Pilgrimage, Book 6 · Chapter 12
CHAP. XII.
Of the Arabians and naturall Africans; and of the beginnings and proceedings of the Mahumetan superstition in Africa: of the Portugalles forces and exploits therein.
HAuing often mentioned the Arabians in our former Chapters, it seemes fit to speake somewhat of the comming of that Nation, and their religion, into Africa from the East, as also of the Armes of the Portugalls (before often spoken of) which frō the West hauehave made some impressions in these parts. The Arabian Mahumetisine, euen almost in the infancie thereof, pierced into Africa, a….Aug. Iaco & ….Corst.l is. ….l.cont.….pirt.….2.in the yeare of our Lord 637. Omar inuaded Egypt, and Odman in the yeare 650. passed further with fourescore thousand fighting men, and defeated Gregorius Patricius, and imposing a tribute on the Africans departed. In Leontius time, in the yeare 698. They inuade and possesse Africa, and appoint Gouernors of their owne: in the yere 710. they pierced into Numidia and Libya, and ouerthrew the Azanaghi, and the people of Galata, O…en and Tombuto. In 973, hauing passed Gamben, they infected the Negros, and the first that dranke of their poison, were those of Melli. In the yere 1067. Iaiata sonne of Ababequer entred into the lower Ethiopia, and by little and little infected those people which confine vponupon the desarts of Libya and the rest, and pierced vntounto Nubia and Guinea.
Constantinus the Emperour bConst.Po phyrogenities de administer.imperio. ex Theophanis historia ca.25.among the Prouinces or great Amera-shippes subiect to the Saracens, numbreth Africa for one: the number and order whereof he hath transcribed from Theophanes, and I heere from him. The first of these was Persia or Chorost…; the second, Egypt; the third, Africa; the fourth, Philistiem or Rhamble; the fift, Damascus; the sixt, Chemps or Emessa; the seuenth, Chalep; the eight, Antiochia; the ninth, Charan; the tenth, Emet; the eleuenth, Esipe; the twelfth, Musel; the thirteenth, Ticrit. But when as Africa shooke off the yoke of the Ameras of Bagdad, and had an Amera of her owne, afterwards by occasion of the weakenesse of the Amera of Bagdad, the Amera of Persia or Chorasan freed himselfe also, and called himselfe Amerumnes, wearing the Alcoran hanging downe his necke in Tables like a chaine, and saith he is of the kindred of Alem: and the Amera of Egypt (to whom the Amera of Arabia Faelix, had alway beene subiect, became also his owne man, calling himselfe Amerumnes, and deriuing his pedigree from Alem. This as it giues light to the Saracen Historie in generall, so it sheweth the greatnesse of the Arabian or Saracenicall power in Africa, where first they made head against their maisters, in the time as is said before of Elagleb then Deputy or Amera in Cairaoan, whose example became a president to the Amera's of Persia and Egypt: & (which is more to our present purpose) was occasion of further spreading their superstition through Africa; the fountaine or sinke thereof being n…w not farre off in Damasco or Bagdad, but in the heart of Africa, Satan there chusing his Throne for these his Vicars, or Chalipha's (for so the word saith c… Scal. Can. ….li.3. Chalipha est Vicarius, quonomine … qui… … M … … sunt, qui & duna's & bonomis ….Scaliger signifieth) which as you hauehave heard, were too faithfull in that their infidelitie. And because I hauehave mentioned Scaligers interpretation of the word Chal…pha, it should not bee amisse to adde out of the same place, that the first Gouernors or Generalls after Mahumet (or as he calles him, Muhammed) were called Emirelmumenin, that is, Captaines of the Orthodox or right Beleeuers. Afterwards, because vnderunder colour of Religion, they sought, not onelie of Priestly Primacie, but a tyrannicall Monarchie, they chose rather to be called Chalipha. The first Emirelmumenin was Abubecher. When his successours sent their Lieutenants into Africa and Spaine, they gouerned a while vnderunder them, doing all in the name of the Emirelmumenin, although nothing in a manner but a Title was wanting of the fulnesse of power to themselues. But after, they entituled themselues Emire Elmumenin, and of Deputies became Kings: which was done by the petite Kings of Spaine, and the Gouernours of Africa. And now the King of Marocco and Fesse vseth it. For it is not a proper name, but as the French King is called Christianisimus, and the Spanish Catholicus. Thus farre Scaliger: which serueth as a glosse for those former names of Amera, Amerumnes, Chalipha, Miramuldinus, and many other hence corrupted.
