Ice in the Winter neither is it so Salt as other Seas and here the Turks forbid Traffick to Forreigners there being no passage into it but by Rivers neither this passage of the Bosphorus hath been always but forced by violence of Streams that fell into the over-charged Euxine where it rusheth into the Bosphorus there are two Rocks formerly called Cyancae and Symplegades so near that at a distance they seem but one Here upon the top of a Rock encompassed with the Sea stands a Pillar of white Marble called Pompeys Pillar the Bosphorus is in length about 20 miles but very narrow the broadest place not exceeding a mile The Dispositions Manners c. of the Turks Before I pass to the other Province in Greece a word or two as to the Manners Dispositions Religions c. of the Turks They are for the most part of a good complexion full-bodied proportionable and of good statures they keep the hair of their Heads shaved only a lock on the hinder part but their Beards they wear at full length which with them is a sign of Gravity and freedom they not allowing their Slaves to wear Beards they are subtle and of a quick wit are generally very courteous to Strangers but bear an inveterate hatred against Christians they are exceeding jealous of their Wives denying them the liberty of the Streets or going to their Mosques their Salutations are with an inclination of the head and body laying their hands on their bosoms they use much Perfumes in their Garments and all of them affect clealiness so religiously that besides customary Lotions and daily frequenting Baths they never so much as make water but they wash their hands and privities at which business they couch to the Earth fearing their Garments should be defiled with any of their Excrements which is held a pollution and hindrance to the acceptation of Prayer and if they bath not twice or thrice a week they are esteemed Nasty they use not much exercise loving a Sedentary life but delight in riding yet generally they have some Trade which they imploy part of the day in even the Grand Signior Their Food Their Food is gross refusing all dainties for a piece of fat Mutton which they boil in Rice and with Pease Rice and Mutton they make Pottage they abstain from Blood Hogs-flesh and things strangled neither care they for Fish or Fowl which are here numerous and so gentle that they will suffer themselves to be taken they have neither Tables nor Stools but sit upon the Floor which is covered with Tapestry or the like cross-legg'd their Dishes are made with feet and their Spoons have long handles like Ladles Their common drink is Water also Sherbet Vsaph but above all Coffee which is held in great esteem As to their Sciences and Trades they are not over ingenious nor knowing contenting themselves with such as are necessary for them By their Law they are exhorted to marry for the propagation of their Religion every man being allowed four Wives which must be of the Turkish Religion besides as many Concubines which are Slaves and of any Religion as he is able to keep they buy their Wives of their Parents recording the Contract and in their Nuptial Rites they observe many Ceremonies some of which I shall take notice of The day before the Marriage is spent in Feasting the Man his Friends and the Woman hers who at night bath and anoint her and so depart till the next Morning and then she is drest in her best Apparel all things being ready the Relations and Friends of the Bridegroom who are all mounted on Horse-back ride two by two to the Brides to conduct her to the Bridegrooms who is also ready mounted and richly habited according to his quality to receive his never seen wife who after the Nuptial Ceremonies are performed is conducted to the Bride-Chamber where she is undrest and made ready for his enjoyment the rest of the day is spent in feasting and merriment By the Law he is obliged to shew equal respect to all his Wives and to give them due benevolence alike and upon failure they may justly complain to the Cadi who will grant her a Divorce but the Women are little better treated than Slaves giving their Husbands respect and reverence due to a Master not sitting at meat with him nor medling with Houshold affairs nothing being required but to please their Husbands to live peaceably together and to nurse their Children Their Religion Their Religion is contained in their Alcoran made by Mahomet their Prophet it is written in Arabick Rhime and forbid by him to be written or read in any other Language which said Book is so reverenced by them that it is not touched with unwashed hands they call it the Book of Glory The Alcoran now printed in English and Guide to Paradice They believe in God and hold Jesus Christ for a greater Prophet than Moses but Mahomet for the greatest they deny the Divinity of Christ yet confess him to be the Son of the Virgin Mary that he was conceived by the smell of a Rose which the Angel Gabriel brought her and that she bore him at her Breasts that he was free from the Temptations of the Devil and Original sin he is called in the Alcoran the Word and Breath of God said to raise up the dead to give sight to the blind to cure the lame to give speech to the dumb to know the secrets of hearts and that by his Vertues his Disciples wrought Miracles and that he shall return to Judgment about 40 years before the end of the World to judge save and condemn Christians as Mahomet shall do them By their Law they are obliged to pray seven times a day their Sabbath is on Friday which they strictly observe and are very devout at their worship and at the doors of the Mosques they put off their Shoes as a place too holy to defile with dirty Shoes and the Women are not permitted to come into their Mosques but have apartments for themselves They observe two Solemn times in the year which are both Lents one is called Ramdan which continueth a Month and the other Byram which lasteth three days They admit of no Hell for any but those who believe not Mahomet but allow of a Purgatory which holds but till Dooms-day where in their Graves which they say is the place of Purgatory they are inflicted with pain by a bad Angel whose fury is lessened by a good one according to the life the party led when living and at the day of Doom Moses Christ and Mahomet shall bring their several Followers to Judgment and intercede for them and that Cain the first Murtherer shall be the Leader of the Damned and all shall receive the reward due unto them the Just into Paradice and the Damned into Hell where they shall be tormented for ever yet they hold a distinction amongst the Damned for those that have
that of the particular Guiny the Inhabitants living 100 years and more The Land produces the same Fruits and feeds the same Beasts with Guiny and its People are more courteous to Strangers Their principal City so called is esteemed the greatest and best built of any either in Guiny or the Land of the Negroes It s King is powerful and very loving to his Subjects they are all much addicted to Women the King being said to keep about 5 or 600 Wives with all which twice a year he goeth out in great pomp as well for Recreation as to shew them to his Subjects who according to their abilities do exceed Those of the gentile or better sort keeping 20 30 40 others 50 60 or 70 and those of the poorest rank 5 10 or 12. Their Custom both for Men and Women till they are married is to go naked and after their cloathing is only a Cloth which is tied about their Middles and hangs down to their knees It s other chief places are Ouwerre Focko Boni and Bodi The Soil of Guiny The Soil of Guiny is generally fertil the most part bearing twice a year because they have two Summers and two Winters They oall it Winter when the Sun passes their Zenith and that the Rains are continual All the whole Country is very fertil It s fertility and commodities abounding in Corn Rice Millet and in many sorts of Meleguete in Fruits as Oranges Citrons Lemmons Pomegranates Dates c. Also in Gold both in Sand and in Ingots in Ivory or Elephants Teeth in great abundance in Wax Hides Cotton Amber-greece they extract Wine and Oyl from their Palm-Trees and of this Oyl and the Ashes of the Palm-Tree they make excellent Soap They have many Sugar-Canes which are scarce at all Husbanded They have Brasil-Wood better then that which cometh from Brasil they have abundance of Wood proper to build and Mast Ships and Pearls which they find in Oysters towards the River Des Ostros that is of Oysters and of St. Anne between the Branches of the Niger Commodities here found And for these good Commodities in way of Barter they truck or take course Cloth both Linnen and Wollen Red Caps Frize Mantles and Gowns Leather Baggs Sheep-skin Gloves Guns Swords Daggers Belts Knives Hammers Ax-heads Salt Great Pins little pieces of Iron which they convert to several uses Lavers and great Dutch Kettles with two handles Basons of several sizes Platters Broad Pans Posnets Pots c. made for the most part of Capper which are sometimes Tinned within Some of which Vtensils are made of Tinn and others of Earths which are here desired Also Looking-Glasses Beads Corals and Copper Brass and Tinn Rings which they wear about them for their adornment Hors-tails which they use to keep away the Flies which annoy them as also when they Dance And lastly certain Shels which pass instead of Money having here and in many other Countries no current Money of Metal as the Europeans have but make use of those Shells which they hang in bundles upon strings for which they buy in their Markets such things as they want Its Beasts and their nature The Elephant Among their Beasts they have Elephants which are said to be the biggest of all four footed Beasts Of nature they are very gentle docile and tractable they live to a great age seldom dying till the age of 150 years They are very serviceable both in War and Peace and as profitable by reason of their Tusks It is said That when the Male hath once seasoned the Female he never after toucheth her Next the Elephants may be reckoned the Musk-Cats The Musk-Cats which with Springs they take in the Woods when they are young and keep them in Hutches and take from them the Musk which they keep in Glasses or Pots and so vend it And these Cats they vend to the English and other Nations at good rates Then their Apes Monkeys and Baboons Monkeys Apes and Baboons which are strong and lusty being taken and brought to it young serve like men They send them to fetch Water at the River make them to turn meat at the Fire serve at Table to give Drink but they must be very watchful otherwise they will do mischief and eat the meat themselves and these are much beloved by their Women doing the duty of Men which they are as desirous of themselves and hating Men. Again there are some of these Monkeys or Apes which love Men and hate Women They have variety of Birds among which Its Birds Its Fruits they have several sorts of Parrots which are brought to talk Their Fruits are excellent as Oranges Lemmons Citrons Pomegranates Dates Annanas or Pynes which for smell and taste resembleth all Fruits Trennuelis a Fruit so delicate and delicious that 't is thought it was the Fruit in Paradise which was forbidden Adam and Eve to eat of Iniamus Battatas Bachonens the Palm-Tree and above all here is a Tree called the Oyster Tree by reason of its bearing Oysters thrice every year a thing if report may be credited is true and if true very strange The Inhabitants especially before the coming of the Portugals It s People were rude and barbarous living without the knowledge of a God Law Religion or Government very disingenious and not caring for Arts or Letters Their disposition They are much addicted to Theft and take it for an honor if they can cheat or steal any thing though not considerable from a White Man They are very perfidious Lyars given to Luxury in matter of Justice they are indifferent severe Their Justice punishing ofttimes with death but paying a fine will free them and the place of Judicature is in the open Market Place Their Food is gross and beastly Their Food and Apparel as is their Habitations mean and beggerly They go naked save about their Waist they tye a piece of Linnen yet very proud and stately Their Stature They are of a Corpulent body flat nosed broad shouldred white eyed and teeth'd Their Religion belief small eared c. In matters of Religion they are great Idolaters worshiping Beasts Birds Hils and indeed every strange thing which they see they hold there is two Gods one doth them good and the other hurt and these two Gods they say fight together Also they believe there is a God which is invisible which they say is black yet of late they have tried many Forms of Religion as Judaism Mahometism and Christianity but care not much for any Nevertheless some of them believe they die not and to that end give their dead bodies something to carry with them into the other World They keep their Fetissoes day that is one day in seven for a day of rest as their Sabbath which is on a Tuesday a day that no other Nation in the World keeps very strict at which time they offer Meat and Drink to their Fetisso
Precopensis Cambaja Long among which are The Chersonesus of Malacca adjoyning to India Cimbrica or Jutland adhering to Holsatia Borea adjoyning to Tartaria The North and South parts of America California Jucatan The Chersonesus of Thracia Nova Francia Ionia Cindensis Mindensis Of Affinity to Peninsulas Italy Greece Acaia Spain Norway Sweden Lapland Asia minor Arabia Beach a Region of Magellan and New Guiney Indostan Cochinchina New-England Monomotapa Camboia 3. Islands which may be considered in four sorts viz. Great as England Japan Island Canada Sumatra Madagascar Borneo Nova Zembla California Indifferent as Sicilia Ireland Hispaniola Cuba Java Major Celebes Creet Luconia Sardinia Friesland Terra Nova Mindanoa Ceilan Small as Gilolo Amboina Timor Corsica Majorca Cyprus Negropont Sealand Jamaica The very small ones in which we consider 1. The more famous Solitaria Rhodes Malta Lemnos Helena St. Thomas 2. A knot or heap of Isles together as The Canary Isles The Flandrian or Caribbe Isles The Hesperides Those of the Gulph of Mexico Of Maldives Of Japan About Madagascar The Moluccoes and Isles of Bauda The Philippine Isles The Isles of Theeves The Isles in the Aegean Sea The Isles about England The Isles of Solomon 4. The Isthmuses Between Egypt and Arabia or Africa and Asia That of Corinth between Peloponesus and Achaia The Isthmus of Panama or America the longest of all Between Jutland and Holsatia Between Malacca and India OF Absolute Geography SECT III. Wherein the constitution of the Land or the dry part of the Earth in four Chapters is declared CHAP. VIII Concerning the natural division of the parts of the Earth made from the Ocean flowing round about it THE things which in this Chapter we shall deliver concerning the division of the Earth and in the fifteenth Chapter we shall teach touching the division of the Sea will greatly facilitate the young Student in the understanding the distinction of the surface and parts of the Earth and to fix them the faster in the memory they are carefully and fully to be read and to be compared with the Terrestrial Artificial Globe and Maps Proposition I. A certain portion of Earth is covered with Water and a certain part stands out above the Surface of the Water Of parts of the Earth covered and of parts not covered with water but yet there are some parts which at some time are covered with Waters and some parts are free from them and conspicuous as many Islands by Norway Scotland and other Countries Add to these the beds or shelves of Sand and Seashores But seeing these parts are so small we take no account of them at present neither will we move that Question here Whether the Land takes up the greater part of the Superficies of the Earth or whether the Water We will treat of this briefly in the eighteenth Chapter Now we will confider the part standing up or extant above the Waters and we will call it Lands or Islands Proposition II. The Earth standing out above the waters not one but many Lands of which may be five sorts The Land or Earth standing out above the Waters is not one and continual but many Lands divided and disjoyned from one another by the Water flowing it between them We will make five differences of them to wit 1. The greatest Lands or Islands 2. The great ones 3. The mean ones 4. The little ones and 5. The least ones We will treat of the cause and original of these Lands extant or above the Waters or of the Islands in the eighteenth Chapter for there will be a more commodious place to treat of this Matter or Subject But all Lands extant above the Waters were to be called Islands seeing that an Island is no other thing then a Land begirt with Waters All Lands extant above the waters may be called Islands yet the common use of speaking hath taken away from the greatest Lands this name because that they are so great and of such a huge tract and continuance that the Circuit of the Water is thereby the less to be perceived Insomuch that they are usually called the firm Land and also great Continents And indeed by reason of their vast bulk and greatness unto which the magnitude of other Islands being compared is small they deserve this peculiar name therefore we will also call them firm Lands and great Continents Proposition III. The firm Lands four The greatest Lands Continents or Islands not contending with any about their name are four First the Old World Secondly the New World or America Thirdly the Polar Land Artick or Artick World and Fourthly the South-Land or Magellanick Land The old world most famous with its bounds c. The Old World the most famous of those four and only known of the Ancients which we inhabit is commonly divided by the Sea into two parts but joyned together by an Isthmus or narrow neck of Land one whereof is Africa and the other Asia and Europe It is invironed by the Ocean in this manner from the East by the Chinean Ocean and the Pacifick Sea from the South by the Indian Ocean and Aethiopick Sea from the West by the Atlantick Sea and from the North by the Frozen or North Sea the White Sea and Tartarian Ocean The division of this Continent of which we have spoken is made by the Mediterranean Sea and the Arabick Bay or Red-sea Africa divided from Asia and Europe For the distance of the Bays that is the Latitude or breadth of the intercedent Tract is not greater then about 30 miles if which were away Africa would make a peculiar firm Land and would increase the number The distance of the Old World towards the East is but a very little space from the New World or America The distance of the old world from the new about the Streight of Anian if only this be existent in the Universe of Nature And the distance of Europe from America is also very little between Norway and Newfoundland Also the Old World is but a very small distance from the Pole Artick-land about the Streight of Waigats from the South Polar or Magellan about New Guiney The New World or America is thus begirt by the Ocean On the East by the Atlantick Sea The new world with its bounds c. On the South by the Magellanick Streight On the West by the Pacifick Sea and on the North by a Sea unknown or uncertain except Davis Streight This World also wants but little but that it may be cut into two Islands to wit at Panama and Nombre de Dios where the confluence of the Pacifick and Atlantick Ocean is by a small Tract of earth intercepted It is distant from the Old World a very little space as before noted The Polar Artick and South Land with its bounds c. The Polar Artick and the South or Austral Land are begirt round with the Sea the first with the North Sea whose parts are
