed that in the way betweene Cazanze Loanda in a little grassie valley hee had seene about a hundred of them in a company olde and young that followed their dammes and these were the first young ones that euer hee saw till that day And herewithall you must vnderstand that they vse to go together in heardes as Kine and Camelles and other such like gentle Creatures doo and not alone like Lions and other such wilde beastes Now the reason why this country aboundeth so in Iuory is easy to be yeelded For so many Elephantes being bredde in that Region they made no account of that commodity in times past but onely after that the Portingalles began to trafficke with those countreyes it grewe in estimation and so hauing gathered together in so many ages an infinite quantity thereof which they found in their fieldes they haue sould them till this day at a very good penniworth It is not knowen whether there be in that countrey any other beast that is so big as an Elephant is nor whether there breed therein any Rinoceros which is a Creatures as bigge indeede as the Elephant and in India is called a Bada But yet there are brought into the countries of the Anzichi some of their hornes that growe vpon their noses that are both of great value estimation also vsed for the help of diuers diseases So that it is very credible and likely that there are some of them to bee founde in those quarters There are also to bee founde in this countrey certaine other foure-footed beastes somewhat lesse then Oxen of colour red with hornes like Goats horns which are very smooth and glistering and enclining to black whereof they make diuers prety knackes as they doe likewise of the Buffes hornes They haue their heades and their haires like the heads and haires of Oxen and their skinnes are of great estimation therefore they are carried into Portingall and from thence into Germany to be dressed and then they are called Dantes The king of Congo is very desirous to haue some men that had skill to cleanse
of his manners of his Court and of other conditions appertayning to the politicke and militarie Gouernment of these people And afterward we will describe vnto you the kingdomes neere adioyning and all the regions thereaboutes towardes the South euen till you come to the Cape of Good Hope and the riuers and countries of the Ocean that is right against India and within land the kingdomes of Presbiter Iohn touching also by the way the spring and original of Nilus and the causes of his wonderful encrease which sundry fooles doe account to bee a Miracle THE SECOND BOOKE Chap. 1. Of the situation of the Royall Cittie of the Kingdome of Congo ALthough the chiefe and Royall Cittie of the Kingdome of Congo bee after a sort comprehended within the Prouince of Pemba yet notwithstāding forasmuch as the gouernement thereof and the territorie therevnto belonging which may in compasse amount to the space of twenty miles about doeth depende wholly of the king of Congo himselfe wee will place it in a seuerall regiment and intreate of it by it selfe This cittie is called San Saluatore or Saint Sauiours and in times past in that country language it was called Banza which generally signifieth the Court where the king or the Gouernour doeth ordinarily soiourne It is seated about 150. miles from the sea vpon a great and a high Mountaine being almost all of a rocke but yet hauing a veyne of iron in it whereof they haue great vse in their housing This mountaine hath in the toppe of it a great plaine very well manured and furnished with houses and villages contayning in circuite about ten miles where there doeth dwell and liue the number of a hundred thousand persons The soile is fruitfull and the ayre fresh holesome and pure there are great store of springes of indifferent good water to drinke and at certaine times doo not harme any man and of all sortes of cattell great aboundance The toppe of the mountaine is seuered and distinguished from all the rest of the hill which is about it and therefore the Portingalles doe call it The Otheiro that is to say a Viewe or a Watch Tower or a Singular height from whence you may take a sight of all the Champeigne round about Onely towardes the East and towardes the Riuer it is verye steepe and rockie For two causes did the first Princes of this Kingdome place this habitation in the foresaide Height of this Mountaine First because it lyeth in the very middest and as it were in the Center of all the Realme from whence he may presently send ayde to any part of his Kingdom that may stand in neede of reliefe secondly because it is situated in a Territory that is by Nature mounted aloft hauing a very good ayre and of greate safetie for it cannot be forced By the chiefe common high way that goeth vp to the Citie and looketh towardes the Sea being distant from thence 150. Miles as hath bene told you which way is very large and competent though it go somewhat about incompasse you shall ascende fiue Myles from the bottom to the toppe of the Mountayne At the foote thereof on the East syde there runneth a Riuer wherevnto the women doe descend by the space of a myles walke to washe their clothes In diuerse other partes thereof there are sundry valleyes planted manured neyther do they suffer any part of the countrey thereaboutes to be left vntilled or vnvsed because it is the countrey where the Court remaineth The Cittie is seated in a corner or angle of the hill towards the Southeast which Don Alfonso the first christian king did