The meanes of these and other Saracens enlarging their Sect hauehave beene principally by Armes; and where they were not of force, by trafficke and preaching, dAbout 200. yeares after the death of Mahamet, all Barbarie was infected with that pestilēce. Leo.lib.1.as on the other side of Ethiopia, eue to Cabo de los Corientes in the kingdomes of Magadazo, Melinde, Mombazza, Quiloa, and Mosambique, besides the Ilands of Saint Laurence, and others. But the greatest mischiefe that happened to Africa, by the Arabians, was about the soure hundreth yeare of the Hegeira. For before that time, the Mahumetan Chalipha's, or Amera's, had forbidden the Arabians to passe ouer Nilus with their tents and families, that so the Countrey was still peopled by the auncient Inhabitants, howsoeuer it were gouerned by them. For such multitudes of vnbrideled & barbarous nations were not likely to proue dutifull subiects to the Empire. About that time, eone Elcain the schismaticall Chalisa of Cairaoan, as is before in part shewed, hauing by his Generall Gehoar conquered all the Westerne parts, as farre as Sus, employed the same mans valour for the conquest of the East. And Egypt being now together with Syria subdewed; Elcain himselfe seeing the Chalipha of Bagdet, made no preparation to withstand him, by the aduice of Gehoar, (which at that time sounded Cairo) passed into Egypt, thinking to inuest himselfe with the Saracenicall soueraignetie, committing the gouernement of Barbary to a Prince of the tribe Zanhagia, who in this absence of his Lord compacted with the Chalipha of Bagdet, and acknowledged his Title in Barbarie, receiuing in reward of his treason from that Bagdet Prelate the kingdome of Africa. Elcain hauing lost his morsell, to snatch at a shadow, was in great perplexitie what course to take, tilla Counsellor of his perswaded him that hee might gather great summes of gold, if he would let the Arabians hauehave free liberty to passe through Egypt into Africa: which, though he knew, that they would so waste it by their spoiles as it should remaine vnprofitable, both to himselfe; and his enemies, yet incited by two vehement Orators, Couetousnesand Reuenge, at last he granted. And permitted all Arabians, which would pay him ducats a peece, freely to passe, receiuing their promise, that they would becom deadly enemies to the Rebel of Cairaoan. Whereupon tenne Tribes or Kindreds of the Arabians (halfe the people of Arabia deserta) and a multitude also out of Arabia Faelix (as writeth Ibnu Rachu a famous Historian, out of whom Leo hath drawne a great part of his African Historie) accepted the condition, and passing the Desarts, they tooke Tripolis, sacked Capes, and after eight moneths siege, entred into Cairaoan, filling with bloud, and emptying with spoile, all the places where they preuailed. Thus did these kindreds of Arabians settle themselues in these partes, and forced the Prouinces adiacent to tribute: and remayned Lords of Africa till Ioseph founded Marocco, who aided the posteritie of the Rebell against them, and brake their yoke from the Cities tributary.
