businesse then to be merry They are a strenuous people docile and capable of religion were it not for the unsufferable Tyranny of the Spaniard who of four hundred thousand soules found on this Island have left scarce the hundreth part which is the cause you meet scarce with any thing but desolation and dead mens bones The first of these kingdomes is called Mangna a fertile soyle with many good and large rivers in length 80. leagues from the South sea to the North invironed with mountaines amongst which are these Cibar where are gold mines of 23. Carats and a half the second kingdome is Sigouaya the third Magana or Magnane the fourth Xantiga the fifth Hegay Magana abounds in gold and sugar and different from the rest the King is created by election The King dead foure Tabusamin who are principal Peeres assemble the people at the Palace of Bibical a Conquerour and establisher of the state This Bibical was the miracle of his time for strength who came hither from Mecheoarin on the Continent in Mexico to visit his brother servant to the King of Mangna and one of his chief dancers being here would needs see the other dominions of the Island at Sigouaya where the exercise of wrestling is much in request he made some stay as indeed in war it self the matter is decided as much or more by vigour of arm as weapon and being very perfect he entered lists with the best amongst them and in the Princes presence came off with such advantage that he gained the honour of a Lions skin a matter so considerable with them that in warre 't is worne by none but persons of quality Invited by the King he stayed at Court but the King of Mangna with whom his brother was having notice he sent expressely to have him return and that he would find an honourable employment for him withall sent him an ample present not in wealth but Mexican curiosities as Jewels to hang in the ears and lips and the like the people not prizing so much gold as innocent and simple gaity and with great reason liberty above all All the Kings civilities nor his brothers entreaties could draw him from the Prince of Sigouay who had designed him to march with a hundred Indians into the kingdom of Magana and take a strong town called Saalan for that it maintained it self a free town and would submit to no Prince With much joy Bibical received the Commission and by his valour reduced the place to his Princes obedience with many famous gallantries putting numbers to the sword and the rest to flight Their Bastion called Courcoumeca barrocadoed with timber twice mans height he took by assault By this means not the town alone but the whole countrey was subjugated to the King of Sigouaya who repayed Bibical with collation of honours and erected him monumental trophies of stone with this inscription Aray jourcoumac Bifical that is a man worthy of principality Gibbeleca the Kings sister became so passionate a lover of him that she resolved to marry him though her brother in displeasure secur'd her in a secret prison Biblical freed her married her and carried her to Magana where he made himselfe King of the Countrey which so incensed the brother he used all meanes to destroy him for which purpose he suborned an Indian who from an ambush shot him on the high way with a poysoned shaft this so moved Biblical that he invaded him with a vigorous and violent warre assisted by his brother Gouayquibal and at last overthrew him but the venome of the wound he had formerly received by degrees so prevailed over him that he dyed swelled and black as a coale leaving no child behind him The people petitioned the Dowager she would marry again that they might have a Prince to govern them whereto though with difficulty she at last condescended and called a Councel where 't was ordered that the most strong and active should succeed and marry the Queen Then they proclaimed an Assembly at all exercises of strength as leaping wrestling and Clubbe-fight in which amongst them all one Calips prov'd eminent and was made King For his chief Councel he elected the deceased Kings brother to whom he gave his sister in marriage and since that time the Kings have been elected by strength which custome continued to Moulsamberc who died at the Spaniards invasion This Island was heretofore exceedingly vexed with the Canibales of the Antilles and other neighbour-neighbour-Islands who come to hunt men and women as others do savage beasts the men to eat them and the women for procreation This Island though under the torrid Zone enjoyes a temperate ayre and almost a perpetual spring by meanes of Mountains which shelter it from the North and refresh it as in most parts under the Zone The Fecundity of the soyle is such that corn sowed produces most great and long eares of above a thousand cornes in an ear Besides it yields Gold Mastick Aloes Cotton Silk Sugars Spices Pepper and Ginger with Jucan and Cassaue whereof they make their bread 'T was from hence the Spaniards first took and brought into Europe the Morbus and remedy Guaicum Here chiefly raign the furious winds called Vracans or Foracanes furies that rend trees dash the waves against the sky destroying Navies and other prodigies But as these people were delivered from the cruelty of the Canibales they fell under that of the Spaniards a hundred times worse who laid the Island with the rest of her neighbours desert and depopulate though the Natives at their landing used them with all humanity but they fell presently to bloudy butchery carrying them slaves to other Countries and reduced them to such despair that the wretches thought better to use violence on themselves and children then to be led slaves under these Salbins thieves and tyrants As one of these miserable Kings was