above one German mile If we take the Altitude of the Sun one degree the height of the Mountain Athos will be found to be 20 stadiums Yet notwithstanding I esteem the over great distance of Lemnos from the Mountain Athos assigned by Pliny to be the cause of the over-great Magnitude arising from the Calculation For Sophians Tuble of Greece and Blavius his Table of Modern Greece do only exhibit and allow 55 Italian miles the distance for F A. Therefore the Angle F R T shall scarcely be one degree to wit 55 minutes and the Altitude of the Sun one degree 30 minutes and therefore F R T 87 degrees 35 minutes and if it be done in the Triangle F R T As the sign of the Angle F R T 87 degrees 35 minutes to the sign of the Angle T R R 91 degrees 30 minutes so F R 860 to R T. Or in the Triangle T F A strait angled to A the Angle T F A shall be one degree 30 minutes and F A is assumed as the strait or right of 55 miles The Altitude A T shall be found according to this Proportion As the whole sign to the Tangent of the Angle T F A one degree 30 minutes So F A 55 miles to A T the height of the Mountain Here also is the Problem to be answered viz. How the height of any Mountain may be found if it be fully searched out how much sooner the Sun is seen to rise in the top of that Mountain than at the foot thereof And contrariwise if the Altitude be given how and in what manner this difference of time is to be found out touching which matter Aristotle and Pliny have delivered incredible stories and such as the true Calculation and account do teach to be evidently otherwise But seeing this cannot be explicated without the solution of another Problem which we have referred to the second part of this Book therefore we will defer these two Problems to the Thirtieth Chapter Proposition VII The Altitude of Mountains hath no sensible proportion to the half diameter of the Earth or else so little that it hinders the roundness of the Earth no more than a pointed note upon the surface of the Artificial Globe The height of the Mountains no hindrance to the roundness of the Earth For we have shewn that the Mountain of the Island Teneriff called El Pico de Tayde to have no greater Altitude than one mile or at most 1½ mile And certainly Experience can scarcely find out a Mountain higher than that Seeing therefore the half diameter of the Earth is 860 miles it shall be the model and account of the greatest height of the Mountains to the half diameter of the Earth which is 1 to 860 to wit of which parts the half diameter of the Earth or any Globe is 360 one of such the greatest height of the Mountains shall have And whereas there are very few Mountains of so great height but that very many of them scarcely ascend to the fourth part of a mile it is manifest that they heave or lift up the roundness of the Earth no more than certain ruggednesses in Globes made by the hands of Artificers do disproportion the roundness of those Globes For indeed there is no body in the whole nature of things that can have an exact Geometrical roundness Proposition VIII Why showers of Rain Mists and Snows are frequent on the tops of Mountains when as in the neighbouring Valleys the Air is serene and calm without any such Meteors Showers of Rain Snow Mists c. on â—he tops of Mountains when not in the Valleys They which have travelled on the high Lands or Mountainous places of Asia Peruvia and other Countries aver that it oft falls out that they which are conversant on the top of Mountains do there feel and find showers of Rain Snow and thick and foggy Mists but descending thence to the Valleys lying thereunder they feel no such thing but find a clear and calm Air. We sometimes observe the same in the Mountains of our own Country Some say that the cause of this Phaenomenon or appearance is that the Mountains attract thither the Air and Clouds but they do not declare by what faculty or power they may do it and therefore they say nothing to the purpose It seems to me that it is done in this manner The vapours and exhalations when as in the middle Region of the Air in which very many tops of Mountains are they are condensated into small drops begin to decline downward And because the top of Mountains are nearer to those vapours and exhalations condensated in the middle Region of the Air than the Valleys lying under them therefore those small drops which are above those Mountain tops coming first to the ground leave a place in the Region of the Air which presently the next small drops do enjoy because they are forced and thrust forth by others either by reason of Natures abhorring and shunning of vacuity or emptiness or because this is the nature of Water that it flows and runs to that place where its flux or flowing first began or where the place is more low and sunk Proposition IX Whether the Superficies of a Mountain be more capacious than the plane underneath it upon whom it standeth Of the Superficies of Mountains Geometry proves it to be greater but yet it is another Question Whether therefore it can sustain the more Men or bear the greater plenty of Provision I prove the Affirmative for although all things placed in a Mouatain ought to be perpendicular to the under sunk or placed Plane yet greater store of Earth and a greater surface is there CHAP. X. Of the differences and tract of Mountains and in special concerning Burning Mountains Proposition I. Some Mountains are bounded about with a little space Others extend themselves out and march forth at a long reach and trace Of Mountains or Hills AND these Mountains or Hills of the later sort are called tops yokes or chains of Mountains or Hills There are found such like Chains of Mountains or Hills almost in all Countreys in the World so that they may be judged to be thereby continual but that small spaces interpose and thrust in themselves but they march out at length into divers Coasts some from the North into the South some from the East into the West and othersome to Coasts collateral to the Cardinal points The most famous Chains or Cliffs of Hills are these following Of the Hills or Mountains call'd the Alpes 1. The Alpes which separating Italy from the neighbouring Countries extend themselves out by a vast tract of Earth and do as it were send forth their Arms into other Provinces and Countries to wit through France to Spain where they are called the Pyrenean Hills or Mountains and to Rhetia where they are called the Rhetick Hills and to Hungaria where they are named the Hungarian Mountains and doubtful ones then
above Dalmatia the Dalmation Hills and they are stretched out through Macedonia to Thrace and Pontus But because there cometh in a little space between the Julian and Dalmatian Hills therefore some men determine and make the end of the Alpes to be in the Julian Mountains It sendeth out one Arm with continual chains and yokes of Hills and with a winding course like a crescent passing through all Italy and dividing it into two parts it runneth along even to the Sicilian Sea Neither doth it march forward in one form every where but in many parts it putteth forth collateral or side-Companions and fellow Branches as it also sendeth forth some Mountains styled with several Names as the Mountain Massicus the Hill Gaurus Monte di Capua or the Mountain of Capua and the burning Vesuvius c. The Hills of Peru. 2. The Hills of Peru or Peruviana the longest of all others for they pass through the whole South America even from the Equator to the Magellanick streigths and do separate the Kingdom of Peru from other Provinces insomuch that the whole tract of this Chain of Hills is about 800 German miles And the heads or cliffs of the Hills are so high that they are reported to weary Birds in their flight over them and there is but one only passage over these Hills which as yet is discovered and that very cumbersom Many of those are covered with perpetual Snows as well in Summer as Winter and many of them are also wrapt up and involved with the Clouds and some likewise are elevated beyond the middle Region of the Air. Truly it hath hapned the Spaniards sometimes passing out of Nicaragua into Peru that many of them These Mountains exceeding Cold. together with their Horses on the tops of those interposed Mountains have suddenly died and if they had become stiff with cold Frost they remained there immovable like standing Images The cause of which seemeth-to have been the want of Air such as our breath or Lungs require There are also found in these Mountains Sulphury and smoking Hills The Hills between Peru and Brasil 3. There are very many other Mountains between Peru and Brasil which also stretch themselves out through the Country of China to the Magellanick streights where the high tops of the Hills are perpetually hidden with Snows although they lie under the Latitude of 52 degrees The Hills of Canada and New England 4. Add to these Chains of Hills those of Canada and New England and very many others in North America covered with continual Snow although they are less famous The Mountain Taurus 5. The top of Taurus a Mountain in Asia This was amongst ancient Writers accounted the most noble and greatest Mountain of the World It riseth up in Asia Minor from the Pamphilian Sea nigh to the Chelidonian Islands and thence marcheth along through divers Countries and great Kingdoms under divers Names from the West into the East unto India and divideth all Asia into two parts one whereof which looketh to the North is called Asia within Taurus and the other which faceth the West is named Asia without Taurus It is fenced in on either side with many Companions amongst which the famous and most notable ones are the greater and the lesser Anti-Taurus which cut and divide the greater and lesser Armenia into two parts where Taurus it self passeth between Armenia and Mesopotamia it sendeth forth many Arms towards the North and South The Mountain Imaus 6. The Mountain Imaus marcheth forth in form of a Cross two ways as well towards the East and VVest as towards the North and South The Northern part is now called Alkai It is stretched out forward towards the South even to the very ends of the Indies and the fountain heads of the River Ganges in length about four hundred German Miles It divideth the Asian Scythia into two parts of which that which looketh on the west is called Scythia within the Mountain Imaus but that which beholdeth the East is named Scythia without the Mountain Imaus The Mountain Caucasus 7. The top of the Mountain Caucasus is stretched out from the North to the South towards Pontus Euxinus from the Caspian Sea to whom it is a neighbour at the breadth of fifty miles and to those that sail in the Caspian Sea it is an infallible mark to govern and steer their course by It reacheth to Mount Ararat in Armenia where Noah's Ark rested which the Turks and Persians believe to be there kept to this day But the Mountains of Ararat are neighbours to Taurus because all these Mountains are contiguous VVe will speak of the height of Caucasus in the Thirtieth Chapter The Hill of China 8. The Hill of China which embraceth and comprehends the Damasian Mountains so called by the Ancients towards the VVest and Ottoroâ—ora towards the North. This Clift or Chain of Hills consisteth of many Mountains not indeed continually yoked together but here and there affording a passage between them And the Mountains of Camboja seem to be a part of that gang of Hills The Mountains of Arabia 9. The Hills of Arabia which march forward in a triple rank of whom the Holy Mount Sinai is a part The Mount Atlas 10. The most famous Hill and which is celebrated with innumerable figments of the Greek Poets is Mount Atlas in Africa It riseth at the shore of the Western Ocean of Africa and extends it self through all Africa even to the borders of Egypt It hath the Fountains and Springs of almost all the Rivers of Africa in many places it is full of Snow and Cold although it lieth in the Torrid Zone The Mountains of the Moon 11. The Clift of Africa nigh to Monomotapa which is called the Mountains of the Moon It compasseth in almost all Monomotapa and the arms or branches thereof are many as the Hill Zeth and the Snowy Mountains There are found very many and in a manner innumerable other yoaks or chains of Mountains in Africa severed and disjoyned by a small space insomuch that they are almost all contiguous and seem to be parts of one Chain of Hills The Riphean Mountains of Europe 12. The Riphean Mountains of Europe which are also called the Obian Hills they march on forward from the White Sea or Muscovian Bay to the very mouth of the River Ob and the Muscovites call them Weliki Kameypoyas that is the great Stony Girdle because they think that the whole World is girted in with them There is here another yoak of Hills which the Russians call Joegoria It beginneth at the Southern boundary of Tartaria and extends it self unto the North Sea and very many Rivers rise and spring out of this viz. the Rivers Wissagda Neem Wissera and Petsora the greatest of all Besides a triple yoak of Hills runneth down betwen Siberia and Russia from the North towards the South One of them the Russians call Coosvinscoy Camen whose breadth or
hath observed the beginning also in his Maps But seeing that there are other places in the Earth where the Magnetick Needle doth the same neither doth it do it in all the Meridian of this place therefore other Geographers have not thought that Cause sufficient and some have placed the first Meridian in the Brazilian Shore the more Modern especially the Hollanders having gone back to the Fortunate or Canary Isles have chose in one of them called Teneriffe The Longitude by the Hollanders begun at Teneriffe a Mountain which is thought to be the highest in the whole World called El pico de Teneriffe and from the Meridian of this Mountain they judge the Numeration of the Longitude of places ought to be begun because they think fit that a Famous and durable place for all Ages may be best chosen for this purpose concerning which in Ages to come Posterity should not easily doubt and moreover that that assignation of Ptolomy which hath been observed for so many Ages should not be deserted on a trivial account The Longitude by the French begun at the Isle of Fer in the Canaries The French at this day from the Year 1634 observe that for the first Meridian which passeth through the Occidental part of the Isle of Fer one of the Canary Isles Which beginning Lewis the XIII King of France commanded his Mariners and Geographers to observe Astronomers also take divers places for the first Meridian For those who follow Tycho are wont to place it at Vranoburge scituate in an Island in the Danish Sea and at this place to compute their Celestial motions and thence to other places Others make other beginnings as they follow this or that Author of the Ephemerides The Longitude likewise begun in sundry places by Astronomers For the Writers of Ephemerides as also the computers of the Planetary Tables are wont to calculate the motions and appearances of the Planets to the Meridians of their own Country as Origanus to Frankford Maginus to Venice because that Padua is an Academy of the Venetians Ecstadius to Stetin Lansbergius to Goesa in Zeland Reinholdus to Regium a Mountain of Borusia But to speak freely what I think all this dissent of Authours proceedeth from no sufficient Cause so that those who first removed the Ptolomaick-beginning out of its place are blame worthy But it is all one whatsoever beginning of this account is taken in the Earth whether the place be noted or the ultimate to the Occident or Orient so that the scituation and distance of the other places be accurately known at it Yet this variety of the beginning of the Meridians expresseth the reading of Geographical Writers with many confusions and difficulties Yet because the knowledge of the Declination of the Loadstone is of great utility and that that Declination encreaseth even to a certain Meridian and then again decreaseth I think it not altogether inconvenient for the observation of the Declination of the Load stone and the more easy comparison of the increase or decrease of it if that that be taken for the first Meridian in which the Magnetick Needle maketh little or no Declination so that such a Meridian might be given viz. in all the places of which or the most at least the Magnetick Needle would do it But seeing that the Hollanders at this time take the Mountain of Teneriffe for the beginning of their Longitude and that they Sail at this day into all parts of the World therefore it is convenient to acknowledge the same beginning with them for the better understanding of the Diaries that they are wont to publish Now you must know that the Reading of Authours where mention is made of the Longitude of a Place or of a certain numbred Meridian that then you ought to consider what beginning of Longitude that Author determineth or through what place he bringeth his first Meridian as you are to observe that the Maps which are used in the Second Part of this Book being the Geographical Description of the parts and places of the Four Parts of the World the Longitude I say of those places are taken according to the French Account beginning at the Isle of of Fer being one of the Canary Isles they being Composed by Monsieur Sanson Geographer to the King of France and whose Method is not convenient to be allow'd for to that the Longitude of other places must be brought and inquired of Proposition III. The Latitude and Longitude of any place or the distance of any place from the Aequator or a certain Meridian being given which is found in the Maps or Globes to exhibit the scituation and Point of that place on the Maps or Globes Or thus If that we be in any place of the World either at Land or Sea which is unknown unto us or whose scituation we are ignorant of to the other parts of the Earth so that if we can find the Latitude and Longitude of this place thence to find out the scituation of this place in the Earth and its distance from other places This is that Problem for which a Method is sought so anxiously and with so great industry by which the Longitude of a place at any time in which we are in it may be found and therefore although we should first treat of the invention of this Longitude yet I thought it fitter to premise the Problem it self for which that Longitude is sought for and that for this reason seeing that we must treat largely of this Longitude least you should be cloyed not knowing to what end so great a labour is undertaken and so many various ways tryed The Longitude and Latitude of places of great importance to Mariners to know For Mariners having Sailed far from the Shoar and being in the Ocean because they cannot accurately know the way of their Voyage made by reason of the divers hindrances and note it in their Maps are often ignorant in what place of the Earth they are what scituation this place hath to those places whither they go or what places are to be gone to if that they will avoid danger and therefore also they are ignorant unto what quarter they must direct their course Unto the knowledge of which there is no more ready a Method than for to certainly find the Longitude and Latitude of the place that is its distance from the Aequator and some certain Meridian of the Earth And Mathematicians have taught them with no great difficulty by divers ways to find out the Latitude of a place in the day by the Sun and in the night by the Stars Such Modes we have shewed before for those who think to know it only by the help of the Compass sufficiently discovered their ignorance from which Latitude being found they know in what Parallel of the Earth they are which indeed is no small part of the demand But seeing that the Points of the Parallel are infinite they do not yet know from the