But Mansor the fourth King and Chalipha of the Sect of Muoachedin, begunne, as is said, by Elmahels and Abdul Mumen, preferred the Arabians, and induced them to make warre vponupon those their enemies, whom easily they conquered. He also brought all the chiefe and principall of the Arabians into the Westerne Kingdomes, and assigned them more noble places for habitation, to wit, the Prouinces of Duccala and Azgar: to those of meane condition he appoynted Numidia, which at first were, as it were, slaues to the Numidians, but after recouered their liberty, and obtained the dominion of that part of Numidia assigned them, eueryevery day encreasing in power. Those which inhabited Azgara and other places in Mauritania, were all brought into seruitude. For the Arabians out of the Desarts, are as Fishes out of the Water. Atlas on the one side, and the other Arabians on the other side, suffered them not to passe into the Desarts, and therefore they laied downe their pride, and applyed themselues to husbandrie, dwelling in their tents, and paying yeerely tributes to the Kings of Mauritania, from which those of Duccala, by reason of their multitudes were free. Many Arabians remayned still in Tunis, which, after Mansors death, they tooke and made themselues Lords of the Regions adioyning: where some of them bare great sway till Leo's time: the other depriued of their wonted pay at Tunis, committed great robberies and slaughters of merchants and trauellers.
The Arabians, which inhabited Africa, are diuided into three Peoples, Hile…t, and C…achin, which are said to descend of Ismael, therefore by the Mahumetans esteemed more noble: the third is termed Machill, deriued from Saba, and came thithet out of Arabia Faelix. The diuisions and subdiuisions of these into their seuerall Tribes and Families, which Leo hath done, would perhappes to our nicer Readers seeme but an harsh heape of strange names, and for their sakes I wil referre the studious hereof to that our Author.
The Tribe Etheg, which Manser placed in Duccala, and in the Plaines of Tedles, in later times suffered much damage by the Portugalles on the one side, and the Kings of Fez on the other: they are about one hundred thousand men of warre, halfe horsemen. The Sumaites in the Desarts neare Tripolis can arme foure score thousand men: Sahid in the Desarts of Libya, can bring into the field almost an hundred and fiftie thousand of their Tribe. The Ruche are not rich, but in agilitie of body miraculous, and account it a shame if one of their footmen be vanquished of two horsemen: nor is any amongst them so slow that hee will not outgoe any the swiftest horse, be the iourney neuer so long. The Vode dwell betweene Gualata and Guadin, and are esteemed about three score thousand warriours. The other kindreds of them are exceeding many, dispersed through Africa, some-where commaunding, other-where subiect. And as they liue in diuers places, so doe they obserue differing customes. Those which doe dwell betweene Numidia and Libya liue miserably: they make merchandise of their Cameils with the Negros, and hauehave many horses in Europe, termed horses of Barbarie. They are much addicted to Poetrie, and make long Poems of their warres, huntings, and lo…es, with great elegance, and that in rithme, like the vulgar Italian Sonnets. They are (the destiny of Poets) curteous, but poore. The Arabian Inhabitants betweene Atlas and the Sea, are more rich in corne and cattell, but more base & barbarous in conditions. Amongst the Arabians neere Tunis, a good Poet is highly esteemed, and amply rewarded of their great men, neither can the neatnes and grace of their verse easily be expressed. When they goe to war, they carry their wiues with them on camels, and that (to make vp the wonder) to incourage them. The Arabians betweene Barbary and Egypt leade a wretched life in those barren desarts, forced, not onelyonly to exchange their cattell for corne, but to pawne their sons in great numbers to the Sicilians, who if they breake day, make slaues of them: and therefore they exercise all robberies, and sell any stranger (they can lay hold on) to the Sicilians for corne.
Now for the naturall and natiue Inhabitants of Africa, the white men (so they are in comparison of the Negros) are diuided into fiue peoples, Sanhagia, Musmuda, Zeneta, Haoara, and Gumera. The Musmuda inhabite the regions of Hea, Sus, Guzula, and Marocco. Gumera inhabiteth the mountaines alongest the Mediterranean, from the Streits to Tremizen. These two dwelseuered from the others, and maintaine continuall warres one with another. As Authors say, they were wont to hauehave tents, and the wide fields for their habitation, and those that were conquered, were sent to inhabite Cities, the Conquerours were Lords of the fields. The Tribes or Peoples Zeneta, Haoara, and Sanhagia, inhabite Temesne. The Zeneti chased the family of Idris from the dominion of Africa and Fez: and were againe themselues, after that, depriued by the Sanhagian families of Luntuna, and of Abdul Mumen. The Benemarini a Zeneran familie recouered the Empire long after.