going to be burnt a Father of St. Francis exhorted him to baptism he liked well of all he told him of eternal life and heaven but understanding the Spaniards went thither also he lost his vocation saying in his language Heiti siltiba Salbin Spaniards in heaven and I with them fie fie adding he had rather live with the Yares the Devil and so dyed they destroyed all generally being glutted weary with slaughter they made markets of the rest as of Cattle to toyle and carry burthens not regarding any countermands of the Spanish King to keep them slaves These new guests at first they called children of the Sun but afterwards they changed their stile and called them Solbins and Devils and with good reason when these new-comes would lay insupportable burthens on them and when they failed or fainted cut off their heads to save a labour of unlocking an iron collar about their neck to put upon another Notwithstanding they were a people very capable of religion and doctrine as appeared in such as were converted who proved very pious Christians but
must be the dog or Medusa's head Six Poles with the Indians The Zodiack St. Basil in Exameron The Earth square with the Chinesses The opinion of the Gâ—eek Philosophy of the forme of the Earth Antripodes by whom not believed Virgill Bishop of Strasbourg Sinabo Drogomania may be Dragoian or Turcomania Deserts of Tartary Persian Asses Serpents good meat fierâ—e dogs Volmous This must be the great Mogor A History of an Incubus Phlegon Trallianus The adventures of Amador a Painter Maps of Africa defective The extent of Africa See Pliny l. 5. c. 1. of the Cavarianâ— of Affrick Leon of Africa lib. 1. cap. 11. Majesty of the King of Tombut Africans who adore the Sun The Empire of the Abissins The prodigious greatnesse of Africa The division of Africa Read Andrew Corsals letter of this Island A Topography of the Island S. Laurence Chreumain or Indian Safron Garcias l. 1. c. 39. Igname or Inhame a root The occupations of the Inhabitants of Madagascar Birds of Paradice Crocodils and the manner how to take them Janiharou a Town and River Isles of Theives The Coco tree The root Joguia Belugara Windes which preserve bodies incorruptible Lib. 11. c. 2. Christians in Bâ—lugara The town of Monbaze A merry passage see the like story in the first part The manner how they receive Embassadors Melinde Town and Kingdom Melons of excellency The Prince of Mâ—linde a gâ—ave Justiciar Quiloa Zanguefar Zanzebar The river Humes Mozambique Salomons gold Zinguebar Abassins The Isle Zunan The lake Zaflan Magnice a river Zaire and Zembre Rivers in Suama Divers rivers in Couama Goldmines Alvarez testifies that in the mines of Chaxumo there are stones of 64 fathoms six in breadth and three height The author changes the design of his first voyage The courtesie of savages The Abifsins imprint a Crosse on their flesh Suguelane agisimba Monopotapa Mines of salt Madrogan the chief town of Monopotapa Subjects zealous to their Prince Lions skins Land Tortoises The extent of the Abissins country Manzua Câ—dignus others Kingdomes Tributes paid to Preste John Ethiopia double The Abissins religion See Aluarez ch 41. The reverence they bear to sacred places Causes of the flowing of Nile Abba Licanus who some say baptized Candace the Queen Aluarez ch 14 Amazons People black and white Aranuhi A hundred weight Calscenas Pâ—este Jâ—hns messengers Aluaca 141. Aua. c 8. Betudete a grear officer Al. c. 69. Tabuto the altar stone Ariates The triumphall entrance of the Negus into Barra Ganfrila and Drafrila Al. calls it Gauete Mongibir Romarins Christians Strange prostitution of wives See Al. cap. 58. and 59. This is Domine miserere nobis Aluarez cals them Debiteres The cannons of Ethiopia Of this Abraham See Al. ca. 54. Israelites is as much as Princes of the blood-royal or officers descended from those Jews who came thither in the daies of Salomon Al. c. 61. 138. Alu. saith the Priests Cannons are single Monkes married Instituted since Al. time who speaks not of them Look Al. Gâ—es Godagne and the modern relations of the Jesuites Abiblicains Bilibranos the name of a Monastery Dragoyan or Doragila in sum See Mark Pol. l. 3. â— 17 Or Zabano as the Persians call them See the first part c. 37. which must be Medusa's head or the dog or one of Orion Al. sayes they call it Berenegus c 46. Sabalete a river Al. ca. 52. Saba called Sabin by Al. c. 41. May be the Monastery of Abba Gariman Bernusse a sort of African cloth Tamatan Lacque sanguine colour for Painters The same we read in the History of Ganfredi See if this may be in S Aug. l. 18. c. 18. De civitate Dei See Leon. Afr. l. 8. Truebalm Pe Mar. in his Lega babil l. 3. who sayes 't is in the year 1502 this plant was lost See Monardes Hieroglyphicks Mummie Alexandria Seques Sbelus heretofore Syrtes Ermin a Judge Leon. Abr. l. 3. Mahazin Zaira The Turks Religion Turkâ—sh justice A descriptiâ—n of the Seraglio Bashaw Abrahor the master of horse A History The fortunate Island A violent tempest Aroucaneâ— Cuba an Island Espaniola Magana The History of Bibical King Biblical The Isles of the Antilles Canibals hunt men and women Cruelty of the Spaniards Indians aversion to the Spaniard Coast of Mexico Admirable windes The Torrid Zone A mystical fruit Three regions of America South America The frozen Sea Bacalao Codfish Military dogs Unfortunate love A prodigious lightning French hanged in Florida The temperature of Mexico The Ancient Mexicans People of Mexica A stratagem The Mexicans sacrifices The Mexicans Idoâ— The Mexican year month Chicora The Mexican wheel Ceremonies and Prayers Their dances Burning Mountains A History of a covetous Priest Montezama King of Mexica Ferdinand Cortez conquered Mexica Spanish vanity A tree yielding all necessaries Fruit used for mony Jucataen Panama The extent of Peru. Qâ—ito Casio Plata A wind of the use of rain Munkeys Temper of Peru. Mines in Potossi Earthquakes A discovery Amazonâ—â— Strange beasts Birds of prodigious greatness Tabala Plumes in use A good bargain Fish of Mexico Mines of silver Mines of gold and silver The manner of their working in the Mine Quicksilver Pearle-fishing Men divers Emeralds enemies of incontinency Peru by whom discovered By whom civilized Calander of Peru. Incas or Kings of Peru. Presage of the Spaniards arrivall Cruelty revenged The strait of Magellan Paragows Chica a Countrey Wingless birds The river Orellanâ— Brasile Brasile by whom discovered In 1533. Villegagnon Customes of the Brasilians Brasilians man-eaters Prisoners of War Savages indued with reason