inclining to cold than heat yet by reason of the famous Cities of Constantinople Adrianople and others here seated renders it the chief and best inhabited of all Greece It s chief places are Adrianople so called by the Emperour Hadrian who repaired it it was added to the Kingdom of the Turks by Bajazet Anno 1362 and continued the Seat of their Kings till Mahomet the Great took Constantinople from Constantine Palaeologus the last of the Eastern Emperours about 90 years after Blunt in his Voyage to the Levant in his description of this City saith That it is seated on three low Hills of which that in the midst is the largest and fairest on the top of which is a stately and magnificent Mosque and in the Churchyard are about 30 or 40 Cocks under a stately Fountain for People to wash before Divine Service as also at the bottom of this Building on the North and South sides are 20 Conduits with Cocks and on the East side are the Priests Lodgings and Gardens and round the Church-yard are Baths Cloysters and a Colledge for the Priests with other useful Offices all covered with Lead In this City are several Besestines or Exchanges some of good account as likewise many fair Hanes To this City are four stately and lofty Bridges of Freestone which make a pleasant shew and is a fair large and well composed City 2. Gallipoli seated near the Hellespont but within the Sea of Marinora This was the first City that the Turks possessed in Europe it being surprized by Solyman Son to Orchanes in Anno 1358. Here the Beglerbegh of the Sea hath his residence A little below Gallipoli is the streightest passage of the Hellespont a place formerly famous for Xerxes his Bridge but especially for the two Castles of Sesto on the European side and Abydo opposite to it on the Asian shoar of note for the Loves of Hero and Leander which Castles are now called the Dardanelli and command the passage and are the security or Bulwark of Constantinople on this as those on the Thracian Bosphorus are on the other 3. Caridia seated on the Thracian Chersonese opposite to the Isle of Lemnos as also to Troas in Asia and therefore now called St. George's Arm. 4. Abdera the Birth-place of Democritus who spent his time in Laughing 5. Pera a Town of the Genoueses opposite to Constantinople 6. Galata also opposite to Constantinople from which it is parted by a River wherein is found a good Harbour for Shipping and here all the Western Christians as English French Dutch and Venetian Merchants have their common residence intermixed with Jews Grecians Armenians and some few Turks And lastly Constantinople the now Metropolitan City of all Greece the Seat of the Grand Signior and formerly of the Emperours of the East first built by Pausanias a LÃ cedemonian Captain about 660 years before the Birth of Christ It is a City very commodiously seated for an Universal Empire overlooking Europe and Asia commanding the Euxine or Black Sea the Hellespont and Sea of Marinara or Propontis on the upper part of which and near the Thracian Bosphorus it is seated where it hath a Haven so deep and capacious that the Turks for its excellency call it the Port of the World so that for strength plenty and commodity no place can compare to it This City is in form Triangular its Walls are composed of Stone and Brick equally intermixed to which it hath 24 Gates for entrance whereof 5 regard the Land and 19 the Water being about 16 miles in compass and supposed with Pera and Galata adjoyning to it and Scutari on the Asian side to contain about 700000 living Souls good part of which are Christians and Jews and it would be far more populous were it not for the Plague which like a Tertian Ague here reigneth every third year and sometimes oftner This City is adorned with many magnificent Buildings both publick and private as also with curious Statues and other such like Ornaments which were brought out of Rome and other parts There is no City in the World makes so stately a shew if beheld from the Sea or adjoyning Mountains as this doth whose lofty and beautiful Cypress Trees are so intermixed with the Buildings that it seemeth to represent a City in a Wood whose seven aspiring Heads for on so many Hills it is seated are most of them crowned with magnificent Mosques all of white Marble in form round and coupled above being finished at the top with guilded Spires some having two some four and some six adjoyning Turrets of a great height and very slender so that there is no City in the World hath a more promising Object and being entred so much deceiveth the expectation having many vacant places several rows of Buildings consisting only of Shops the Houses not fair lofty nor uniform the Streets exceeding narrow and ill contrived yet here are many stately Houses where the Great persons reside also many Canns for Merchants and abundance of Mosques amongst which that of Sancta Sophia is the chief once a Christian Temple To every one of the principal Mosques doth belong publick Bagâ—io's Hospitals with Lodgings Santons and Ecclesiastical Persons which are endowed with competent Revenues the inferiour Mosques for the most part are built square many of them Pent-houses with oper Galleries where on extraordinary times they pray The number of Mosques of all sorts including Scutara Para Galata and the Buildings that border the Bosphorus are said to be about 8000. This Temple of St. Sophia is almost every Friday which is their Sabbath visited by the Grand Signior by reason of its being so near his Seraglia which is divided from the rest of the City by a lofty Wall containing in circuit about three miles wherein are stately Groves of Cypresses intermixed with delightful Gardens artificial Fountains variety of Fruits and curious Plains The Buildings are low but rich and stately with several fair Courts one within another and to the South-side doth joyn the Grand Signiors Palace in which are also several large Courts and stately Structures On the left hand of one of the Courts the Divano is kept where the Bassa's of the Port administer Justice out of the second Court is a passage into a third into which Christians are not permitted entrance but upon great favour on the North-side stands the Grand Signiors Cabinet in form of a stately Summer-house having a private passage from his Seraglio and from this place he takes Barge to delight himself on the Water Not far from the Palace is a spacious place encompassed with Houses called the Hippodrom by the Ancients and by the Turks Almidan where every Friday the Spachies of the Court play at Giocho di Canni that is they are mounted on Horses and ride after one another throwing Darts at each other which they endeavour to avoid by their hasty turning The Black Sea is distant from Constantinople about 15 miles it is much troubled with
committed no great sins shall go into Purgatory from whence they shall shortly be delivered Paradice according to Mahomets description is a place of all delight where they shall have stately Palaces richly furnished Christalline Rivers Fields and Trees alwaies in their verdure whose Fruits shall be delightful to the tast and their shape pleasing to the eye under whose fragrant shades they shall spend their time with amorous and handsom Virgins not such as have lived in the World but on purpose created for them whose lost Virginities shall daily be restored to them and that they shall ever continue young the Men at the Age of 30 and the Women at 15 and that Boys of Divine features shall administer to them and set before them all varieties of curious Meats Their Justice Their Justice is grounded on their Alcoran in which they observe this Rule To do as they would be done unto Their Judges for the most part are always Ecclesiastical Persons amongst which there are many Orders of which the chief is the Mufty who decides great Cases and to him lie Appeals and his Decrees the Grand Turk will not question then the Cady who hath over him the Monlacady or Lord Chief Justice All the Judges except the Mufty are limited to set Precincts and if they are found corrupt are severely punished the execution of their Justice is very severe and cruel and very speedy and if the business be matter of fact upon the least complaint the Parties and Witnesses are brought before the Judge and according to evidence and Justice gives his Sentence which in few hours is executed and a False-witness if convicted suffers the same punishment as the accused should have done if found guilty Their Forces The Great Turk is very powerful in his Forces his Infantry are of two sorts the one raised out of Towns and Cities and the other is the Janizaries in which he puts the greatest confidence Their Cavalry are also of two sorts one the Spahyglans from whom are chosen the Troops which guard the Grand Signiors person and the other the Spahy-Tymariots which are such as hold Land free from all Duties in lieu of which they are obliged to furnish him with 2 3 4 5 10 or more or less Men and Horses at their own charge as occasion requires according to the quantity of Land they hold and besides these there are other sorts of Horsemen who are Volontiers some serving for devotion to gain Paradice by dying for Mahomets Cause others serving for the gains of the booty and spoils of the Countries and others to merit a Timar and all are very expert in Military affairs As for their Sea Forces they are but small as not much minding it most of them being Gallies yet are they often found troublesom to Christians Their Funerals Concerning their Funerals so soon as Life is departed several of their Priests are sent for who after they have performed certain Ceremonies and desired God to have mercy on their Soul they wash the Corps and wrap it in Linnen but not tie it neither at head nor feet then lay it on a Bier setting a Turbant at the upper end and so carry it to the Grave which for the poorer sort are usually made by Highway-sides and in Fields having two stones of white Marble one at the head and the other at the feet with an Inscription concerning the deceased but the better sort have Sepulchres in their Gardens As they are thus carried to their Graves some of the Dervices go before with lighted Tapers then follow the Priests singing and after them their Relations and Friends their Graves are boarded on the sides and bottom instead of a Coffin and being laid in are covered with another board to hinder the Earth from falling but high enough that one may kneel for they hold that two terrible and black Angels which they call Gudequir and Mongir do immediately come to the Grave and unite the Soul to the Body demanding how he hath lived and if he gives them satisfaction they depart and two white Angels come and protect him unto the day of Judgment one sitting at his head and the other at his feet but if he can give no good account of his life then the terrible black Angels grievously torment him until the day of Doom A Purgatory is so obnoxious unto them that in their Maettins they beseech God to free them from the examination of those terrible black Angels as also from the punishment of the Grave and their evil Journey But to proceed to the other Provinces in Greece Province of Macedonia The Province of MACEDONIA is at present severed into three parts viz. into the Territory of Jamboli towards the North whose chief places are Heraclea Bylazora Joro and Sydero-Caspae famous for its rich Mines of Gold and Silver The second part is Camenolitaria being its Southern parts and on the borders of Thessaly its chief places are 1. Pidna seated on the influx of the River Alaicmon which Town was besieged and took by Cassander in which Siege he took Olympias the Mother Roxane the Wife and Hercules the Heir of Alexander the Great all which he put to death 2. Pella seated on the same shoar the Birth place of the said Alexander 3. Edissa and 4. Scydra both Midland Cities The third part is called Migdonia or the particular Macedonia lying in the midst of the Province its chief places are 1. Salonichi anciently called Thessalonica to the People of which City St. Paul wrote two of his Epistles it is seated on the Egean Sea is very populous inhabited with Christians Turks and Jews but chiefly with the last who are here more numerous than in any other part of Turkey and is a place of great Commerce and is the fairest and richest City in all Macedonia 2. Stagira the Birth-place of Aristotle 3. Pallene sacred to the Muses and 4. Neopolis on the confines of Romania Province of Albania The Province of ALBANIA lieth on the Adriatick Sea famous for being the Country of that eminent and brave Souldier George Castriot called by the Turks Scanderbeg its chief places are 1. Durazzo a place of great strength 2. Valona a good City seated on the Sea-shoar opposite to Otranto in Naples 3. Croja under whose Walls Amurath the Second that damned wretch finished his wicked life 4. Scutari or Scodra famous for its resisting the Turks and 5. Belgrado and 6. Albanopoli Province of Thessaly The Province of THESSALY now called JANNA is a Country no less fertil than pleasant it lieth South of Macedonia and is famous first for the Hill Olympus which for its height is by the Poets taken for Heaven then for its pleasant Vale of Tempe called the Garden of the Muses and thirdly for the Pharsalian Fields where the Empire of the World was disputed in two great Battles the one betwixt Caesar and Pompey and the other between Brutus and Casstus on the one side and
Anthony and Augustus on the other The chief places in this Province are 1. Armiro now the Seat of a Turkish Sangiac 2. Larissa seated on a fair River which at a small distance falls into the Gulph of Salonichi 3. Tricca and Pharsalis Province of Epire. The Province of EPIRE now called CANINA is very Mountainous hath for its chief places possessed by the Turks Praveza and Lartâ— both Sea-Towns and the chief places in the Venetians possessions are Torre de Butrinto and Perga both Sea-Towns and places of good account opposite and nigh to which is the Isle of Corfou Mount Pindus In this Province is Mount Pindus sacred to Apollo and the Muses and here are also the Acroceraunean Hills so called for their being so subject to Thunder-claps Province of Achaia The Province of ACHAIA now called LIVADIA washed on the East with the Aegean Sea it is divided into these parts viz. Aetolia Attica Baeotia Locris Megaris Doris and Phocis in which parts are several good Cities and Towns amongst which are 1. Athens now Sitines more famous for its Antiquity than any thing else being now scarce any other than a Fishers Town but formerly a large rich and stately City the Nursery of Learning and a place from whence all Arts and Sciences spread themselves all over Aeurope 2. Thebes now Stives seated on the River Gephisus famous for the Wars here made between Polynices and Eteocles Sons to Prince Oedipus it was sack'd by the Macedons after which it was re-edified by Cassander but of no account nor beauty to what it was formerly Next to this City are the Streights not above 25 foot broad 3. Lepanto chief of Aetolia seated in the bottom of a Gulph so called and where Augustus and Anthony sought for the Empire of the World and where more lately was that signal Battle between the confederate Christians and the Turks This City enjoyeth a good Trade and affordeth several good Commodities as Silk Oils Cottons Galls Anniseeds Wax Hony Currans Wines c. 4. Marathon of note for the Victory of Miltiades gained against the powerful Army of Darius which consisted of 100000 Foot and 10000 Horse 5. Megara where Euclid taught Geometry 6. Platea nigh to which was fought an exceeding great Battle between the Grecians and the Persians 7. Delphos famous for the Temple of Apollo which was destroyed by the Phocians who took from it 60 Tuns of Gold 8. Sparta formerly of great Account and 9. Micenae famous for the Temple of Juno as also for the habitation of Agamemnor Nigh to this City was the Lake of Lerno where Hercules slew the Lernian Seven-headed Hydra In this Province is the famous Temple of Aesculapius where is also the Mount Helicon and Parnassus much famoused by the Poets and here are also those pleasant Arcadian Plains and the places where the Olympian Games were solemnized with several other memorable places of Antiquity Peloponnesus or the Morea PELOPONNESVS now called MOREA is a Peninsula bounded with the Sea except where it joyneth to Achaia by an Isthmus of about six miles in breadth the whole Peninsula is about 600 miles in compass and contained once many flourishing Provinces as ARCADIA ARGORIS ACHAIA PROPRIA ELIS LACONIA and MESSENIA but at present it is one sole Turkish Province The People were accounted the chief of all the Grecians and gave Rules to the rest as subordinate unto them The chief places are 1. Corinte seated at the foot of the Acrocorinthian Hills hard by the Fountain Pyrene a small Town and of little note to what it was being out of the ruins of the ancient and famous Corinth which was a place of great strength and power 2. Misistra once of good account 3. Thalana nigh unto which is Mount Tenarus from whence Hercules drew Cerbenus as also the Lake Lerna where the said Hercules slew the Monster Hydra 4. Selassia where Antigonus vanquished Clâ—omenus 5. Nemaea where Hercules slew the Lions 6. Olympia very famous for the Statue of Jupiter Olympicus which was 60 Cubits high and of a proportionate thickness being made of Gold and Ivory and in honour to this Jupiter were the Olympick Games instituted by Hercules and performed on the Plains of this City 7. Megalopolis the Birth-place of that eminent Historian Polybius 8. Mantinea nigh unto which the Theban Army which consisted of 30000 Foot and 3000 Horse routed the Army of the Athenians and Spartans which consisted of 2000 Horse and 25000 Foot where that gallant Leader Epaminondas received his deaths wound 9. Lacedemon 10. Argos 11. Thebes now ruinated but the chief places for Traffick now remaining arâ— 12. Modon 13. Petras and 14. Coron all three Cities seated on the Sea-shoar subject to the same Customs and found to afford divers good Commodities the product of Turkey The ISLES seated in the GRECIAN or AEGEAN IONIAN and ADRIATICK Seas IN these Seas there are several Isles many of which are of good note and well frequented by Merchants most of which are in part if not altogether in the possession of the Grand Signior yet the Venetians are not quite expunged But the Turk hath divided all or most of them into eight Beglerbyats and 60 and odd Sangiacats that is into general and particular Governments The AEGEAN or GRECIAN ISLES Isle of Negroponte The chief of the Aegean Isles are 1. NEGROPONTE in the power of the Turks in circuit 365 miles It s chief places are 1. Negroponte seated in a Gulph so called 2. Caristo and Dion a Sea-port Town Isle of Stalimene 2. STALIMENE of old LEMNOS about 100 miles in circuit well peopled by Grecians except three Towns which the Turks keep strongly fortified to keep them in awe It s chief Town is Lemnos or Mirina but of no great note Here is a Sovereign Mineral against infection called Terra Sigillata the Earth thereof is made into small Pellets and sealed with the Turks Stamp and so dispersed and sold to Merchants for an excellent Antidote Isles of Sporades and Cyclades 3. The SPORADES and CYCLADES are a great body of several small Isles dispersed about this Sea or Archipelago and lie so thick that they oft-times become dangerous to Sea-men especially in Storms The chief of these Isles are 1. Milo so called for its abounding in Hony it is about 60 miles in compass very fertil and affordeth store of Grain and Oil but no Wine its chief place is so called 2. Tira 3. Tiresio 4. Nio 5. Stapalia about 50 miles in circuit whose chief place is so called 6. Morgo 7. Nicsia about 75 miles in compass 8. Livila 9. Zinara 10. Raclia 11. Siphano 12. Micone 13. Teno 14. Helena 15. Engia in a Gulph so called all small Isles 16. Fermenia about 60 miles in circuit 17. Zea about 50 miles in compass 18. Andri about 80 miles in compass not far from Negroponte and is found to afford the same Commodities its chief place bears the same name 19. Coos more