They are in these times fRo. C. historie of Barbarie.diuided into Brebers and Alarbies. The Brebers inhabit the Mountaines: The Alarbees, the Plaines. Both of them maintaine deadly …udes, and will fight forer battels in such quarrels, then in seruice of their King. Insomuch, that vponupon losse of any great man, cruell battels hauehave been fought, and ten thousand men slaine at a time. The Alarbees hauehave their fairest Virgin riding on a Camell, with a flagge in her hand, decked in all pompe to sollicite her Kindred to reuenge, and goeth formost in the field incouraging them to follow. The kindred spareth no bloud to saue their Virgin, which the other side striueth to winne, holding that a continuall glorie to the seuenth generation. When a man is killed, his Tribe seeketh not reuenge on the murtherer onelyonly, but on the first man of that Tribe he meetes with. The Brebers doe likewise. Their women follow them in their battels, with a certaine colour in their hand called Hanna, which will staine, and therefore they throw it vponupon such as offer to runne out of the field, the basest ignominie that can befall them.
The Larbie and Breber doe differ as much in language, as Welch and English; the one is giuen to Husbandry, the other very much to Robbery. Mully Sidan in these late warres seeing the Larbees also become robbers, caused the next Dwarre (a towne of Tents) belonging to that Tribe which herein had faulted, to be destroyed, man, woman, childe, kine, sheepe, and whatsoeuer belonged to them; by his souldiours. But after hee had lost the field in the battell with Muly Sheck, they foraged vp to Marocco gates, trusting to the strength which that Tribe could make, being fifteene thousand horse. This Tribe or Kindred was called Weled Entid.
In Africa they are much subiect to the cough: insomuch g… … lib. 1.that on the Fridayes, when they are at their Mahumetan sermons, if one fall a coughing, another followes, and so from hand to hand all take it vp, and hold on in that sort, till the end of their sermon, no man hearing what hath beene said.
For their morall h…he general vices of the Africans, chap.8.conditions, Leo thus describeth them, as wee hauehave somewhat mentioned before: The Inhabitants of the Cities in Barbary are poore and proude, irefull, and writing all iniuries in marble: vntractable, and vnfriendly to strangers: simple, and credulous of impossibilities. The vulgar is ignorant of Nature, and esteem all works thereof diuine and miraculous. They are irregular in their life and actions, exceedingly subiect to choler, speake aloft and prowdly, and are often at buffets in the streetes. Thus base is their disposition, and no lesse is their estimation with their Lords, who make better account of their beasts. They hauehave no chiefe men or Officers to rule or counsell them. They are ignorant of merchandise, being destitute of bankers and money-changers, and eueryevery Merchant is constrained to attend his wares himselfe. No people vnderunder heauen more couetous: few amongst them, which for louelove of God or man will entertaine a stranger, or requite a good turne: alwayes encombred with melancholy, they addict themselues to no pleasures: the reason where of is, their great pouerty and small gaines.
The shepheards, both in the mountaines and fields, liue a labour some and miserable life; a beastly, th…uish, ignorant kinde of people, neuer repaying any thing committed to them. The yong women before they marry may hauehave their louers in all filthinesse, none of them bestowing her virginitie on her husband; if they be once married, their louers do no more follow after them, but betake them to some others. The brutish father makes this odious louelove to his daughter, and the beastly brother to his whoorish sister. The most of them are neither Mahumetans, Iewes, nor Christians, but without faith, and without so much as a shadow of Religion, neither making any prayers, nor hauing any Churches, but liue like beasts. And if any hath any smacke of deuotion, yet hauing no Law, Priest, nor any rule to follow, he is forced to liue like the other. Many of them, both in Cities and fields, are found fauouring of better things, both for Artes, Merchandise, and Deuotion, as the same Leo sheweth: but thus are the most inclined.