of a league distant for the most part full of vessels that yield great commerce The Inhabitants are partly Gentiles partly Mahometans but much civilized of complection between fair and brown of good statures and dispositions both Sexes The town is invironed with many good Barroughs that reach unto Decan some five leagues off the town is strongly wall'd and frequented by Jewes who drive a great trade and inhabited by all nations she is tributary to the King of Marsingue they are carried in littars by Cammels of horses they have very few we served our selves sometimes with oxen which they harnise and ride they eat bread made of Rice which is more savory then wheaten there grows no grain but the Country beares most excellent fruit their drink is wine of dates About 3. Musket shot from the town there is an Isle named Amadiva which hath a large haven on the continent side inhabited by Moores and abounding in pastures and cattle The inhabitants are the Portugaises mortal and irreconcilable enemies but their Island being small not above 8. leagues about they are not capable to trouble them The town is rich and is called Centacola subject to the King of Baticola there are some Jews amongst them that may easily be distinguisht by the complexion the Moores be tawny the Jews clearer women use waters and other washes that make them very beautiful and they are held the prettiest of all the East the fairest are Jews and they very chaste and strangers can only obtain to visit them in certain assemblies of fair girles but they go meanly clad contrary to the customes of all other towns they sing certain songs like K. Davids Psalms gracefully pronouncing their words and mingling instrumental musick with their vocal and thus they entertain their gallants They refuse no present is made them but if you offer none they are never a whit displeased The doores of those places of Assemblies are alwayes open there they keep their Synagogues every one professes his Religion at liberty in the middle of this Isle is a Lake called Vecharin which breeds good store of fish of severall sorts but causes the ayre to be a little unwholesome to those are not accustomed to the Clymate from thence fish is transported into diverse places for a sort of good lasting fish They have great store of poultry which they feed with grosse rice called Jeracoly Baticola hath lost much of her trade since the Portuguais took Goa for according to the Chafa's or the Clark of the Customes account the Revenew is half diminished which keeps the Princes far in the Continent for fear of being surprised by the Portugais who wage open warr with them exacting great ransomes for the liberty of the prisoners they take neverthelesse the Portugais trade much amongst them endeavouring to draw them to an alliance but they are not so soon driven out of their fears and jealousies those of Baticola say they formerly inhabited Sian in this Kingdome is the Town of Onor that furnishes all the Countrey with rice From Baticola we came to Cananor Mosiri a great Town unwalled under the subjection of a particular King where the Portugais have two Forts and is inhabited by many new Christians who observe the rules and precepts of our Religion stricter then the old ones the Portugais have built about their Fort many dwellings for Merchants and others which make up a Burrough called Cananon where they trade securely and when the Indians have a mind to trade with them they must have the Vice-Roy of Goa's Cartaco yet the Portuguais never kept so good intelligence with the Natives as to prevent many dissentions and disorders as is often seen in other places as at Pegu and Calicut which occasioned the ruine of the Castle and the death of many Christians which the Portugais have since sufficiently revenged for they are of a very cruell nature and revengefull for which reason they maintain a fleet well armed at sea to resist those of Portugall who wage a warr against the Indians not alwayes to their success It happened on a time to Don Alanso De Comera to pursue with two men of warr a Mahometan Frigate richly laden and bound from some part of the India's for Gaza a sea Town in Arabia There were many families with the goods they had gathered in many years abode there making homewards accidentally falling into the hands of this Portugais they hoised saile and thinking themselves too weak offered a composition to the value of two hundred duckats Don Alonso eager and covetous of the prey which he held himself sure of gave her a broad side with many great shots and boarded her she reduced to desperation put her self in a posture of defence and resolved to sell both life and liberty at a deare rate and the very women spared them not so their Alonso got nothing but blowes but lost an eye and many of his men and thus was forced to retreate and the Frigat by a favourable wind got away without any losse this