was soon after with above 8000 of his Men flain not far distant Carlingford Carlingford another good and well frequented Port-Town Lough Lough a fair Town conveniently seated on the River Warren Ardeth Ardeth a good Inland dry Town County of Armagh described ARMAGH a County of an exceeding fertil Soil and not inferiour to any in the Kingdom It is severâ—l into five Baronies viz. Fowes Orrior Tawrane Onelan and Armagh And hath for its chief places Armagh Armagh scated on or near the River Kaisin an ancient but ruinated City yet dignified with the See of an Archbishop who is Primate of all Ireland which name it is said to receive from Queen Armacha and is supposed to be the same which Ptolomy calleth Dearmach And here according to St. Bernard St. Patrick the Apostle of the Irish ruled during his life and when he departed this World was here Interr'd in honour of whom it was a place greatly reverenced Not far from Armagh is Owen Maugh the ancient Seat of the Kings of Vlster Owen-Maugh and on the River Blackwater are two Forts one which beareth the same name and the other called Fort Charles Mount Norris Dornous Mount Norris another Fort And Dornous County of Monoghan described MONOGHAN a County very hilly and well clothed with Wood is severed into four Baronies viz. Monoghan Trough Bartrey and Cremorne And hath for its chief places Clogher seated on the River Blackwater Clogher Monoghan a large Fort Churchland and Lishanahan Monoghan County of Cavan described CAVAN a small County and of less account yet is divided into seven Baronies viz. Clonehy Tulloghgarvy Casterahan Clonmoghan Tullahagh Tullabonobo and Loughtee And hath for its chief places Cavan and Kilmore Cavan and Kilmore the one seated on the Lake Cane the other on the Lake Nivity both which are joyned to the Lake Earne by the River Blackwater County of Fermanagh described FERMANAGH a County well clothed with Wood and very boggy in the midst having several Lakes or Loughs the chief amongst which is that of Earne which is the largest and most famous in all the Kingdom having therein seated divers small Isles and in this Lough are such great store of Salmons Trouts and other Fish that they are oft-times found troublesom to the Fishermen by breaking their Nets This County is severed into three Baronies viz. Magherestrephana Maghereboy and Clanawly And hath for its chief places Bal-Tarbet Bal-tarbet seated on the same Lake Inis Killing Inis Killing the principal Fort in this Tract which in Anno 1593. was defended by the Rebels but taken from them by the valiant Captain Dowdall and near unto this place is a great downfal of water called the Salmon-leap CONNAUGH Full of Bogs and Woods THis Province called by the Irish Conaughty is full of Woods and Bogs yet not unfertil nor wanting in Provisions In this Province at Knocktoe that is the Hill of Axes the greatest rabble of Rebels that ever were seen together in the Kingdom were gathered together and commanded by William Burk O-Brien O-Carrol and Mac-nemare grand Rebels in that time but were discomfited by the noble Valour of Girald Fitz-Girald Earl of Kildare and his party And about the Year 1316. upon the occasion of two Princes or Lords falling at odds there were said to be slain on both sides about 4000 Men and so great misery came amongst them through Famine being forced to eat one another and other calamities that of about 10000 there were left alive not above 300. Its Bounds This Province hath for its Eastern Bounds Leimster for its Southern Monster for its Northern Vster and for its Western the Sea where it hath many commodious Bays Creeks and Navigable Rivers It s Extent It s Extent from Tromer in the East to Burrag-Bay in the West being the breadth is about 80 miles and from the River Shennon in the South to Eniskelling in the North being the length is about 120 and in circumference about 400 miles and for its division is parted into sir Counties viz. Mayo Slego Galloway Clare or Twomond and Letrym all which are subdivided into several Baronies as hereafter shall be named And of these in order County of Mayo described MAYO apleasant and fertil County stored with Cattle Deer Hawks and Hony and well watered with the two large Loughs of Meske and Garogh in which are several Isles which with the Rivers that fall into the Sea where are seated several Isles the Inhabitants are plentifully supplied with Fish and Fowl It is severed into nine Baronies viz. Tirrawly Eris Gallin Coragh Burishoole Muriske Kilmaine Clonmoris and Castello And hath for its chief places Killaloy Killaloy dignified with an Episcopal See which formerly was at Mayo where according to Bede there was a Monastery for 30 English men built by an Irish Bishop and was in a flourishing condition in the Reign of King John Refraint Stackby Refraine and Stackby both seated on the Sea-shoar SLEGO a County full of rich Pastures which breed and fatten store of Cattle County of Slego described and is well watered with the Sea and the Lough Earne already treated of It is divided into six Baronies viz. Carbury Corran Leny Tirrarill Tirreragh and Coolavin And hath for its chief places Slego Slego seated on a Bay of the Sea so called where it hath a commodious Road for Ships and is defended by a Castle Dundroes Dunbroyle Dundroes and Dunbroyle both Maritim-Towns GALLOWAY a large and fertil County both for Tillage and Pasturage whose Western part is washed with the Sea County of Galloway described which thrusteth forth several Arms and hath lying on its Shoars divers Isles of which the three largest which bear the name of Aran are Great-Island Ifor-Island Small-Island all seated in the Mouth of Galloway-Bay It is separated into fifteen Baronies viz. Moycullin Ballinananen Clare Downamore Bealamo Killehane Kilconel Clanemactonene Longford Tiaquin Athenry Dunkillin Kilcartan Lough-Reagh and Letrim And hath for its chief places Galloway Galloway a fair large and strong City dignified with an Episcopal See and is commodiously seated for Traffick on a spacious Bay of the Sea so called by reason whereof it is well inhabited frequented and enjoyeth a good Trade Nigh unto this City is the Lough Carble or Carbles about 20 miles in length and 3 or 4 in breadth in which are abundance of small Isles Inis-Ceath Inis-Ceath a place in times past well known for its Monastery Inis-Bovind Inis-Bovind which Bede calleth White-Castle-Isle Aterith Clan-Ricard Kilmaculo and Clonfert Aterith or Athenry once a place of good strength Clan-Ricard Kilmaculo and Clonfert County of Clare described CLARE or TWOMOND a County shooting it self far into the Sea towards the West with a tapred Promontory which with the River Shannon and the Lough Derg both full of small Isles doth almost encompass it
border upon the Mediterranean and farther into that Ocean This City is the ordinary residence of a Turkish Bassa who commands all the Country from Alexandretta to the Euphrates 4. Aman or Ama seated between Tripoli and Aleppo in the midst of a great Plain encompassed on all sides with very pleasant Hills abounding in Grains Wines with abundance of Orchards stored with varieties of Fruits and Palm-Trees It is almost encompassed with the River Orontes and with a great Lake the Gardens are watered with many Channels drawn from the Rivers there are very excellent Pastures so that Seleucus Nicanor there fed 500 Elephants 30000 Horses and a great part of his Militia And to this day this City is the best peopled of all Syria next to Aleppo and Damascus 5. Emsa or Hemz seated in the spacious and fruitful Plain of Apamene watered with many pleasant Streams which for its Scituation is almost the same with that of Aman and because the Arabes call it Hamsi and that name comes somewhat near to Hus some Authors will have it to be the Country of the Patient Job 6. Aradus seated in a Rocky Island of a mile in compass just opposite to the Mouth of the River Eleutherus which from the Continent is distant not above a League 7. Seleucus so called from him as being the Founder of it who was esteemed the greatest Builder in the World founding 9 Cities of this Name 16 in memory of his Father Antiochus six bearing the name of his Mother Laodice and three in remembrance of his first Wife Apamia besides several others worthy of note in Greece and Asia either repaired beautified or built by him 8. Laodicea built by Seleucus as aforesaid abounding in excellent Wine and choice Fruits 9. Larissa now Laris seated four Leagues Southwards of Laodicea much noted in the Stories of the Holy Wars 10. Hierapolis a City of great note in Ancient times for their Idolatry in adoring and worshipping the Syrian goddess The Temple was built by Stratonice wife to Seleucus in the midst of the City encompassed with a double Wall about 300 Fathom in height the Roof thereof in-laid with Gold and built with such sweet Wood that the Cloaths of those which came thither were as it were perfumed Without the Temple were places for the keeping of their Oxen and other of their Beasts for Sacrifice as also a Lake of about 200 Fathom in depth for the preservation of their sacred Fishes The Priests besides other subservient Ministers which here attended were about 300 in number 11. Zeugma seated on the Banks of the Euphrates Here it was that Alexander the Great with his Army passed over on a Bridge of Boats 12. Heraclea nigh to which Minerva had a Temple where for a Sacrifice they used once a year to offer a Virgin which afterwards was changed to a Hart. 13. Samosat seated near the Banks of the Euphrates over which the was a Bridge which served for a passage to Mesopotamia In this City was born Paulus Samosatenus Patriarch of Antioch who for his teaching that our Saviour was not the Son of God was in a Council here held condemned of Heresie 14. Palmyre at present Faid seated in a Desart and Sandy Plain was built by Solomon in the Wilderness where one their Kings Odenat and his wife Zenobia have been well known for their Victories divers times gained against the Parthians and for endeavouring to gain the Empire of the East 15. Resapha a Town of great note in the Holy Scripture And 16. Adida memorable for the Victory that Aretas K. of Arabia obtained against Alexander K. of Jewry PHOENICIA Phoenicia bounded and its Cities c. described PHOENICIA hath for its Eastern and Southern Bounds Palestine for its Western the Mediterranean Sea and for its Northern Syria Propria This Country was adorned with several great and beautiful Cities though of no great extent For the most part seated on the Sea-shoar which makes it much frequented by Merchants there being several good Commodities found therein as Corn Oil Hony excellent Balm c. The People were here held to be very ingenious and active Places of most note are 1. Tyre at present Sor or Sour seated in a Plain so advantagious that is on a Rock almost quite encompassed with the Sea that it oft disputed the Priority with Sidon and in the end gained it Nebuchadonozor ruined it after a Siege of 14 years then Alexander the Great after a Siege of 7 or 8 months It was many times restored to its power and splendor by means of its Purple and of its Trade and when it was in its glory it might be said That if only its scituation were considered it was a Fortress if its Traffick a Mart if its Magnificence a Royal-Court and if its Riches the Treasure of the Universe The Cities of Carthage Vtica Leptis and others in Africa and of Cadiz in Spain without the Streights were its Colonies And some have adventured to say America was peopled by them It s Haven is likewise the best of all Phoenicia and the Levant 2. Sidon at present Sayd and sometimes Sayette hath been much esteemed in the Ancientest of times It was built or at least took its name from Sidon the eldest Son of the Children of Canaan scituate upon a Rock along the Coast of the Sea and with a fair Port. The Neighbouring Champain is very fertil and watered with divers Streams which descend from Libanus with which they watered and enriched their pleasant Orchards It hath been very famous for Arts and Sciences and particularly for being the first Authors of Arithmetick and Astronomy The first Inventers of Letters the first Navigators and Builders of Ships the first Inventers of Glasses and the first that exercised Arms. From hence it was that Solomon and Zorobabel had their principal Workmen both for Stone and Timber which were employed in the building of the Temple It hath Peopled divers Colonies among others Thebes in Boeotia The Persians were the first that ruin'd it after them others and at last the Turks who at present are Masters of it as also of Tyre The present Sidon is built somewhat West of the Old but of small note in respect to the splendor of the Old yet still hath some Trade The chief Commodities being Corn Galls Wools Cottons Cotton-Yarn white Silk and Wax 3. Damascus called by those of the Country Scham seated in a very fruitful Plain and begirt about with curious and odoriferous Gardens and Orchards which abound in all sorts of pleasant and delightful Fruits watered with the River Chrysorrhous which sendeth forth many Rivulets by which the whole City is so well furnished that not only most Houses have their Fountains but also their Gardens and Orchards receive the benefit of the cool Streams which gently glide through them The fertility of the Country The whole Country round about being enriched with plenty of excellent Vines which beareth Grapes all the year long as also
great plenty of Wheat A place so surfeiting of Delights that the vile Impostor Mahomet would never enter into it lest by the ravishing Pleasures of this place he should forget the business he was sent about and make this his Paradise This City is famous first for her Founders who were Abrahams Servants next for the Temple of Zacharias which was garnished with 40 stately Porches and adorned with about 9000 Lanthorns of Gold and Silver and last of all for the Conversion of St. Paul who here first preached the Gospel for which he was forced to make his escape out of the House being let down the Walls in a Basket Josephus believeth that it was built by Vs the Son of Abraham Grandchild to Noah However it were after Type and Sidon began to decay this began to be in some repute and hath been esteemed the chief City of Phoenicia and sometimes of all Syria It is beyond Mount Libanus in respect to Tyre and Sidon seated in a Soll so fertil and delightful by reason of the Rivers and Fountains that in Holy Scripture it is called a famous City a City of Joy a House of Delight and Pleasure and some Authors call it the Paradise of the World Yet hath it felt very great changes as well as Tyre and Sidon It hath been taken retaken ruined and re-established divers times by the Assyrians Babylonians Persians Macedonians Romans Parthians Saracens Tartars by the Soldans of Egypt and in fine by the Turks in whose hands it is at present very flourishing and rich The Houses of private persons are not so fair without as within the publick Buildings are very beautiful the Castle is in the middle of the City built by a Florentine 4. Serepta seated on the Sea Coast betwixt Tyre and Sidon memorable in Holy Scripture for the Prophet Elijah in raising from death the poor Widows Son Here is found excellent Wines accounted as good as those of Grece 5. Acre of old Acon and Ptolemais is bounded with the Sea on two sides the third is joyned to a Plain of the Continent The City is very strong being walled with a double Wall fortified throughout on the out-side with Towers and Bulwarks and in the middle of the City a strong Castle on the top of which there was every Night set Lights which served to direct Ships at Sea to their Port. The Plain is fertil and well watered with Streams which descend from the Neighbouring Mountains The Christians took lost and retook this place divers times when they made War into the Holy Land in which none more famous than Richard the First and Edward the First both Kings of England The same did likewise the Saracens the Soldans of Egypt ruined it and after re-built it and at present it remains in the hands of the Turks 6. Tripoli of Syria for distinction from Tripoli of Barbary seated in a rich Plain is at this day by some esteemed the Metropolis of Phoenicia thought it hath three times more Ruins than whole Houses and seated about two miles from the Sea but not above half a mile from its Haven which formerly served for a Port to Aleppo but since removed to Alexandretta or Scanderone But yet a place of some small Trade affording Corn Cotton-Wool Yarn Silk some Drugs Pot-Ashes and other Commodities The Buildings are generally low and the Streets narrow excepting those which lead towards Aleppo which are fair and broad having many pleasant Gardens which are watered with delightful Streams in which Gardens they keep great quantities of Silk-Worms The Soil is excellent good if it were well tilled but the Air is unhealthful 7. Biblus now Gibbeleth was the habitation of Ciniras the Father of Myrrha Mother to the fair