Now, to adde somewhat further of the Mahumetan Religion in Africa. Anno 714. (as some do iAnt. Gueuara Epistol. … de Barros Asia dec. 1. lib.1reckon) the Saracens, by the incitement of I…us Earle of Seuta, as in our third Booke is related, inuaded and conquered Spaine. Leo in his fift Booke attributeth this to Muse Gouernor of Africa, vnderunder Qualid kSome will hauehave this Qualid or V…, robe the Miralmu…min of Africa a Maraunian, whom Leo maketh the Easterne Chalipha.the Chalipha of Damasco, whose next successor depriued Muse, and sent Iezul to Cairaoan to succeed in his roome, whose posteritie there gouerned till that house was depriued of the Chaliphshippe, and the seate thereof remoued from Damasco to Bagdet. Then was Elagleb made Lieutenant of Africa, and held it with his posteritie after him one hundred and seuentie yeares. After which time El Mahdi an hereticall Chalipha dispossessed them. Of this El Mahdi, and Elcain, and their supposed heresies, I hauehave no certaine Historie. Certaine it is, that the Mahumetans from the beginning were diuided, as appeareth of Idris in our Historie of Fez: and more fully in the Catalogue of Mahomets next successors, which were the next, not in bloud, but in power. So did Bubac, or Abubacer challenge it, and after him Homar and Ottoman: contrary to the Testament of Mahomet, who appoynted Hali his heire. Muavias also murthered Hali and his sonne, to obtaine the soueraignetie. Thus were they diuide about the true successor of their false prophet; which fire is not yet extinct. Another diuision was about the interpretation of their law. lG. B. E. Hist.Sar.lib. 1.Abubacer gaue foundation to the Sect Melchia or Melici embraced by the Africans: Homar was author of the Sect Anesia, which the Turkes and Zaharans in Afrike receiue. Odman or Ottoman left behinde him the Banesia, which hath also his followers. Hali was head of the Imemia, which is followed by the Persians, Indians, many Arabians, and Gelbines of Africa.
Curio calleth these Sects Melici, embraced of the Africans, and as he affirmeth. Asafij of the Syrians and Arabians, Alambeli of the Persians, and Bnanisi of the Alexandrians and Assyrians. Forren names can scarcely be translated, but withall are traduced, and of diuers diuersly called. Of these foure grew three score and eight Sects of name, besides other more obscure. Amongst the rest were the Morabites, who led their liues (for the most part) in Hermitages, and make prosession of morall Philosophie, with certaine principles differing from the Alcoran. One of these was that Morabite, which certaine yeares past shewing Mahomets name imprinted in his breast, beeing done with aqua fortis, or some such thing, raised vp a great number of Arabians in Africa, and laid siege to Tripolis, where being betrayed by his Captaine, hee remayned the Turkes prisoner, who sent his skinne to the grand Seignior. These Morabites affirme, that when Alle or Hali fought, he killed tenne thousand Christians with one blowe of his Sword, which they say was an hundred cubites long. The Cobtini is as foolish a Sect, one of which shewed himselfe, not many yeares since, at Algier, mounted on a reede, with a bridle and reines of leather, affirming that hee had ridden an hundred miles on that horse in one night, and was therefore highly reuerenced. Somewhat also is said before of these African Sects in our Chapter of Fez.