shewes the damage presumption brings with it and that the Portugais are not unjustly accused of vanity and folly which often costs them deare and makes them hated by the Indians as it hapned to them at Calicut where the peoples rage was so raised against them that in an instant they demolished them a fair Castle not leaving one stone upon another and whoever could present the King with any of the ruines was rewarded which hath caused the spilling of much blood amongst them The King of Coulan hath often besieged their Forts but after long Warres they now enjoy a peace The King of Cananor is very potent and elected out of the Princes of the blood as at Ormus He can send 100000. men into the field armed with targets and swords they wear red bonnets turned up on one side and go almost naked the third part of them are Naires or Gentlemen very resolute and valiant they weare red hats and are not niggards of their lives in their Princes service The Portugais have a strong Castle on the side of the Town and another on the sea side both well provided with Amunition and Artillery and have done them good service having often been assaulted by the Naires very gallant Persons Many of them are since Baptized and grown so devout that if they hear the Ave Maria bell though they are in their Coaches or Litters they are set on ground and say certain prayers on both their knees At Cananor they have a quarry of a stone called Azazimit which is much esteemed amongst the Indians and hath many vertues it cures feavers stops fluxes and causes digestion and is a preservative against poyson they use it in their cures against the pox and it is very neere as Soveraigne as that famous Eastern wine that if a man be so rotten as to fall in peeces yet bathed therein for one month he will infallibly be cured This Countrey produces
stories of the beast and actions worthier a rational then an irrational creature I was told most strange things of the animal That Agarida had five sonnes by him all gallant men without the least shape or resemblance of the beast That they left the woods at ten years of age and built themselves a Cabbin or house to dwell in But one of Agarida's Brothers hunting in the woods kild Sagistan with a dart She enraged with disdain sent her sons to her fathers Palace to revenge him and accordingly they kild their two Uncles Ismahan their Grand-father endeavoring to have them seized on and ignorant who they were was slain also with two of the five brothers The other three escaping made themselves so Formidable that none durst meddle with them and hearing of the King of Bisnagar's wars they offered him their service bearing for arms the figure of Sagistan their father The King informed of their strange birth and adventures gave them great commands in his Army their behaviour shewed their desert for they exploited so high and unconceivable actions that one of them married the Sultane of Bisnegar the other the Sultanes daughter from whence sprung that illustrious family of the Sagistans that hath given the name to that town whereof those two brothers were the first founders This was related me of this history or fable rather held for a verity in those parts to this day all Peoples States Townes and illustrious families have their springs and beginnings fabulous and Romantick I have heard a story affirmed of a Spanish Captains wife caught in adultery with another by her husband for punishment he was satisfied to expose them both into a desert Island the man presently dying the woman was accosted by a great Monkey or Drill by which she had two children and at the three years end a ship sayling by discovered this miserable creature liker a phantasme then a human creature she naked with teares in her eyes begged to be released from this horrid and cruell captivity which they did and reembarking the Monkey perceiving full of rage in her sight tore his whelps in pieces and threw them at her she was carried to Lisbon where the Inquisitors informed of her case caused her to be apprehended and had been proceeded against had not Cardinal Cayetan the then Popes Nuntio taken her cause in hand and setting forth the violent necessity she was forced to to yield to that beast that had found her sustenance for three whole yeares saved her from the execution and she ended her dayes in all holinesse and sanctity of life and repentance There are many ancient and modern histories to this purpose all which I refer to Naturalists and Divines CHAP. XXII Of the kingdome of Bengala and Ternassery of musk some rare remarks of the River Ganges of the Torrid Zone and the conversion of a young Prince Idolater to Christianisme FOllowing the coast of Coromandel and the gulph Bengale you come to Ternassery which is held to be between the Cosamba of Ptolome a kingdom lying between Bengal Narsingue Orixa and the sea the Capital town bearing the same name is scituate upon the side of the sea and a fair River called Zayta making a little Island where stands another town of the same name She hath plenty of all things necessary to life Their cowes are low and their horns grow only skin deep The sheep have neither horns nor wool their skin as smooth as a calves there grows great store of long Pepper called Casay they preserve of it and eat it all the year long with sugar vinegar which gives it a pleasant taste in the middle of the Isle is a Lake that breeds good fish better then any the River affords it is called Ademas It affords you Trouts the most savory fish of the East Pykes and Shads taken in March only are Sea-fish They never eat the head because there is a worm found in it which makes that fish chuse the rapid waters and swim aloft by the streams affording him much refreshment