Adonis from whence the neighbouring River took its name remarkable in the infancy of Christianity for being the See of a Bishop but now by the Turks made desolate And 8. Barutt or Beryte a place formerly of great Trade but now of great concourse and much frequented by Merchants and others it being the Road for all those Caravans that travel from Aleppo Damascus and Jerusalem to Cairo and Mecca It is subject to the Grand Signior Near to this Town is that noted Valley where as some Authors say St. George by killing the Dragon which had his abode in a Cave here redeemed the Kings Daughter which was to be delivered to his fury PALESTINE Palestine bounded PALESTINE formerly called Judaea Canaan or the Holy Land is bounded on the East with Mount Hermon so much spoken of in Holy Scripture on the South with part of Arabia Petraea on the West with the Mediterranean Sea and part of Phoenicia and on the North with the Anti-Libanus which separates it from Syria and the rest of Phoenicia It s scituation is between the Third and Fourth Climates which makes the longest day to be 14 hours and a quarter So populous that before the coming in of the Israelites they had 30 Kings and afterwards David numbred 1300000 Fighting men besides those of the Tribe of Benjamin and Levi. This last and most Meridional part of Syria which we call Palestine first received the name of the Land of Canaan because the Children of Canaan first seised it and parted it amongst them when God had promised it to Abraham and his Posterity it was called the Land of Promise but when it fell into the hands of the Hebrews after their return from Egypt and that they had divided it by Tribes it took the name of the Land of the Hebrews under which it was governed by Prophets Judges and Kings but under these Kings it was soon divided into two Realms which they called Judah and Israel Under the Romans it was only known by the name of Judea or Palestine of Judea because that the Tribe of Judah was always the most powerful of the Twelve and the Kingdom of Judah the most noble and preserved it self longer than that of Israel of Palestina because the Philistines which possessed a part of the Maritim Coast of Judea were powerful and very well known to Strangers After the death of our Saviour Jesus Christ all this Country was called the Holy Land A description of the Jews and their Religion The People which anciently possest this Country were the Jews being of a middle stature strong of body of a black complexion goggle-ey'd a subtle and ingenious people and such as will live in any place much given to Traffick Usury and Brokage not lending without Pledges and taking the forfeitures of them Their Law or Religion was given them by God the Father which with the several Ceremonies and Rites c. prescribed to them may be found in the five first Books of Moses their Synagogues are neither fair within nor without save only adorned with a Curtain at the upper end together with several Lamps and in the midst is placed a Scaffold in form of a Reading-Desk for their Priest which readeth their Law and sings their Liturgy
Ebony so curiously wrought in winding knots that it may sooner stay than satisfie the eyes of the Beholder To which stately Structure there is joyned a no less pleasant and delightful Garden wherein are no less then 1000 several Fountains Brooks and Rivolets furnished with store and variety of curious Fruits together with what else may make a place delightful The great place of the City is before the Palace where the Sophy ordinarily resides The Fruits in and about this City are the best in the World their Vines yield in nothing to those of the Canaries Their Horses and Mules are fair and good their Camels so strong that they carry almost twice as much as those of other places They have permitted in this City some Monasteries of Christians as of Carmelites Augustine Fryars Capuchins and others The Inhabitants of this City negotiate their affairs on Horse-back Hispahan and its Commodities The Inhabitants do all their affairs on Hors-back as well publick as private in the buying and vending of their Commodities But the Slaves never ride which makes the difference betwixt them This City being the residence of the Sophy and being inhabited by so many eminent persons which always attend this Monarch makes it to have a great Trade and be much frequented by Merchants almost from all places as English Dutch Portugals Arabians Indians Turks Jews Armenians c. whereby it is furnished not only with all the Native Commodities of Persia as Gold and Silver Raw Silk in such great quantity that they furnish most part of the East as also other places some Drugs and Spices Wine Fruits c. Also sundry curious Manufactures as Carpets Arras-work Hangings c. Cloth of Gold and Silver Fine Cotton Cloths with several other Commodities which are here made but also with those of Arabia India China and Turky which hither are brought in exchange for theirs by Caravans or Camels Dromedaries and Mules by reason they want the benefit of the Sea They had formerly the benefit of several good Ports as Tauris and Balsora but now in the custody of the Grand Seignior together with some others The Ports that they now enjoy and make use of are Ormus and Jasques In this City is erected a Column or Pillar composed of the Heads or Skulls of Men and Beasts being about twenty foot in circumference at the Basis and exalting it self near sixty foot in height Now the reason of erecting of this terrible and horrid Column and Monument was this The People surfeiting with Luxury through their Pride and Impudence denied their duty to their Soveraign not only in refusing to contribute a small sum of money being towards the extirpation of the Turks and Tartars who did much annoy the Kingdom but also audaciously opposed his entrance whereupon he vowed revenge And having made a forcible entrance in his rage fired a great part of the City pillaged each House and in two days he put to the Sword near 30000 and to terrifie others erected a Column or Pillar of their Heads Province of Chorazan its chief Cities Commodities c. The Province of CHORAZAN is the greatest of all Persia some divide it into Cohazan Chorazan and Chowarazan which others esteem to be the same It hath every where a great number of brave Cities as Kahen on Kayem which yields great store of Saffron 2. Thou abounds in Silk Manufactures 3. Mesched or Mexat is the chief of Chorazan and shews the Tombs of many Persian Kings It is about twelve miles in compass and hath about 100000 Inhabitants It s Territory is fertile its Inhabitants well made strong and warlike 4. Herat is likewise called Salgultzar that is The City of Roses it producing greater quantities then any City in the World besides It yields likewise Rhubarbe and Vines which last a long time and so much Silk that there are sometimes 3 or 4000 Camels loaden in one day 5. Nichabour so near to Rhoemus that some conceive it belonging to it others make it a particular Province The City hath been much better peopled then now it is Tamerlane here and hereabouts put to death in one day about 400000 persons 6. Bouregian is near a great Lake of the same name This Lake receives many Rivers but like the Caspian Sea sends not one to the Ocean But let us return to the more Southerly parts of Persia we will say nothing here of Yerack since the Turk at present holds it with several others Province of chusistan it s chief places c. The Province of CHVSISTAN answers to the Ancient Susiana the Soyl is so fruitful that it often yields 100 or 200 for one Its Cities are Souster Ardgan Hawecz Asker-Moukeran and others 1. Souster is the Ancient Susa Here the Prophet Daniel had the Vision concerning the determination of the Persinn Monarchy and the beginning of the Grecian and where Ahasuerus kept his great Feast which continued 183 days for his Princes and Lords imitated to this day by the Sultans of Persia who do annually entertain their Nobles where Ahasuerus kept his Court when Esther demanded grace in favour of the Jews an dt here where Mordecai was exalted to the place and charge of Haman who was hanged on the same Gibbet which he prepared for Mordecai The Persians observe great Feasts It is held that the ancient Palace was built by Memnon Son of Tithonus who in the Trojan Wars was slain by the Thessalans of the spoyls of the Great Thebes in Egypt and that with such expence and magnificence that the stones were bound together with Gold but whether this be true or false without doubt it was very rich for it is said that Alexander found here 50000 Talents of uncoyned Gold besides Silver Wedges and Jewels of an inestimable value This City is of about 25000 paces in circumference and is the residence of the Sophy in the Winter season 2. Ardgan a fair City on the borders of this Province and not far from Hispahan 3. Hawecz called by the Arabian of Nubia Ahuaz and made chief of the Cities of Chusistan which he calls Churdistan He places next to it Askar-Mocran alias Askar-Moukeran on the River Mesercan where there was a Bridge supported by twenty Boats 4. Tostar with a River of the same name And 5. Saurac with some other The heats in these parts in the Summer season are so great especially towards the South part of the Mountain that the Inhabitans are forced to forsake the Cities and retire themselves into the Mountains for coolness Province of Fars its chief places fertility c. The Province of FARS or FARC formerly Persia now a particular Province hath a great number of large rich and beautiful Cities As 1. Chirdef which is said to be about 20000 paces in circumference where sometimes the Sophy hath made his residence scituate in a large and pleasant Plain well built and beautified with fair Gardens and magnificent Mosques Two of which are larger than
fertile as that of Pequin neither is it so large so populous nor so pleasant yet with the industry of the Inhabitants it produceth Corn Rice and Mayz but in recompence it breeds great quantity of Cattle and hath so many Vines that it furnishes the whole Kingdom with Pickled Grapes and Raisins It hath likewise two sorts of Mines the one of Brimstone the other of Stones which burn and may be called Coals In the Sulphur Mines they make little holes to draw out heat enough to boyl any thing they need The Mines of Coals are inexhaustible encreasing from time to time and these Coals well prepared will keep fire day and night without being touched In this Province are about 90 Cities and great Towns six of which are of considerable note as 1 Sciansi 2 Taven 3 Lugan 4 Talong 5 Pingans 6 Suchio all which are well built and very populous The Province of Sciensi described The Province of SCIENSI or XEMSI which Purchas calls Soyohin Mendoza Sinsay is the most Westward of all the Six Northern Provinces and the greatest of all the 16 Provinces Siganfu is esteemed its chief City the great Mountain and Wall doth bound it from the Tartars the Soyl is dry yet yields good store of Wheat Mayz and Barley but little Rice it feeds much Cattle and the Sheep are sheared thrice a year in Spring Summer and Autumn their first shearing is the best It yields Musk which is the Navel of a Beast of the bigness of a Hinde They have Gold which they gather amongst the Sand of the Rivers for the Mines though it hath some yet they are not open It produceth divers Perfumes and Rhubarb which they carry into Persia and other places And it is through this Province that the Caravans come from the West This Province is very populous and is well stored with great Towns and Cities having 8 great Cities as 1 Siganfu its Metropolis afore spoken of 2 Jengun 3 Pingleang 4 Pichin 5 Lynyao with a great many of less note The Province of Honan and its chief places The Province of HONAN which Purchas calls Oyman is very fertile and the Climate very temperate the freest from Mountains and the farthest from the Sea It produceth the best Fruits in the World as well those known to us in Europe as others and that in so great quantity that they are scarce valued The River of Caramoran after having divided the Provinces of Sciansi and Sciensi takes its course through the middle of Honan and discharges it self into the Sea by the Province of Nanquin It comprehendeth 7 great Cities the chief of which bears the name of the Province it s other chief places are 1 Temâ—chio 2 Caifung 3 Nanyang and 4 Chinchio besides about One hundred less ones all well inhabited Hitherto we have surveyed the six Northern Provinces of China we come now to the 10 more to the South The Province of Nanquin its Cities The Province of NANQVIN is the fairest and richest and its Inhabitants the most civilised of all the Kingdom and the Kings of China did alwaies make their residence at Nanquin till of late they have made it at Pequin It comprehends 14 great and fair Cities viz. 1 Vmthienfu or Nanquin which is the Metropolis of the Province 2 Chicheu 3 Lucheu 4 Funiam and 5 Zanuchi all which are very populous some of which have about 200000 people which only work in making of Calicoes All which are commodiously seated on arms of the Sea which make several Isles And beside these Cities there are about 100 small ones of less note I shall only speak something of Nanquin The City of Nanquin described Vmthienfu or Nanquin as we call it yet ceases not to be the greatest fairest and richest City of the whole Kingdom next to Pequin The form and Symmetry of its Buildings in its Palace in its Temples in its Gates in its Towers and in its Bridges as likewise in its publick and particular Houses and their Ornaments are wonderful It is situate upon the River of Batampina and upon an indifferent high Hill so that it commands all the Plains there adjacent The circumference is 8 Leagues 3 long and 1 broad all encompassed with a strong Wall of hewed Stone about which there are 130 Gates at each of which there is kept a Porter with two Halberdiers whose Office is to take the names of every one that passes every day in and out and besides the strong Wall there are for further defence 12 Forts or Cittadels In this City there are accounted above 800000 Houses besides 80000 Mandarins Houses 60 great Market places 130 Butchers Shambles each containing about 80 Shops 8000 Streets whereof 600 are fairer and larger then the rest all which are broad straight and well disposed and are compassed about with Ballisters of Copper The Houses are about two stories high and built of Wood except those of the Mandarins which are composed of Hewed Stone and encompassed with Walls and Ditches over which they have Stone Bridges with rich Gates and Arches The Houses or rather Palaces of the Chaems Auchacys Aytans Tutons and Chumbims which are Governors of the Kingdoms or Provinces of the Empire of China under the Emperor are stately Structures of about 6 or 7 stories high and richly adorned with Gold in which are kept their Magazins for Arms Ammunition as also their Treasuries their Wardrops and their Fine Porcelain which by them is so highly esteemed Here are about 2300 Pagodes a thousand of which were Monasteries for Religious Persons which are exceeding rich Here are also about thirty great Prisons which will contain about two or three thousand Prisoners a-piece Also a great Hospital for the relief of the Poor At the entrace of every principal Street for the security of the Inhabitants there are Arches and Gates which are kept shut every hight and in most of the chief Streets are pleasant Fountains In this City there is accounted about ten thousand Trades for the working of Silks which from thence are sent all over the Kingdom which at every New and Full Moon amongst divers other Commodities are vended at Fairs in several places of the City It s Traffick and Commerce bring thither so great a multitude of People that its Streets are scarce able to be passed for the throng Its Commodities and Manufactures are in so great esteem that they utter better then others and all the neighbouring Countries make a great number of Manufactures The Revenue which the King receives from this Province is exceeding vast the Inhabitants paying into his Exchequer Sixty Millions of Crowns yearly besides great Excises upon all Commodities if Mandelsloe may be believed and if he receiveth so much out of one Province judge what a vast Revenue he hath from all the Provinces many of which are no ways inferior to this The Province of Chequian The Province of CHEQVIAN which Purchas calls Essiram passes likewise for one of the