compasse about with walles and gaue vnto the Portingalles a seuerall place for themselues shut vp likewise within walles Then did he also inclose his owne pallace and the Kinges howsen with another wall and in the middest betweene these two enclosures left a great space of ground where the principal Church was built with a faire market place before it The doores and gates aswell of the lodginges of the Lords as of the Portingalles inhabitations do open on the side of the said Church For in the vppermost ende of the market place do diuers great Lords of the Court dwel and behinde the Church doeth the market place runne into a narrow street where there is also a gate and beyond that gate many houses towardes the East Without these walles which do inclose the kinges houses and the Cittie of the Portingalles there are a number of other buildinges erected by diuers Lordes euery man making his seuerall choice of the place which he thinketh most fit conuenient for his dwelling neere vnto the Court So that the greatnes of this Citie cannot well be determined or limited Beyond these walles also that thus do compasse this Citty there is a great champaigne plaine full of villages and sundry pallaces where euery Lorde possesseth as it were a whole Towne within him selfe The circuite of the Portingalles cittie contayneth about a mile and the kings housen as much The walles are very thick the gates are not shutte in the night time neyther is there any watch or ward kept therein And although that plaine doeth lie verie high aloft yet is there great aboundance of waters in it so that there is no want thereof But the Court and the Portingalles Cittie do al drinke of a certaine fountaine that springeth continually towardes the North and lyeth downe the hill as farre as a Gunne will shoote And from hence they doe fetch all their water and bring it to the Cittie in vesselles of wood of earth and of leather vpon the backes of their slaues All this plaine is very fruitfull and well manured It hath meadowes full of grasse and trees that are alwayes greene It beareth sundrie sortes of graine but the principall and beste of all is called Luco which is very like to Mustardseede but that it is somewhat bigger When it is grinded with Hand-Quernes for so they vse to doe it yeeldeth a very white meale whereof they make bread that is both white and also of a very good sauour and holesome withall neyther doth it giue place to our wheat in any sort sauing that they doe not celebrate the Sacramente with it Of these graines there now is great store ouer all the Kingdom of Congo but it is not long since that this seede was brought thether from that parte of the riuer Nilus where it falleth into the second Lake There is also a white kinde of Millet called the Mazza of Congo that is to say the Corne of Congo and another graine which they call Maiz but they make no account of it for they giue it to their hogges neyther doe they greatly esteeme of Rice The foresaid Maiz they commonly terme by the name of Mazza-Manputo that is to say the Portingalles Corne for they call a Portingall Manputo There are moreouer
is the distance of an hundred miles contayning the largenesse and breadth of this famous Cape which being deuided into two points as it were into two hornes it maketh a Gulfe where sometimes the Portingall shippes doe take fresh water in the Riuer that they call the Sweet Riuer The inhabitantes of this coast which dwell betweene these two points are of colour blacke although the Pole Antarctike in that place be in the eleuation of thirtie and fiue degrees which is a very strange thing yea the rude people that liue among the most colde mountains of the Moone are blacke also This I write of purpose to aduise and moue the Philosophers and such as search the effectes of nature that they would fall into their deepe contemplation and speculation therevpon teach vs whether this blacke colour be occasioned by the Sunne or by any other secrete and vnknowne cause Which question I for this time doe meane to leaue vndecided Now forasmuch as this Promontory of Good-Hope is the greatest Cape of all and stretcheth out into the Sea farther then any other in the whole vniuersall worlde and is very daungerous to passe as all Promontories are and for that also the sea is there most terrible and from the lande there blow most horrible winds which cause that Ocean to be exceedingly tempestuous and stormie so that many Portingall shippes of admirable burthens haue beene cast away therein and lastly because the auncient Historiographers did neuer knowe it no not so much as by hearesay and it is not long ago since the King of Portingalles Fleetes did first discouer the same It shal not be impertinent but rather a matter of great conuenience in this place to decipher the measure thereof to make so manifest a declaration of it as may serue also to vnderstande how great the nauigation is from Portingall into India by compassing the Coast of the Cape of Good-Hope onely almost the space of sixe thousande miles as a little hereafter it shall be shewed vnto you For from the Riuer of Ferdinando Poo where the said Cape beginneth to iut-out into the sea as farre as to the Poynt which we call the Point of Needles there is contayned vpon the shoare more then two thousande and 200. myles from the North to the South and on the contrary side from the said Point to the Cape of Guarda-Fuy right ouer against the Islande of Socotora they reckon more then three thousande