An other occasion diuided Africa from other of the Mahumetan superstition. For when Muavia and Iezid his sonne were dead, one Marvan siezed on the Pontificality, but Abdalam the sonne of Iezid, expelled him. He also had slaine Holem the sonne of Hale a little before, whom the Arabians had proclaimed Chaliph, and therefore made the Maraunian flocke, of which he descended, odious to the Arabians. They therefore at Cusa chose Abdimelic for the Saracenicall soueraigne, who was of Halis posteritie, which they call the Abazian stocke or family. Hee sent Ciafa against Abdalan, who fled and was slaine; Ciafa exercised all cruelties against all that Maraunian kinred, drew Iezid out of his Sepulchre, and burnt his carkasse, and slaying all of that house, cast their bodies to the beasts and foules to be deuoured. Whereupon one Abed Ramon of that family, (some suppose him the sonne of Muavias) fled into Africa, with great troupes of foilowers and partakers, where the Saracens receiued him very honourably. Barrius mDec. i. lib. I. Asia.tels that Ciafa himselfe was Caliph, and that he descended of Abaz, of whom that stocke was called Abazian: and that he tooke an othe at his election, to destroy the Maraunians, which he executed in manner as aforesaid by Abidela his kinsman and Generall. To Abed Ramon resorted the Mahumetans in Afrike, who equalling his heart to his fortunes. called himselfe Miralmuminin, which is …is-pronounced Miramuli…, & signifieth the Prince of the Beleeuers; which he did in disgrace of the Abazians, Some attribute the building of Marocco to him, which others ascribe to Ioseph, as before is said, and some to some other Prince, built (as they say) in emulation of nBagdet was built long after Abed Ramons time.Bagdet, which the Easterne Calipha builded for the Metropolitan Citie of their Lawe and Empire. Barrius addeth, that he became a Nabuchodonofor, to whip and scourge Spaine, which Vlit his sonne, by Musa his Captaine, wholy conquered in the time of Rhoderious. But Pelagius soone after with his Spanish forces beganne to make head against the Moores, and recouered from them some towns: which oIn two yeres space it is said, that there perished in those Spanish wars. 700000. people.warre was continued with diuersity of chance and change, three hundred yeares and more, till pAn. Do. 1110.Alphonsus the sixt tooke Toledo from them: and for diuers good seruices which Don Henrie qDon Henrie Earle of Loraine.had done him in these warres, gaue him his daughter in marriage, and for her portion, those parts which he had taken from the Moores in Lusitania, since called the kingdome of Portugall, withall, that he or his could conquer frō them. Thus were the kingdom of Portugall planted in the bloud of the Moores, whereby it hath beene so fatned, and hath so batned euer since, that all their greatnesse hath risen from the others losse. For they not only cleared those parts of that kingdome of them, by an hereditary warre, but pursued them also into Africa, where Iohn the first tooke Seuta from them, so making way to his Posteritie, to pierce further, which happily they performed.
Alphonsus the fift of Portugal, rOsor. de reb. gestis Eman…elistooke from them Tanger, Arzila, and Alcasare, and others: especially Emanuel wanne from them many sTutuan, Asapbi, Castellum regale, Azamor, Titium, Mazagan, &c. Dam. a G….Cities, and a great part of Mauritania; the Arabians not refusing the Portugals seruice, till the Seriff arose in Africa, as euen now was shewed, and chased the Portugals thence.
Thus Spaine hath reuenged herselfe of the Mahumetan iniuries by her two armes; of Castile (which at last draue them out of Granada, and tooke diuers Townes in the Maine of Africa from them, and in our dayes hath expelled the remainders of that Race quite out of Spaine;) and Portugal, which thus freed it selfe, and burthened them, and by another course did yet more harme to the Mahumetan profession. For Henry, sonne of Iohn the first, set forth Fleets to discouer the Coasts of Africa, and the Ilands adjacent, diuers of which were by the Portugals possessed; made way to the further discoueries and conquests of that Nation in Africa, and India, to these our dayes, where they hauehave taken diuers Kingdomes and Cities from the Moores. Of which, other places of this Historie in part, and the larger relations of tBarrius, Osorius, Maffeus, Arthiu Dantiscanus. P. Iarric lib. 3.Barrius in his Decades, of Osorius, Maffaeus and Arthus, Iarric, and others, are ample witnesses.