whom they so much reverence that they call him the shadow of Spirits and Son of the Immortal God and esteem him the Monarch of the whole World In their execution of Justice they are very severe punishing every small offence with sudden death His Revenue without doubt must be very great The Revenue of the Cham. for besides the sole trade of Pearl-fishing which upon pain of death none dares to fish for besides those employed by him also all the Gold and Silver that is either found in or brought into the Kingdom he doth assume to himself as also the Tenth of all things that the Country doth produce and also what else he thinketh fit as being as I said before Lord over them all Here the Men have the liberty of 2 or 3 Wives which they never choose but out of their own Tribe and every Tribe hath a Chief who is one of the Nobility of the Country and carries for his Banner a Horses-Tail fastned to a Half-Pike and died of the colour belonging to his Tribe Their Forces As concerning the Forces that the Great Cham is able to raise they may be supposed to be very great by that which may appear by Tamerlanes Army which consisted of a 1200000 Horse and Foot besides if we consider what a disturber he hath been and how he hath enlarged his Territories of his Neighbours as the Chinois the Moscovites c. we may judge him powerful but as his power is great on Land it is as weak by Sea scarce being Master of any Ships and as little doth he regard them though other Princes esteem them as a great security to their Kingdom Tartary divided into parts I shall divide Tartary into five principal Parts which are Tartaria the Desart Vsbeck or Zagathay Turquestan Cathay and the True Tartaria the first and last are the most Northern barbarous and unknown The others more Southerly are better civilized and known having abundance of fair Cities and driving a good Trade TARTARIA the Desart answers to the ancient Scythia intra Imaum Vsbeck or Zagathay to the ancient Bactriana and Sogdiana both the one and the other new Name retaining in my opinion something of the ancient Sogdiana of Zagathay and Bactriana of Vsbeck Turquestan to the ancient Scythia extra Imdum Cathay is the Serico Regia As for the True Tartary it is unknown unto the Ancients or at least it holds the most Northern part of the one and the other Scythia Tartaria Deserta its bounds Tartaria Deserta is bounded on the West with the Rivers Volga and Oby which divides it from Moscovy on the East by Mount Imaus which separates it from the True Tartaria and from Turquestan on the North by the Septentrional Ocean on the South by the Caspian or Tabarestan Sea by the River Chesell and by certain Mountains which joyn themselves with Imaus and divide it from Vsbeck or Zagathay All the Country is inhabited by Peoples or Tribes which are Troops or Bands which they call Hordes having very few Walled places whither they only retire themselves when forced for they have no settled stay or abode It s People and the manner of their abode but wandring perpetually carrying and driving with them their Tents Chariots Families and all they possess stopping only there were they find the best food for their Cattel to which as also in Hunting and War they most addict themselves They Till not the Earth though it be good and fertil and hence it is that this is called Tartary the Defart The chief places in this part are 1. Cumbalich seated on a Lake 2. Gerstina seated between the two other Lakes which are conjoyned together by a River 3. Jerom on a branch of the River Oby 4. Risan seated on the River Jaick 5. Frutach 6. Centan 7. Caracus 8. Organci and 9. Davasi The People that inhabit in this part have their rise from three several Originals which are disposed of into many several parts as 1. The Circassians which are for the most part Christians and border upon the Euxine Sea 2. The Samoyeds who are altogether Idolaters inhabiting towards the Northern Ocean and 3. Tartars which are Mahometans and seated betwixt both the other And those again are subdivided into divers Tribes or Hordes the chiefest of which are 1. The Nagajan Tartars The Nagajan Tartars c. which are held to be more fierce and cruel and better Warriers than the other Tartars but void of all Arts despising Mony or the use of Corn accounting Mares-milk and House-flesh their best dyet which they are not over-curious in dressing it sufficing if it is only heated though with the Sun and this Horde paies yet some Tribute to the great Duke of Moscovy to whom likewise part of this Tartaria Desert a belongs 2. The Thumenenses who are also a warlike People and much addicted to Divinations and Sorceries 3. The Zavolhenses are very powerful The Kirgessi are also very strong and warlike they are partly Gentiles and partly Mahometans They care not to bury their Dead because of their so after removing thinking never to see them more and so leaving them hanging upon Trees The Country is very fertil if tilled being fit to produce several good Commodities and is also very fit for Traffick having commodious Havens and if they would addict themselves to it would soon gain a good Trade with several other Nations VSBECK or ZAGATHAT Usbeck id bounds extends it self from the Caspian Sea unto Turquestan and from Persia and India unto Tartaria Deserta possessing all that is upon the Rivers of Chesel and of Gehan or Albiamu It s People are the most civil and ingenious of all the Western Tartars It s people fierce in War being strong and active patient in labour not much addicted to vices Thest they punish severely they have a great trade with the Persians Their trade to whom they have sometimes been Subjects sometimes Enemies and sometimes in good Intelligence and with the Indians where they have likewise something to do and with Cathay where they utter their much prized Manna bringing back Silk which they make into Manufactures and sell in Moscovy This part of Tartary did contain several Provinces 1. Zagathay especially so called 2. Sacoe 3. Sogdiana with some other of less note in all which are not many considerable Cities the most famous of which are Sâ—narcand which was both the Cradle and Grave to Tamberlan the Great from whom the Great Mogolls boast themselves to be lineally descended who enriched it with the fairest Spoils of Asia and adorned it with an Academy yet in some repute among the Mahometans Also Bachara and Budaschan and also Balick according to some but which I esteem in Chorasan which hath divers times been in the hands of the Chams of Vsbeck Badaschian is likewise on the Frontiers of Chorasan Bochara or Bachara where lived Avicenna one of the most famous Philosophers and Physicians of all the East
Its parts chief places and fertility The Country is of a different Soil that of Zagathay is indifferent fertil which is much augmented by the industry of the Inhabitants who are likewise held the most ingenious being lovers of Arts and well skilled in Manufactures by reason of which they have a good trade with Merchants which come from several places Sacae is very barren and ill manured and full of wild Desarts Forrests and Uninhabited places by reason of which the Inhabitants remove their Herds of Cattle from place to place where they can find best food for them Sogdianâ— hath very rich Pastures and watered with many good Rivers which much conduces to its fertility in which as also in Zagathay are several Towns and Cities as 1. Jarchan 2. Sachi 3. Istigiaes 4. Busdaschan 5. Bachara and 6. Pogansa which last is seated on the Sea Turquestan its bounds and chief places TVRQVESTAN lies East from Vsbeck or Zagathay West from Cathay North from India and South from True Tartary It is subdivided into some Kingdoms of which the best known are Castar Cotam Chialis Ciartiam Thibet Chinchintalis c. A part of their chief Cities being of the same name Some name Hiarchan instead of Cascar and Turon or Turphan instead of Chialis for the chief Cities of the Kingdom That of Cascar is the richest most fertil and best cultivated of all That of Ciartiam is esteemed the least and all sandy having in recompence many Jaspars and Cassidoines but that of Cascar hath likewise excellent Rhubarb It s fertility and commodities c. and in great quantity Those of Cotam and Chialis have Corn Wine Flax Hemp Cotton c. Thibet is more advanced towards the Mogolls of India and the most engaged in the Mountains of Imaus Caucasus and Vssontes It hath many wild Beasts Musk and Cinnamon and they make use of Coral instead of Mony The Relations which have been given in 1624 and 1626 have made this Estate so great and rich that they would confound it with Cathay but those of 1651 make the Region very cold and always covered with Snow esteeming its King wholly barbarous and less powerful than him of Serenegar who is only a Rahia in the Estates of the Great Mogoll so little assurance is there in the most part of these Relations The other places of note in Turquestan are Camul Turfan Emil Sark Cassia Andegen Raofa Cotain Peim Finegle Lop Ciartiam Sazechiam and Vociam and in this part is the Lake of Kithay which is 65 Leagues in length and 40 in breadth CATHAY is the most Eastern part of all Tartaria Cathay its bounds and esteemed the richest and most powerful Estate It is contiguous to Turquestan on the West to China on the South to True Tartary on the North and on the East is watered by the Streight of Jessa Some esteem all Cathay under one only Monarch or Emperour whom they call Chan or Vlacan that is Great Cham and speak him one of the greatest and richest Princes in the World Others account divers Kings but all Subjects to the Great Cham. It s â—ertility and commodities The Country is much frequented well tilled and in most places very fertil abounding in Wheat Rice Wool Hemp Silk Musk Rhuburh great Herds of Camels of whose Hair they make Chamlets and abundance of Horses with which they furnish other Countries and especially China It s chief place Cambalu with what other things can be desired Cambalu is esteemed its Metropolitan City in which the Great Cham resides pleasantly seated in a fertil Soil and on the River Palysanga which hath its course through the City which is seated in the midst of the Country being as it were the center to others This City besides its Suburbs is esteemed to be 28 miles in circuit being as it were four square each Angle being 7 miles in length all encompassed with a strong Wall 10 paces thick to which for entrance into the City there is at each Angle 3 Gates to every one of which there is a Palace besides in every Angle a more sumptuous Palace in which the Armour of the Garrison Souldiers are kept which are accounted 1000 of each Gate The Buildings are for the most part of Free-stone and very proportionably built the chief Streets large and so strait that one may see from one Gate to the other which gives it a gallant prospect The Great Chams Palace In the midst of this City is a stately Palace where the Great Cham resides together with his Queens and Children This Royal Palace is four square and of a vast bigness having besides its Out-walls several other enclosures adorned with stately Structures beautified with pleasant Walks Gardens Orchards Fishponds with several other places for Recreation His Attendance State and Riches is great Without the Walls are 12 Suburbs each 3 or 4 miles in length It s Trade and Commodities adjoyning to each of the 12 Gates and in these Suburbs the Merchants and Strangers reside each Nation having a several Cane or Store-house where they both lodge and exercise their Trade bartering their Commodities for one anothers being of a great Trade and frequented by Merschants and Strangers of several Countries but more especially by the Persians Chinois Indians and the Tartars themselves which renders it very populous it being the chief place for Trade in all Tartary abounding not only in those Commodities aforesaid but also in the Spices of India the Gems of Pegu and Bengala the Drugs of Arabia also the Carpets Tapestries Silks and Manufactures of Persia c. Their Monies The Mony currant here and throughout this large Territory is very different neither is it made of Gold Silver or Copper as with us but of the middle Bark of the Mulberry Tree which being made smooth and firm they cut round into great and small pieces on which they imprint the Kings Mark as we do on our Mony and these pieces according to the bigness and thickness are valued at a certain rate and are passable for the buying of all Commodities and it is deemed death for any one to counterfeit or make any of this Mony But in some places under the Great Chams jurisdiction they use polished Coral instead of Mony and in other places they use twigs of Gold which is distinguished into several parcels by weight but without Stamp or Character and this is held in case of great importance they also use in some places Porcelain instead of Mony likewise they make a kind of Mony of Salt which they boil until it be congealed hard and then make it up into round lumps on which is put the Princes Stamp And these are the several sorts of Mony which passeth amongst them yet by reason of the Trade that this place hath with other Countries there adjacent their Coyns are here found currant as are those of the Grand Signior as also those of Moscovy Besides this Palace
Provision very plentiful There grows neither Rice nor Wheat yet are Provisions better cheap than in the rest of the Indies They have Rice from the Continent and gather at home Millet in abundance and the Grain of Bunbi like to Millet but black They have much Fruit Citrons Pomegranates Oranges Bananes and above all so great abundance of that Nut of India called Cocos that no Country in the World hath so much All the Levant is furnished hence lading every year several Ships They have many Animals little Beef or Mutton no Dogs for they abhor them Quantity of Fish Shells pass instead of Money They have many little Shells which pass in many places for Money and they lade yearly 30 or 40 Ships with these Shells for Bengala only besides what they lade for other parts Their Tortoise Shells are much esteemed at Cambaya because they are smooth black and well figured with which they make Combs Cases of Looking-glasses c. Their Tavarcarre or Cocos particularly of the Maldives is very Medicinal and of greater value then their Amber-greece and their black Coral The King alone is to have this Tavarcarre and Ambergreece not permitting his Subjects to trade in it There is brought to the Maldives in exchange of their Commodities Rice Cloth Silk Cotton Oyl Areca Iron Steel Spices Porcelain Gold and Silver which come not thence again Its Inhabitants make use of all sorts of Arms yet their King is neither rich nor powerful except in his Isles and in regard of his own Subjects The Coco-Nuâ— and Tree of great use for several things Amongst the rarities of this Isle their Candou and their Coco's are observable They make Planks of the Wood of Candou with which they draw out of the Sea all sorts of weights though of 10000 pound Their Tree is as great as our Walnut-Tree leaved like the Aspin and as white but very soft It bears no Fruit they make Fisher-boats of it and with rubbing two pieces of this wood together kindle fire as we do with a Flint and Steel yet it neither burns nor consumes As for the Coco's or Walnut of India it furnishes them with all things necessary for mans life they extract from it Wine Honey Sugar Milk Oyl and Butter It s Kernels they eat instead of Bread with all sorts of Meat the Leaf being green serves for Paper to write being dry they fold it in little Bands and make Panniers Dossers Vmbrello's Hats Coverlids and Carpets the Sprig which is the middle of the Leaf being dry hardneth and of it they make Cabinets Chests and other Moveables of the Shell which incloses the Fruit they make Ladles Spoons Plates Cups c. They may build a whole House out of these Trees the Trunk may serve for Beams and Joynts the Branches cut in two or three for Pails to pail in Gardens or Houses and for Laths to cover them and the Leaves sewed together and disposed in ranks upon those Laths cast off the Water as well as our Tiles They build likewise many Ships only out of the Coco-Tree the Keel Sides Planks Pins Hatches Masts and Yards Cordage Anchors Sails and even all the Utensils of a Ship are taken from this Tree and sometimes their Lading whether for Provision or Moveables or to furnish Rigging for other Ships is likewise taken out of this Tree alone And so much for the Eastern Isles and all Asia AFRICA as it is divided into AFRICA or LIBYA Exteriour or Outward and comprehendeth BARBARY which containeth the Kingdoms of Morocco Morocco Fez Fez Sala Telensin Telensin Algier Algier Bugia Tunis Tunis Tripoli Tripolis Barca Barca Desart of Barca Ammon BILIDULGERID which containeth several Kingdoms and Provinces the chief of which are Sus or Tesset Tesset Darha Darha Segellomessa Segellomessa Tafilet Tafilet Tegorarin Tegorarin Zeb Nesta Bilidulgerid Fezzen Gademes EGYPT which is divided in Sayd or Bechria Cairo Errif Alexandria Rosetta Coast of the Red Sea Sues Grodol Interiour or Inwards and comprehendeth ZAARA or SAARA where are the Kingdoms and Cities of Zanhaga Tegassa Zuenziga Zuenziga Targa Targa Lempta Lempta Berdoa Berdoa Gaoga Goaga Borno Borno The Land of NEGROES where are the Kingdoms People or Countries On this side the Niger as of Gualate Gandia Genehoa Genehoa Tombut Tombotu Agades Agades Canun Cano. Cassena Cassena Gangara Gangara Between the branches of the Niger as of The Jaloses People Solul The Biatares People Biatares The Sousâ—s People Beria Beyond the the Niger as of Melli Melli. Mandinga Mandinga Gago Gago Guber Guber Zegzeg Zegzeg Zanfara Zanfara GUINEE with its Kingdoms Parts and chief Places of Melegutte Bugos Particular Guinee or the Ivory Coast St. George de la Minâ— Cape of Palmeâ— Benin Benin AETHIOPIA Higher or under Egypt and comprehendeth NUBIA where are the Kingdoms Countries and Cities of Bugia Bugia Jalac Jalac Nuabia Nuabia Dancala Dancala Cusa Cusa Gorham Gorham Damocla Damocla Somna Somna The Empire of the ABISSINES where are several Kingdoms Countries and Cities the chief of which are Tigremahon Chaxumo Barnagasso Barva Angota Angotina Dancala Degibeldara Amara Amara Bagamedri Beza Ambian Amasen Damute Damute Agag Agag Cafates Cafates Narea Zeb Ambiam Ambiam BARBARY or ZANGUEBAR which is divided into Zanguebar with its Kingdoms and Cities of Mozambique Quiloa Quilmanca The Coast of AJAN with its Kingdoms and Cities of Adea Adel Magadoxo The Coast of ABEX with its chief Places and Isles of Arquico Suaquen Lower or Interiour and comprehendeth CONGO with its several Kingdoms or Provinces the chief of which are Loango Loango Pemba Pemba Angola Engaze Bamba Bamba Songo Sonho The Coast and Country of CAFRES with its several Estates Kingdoms Capes Ports and Isles the chief of which are the Cape of Good Hope Cape of St. Nicholas Port of Carascalis Isles of St. Christophers Isles of St. Lucia MONOMOTAPA with its Kingdoms and chief Places of Monomotapa Monomotapa Butua Butua Monoemugi Agag Zesala Zesala In divers ISLES In the Mediterranean Sea Malta Valetta In the Western Ocean as the Canary Isles Canaria The Isles of Cape Verd St. Jago The Isles of St. Thomas Pavoasaâ— In the Eastern Ocean as Madagascar Vingagora Zocotora Zocotora A New MAPP of AFRICA Designed by Mounsi r Sanson Geograph r to the French King Rendered into English and Ilustrated with Figurs By Richard Blome By the Kings Especiall Command VOLO VALEO To The Right Honi ble Charles Howard Earle of Carlisle Viscount Morpeth Baron Dacres of Gisland Lord Leivtenant of Cumberland Westmoreland Vice Admirall of the Caost of Northumberland Cumberland Westmoreland Bishopricke of Durham Towne and County of Newcastle and Maritin parts adjacent 〈◊〉 of the Lords of his Maities most honble privy Councell This Mapp is most humbly D. D. by R. B. AFRICA AFRICA is a Peninsula so great that it makes the Third and most Meridional part of our Continent It approaches so near to Spain that only the Streight of Gibraltar divides them and touches so