and three hundred miles by the coast from the South to the North. So that from Lisbone compassing about the shoares of Africa and all the Cape of Good-Hope vnto the kingdome of Goa there are moe then fifteene thousand miles And from thence afterwardes to Malaca and to China and so forwardes there remayneth so long a iourney that neuer yet in any time hetherto hath there beene so great and so daungerous a nauigation vndertaken and performed as this of the Portingalles neyther with great vesselles nor with small It is called the Cape of Good-Hope because all such as saile that way aswell in going forth as in returning home doo especially principally ayme at this marke that they may passe and get beyonde this Promontorie which when they haue doone they account themselues to bee out of all daunger and as it were to haue performed their iourney And vpon this their generall desire they gaue it the name of the Cape of Good-Hope Nowe to returne to our purpose and to talke further of the Coast of Africa beyonde the Cape or Poynt of the Needelles there are many competent harboroughes and hauens the principall whereof is Seno Formoso The faire Bay and Seno del Lago The Bay of the Lake For there the sea maketh a certaine Gulfe wherein are sundry Islandes and Portes and somewhat beyonde there runneth into the sea the Riuer of S. Christopher and at the mouth thereof there lye three prettie Islettes A little further forwardes the Coast runneth all along by a Countrey which the Portingalles call Terra do Natal the Land of the Natiuitie because it was first discouered at Christmasse and so reacheth to the Cape called Della Pescheria Betweene which Cape and the Riuer Magnice within the Land is the Kingdome of Buttua whose Territories are from the rootes or bottome of the mountaines of the Moone vntill you come to the riuer Magnice towards the North where the countrey of Monomotapa standeth and westwardes from the Riuer Brauagul towardes the sea all along the bankes of the Riuer Magnice In this kingdome there are many mynes of Golde and a people that is of the same qualities and conditions that the people of Monomotapa is as hereafter shall bee shewed vnto you And so going along the shores of the Ocean you come to the Riuer Magnice which lyeth in the very entraunce of the Kingdome of Sofala and the Empire of Monomotapa Chap. 9. Of the Kingdome of Sofala THis Kingdome beginneth at the Riuer Magnice which springeth out of the first Lake of Nilus and conueyeth it selfe into the sea in the middest of the Bay betweene the point Pescheria and the Cape called Capo delle Correnti situate in twentie and three degrees a halfe of the Pole Antarctik vnder the Tropike of Capricorne With this Riuer neere vnto the sea there ioyne three other notable riuers the principall whereof is by the Portingalles called Saynt Christophers because vpon the day of that Saintes feast it was first discouered but by the inhabitantes it is named Nagoa The second tooke the name of one Lorenzo Margues that first found it These two Riuers do spring originally from the mountains of the Moone so greatly renowned among the auncient writers but by the people of the country they are called Toroa out of which Mountains they did thinke that famous Nilus tooke also his beginning but they were vtterly deceyued For as we haue already tolde you the first Lake ariseth not out of those Mountaines but lyeth a great way distant from it and betweene it and them is there a very great and a huge low plaine Besides that the streames that flow from the said mountaines do runne towardes the East and bestow their waters vpon other great Riuers so that it is not possible for them to passe into the foresaide Lake much lesse into Nilus considering especially that the Riuer Magnice springeth out of that first Lake and by a farre different course from the course of Nilus runneth towards the East and so ioyneth it selfe with the two Riuers aforesaide The thirde is called Arroe and ariseth on another side out of the Mountaines of the Gold-Mines of Monomotapa and in some places of this Riuer there are founde some small peeces of Golde among the sand These three Riuers enter into the great Magnice neere vnto the sea and all fower together doo make there a great water in a very large channell and so dischargeth it selfe into
The Chiefest Prince and being so ioyned together in one worde it appertayneth to the King alone and to no man else He beareth also the surname of Dauid as the Emperours of Rome doo vse the name of Cesars Now it remayneth that we doo discourse of the riuer Nilus which doth not spring in the Countrye of Bel-Gian much lesse out of the mountains of the Moone nor as Ptolomie writeth out of the two Lakes which he setteth down in Parallele from the East to the West with a distaunce of about foure hundred and fiftie miles betweene them For in the altitude of the same Pole wherein the said Authour placeth those two Lakes lyeth also the kingdome of Congo and of Angola towards the West and and on the other side Eastward is the Empire of Monomotapa and the Kingdome of Sofala with a distaunce from sea to sea of twelue hundred miles Now within all this space as Signor Odoardo affirmed vnto me there is but one onely Lake to bee founde which lyeth in the confines of Angola and Monomotapa and contayneth in Diameter an hundred ninetie and fiue miles Of the Westerne side of this Lake the people of Angola do giue sufficient information and of the other side Eastwarde those