The Town of Ternassery is large and pleasant well built not walled on the River side but strengthned by some Forts well fortified and provided she is scituate in a plain with a Castle on the North with an inclosure or Parke fenced with a great ditch where the Queen keepes a breed of stately Mares given her by her Father who recovered them of an Indian Prince that owed him money which he could no otherwise recover for in that Country horses beare a great value The King of Ternassery is provided with good Cavalry which renders him potent and formidable he is of Person strong and Robuste and wars continually with the King of Narsingue and Bengale The Narsinguer would indamage him much did he joyne with the other but he is so generous he scornes it This King is a Gentill and hath above a thousand Elephants trained up to Warr and of the largest size of the East covered to the very ground with beefes hides and severally trapped those hides are fastned underneath the belly with iron chaines and are hardly got off four men may fight on their backs at a time without the least incumbrance to one another bearing broad bucklers made of Tortoyse shells taken in that River he that rides the trunk to guide the beast is the best Armed of the five because he lies open to the enemy their darts have three very sharp points or heads with a ball of iron upon the middle which serves for counterpoise 'T is a warr-like Nation yet curteous civill and voluptuous they have fair women which they Court and Treat in gardens full of rare fruits They have Cattell Poultry and fowle of all sorts they delight much in perfumes in their meates and dresses and chiefly in Musk called Sagay The best Musk is not drawne from the codd nor blood of the beast but from a certain swelling or rising upon the lower part of his belly at the full of the Moone and that is the sweetest of all for there gather the humors mixt with the blood and Impostume-like rise and break which dryed cast so lively and searching sent that it drawes blood from the very nose The codds and skin with some of the flesh are tyed fast together from which they draw their ordinary Musk mingling therewith a little of the better sort I quartered at a Jewes who confest to me he had drawne thirteen or foureteen codds or bunches from one beast They are of the bignesse of a Goate and have foure teeth bigger then the rest two ascending streight upward and the other two oppositely descending Their childrenweare of those teeth about their necks set in silver gold as in some places of France they wear wolve's Persons of Quality set them in a wood called Betell that hath a strange vertue against poyson called by the Aethiopians Euate whereof they make dishes and trenchers of severall sorts much esteemed and
make another division likewise into four parts which are Barbary Numidia Libia and Nigres Barbary extends it self by the side of Mount Atlas upon the Mediterranean from Egypt to Messa upon the Ocean and comprehends the kingdomes of Morocca Fez Telessin Tunes c. Numidia or Biledugerid hath in it Segelmesse Bugie Zeb c. Libia is Saira And the land of Negres containes Galata Tombut Melli Gaigo Guber Guinee and others as far as the Cape of bona Esperanza CHAP. II. A Description of the Isle S. Laurence with the conditions of the People WE came then on shore in the Isle of S. Laurence or Madagascar one of the largest in the world scituate under the Tropick Capricorn between fourteen and twenty six degrees of Latitude in circumference about eight hundred leagues double the quantity of Candia Upon one point thereof towards the Meridian line stands a reasonable good Town called Sancta Maria under it is the Coast of Saint Sebastian which compacts a Gulph full of small Islands inhabited only by an excessive number of fowle That point which looks towards the Cape de Corientes in Africa contains six hundred leagues or thereabouts betwixt the river Monica and Mount Monica and is called Gouara or S. Augustins almost under the Tropick Here is a very pleasant being the Inhabitants civill and well clothed yet the heat is extream where a River stuff't with fish frames a good harbour and the soyle is fertile in fruits In progresse upon this coast of Sancta Maria we meet with a gallant Town called Antipara between two Rivers one of which forms the Cape Salido so called from the saltnesse of the water and is precisely the point of one end of the Island Going on we fall upon the Bay of S. Rochon de Machara near the Cape of S. Roch which gives it name then winding about eight miles from thence we arrive at the Cape of Turmey four miles downwards from the Bay Sancta Maria directly underneath the Tropick The country abounds in fleecelesse sheep cattle and fruits of all sorts Fourty leagues from hence ascending towards the Indies you shall see Manalba a gentile Town then Moropata a good Port Manazero Arco Pescado de S. Antonio and about a hundred paces from thence the Point of Soulatar by Mariners called the Cape of Amtar and between them lye two Islands called the Irmanos by the Islanders Bema Passing on from the Cape of Natall in Africa the Coast is well peopled there the Point of S. Anthony is and the fair river Omzel with fertile Plaines all along from the Cape of S. Vincent to that of S. Anthony Here it is that Christianity was first embraced likewise have you there many Townes and many Villages as Acousia Nabrada Monalega Dolaganza Zanabi Zarcara Franonzara Manatape Babonda Mancaua with very good Havens almost throughout with rivers and shallows where the Sea flows and ebbes as in Europe Mancauia abounds in all sorts of necessaries for livelihood and the Inhabitants of a kind disposition because that part is much frequented On