or the LOWER AETHIOPIA where are the Kingdoms or Provinces of TIGREMAHON Chuxumum Saibana ANGOTA Angotina Bugano St. Maria. XOA Xoa FATIGARA Mundinae CANCALA Degibeldara Degibelcora BAGAMEDRI Chilcut Ermita Azuga Baza Machanda GOYAME Chilcut Ermita Azuga Baza Machanda AMBIAN Cemenia Ambiami Amasen Syre DAMBEA Ambadara Chedaflan VANGUE Matagazi Vangue DAMOUT Damute Harode Gaga AMARA Amara Fungi Baraena Burn. AMBIAM Ambiam Therva Azuga Ougne Losa Sesila Agola GEMEN Gemen Dara Jaflan GORGA Gorga Bara Gafat GAVI-GASA Gasabella NAREA Falaccia Gavi Zet GAFATES Cafates Maurama FUNGI Fungi QUARA Quara Nova AGAG Agag Gorava Giarva A MAPP OF THE HIGHER AND LOWER AETHIOPIA COMPREHEND Y E SEVERAL KINGDOMES c IN EACH TO WITT IN THE EMPIRE OF THE ABISSINES THE COAST OF ZANGUEBAR ABEX AND AIAN WITH THE KINGDOMES OF NUBIA AND BIAFARA c IN THE LOWER AETHIOPIA THE KINGDOM OF CONGO Y E EMPIRE OF MONOMOTAâ— AND MONOEMUGY yâ— COAST AND LANDS OF CAFRES AND OF THIS SIDE CAPE NEGRES With the Isles of Madagasoar c by Monsieur Sanson Geograper to the French King To the Rt. Worshipfull Sr. William Glynne of Bissister in Oxfordshire of Hawarden in Flintshire Bart. This Mapp is humbly DD by R.B. THE EMPIRE OF THE ABYSSINGS Or THE Higher Aethiopia Empire of the Abissins its extent length breadth ABYSSIN or the Empire of the ABYSSINS is commonly called the Higher and Great AETHIOPIA because it makes the greatest and better part of the one and the other Aethiopia and is the greatest and most considerable Estate of all Africa under one name It extends it self on this side and beyond the Equinoctial Line from the Mountains of the Moon and the Springs of the Nile even near unto Egypt and from the Kingdoms and Estates of Congo and the Negroes unto the Coasts of Zanguebar Ajan and Habex It s greatest length from South to North is 800 Leagues It s breadth from West to East 4 5 and sometimes 600 and in Circuit about 2500. Its parts Some divide this great Estate into many Kingdoms and Provinces as are set down in the Geopraphical Table of the Higher Aethiopia we shall observe the most known Kingdom of Barnagasso described BARNAGASSO signifies King of the Sea because formerly all this Kingdom or Government held all the Coast of the Red Sea from Egypt unto the Kingdom of Dancala which is 250 Leagues At present the Turks hold this Coast where are Suaquen Mezzua Arquico which we will describe with Zanguebar under the name of the Coast of Habex Barva or Daburova is esteemed the chief of Barnagasso after which some put Canfila Daffila and Emacen others esteem Canfila and Daffila Provinces or Governments and Emacen a City of the Government of Daffila 20 Leagues from Barva 50 from Suaquen Chaxumo is the chief of Tigre a fair City and according to the common opinion the Ordinary Residence of the Queen of Sheba or Saba that came to see Solomon Both the City and Quarter of Sabain not far from Chaxumo seem to retain the name There are every where here abouts found a great many fair Churches Angotine is a City in the Kingdom of Angota and here they use Salt or little pieces of Iron instead of Money Kingdom of Amara described The Kingdom of AMARA is farnous by reason of its Mountain where the Children and nearest of Kinred to the Grand Negus are guarded This Mountain is very high of a great circuit and whose approaches are very difficult being craggy on all sides and easie to defend which made this use be made of it to keep those which may cause any commotion in the Estate The top of the Mountain is formed into a great Plain where there are fair Buildings many Cisterns a rich Monastery c. Some speak wonders of this Mountain and that the Grand Negus being deceased they take thence him who is the trueinterior if he be capable to govern the Estate if not the second or third c. in order Others say that there are no such things as they put here neither Monastery Library Gold Precious Stones c. Kingdom of Bagamedri with its Provinces c. described BAGAMEDRI is subdivided into Provinces like to Tigre hath a greater extent and should be better lying along the Nile The Prince resides often at Dambea which is beyond the Nile as well as Damout Some place the Springs of the Nile in Goyame others in Cafates The one and the other Kingdom being about the Lake of Zaire Goyame where this Lake reduces it self into a River which is the Nile Cafates on one of the principal Rivers of those that fall into the Lake which apparently should be called the Nile Narea is between the Lake of Zaire and Zafflan which are two Lakes from whence descend the principal Rivers which make the Nile The Air fertility commodities c. of the Abissin The Air of Abissin is very temperate considering its situation Tigremaâ—on particularly is esteemed so by reason of the Northerst Winds which reâ—â—esh it All the Country is in Plains except some Mountains which are espeâ—â—ally towards its bounds The Soyl is generally good fruitful in Grains and Pulse of which it hath excellent not known to us they have few Vines as also few Herbs the Grasshoppers much annoying them The Land feeds many tame and wild Beasts and much Fowl among others an infinite number of Turtles Their Rivers have Croâ—odiles and River-Hoâ—ses which they call Gomaras it is a hardy Fish and will assault men in the Water It hath much Metals as Gold Silver Lead Tin and the Mountains so full of Sulphur that they may afford wherewith to make Salt-peter more then any Country in the World Tigremahon hath Mines of Gold Silver Iron Lead Copper and Sulphur Damout hath more Gold then all the rest Bagamedri and Goyame hath likewise Gold The Inhabitants are generally black some more some less they are for the most part of a good stature flat nosed woolly haired of a nimble spirit and very jovial They have scarce any thing of Literature neither do they much desire to attain to any They Coyn neither Gold nor Silver but receive it by weight Some Authors make this Prince so rich that there is scarce any in the World hath so much present Gold in his Coffers Sanutus saith that he once offered to the Kings of Portugal a Million of Drams of Gold and as many men to exterminate the Infidels It s People And Queen Helena writing to Emanuel of Portugal and speaking for her Grand-child David saith that if the King of Portugal would furnish them with 1000 Vessels of War and People fit for the Sea that she would on her part Its Kings very rich and powerful furnish them with all things necessary for the War and give them 200 Millions of Gold and that she had Men Gold and Provisions in suchgreat number and plenty as there were Sands in the Sea or Stars in
with the Mono-Motapa of which he seems once to have been a part is in peace with the King of Zanguebar that he may have commerce to the Sea for he hath much Gold Silver Ivory and the same Commodities as Mono-Motapa but its People are more barbarous and brutish The chief places in the Mono-Emugi are Agag Astagoa Leuma Camur Beif Bagametro and Zembre seated on the bottom of the Lake Zaire CAFRERIA or the Land of CAFRES The Land of Cafreria described CAFRERIA or the Land of CAFRES makes the most Southern Coast of all Aethiopia winding like a Semicircle about the Cape of Good Hope some begin it from Cape Negro and continue it unto the River of Cuama this separating it from Zanguebar and the other from Congo or what we have esteemed with Congo Others begin it and end it with the Tropick of Capricorn as well on this side as beyond the Cape of Good Hope I esteem under the name of Cafres all the Coasts which environ the Mono-Motapa both towards the West South and East so that we may call these Cafres Occidental Meridional and Oriental This distinction being taken in regard of the natural scituation in which these People are from the Mono-Motapa or we may chuse rather to consider them in Occidental or Oriental as we have already done the Cape of Good Hope then keeping the one from the other It hath formerly been believed that these People had neither Kings Law nor Faith and therefore were called Cafres that is without Law But it hath since been known that they have divers Kings and Lords as those of Mataman where there are divers Metals Chrystal c. And of Melemba among the Occidentals those of Chicanga Sedanda Quiteva and Zefala among the Orientals and others we know not towards the South and Cape of Good Hope On the Coast of Cafres are these places and Isles viz. St. Nicolai Piscarius the Port of Carascalis the Cape of Good Hope St. Martins Bay and the Cape of St. Lucia Also these Isles 4 bearing the name of St. Lucia 2 of St. Christophers 5 of Crucis and 3 of Aride Many of which as likewise the Capes are well known by Sea-men especially the Cape of Good Hope All these Coasts of Cafreria are bounded within Land by a Chain of Mountains formed by the Mountains of the Moon and which inclose Mono-Motapa That part of these Mountains which advance towards the Cape of Good Hope are called by the Portugals The Cape of Good Hope Picos Fragos that is Watry Points or Rocks This Cape is the most remarkable piece in Cafreria the most Southern point of Africa and of our Continent and the most famous Promontory of the whole World Vasco de Gama knew it in 1498 and after having doubled it found the way by the East-Indies to the Great Sea and from hence the Portugals boast to have been the first that had the knowledge of this Cape But we have made appear in the general discourse of Africa that the Ancients have both known and spoke of it Near the Cape of Good Hope and farther towards the South is the Cape of Needles which should be more famous since it is more Southernly than the other by 12 or 15 Leagues But the name Cape of Good Hope is given to all that Head of Land which is the most Southern of Africa The Air Fertility Commodities c. of the Country The Air of this Country is sometimes temperate and sometimes cold by reason of the Mountains which are covered with Snow and Ice from whence descends quantity of cold Waters The Vallies and Lower Countries pleasant and fertil hath store of Woods and Forests in which are abundance of Beasts and Fowls as Deer Antilopes Baboons Foxes Hares c. Also Ostriches Herons Pelicans Pheasants Partridges Geese Ducks c. They are well supplied with good Water feed much Cattle which they truck with Strangers for Knives Scizzars Spoons and divers Toys they have likewise much Fish in their Rivers The People and their Trade The Inhabitants are Black have thick Lips flat Noses long Ears and in a word very ill-shapen They are more barbarous and brutish than the rest of Africa they are Man-eaters their chief ornaments in their Apparel are Chains of Iron Brass Beads Bells or the like and cutting and slashing their Skins in several shapes Clothing they have none only in the Cold season they wrap themselves about with Skins of Beasts Towns they have none or very few for the most part living in the Woods and Forests like brute Beasts But the Cafres on the East are much more civil than the others most of them have made a part and are yet subject to the Mono-Motapa who about 50 years ago divided his Estate into four parts giving to his eldest Son what is within Land and by much the greatest part and to his three younger Sons Zuiteva Sedanda and Chicanga towards the Sea-Coast for their Portions Cefala or Zefala seems to make its piece apart whose King pays Tribute both to the Mono-Motapa and the Portugals and these have divers Fortresses on the Coast Sena Tete Cuama c. Zefala is so abundant in Gold and Elephants that some take it for the Ophir whither Solomon sent his Fleet every three years And they give for a reason that the Gold Ivory Apes c. which that Fleet brought are here found in abundance That this Fleet parting from the Red Sea there is no likelyhood it should go to Peru which some take for this Ophir besides that there is there neither Ivory nor Apes but that it was rather to some part of Asia or Africa They add that there remains not far from Zefala some footsteps of ancient Buildings and Inscriptions left there by Strangers long time ago Nay likewise that there is some notes and Books how Solomon sent thither his Fleet. Moreover the Septuagint translate Sophira instead of Ophir and the name of Sophira is not overmuch different from Sopholo However it be there is here store of Gold both in the Mountains and Rivers and often very clean and pure as well in Powder as Sand and this Gold is esteemed the best and finest in Africa ours seeming but Brass in comparison of it The Country is healthful and pleasant seated only on the Coast the Mono-Motapa confining it within Land A part of its now Inhabitants are not the Natives but descended from that Coast which belonged to the Mono-Motapa The Natives as I said before are Black and Idolaters or Cafres the others very swarthy and for the most part Mahometans They have a great Trade on this Coast for their Gold two or three Millions being yearly brought hence and that for Toys and things of a very small value which are carried them from divers parts of Asia and Europe and some parts of Africa The ISLES of AFRICA as they lie and are found In the Mediterranean Sea And on the Coast of BARBARY as the ISLES of
the Castle of St. Elmo doth merit fame not only for its buildings which are curious but for the entertainment there given to those that fall sick where the Knights themselves lodge when sick or wounded to receive cure where they are exceeding well attended have excellent good dyet served by the Junior Knights in silver and every friday visited by the Grand Master accompanied with the great Crosses a service which was from the first institution commanded and thereupon called Knights Hospitallers Here are as Sandys saith three Nunneries one for Virgins another for Bastards and the third for penitent Whores Castle of St. Elmo The Castle of St. Elmo is at the end of the City of Valetta towards the Sea and at the opening of two Ports During the siege of Malta it was taken and sackt by the Turks after having wasted 18000 Cannonshot given divers assaults and lost 4000 men of their best Militia among others Dragut one of their most famous Coursaiers The Christians lost 1300 men among whom many Knights But this Fort was restored to a far better Estate than before and is separated from the City only by a ditch cut likewise in the Rock on the other side and on the point of the Borgo is the Fort of St. Angelo and likewise above the Borgo and the Isle of Sengle have been made new works to hinder the Turks from lodging there Besides these three Cities and the Forts about them the ancient City of Malta Medina is in the middle of the Island on an easie ascending hill and in an advantagious scituation The Turks assaulted it in 1551 but soon retired The Bishop of the Isle hath here his residence and near the City is yet the Grotte and Chapel of St. Paul where they believe he preached and where he lay when he suffered shipwrack and this place is of great account among them All these Cities and Forts have 250 or 300 pieces of Cannon on their Rampart The Isle very strong and well provided for War and their Magazins are so well provided with Powder Shot Wood Bisket Salt-meats and all Provisions and Ammunition that they call it Malta Flor del Mondo Malta the Flower of the World being provided alwaies with Ammunitions and Provisions for a three years siege yet this is to be understood not only because of its Fortifications and Ammunitions but likewise because of its force and the resolution of its Knights The Order of Knighthood first instituted This order of Knighthood according to Sandys received their denomination from John the charitable Patriarch of Alexandria though vowed to St. John Baptist as their Patron Their first seat was the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem built by one Gerrard at the same time when the Europeans had something to do in the Holy-Land where they received such good success and became so famous that they drew divers worthy persons into this society which by Pope Gelasius the second was much approved of He saith that one Raymond was the first Master of this Order who did amplifie their Canons and entituled himself The poor servant of Christ and Guardian of the Hospital in Jerusalem and at the allowance of one Honorius the second were apparelled in black garments signed with a White-Cross this Order we have said began at Jerusalem and at first meddled not but with the Government of the Hospital of St. John and were called Fryers Hospitallers or simply Hospitallers as those of the Temple Templers but when these Hospitallers were constrained to make profession both of Hospitality and Arms they were called Knights Hospitallers or Knights of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem These Knights oft forced to remove their habitations after the loss of Jerusalem they held their Convent in the City and Fortress of Margatt then in Aicre or Ptolomaido and all the Latine Christians being driven from the Holy Land and from Souria they retired into Cyprus But during their stay in Cyprus they gained Rhodes and established themselves there so powerfully that they were called Knights of Rhodes Margaret was taken from them in 1285. Aicre in 1291 little less than 200 years after Godfrey of Bulloin had Conquered the Holy Land and this order began before after the loss of Aicre they lived in Cyprus from 1291 to 1309. in which year they took and settled in Rhodes and maintained it more than 100 years sustaining four sieges till in 1522 Sultan Solyman became Master of Rhodes they then retired into Europe now into one place and then into another and in fine to Malta which Charles the fifth gave them in 1530. with some little neighbouring Isles as likewise the City of Tripoly in Barbary which they could keep no longer then 1551. that place being too far engaged in the Enemies Country These Knights are of divers Nations and are divided into eight Tongues to wit of Province of Auvergne of France of Italy of Arragon of England of Germany and of Castile so that the three first are in France and the last in Castile each Tongue contains many Priories and each Priory many Commanderies these three Tongues which are in France have near 300 Commanderies The other five Tongues which are in Italy Arragon England Germany and Castile made near 400. but there are no more in England England the Kings of England when they confiscated the goods of the Church having likewise seized the goods and Commanderies of the Knights of Malta and in Germany a part of these Commanderies being fallen into the hands of Lutherans and Calvinists serve no longer so that at present France alone furnishes little less than half the Commanderies of Malta And it hath been observed that from the first establishment of this Order unto this very present of 57 great Masters there hath been 37 French only 4 or 5 Italians 7 or 8 Spaniards and 11 whose Nation and Tongue the History could not observe but apparently the most part were French since this Order began by the French of these 34 known 12 were in the Holy-Land and in Souria 13 in Rhodes and 〈◊〉 in Malta unto Father Paul of Lascaris of every one there is a Grand Prior who lives in great reputation in his Country who orders the affairs of their Order and for England St. Johns by Clarken-well in times past was a mansion of the Grand-Prior There are several Councels among these Knights Their Government as that for deciding of differences which may happen among them the Councel of War the General Chapter which may augment or moderate the Authority of the great Master renew the Ordinances and Government of the Religion or their Order and which is held every five years The Ceremonies performed in making these Knights The Ceremonies used in Knighting are these which follow first being cloathed in a long loose garment he goeth to the Altar with a Taper in his hand of White Wax where he kneeleth down and desires the Order of the Ordinary then