of Sofala and Monomotapa So that there is a ful and perfect knowledge of this one Lake but of any other thereabouts there is no mention at all made And therefore it may well bee concluded that there are none other to be founde in that altitude of degrees True it is in deede that there are two Lakes but they are situate in places quite contrary to that which Ptolemie writeth For he as it hath beene told you placeth his Paralleles from West to East but these are situate from the South to the North as it were in a direct line with the distance of about foure thousand miles betweene them Some that dwell in those countries do holde an opinion that Nilus after it is issued out of the first Lake hideth it selfe vnder the grounde and afterwardes riseth againe but others doo deny that it is so Signor Odoardo did iustifie it to me that the true history and certainty of this matter is that Nilus doth not hide it selfe vnder the grounde but that it runneth through monstrous and desert valleyes without any setled channell and where no people inhabiteth and so they say it sinketh into the bottome of the earth From this first Lake in deed doth Nilus spring which lyeth in twelue degrees towardes the Pole Antarctike is compassed about like a vault with exceeding high mountaines the greatest whereof are called Cafates vpon the East and the hilles of Sal-Nitrum and the hilles of Siluer on another side and lastly with diuers other Mountaines on the thirde part This Riuer Nilus runneth for the space of 400. miles directly towardes the North and then entreth into another verye great Lake which the inhabitantes doo call a Sea It is much bigger then the first for it contayneth in breadth two hundred and twentie miles and lyeth vnder the line Equinoctiall Of this second Lake the Anzichi who are neere neighbours to Congo doo giue very certaine and perfect information for they trafficke into those partes And they report that in this Lake there is a people that sayleth in great shippes and can write and vseth number and weight and measure which they haue not in the partes of Congo that they builde their houses with stone and lime and that for their fashions and qualities they may bee compared with the Portingalles Wherevpon it may bee well gathered that the Empire of Prete-Gianni cannot bee farre from thence From this second Lake the riuer Nilus runneth forwardes to the Islande of Meroe for the space of seauen hundred miles and receyueth into it sundry other riuers The principall of them all is the riuer Coluez so called because it issueth out of a Lake of the same name and situate in the borders of Melinde After that Nilus is come to Meroe it deuideth it selfe into two braunches and so compasseth about a good high Territory which is called Meroe Vpon the right hand whereof towardes the East there runneth a Riuer named Abagni that springeth out of the Lake Bracina and crosseth ouer the Empire of Prete Gianni till you come to the said Islande and on the other side Westwarde there are diuers other Riuers among which Saraboe is one When Nilus hath thus receiued these riuers into it hath compassed the Islande with both his armes hee waxeth greater then he was before and meeteth againe in one channell and by Aethiopia which is called Aethiopia aboue Aegypt runneth to the Falles as they call them which lie in a very lowe valley that is very narrowe and straite and shutteth the riuer within a very little channell so that it falleth from aloft downewards with a most horrible noyse neere to the Isle of Syene And from thence watring all Aegypt it disgorgeth his streames into the Mediterranean sea which lyeth directly ouer against the Islande of Cyprus by two of his principall braunches the one called at this day the Mouth of Damiata on the East and the other the Mouth of Rossetto on the West And forasmuch as wee are nowe come to the very ende of this discourse concerning Nilus it will be very conuenient that wee touch in briefe the occasion of his encrease As we haue tolde you before the principall cause of the encrease of Nilus is the great quantity of waters that raine from heauen at such time as the spring beginneth here in these countries but there with them in winter which may be to speake generally about the beginning of April This water falleth not as the water falleth in these Regions of Europe but it falleth most aboundantly and commeth downe not in smal drops like our raine but is powred down as it were with pailes and buckets So that because it falleth with so great violence and in so great a quantity the earth cannot sucke it vp nor drink it in for the ground being ragged and somewhat bending downward the water scowreth away with an exceeding furie and running into the riuers causeth them to swell and to rise in a maruellous manner and so ouerflowe the countrey You must herewithall consider especially that they haue these continuall raines for the space of fiue whole Moones together that is to say in Aprill May Iune Iuly and August but principally in May Iune and Iuly for then are the waters in their greatest pride And herevpon it commeth to passe that the Countrey being full of mountaines and very high hilles as hath beene told you and consequently replenished with diuers brookes and rillets and Lakes they all ioyning and meeting together in the channelles of the greater Riuers doo make them so great and so large that they containe and carry more water then all the Riuers of the vniuersall worlde and the Lakes growe