the contrary they of Alocanza or Aleganza where the coast abounds with fish are fierce and proud The more Southern Coast towards the Cape of Ambar is not so populous though throughout the Island there are sufficient and some are savage others civil and some of them as well men as women richly clad and adorned with jewels and precious stones The Inhabitants of Secora and Ambia are handsomely housed and well accommodated they reach as far as Cape Salido from whence to Cape Dental is taken the breadth of the Island In generall this Island abounds in all sorts of good fruits as Oranges Lemons and Spices which the Inhabitants eat confectioned but Ginger especially Cecuma or Corcuma and long Peper They likewise boast of Clove-Gilliâ—lowers which I dare not affirm because I know it not Of woods they have Ebony Sendall red white and Citron colour Brasil whereof they make their bowes and arrowes Sicamores and Mastick They have moreover Mines of excellent silver but such is their sloth they had rather live from hand to mouth then work here is gotten the best Indian Safron and very excellent Sugar which they order but very grossely because they have not the perfect art to refine it though neverthelesse they make a great Trade of it They have Melons of incredible bignesse yellow red and white much more delicate then Provence or Spain hath Throughout the whole Island there growes a root they call Igname or Patata from whence the invention was brought to Spain of taste like a Chestnut but more dainty particularly when it is boyled rather then roasted This root is of great use to the poorer sort which though it be produced from seed sown yet it multiplies in a prodigious manner being cut in gobbits They have Dates of five severall kindes and other trees which yield them excellent drinks besides fruits to eat and strings which they pull out to make Akpargates or thread shooes after the Spanish manner which they call Pargas or Otayas they have also thread from another tree called Langir or Coatir in another language whereof they make cloth as fine as silk Then from one certain nut they draw oyle sundry wayes pressing what is within and pouring thereon hot water which makes an oyle like that of Almunds or else pressing a little kernell which growes within the nut when 't is ripe like that of a Pastique or Pumpion Likewise from a grain or nut which is in common Dates they draw a very good oyle and the strong prickles which grow about the leaves serve them for needles to few their sayles and the apparell of the poorer sort which needle they call Cambiza As for the drinks they make of these trees being drawne by distillation they are incorruptible otherwise they grow sowre and dead in four and twenty houres they make a certain compound of the juyce of Igname or Joucas which in taste is like good Aqua vitae and mixt with sugar and cinamon is a good and kindly nourishment The Inhabitants of this Island take thought for nothing but how to live jovially and which is admirable in so great a number of people you see neither beggers nor vagabonds as in Europe They all live happily without injuring others some content with little others will have more and no man wants imployment if he will take paines Here some give themselves to gardening others there labour in the Mines some apply themselves to Merchandizes others to fishing with their boats made of neats leather so well joyned and liquored that water cannot pierce them They live in perfect amity such as if one man take fish he parts freely with it to him that asks him Some there are who addict themselves to hunt wild beasts whereby they get skins of price as Ermins the Girafe striped with white and red which breed in this Isle with all sorts of wild creatures as Elephants
dresse in several manners the fruits excell and chiefly the Melons called there Dormous admirable in taste which they eat not but in Summer because they are excessive cooling and as it were freeze the stomack being neverthelesse not ill of digestion or causing chollicks what quantity soever one eats They are for the most part Idolaters except some Mahometans who dissemble their Religion for which cause the Prince hath but a sinister look for them This Prince hath a high veneration from his people who subjugate their shoulders for his support burn perfumes to him when he appeares in publick as they do likewise for all Princes or Potentates who come to visit them But indeed this Prince is most laudable in this particular that he himself will take cognizance of whatsoever is acted by his Governours and Magistrates and if any one impleads other before him it behoves him on the price of his head to be assured of the fact When a complaint is made to him immediately he sends for the party accused If he be a Noble man when he arrives at the Palace gate he gives notice to the Officers of his presencce by the sound of a Cornet who cause him to ascend single before the Prince who with great patience hears hoth parties in presence of his Council If â—oth are found culpable the inferiour is remitted to the ordinary Justice who punisheth him with stripes of cudgell the Grandee is punished by fine But if the Noble-man prove only guilty the King leads him to his chamber where being disrobed prostrate on the ground craving pardon he receives from the Kings own hand certain stripes with a cudgell more or fewer in proportion to the crime and services he hath done Which done he revests kisses the Kings feet and with all humility thanks him for the favour received Then without further shew of any thing attends the King to his Hall who in presence of all the Court gives him a dismission and recommends â—o him administration of Justice to his people causes