began farther in the Cividad del Rey Philippe but the want of many things and the cold too harsh for the Spaniards made the last work cease and the men be brought back to the first Colony Pedro Sermiento returning into Spain fell into the hands of the English near the Coast of Brazil and on the other side Famine Miseries and the Cruelties of the Inhabitants of the Streight soon destroyed the Colony he had left After Drake many other English and Hollanders passed at divers times and in divers years Spilbergen in 1615. more happily then the rest having taken his time in January and February which is the Summer of these Quarters the Sun returning from Capricorne The Streight dele Maire discovered by Isaac le Maire a Hollander But in 1617 a hundred years after Magellan Isaac le Maire a Hollander having discovered another Streight incomparably more easie to pass then that of Magellan this only is now made use of and called the Streight Dele Maire It is between the 55 and 55½ degrees of Septentrional Latitude It hath throughout 10 or 12 Leagues of length and breadth and so soon as it is passed there is found a very great Sea there where we have formerly believed to be a Land so great that some would make it a third Continent under the name of Terra Australis or Terra Incognita and Magellanica The Inhabitants of Magellan Maire and the Magellanick Land The Inhabitants of the Streight of Magellan Maire and the Magellanick Lands are very barbarous having very sharp and dangerous Teeth they go almost naked though in a Countrey very cold they have neither Religion nor Policy they are born white but paint some part of their body red and others black And this Painting is a Band drawn straight from Head to Foot or else cross their Body or slooping the rest is in its natural colour or else sometimes varied with divers colours They garnish their Arrows and Javelins with Fish-bones or with Stones very sharp of which they make their Knives they use likewise Clubs and Slings The Patagons a sort of people Amongst these People are the Patagons a particular Nation in the Continent which some call the Race of Toremen If report be true they are the greatest men known at present in any part of the World They are said to be no less then ten foot high and we are assured that the greatest men that were with Magellan or with the English and Hollanders that passed this Streight reached but to their Girdle But it is time to leave America The first expence made to go thither was not of above 15 or 16000 Duckats which were advanced by Lewis de St. Ange Secretary of State and not taken out of the Treasuries of the Kings of Castile and Arragon who then protested they had not so much money to expend yet notwithstanding this little hath returned them infinite riches Christopher Columbus seised on Hispaniola and the Neighbouring Isles a little after 1492. Americus Vesputius of Brazil in 1497. Ferdinand Cortes took Mexico in 1519. Pizzarre Peru in 1529. So others have seised of divers parts of America and still of those which are the best and have brought thence so much Gold Silver and Riches that they have filled almost all Europe and made those Estates Lordships and Commodities on this side which before were valued but at Twenty pence Twenty shillings or Twenty thousand pounds worth now a hundred times as much The Spaniards have received great losses from the English and Dutch But we must confess that these discoveries and these conquests of new Lands hath cost Spain store of men not so much in the War as on the Sea In 1590. a hundred Spanish Ships laden with very great riches to return to Europe passing in company near Florida a tempest surprized them and cast them all away save one whom Linscot reports to have seen in Tercera and this Author assures us that at the same time divers other Tempests or divers English Rovers took away or sunk another hundred of Spanish Ships so that of 220 parted the year before from New Spain St. Domingo Havana Cape Verde Brazil Guiney and other places not above 14 or 15 escaped shipwrack or the English Rovers Likewise after and at other times sometimes the English sometimes the Hollanders have not only taken abundance of Spanish Vessels on the Sea but likewise divers places on Land and sometimes whole Provinces and Islands The Hollanders held not long since a good part of Brazil the English hold at present Barbadoes Jamaica and some other places in the Isles and Lands about it And all those Isles which are on this side Hispaniola are in the hands of the English French and Hollanders who likewise establish divers Colonies on the Coast of Guiana which if they subsist those Isles are not already more troublesome Thorns to Mexico and Terra-Firma then these Colonies in Guiana will be to Terra-Firma Peru and Brazil The Trade of America in geral To give a small touch of the Traffick of this New World it is observed to give imployment to many Ships of great burthen and that of several Nations as well Europeans as others by which they have gained much riches in which England Spain France Portugal Holland c. have been large sharers To sum up the rich staple commodities that it produceth as also what Commodities they receive in exchange will not be unnecessary Its Fruits and Commodities First then Its Earth yieldeth Grains excellent Fruits Plants Sugar Indico Tobacco Ginger Long-Pepper and other Spices Several Medicinal Drugs Cotton of which as also of the Feathers of their Birds they make excellent and curious Manufactures In the bowels of the Earth lie hid in abundance of Mines Gold Silver Iron Lead Tin and Copper there is also plenty of Quick-silver Amber Precious Stones Pearls Bezoar Amber Greece Gum Arabick and several Precious Gums Cocheneile Saffron Chrystal excellent Balsom Rozin Salt Honey Wax Rich Furs Ox-Hides Tallow Whale-Oyl Dried Fish Pitch Tar Jallop Salsaperilla Gayac Turbith Several excellent Woods as Campeche Brazil Lignum Vita Green Ebony Cedar Cypress Firrs and excellent Wood for building of Ships Commodities sent them in exchange For these and other such rich commodities they take in exchange Beads Necklaces Bracelets and the like Toys as also Looking-Glasses Ribbons Needles Pins and all sorts of Haberdashery Ware also Knives Hatchets Saws Nails Hammers and other Instruments made of Iron with several other of the like cheap Commodities We have thus comprised all that seemed most necessary concerning America true it is whole Volums might be made only touching the Nature and Propriety of their Grains Herbs Plants Fruits Fowl Beasts and Fish which are all different from ours yet those which have been carried from hence have thrived and multiplied exceeding well either in one place or another But of all our Beasts nothing so much astonished them as our Horses and it was near a hundred years in Peru and other parts of America before those People would be perswaded to mount on them FINIS
Monastery of Bethlem the Monastery of the Holy Cross And at Bethlehem over the place where Christ was born the vertuous Helena erected also another fair and goodly Temple which is possest by the Franciscans of Jerusalem being called by the name of St. Maries of Bethlehem Nigh to Jerusalem is the Desart of St. John Baptist where is yet the Ruins of a Monastery over his Cave and the Fountain as also the Mountains of Judah where is the Church of St. John Baptist the Fountain and the House of Elizabeth also the Sepulchre of Zachary a part of the Pillar of Absalon and the Cave of St. James At Bethania two miles from Jerusalem is the House of Simon the Leper the House of Lazarus as also his Sepulchre where is the Mount of Olives where is the Sepulchre of the Virgin Mary where Christ was often and from whence he ascended up into Heaven Joppa or Jaffa serves for a Port to Jerusalem from which it is 10 miles distant and it was thither that the Wood and Stones taken from Mount Libanus and destined to the building of the Temple of Solomon were brought by Water and from thence by Land to Jerusalem This is the Port where Jonah embarked to flie from the face of the Lord. From this History the Heathens made the Fable of Andromeda and pretended to shew in the Rock which is before the Port the marks of the Irons to which Andromeda was chained and exposed to the Sea-Monster After Jerusalem there rests yet Gaza now Gazere greater and better inhabited than Jerusalem 1. Jericho seated on the River Jordan about 30 miles distant from Jerusalem a City once of great fame being in the time of Christianity an Episcopal See also noted for her beautiful Palms but especially for her Balsâ—mum but now turned to Ruins in the place whereof stands a few poor Cottages inhabited by the Arabians 2. Samaria once the Seat of the Kings of Israel hath now nothing left but the Ruins of some proud Buildings And 3. Sichem now Naplouse hath some Samaritans and remains the Capital of that Quarter and the best inhabited but with many Ruins and to speak truth there is now scarce any place of mark in all the Holy Land whereas under the Cananites under the Hebrews under the Jews there were so many People so many Kings so many Cities so rich and so powerful that throughout the whole Continent of the Earth there was no Country might compare with it Jerusalem is at present governed by a Bassa and Naplouse by another which obey the Beglerby of Damascus DIARBECK Diarbeck and its Parts DIARBECK taken particularly answers only to Mesopotamia which is but part of the ancient Assyria taken in general it answers to the three parts of that Assyria of which the particular Assyria is now called Arzerum Mesopotamia Diarbeck and Chaldea or Babylonia or Yerack The first is the most Oriental and almost all beyond the Tygris the second the most Occidental and is between the Euphrates and the Tygris the third the most Meridional and lies on both sides the Tygris It s fertility and People This Country of Chaldea now Yerack is for the most part exceeding fruitful yielding ordinarily 200 fold the blades of their Wheat and Barly being about four fingers broad having yearly two Harvests The People anciently were much given to Divinations South-sayings and Idolatry Places of most note are 1. Babylon formerly Babel the ancientest City in the World seated on the Bank of the Euphrates It s chief places first built by Nimrod and much enlarged and beautified by Nebuchadnezzar so that it was accounted one of the nine Wonders of the World This City was so vast that its Walls stretcht in circumference 365 Furlongs in height 66 Yards and in breadth 25 scituate on both sides of the Euphrates which also ran through the City emptying it self into divers Rivolets over this River Euphrates there was a stately Bridge at each end of which there was a sumptuous Palace beautified also with the Temple of the Idol Bell the whole City being adorned with fair Buildings stately Palaces and Temples with a number of fair and large Streets famous for its Tower of Babelâ— which exalted it selt 5164 Paces in height which is something above 5 miles having its basis or circumference equal to its height A City once esteemed the Mistress of the World and so rich that it is said that Alexander at his taking it found treasured up 200000 Talents of Gold a Talent of our Money being esteemed at 4500 Pounds a vast Treasure but the sins of the People drew the wrath of God upon it and by reason of its Invasions by the Medes Persians and Macedonians who subdued it so ruâ—ned that it soon lost its pristine glory and magnificence being reduced to Ruins out of which was raised a new City called Bagdad Babylon now called Bagdad so named from its many Gardens therein contained but not to compare to the old Babylon neither in largeness nor glory being not above 7 miles in compass but yet remains to this day a place of great Trade between which and Aleppo are found many Caravans to travel with many thousand Camels laden with rich Commodities brought from India and elsewhere abounding with the same Commodities as Aleppo doth At this place they make use also of Pigeons as they do at Alexandretta and Aleppo which serve instead of Posts which when occasion serveth as upon the arrival of Ships Caravans or the like they take these Pigeons and tie an Advertisement which they write in a little piece of Paper about their Necks which done they carry the Pigeon to a high place and toss it up and immediately it flieth to the other place to which it is designed which gives notice to them The Palaces in this City most worthy of note are the Mosque a large and rich Structure built of Free-stone resembling Marble in form orbicular then the Sultans Palace adjoyning to the Buzzar or great Market-place is a rich large but low Fabrick next the Bridge whose passage is over Boats which are chained together which upon occasion may be separated having resemblance to that of Roan in Normandy and lastly its Coho-houses which are Houses of Good-fellowship being in the nature of Coffee-houses with us which in this place are many to which a great resort of People cometh to sip Coffee which by them is highly esteemed as indeed by most People in these Regions 3. Balsera the Port-Town to Bagdad seated near the place where Tygris loses it self in the Persian Gulph which is likewise called the Gulph of Balsora and Ormus This City is said to have 10000 Houses and answers to the ancient Teredon 4. Coufa was sometime the Seaâ— of the Califfs and near it was Ali interr'd whence it hath likewise been called Masad-Ali or Merat-Ali the House of Ali and there is always a Horse kept ready to mount Mahomet Mahadin the Son of Almansor the Son of
Ocem the Son of Ali when he shall come to convert the whole World to the Law of Mahomet for this Conversion is to begin at Coufa but they hitherto have had and may for the future have time enough to curry their Horse expecting the coming of their Cavalier 5. Orchoe now so called is the Vrchoa of Ptolomy and Vr the place of Abrahams Nativity 6. Borsippa by Ptolomy called Barsita famous for the great Victory which Cyrus the first Persian Monarch here obtained against Nabonius King of Babylon 7. Ctesiphon seated on the Tygris And 8. Sipparum noted for the great Trench made near it which was made to receive the overflowings of the Euphrates which was in compass 160 miles and in depth 20 Fathoms which was made to preserve the City of Babylon from overflowings Bagdad and Balsera have each their Beglerbies and many Sangiacs but to speak truth sometime the Turk sometime the Persian possesses these Quarters the last took Bagdad in the year 1624 which the Turks regained in 1638. Fame now speaks it the Persians MESOPOTAMIA Mesopotamia bounded and its fertility MESOPOTAMIA bounded on the West with the Euphrates The Southern part of this Country is very barren and full of Desarts scarce affording any Herbage nor hardly so much as Trees But as this part is so much deficient that towards the North hath as great plenty which makes amends abounding with great store of Corn and Wine together with all such hecessaries as are required for the life of man It s chief Placâ—â— Place of most note are 1. Rohai or Orpha which is the ancient Edesse being 10 miles in circuit scituate on the River Scirtas which passes through the midst of it not far from the Euphrates into which it falls 2. Caraemid anciently Amida seated near the Tygris encompassed with a strong Wall a Frontier Town of great strength being much desired by the Persians now the chief Seat of the Bassa which governs this Country for the Turk where the Patriarch of the Jacobite Christians also had his residence 3. Merdin not above 4 or 5 miles in circuit but is very strongly seated on a high Mountain and having a Castle of about a mile in circumference not far from which in the Monastery of Saphran is the Patriarchal See of the Jacobite Sectaries 4. Asanchif esteemed the Metropolis of the Country yet not being of above 4 or 5 miles compass but hath four great Suburbs well filled with Inhabitants 5. Carra where Crassus and the Romans were defeated is now called Herren or Harrar the City to which Abraham did remove when he went towards Canada remarkable in former times for its famous Temple dedicated to the Moon which was here worshipped under both Sexes 6. Sumiscasack not far from Edesse hath its Castle seated very advantagiously The Castle of Corna that is pointed is one of the most important places the Turks possess in all these quarters being built above the place where the Tygris and Euphrates meet to keep in awe both these Rivers And 7. Virta by some Authors supposed to have been built by Alexander the Great encompassed with Walls and fortified with Towers and Bulwarks that it was in a manner impregnable ASSYRIA Assyria bounded ASSYRIA particularly so called hath for its Western limits Mesopotamid and is called at this day Arzerum A Country very fruitful seated in a Plain It s People and their Customs c. and watered with several good Rivers the People were anciently much addicted to Marshal-affairs yet very demure in their Habit and Behaviour not going out of their Doors without first being perfumed adorned with Rings on their Fingers and a Scepter in their Hands they were much given to Bathing and especially after Copulation In their Nuptial Ceremonies they never see the Woman until they are married but when they hear a good Report of a Maiden being such as liketh them they go to her Parents and with them agree which done on an appointed time they meet in the Church in such a part of it as is designed for that use where there is a Partition with a Hole in it on one side the Bridegroom and his Friends stand and on the other the Bride and her Friends then the Cassisse or Priest bids the Bridegroom put his hand through the Hole and take his Bride by the hand which no sooner done but her Mother or some other of her Friends being prepared with a sharp Instrument pricks his hand all over and if he doth not pull away his hand when he is so pain'd but still holds her so fast that she cries they hold it a sign that he will love her and if he lets her go a sign of no great love Chief places in Assyria Places of most note 1. Ninive first built by Nimrod and afterwards so enlarged by several succeeding Kings that it became at last to exceed Babylon as well in largeness as otherwise its Walls being in circuit 60 miles being about 33 yards in height and 24 in breadth and on whose Walls there was for further strength 1500 Tunrets or Towers which made it to be thought impregble To this City the Lord sent Jonah the Prophet to Preach Repentance to them but afterwards for their Sins it was destroyed by Astyages King of the Medes out of whose Ruins the City 2. Mosul was â—aised which at present is the chief City of Assyria seated on the Tygris most eminent for being the residence of the Nestorian Patriarch where are founded 15 Christias Churches It is enclosed within a Wall and is the residence of a Bashaw a place much ruined but of note for the great concourse of Merchants this being a thorough-fare City 3. Schereâ—e zull or Schiâ—hrazur is very near to Persia and is the Seat of a Turkish Beglerby or Bassa who hath 10000 Timariots under his command for the defence and security of this Country It is near to if not the same as Arbela renowned or the Victory of Alexander the great against Darius and is said to retain its ancient name and to be an Archbishoprick of the Jacobites 4. Gâ—gilamela noted for the last and greatest Battel betwixt Alexander and Darius King of Pâ—â—sia in which Alexander gained the Victory 5. â—alach built by Nimrod being one of the Cities to which Saâ—inanassar transplanted the Ten Tribes 6. Arbela seated on the Banks of the River Caprus by some supposed to be the place where Noahs Ark was framed And 7. Sittace pleasantly seated in a fruitful Soil TVRCOMANIA Turcomania pouâ—ded TVRCOMANIA or ARMENIA MAJOR touches the Caâ—pian Sea between Georgia and Servan and on the Black Sea between Anatolia and Georgia it extends from East to West little less than 200 Leâ—gâ—eâ— and from South to North 150 answering to the great Armenia of the Ancients It s People Some divide it only into two sorts of People the Turcomans and the Curdes I would add at least the Armenians and the Georgians these possessing