him to be accompanied out of town with ordinary ceremony so as what hath passed is not perceived by any and this Grandee returns as well content as if he had received a rich treasure The charges of suit are defrayed out of the Kings Coffers or if he please by the criminall without the knowledge of any one When as this King who by his subjects is esteemed a Saint makes a progresse into the Country he is mounted on a horse richly trapp'd and going out of his Palace passes over a new kill'd heifer where the people raise a loud outcry and instantly go view the entrails of the beast to judge by sorcery if this voyage shall be successeful or no. When he makes entrance into any town all the fairest Ladies walk before him with censers of perfumes burning in their hands some singing his encomiums others melodiously playing on Basons with fine nods endeavouring to render themselves as complaisant as possibly they can To conclude their territories confine upon the country of Zangueliac and Ethiopia Aquiloa is a Kingdome with an Isle and a Town of the same appellation where the Portugals have a Fort the Governour whereof drives a main trade by means of the vessels he sends for the Indies The King of Quiloa was Lord heretofore of Mozambique All these are countries of Zanguebar or Zanzibar which comprehends that large extent of ground which lyes between the Oriental and Occidental seas of the people called Cafres Zanzibar properly speaking is an Island which faces directly Monbaze but the country I intend to speak of is Zanguebar named so by the Arabians because in their language this word Zangue signifies black and this country for the greatest part is inhabited by Blacks Mark Pol esteems it an Island of above a thousand leagues in circuit being water'd with many rivers making as it were an Island Concerning the Town of Quiloa 't was built as Tradition sayes above six hundred years past by one Hali son of Hocen King of Siras in Persia who came to live there Women here go exceeding well arrayed richly adorned with Jewels and Ivory bracelets quaintly wrought which upon death of husband and allies they break in signe of sorrow as the men forbear to eat and shave their hair as I before recounted of the East Indies CHAP. V. Of Mozambique the nature of the Inhabitants Cefala Mines of gold in Ophir Belugara HAving passed by Viada where the people for the best part dwell upon the river Dumes or Humes since the vast inundation of this and other rivers in the country upon the day of Saint Abiblicane we entered the kingdome of Mozambique this River runs towards the East passing by the foot of the Mountain Zet out of which issues one of the heads of Nile the other from the Mount Betzoan which ancients called the Mountains of the Moon streaming towards the points Maestro and Tramontanus The branch which runs Southward is divided not far from the head by a rock into two streams the one watering the land of Sefala the other running to disgorge it self in the sea right over against the Isle of Saint Laurence Mozambique is a small Island hard upon the firm land with a Haven and a Fort of the Portugals within fifteen degrees of the Line 'T was subject to the King of Quiloa till the Portugals became Masters where now in their voyages from Portugal to the Indies is one of their securest harbours to rest and refresh themselves The greatest part of the Inhabitants who are all Blacks professe Mahometisme the rest Idolatry They upon the firm land are absolute brutes going stark naked their privities only covered with a cotten cloth Adorers of the Sun like them of Sephala speaking the same language as they their traffick is Gold Ivory and Ebony their chief food the flesh of Elephants They delight much to parget their bodies with a reddish earth perswading themselves that so dawb'd the world shewes not finer men The better sort paint themselves with a certain Folliage which to make azure they use Indico and other compounds There are amongst them who bore their lips like the Americans enchasing some delicate stone Some say this countâ—y in times past depended upon Ethiopia and and 't was hither Salomon sent his Fleets for gold and that the Queen of Saba stil'd her self likewise Queen of Mozambique and Melindo moreover that their speech resembles in some sort that of Senega Though to speak truth 't is more likelihood Salomon fetched his gold from the mines of Sefala which are not farre thence or may be from the East Indies Touching the country of Cefala or Sefala and Zinguebar which takes up in a sort the whole breadth of that end of Africa even to the Cape of Bona Esperanza which coast is inhabited with Blacks called Cafares or Cafres they appertain to the great Empire of Monomotapa of which we are to speak presently In particular
come by the streights of Hudscas Davis Forbisher and others which are thought to crosse to the Orientall and Tartarian sea but here they appear rather gulphs and arms of the Sea then streights Then we come to the Lands of Estotiland Labrador Cortereal New France or Canada and Bacaleos Norembeck Virginia New Nideoland or the New-Low-Countries Florida and New Spain or Mexico as well the old as new and the lands above new Granada Mar Vermeio California Quiuira or new Aâ—bion and Anian to the famous Streight of land or sea of the same name which joynes or divides North Asia or high Tartarie from this part of America And 't is probable that this way for many Ages men and beasts have passed who have peopled this new World whether from China Tartarie Moscovia and other places or as farr as Scandia or from elsewhere carried by the windes cast up by shipwrack or coming upon designe or for ease of people alwayes growing onward But this dispute I leave to be decided by better abilities being out of my reach and no part of my design South America from Jucatan Honduras and Nicanagua to the Streight of Panama proceeds by Vraba Dariena Castilia Dor Venesusla Paria Cabagna Cumana Curibana and further up into the famous Land of Guinea then comes the vast Territory or Coast of Brasile of above 1000 leagues Patagona and Chica to the Streights of Magellan and Maire and at last ascending towards the South-sea by Chila and Peru to the Isthmus of Mannama As for the Parts southward beyond the Streights towards the Land of Fou or Queinos to the Isles of Salomon new Guinea and others 't is not yet knowne what they are As to the Discovery of this New World leaving that common question If our Ancestors had any knowledge of it t was first made by Columbus in the yeare 1492. afterwards successively by Americus Vespasius Cabot Cortercall Cupral Verazan Cortez Pisarra and at last by Sir Francis Drake Sir Walter Rawley Forbisher Davis Hudson and others Towards the Lands of Labrador and Canada one Captaine Velasco a Spaniard passing that way entred the river of Canada or St. Laurens and taking it for an Arme of the Sea having a faire winde sayl'd up about 200 leaugues where he found many Townes and Villages inhabited by people called Piperones of an extraordinary stature as ten foote high or more people kinde enough and tractable spending their time only in hunting and fishing their ordinary diet milke and cheese Upon a Sunday coming on shore to celebrate Masse there came innumerable Savages to admire our Sevice and Ceremonies as a thing altogether new to them They presented the Spaniards abundance of sheep Kids and goats and they might have taken off the common what Cows and Cattel they would A people otherwise not very Military but exceeding simple and use Barkes like the Brasilian Canoes The Captaine in gratuity gave to the cheife of them a handsome sword and dagger who by signes let him understand he had nothing to returne him but 50 Cows and 200 sheep desiring him to accept them for accomodation for his company Part of them he took and gave him a Coate of Azure Tafeta which he highly esteemed and admir'd and went confidently abord them with a score of his men and at severall times came little boats loaded with fruit which this Lord had provided to present the Captain with at his departure he fired some Cannons which strangely amazed these poor people who thought the World at an end they go cloath'd with skins commodiously sew'd together In the Land of Labrador and beyond Northward are abundance of Mountains and Forrests where there are numbers of wilde beasts and amongst others huge beares and great Griffins all white which are nothing like those of the East or Africa which are gray only a little red under the belly but both of them have but two feet and not foure as they are painted They have also Partridges and other sorts of birds all white A little higher lies the frozen sea which some say is not a sea frozen but land covered with ice An Indian one Irica told me that in his youth he had been in the Land of Labrador which the Natives call Vchacara which borders on a Countrey called Alfringa and that crossing from Province to Province he saw seas of Vast extent all frozen and the people assur'd him t was not a Sea but Land covered with fresh water-ice a thing hard to be credited They have not any Townes but Villages where on little hills they live in timber houses covered with hides of Beifes and other beasts The people are Whites kinde and affable This Coast extends to the space of 400 leagues there is a large river they call de tres Hermanos which some Spanish were about to crosse but could not for snows Some imagine here is a streight that goes into the Orientall sea others that t is an Arme of the sea only Some take this for the river Rio Neuado which on one side coasts this Countrey for 200 leagues on the other side to the Bay of Maluas and by the Gulph Merosco lyes the Isle of Devills so called because they hold it to be haunted with spirits as many of the eastern Islands are as I observed in another place There are Tawnies amongst them they weare in their eares rings of gold and silver their cloaths lin'd with Martins and other furrs amongst them there live some Britains and English men Next lies the Countrey called Bacaleos or Bacca-Lao so called from our fishing for Codds there to which the Seamen give that terme That place is so thronged with this sort of fish that sometimes they cumber a Vessell in sayling The coast from thence to Florida is about 900 l. The Country is cold like Flanders and under almost the same climate The people are Idolaters and bruitish void of civility except along the shore where the French inhabit there they live better and eat not mans flesh as the rest round about them do They live in obedience to one they elect out of the most potent amongst them many Islands adjacent are possessed by the French Not far from thence lyes the Countrey called Chicora the people whereof are of extraordinary size they wear their hair down to their girdle the women much longer They believe the immortality of the soule and that after death they transmigrate to a better Countrey than their own They keep stocks of tame Deer which they drive to pasture as we do Cows and Oxen from them they make excellent cheese which mingled with a sort of clouted cream is a very delicate dish The English say the land of Bacalaos was first discovered by one Cabor sent thither by Henry the 7. King of England to which the Spaniards consent not much lesse the French who trafick'd here long before any other Nation Chicora lyes upon the Continent a little above Bacalaos and according to some is