Pilgrimage, Book 7 · Chapter 10
CHAP. X.
Of Loango, the Anzichi, Giachi, and the great Lakes in those parts of the World.
IT followeth in the course of our Discouery, to set you on shore in Loango, the Northerly neighbour of Congo, right vnderunder the Line, aLopez l.I.c.5.whose Countrey stretcheth two hundred miles within Land. The people are called Bramas, the King, Mani Loango; sometimes, as report goeth, subiect to the King of Congo. They are Circumcised after the manner of the Hebrewes, like as also the rest of the Nations of those Countries vse to be. They hauehave abundance of Elephants, and weare clothes of the Palme. Andrew bAndrew Bat.Battell liued amongst them two yeares and a halfe. They are, saith hee, Heathens, and obserue many superstitions. They hauehave their Mokisso's or Images, to which they offer according to the proportion of their sorts and suites: The Fisher offereth Fish, when he sueth for his helpe in his fishing; the Countrey-man, Wheat; the Weauer, Alibungo's, peeces of cloath: other bring bottels of Wine: all wanting that they would hauehave, and bringing what they want, furnishing their Mokisso with those things, whereof they complaine themselues to bee disfurnished.
Their Ceremonies for the dead are diuers. They bring Goats and let them bleed at the Mokisso's foot, which they after consume in a Feasting memoriall of the deceased partie: which is continued foure or fiue dayes together, and that foure or fiue seuerall times in the yeare, by all of his friends and kindred. The dayes are knowne, and though they dwell twentie miles thence, yet they will resort to these memoriall-Exequies, and beginning in the night, will sing dolefull and funerall songs till day, and then kill, as aforesaid, and make merry. The hope of this, maketh such as hauehave store of friends to contemne death; and the want of friends to bewaile him, makes a man conceiue a more dreadfull apprehension of Death. Their conceit is so rauished with superstition, that many die of none other death. Kin is the name of vnlawfull and prohibited meate, which, according to each kindreds deuotion, to some Familie is some kinde of Fish; to another, a Henne; to another, a Buffe; and so of the rest: in which, they obserue their vowed abstinence so strictly, that if any should (though at vnawares) eate of his Kin, he would die of conceit, alway presenting to his accusing conscience the breach of his vow, and the anger of Mokisso. He hath knowne diuerse thus to hauehave died, and sometimes would, when some of them had eaten with him, make them beleeue, that they had eaten of their Kin, till hauing sported himselfe with their superstitious agonie, hee would affirme the contrarie. They vse to set in their Fields, and places where Corne or Fruits grow, a Basket with Goates-hornes, Parrats feathers, and other trash: This is the Mokisso's Ensigne, or token that it is commended to his custodie; and therefore the people, very much addicted to theft, dare not meddle, or take any thing. Likewise, if a man, wearied with his burthen, lay it downe in the high way, and knit a knot of Grasse, and lay thereon; or leaue any other note (knowne to them) to testifie, that hee hath left it there in the name of his Idoll, it is secured from the lime-singers of any passenger. Conceit would kill the man that should transgresse in this kinde.
In the Banza, or chiefe Citie, the chiefe Idoll is named Chekoke. EueryEvery day they hauehave there a Market, and the Chekoke is brought forth by the Ganga, or Priest, to keepe good rule, and is set in the Market place, to preuent stealing. Moreouer, the King hath a Bell cRecouerie of stollen goods.the strokes whereof found such terrour into the heart of the fearefull theefe, that none dare keepe any stollen goods after the sound of that Bell. Our Author inhabited in a little Reede house, after the Lcango manner, and had hanging by the walls, in a Cloth case, his Peece, wherewith he vsed to shoote Fowles for the King, which, more for louelove of the Cloth, then for the Peece, was stollen. VponUpon complaint, this Bell (in forme like a Cow-bell) was carried about and rung, with proclamation to make restitution; and hee had his Peece the next morning set at his dore. The like another found, in a bagge of Beades of a hundred pound weight, stollen from him, and recouered by the sound of this Bell.
They hauehave a dreadfull and deadly kinde of tryall in controuersies, after this manner. dTriall of suspected personsThere is a little Tree, or Shrubbe, with a small Root (it is called Imbunda about the bignesse of ones thumbe, halfe a foot long, like a white Carrot. Now when any listeth to accuse a Man, or Familie, or whole Street, of the death of any of his friends, saying, That such a man bewitched him, the Ganga assembleth the accused parties, and scrapes that Root, the scrapings whereof he mixeth with water, which makes it as bitter as gall (he tasted of it:) one Root will serue for the tryall of hundred men. The Ganga brewes the same together in Gourds, and with Plantaine stalkes hitteth eueryevery one, after they hauehave drunke, with certaine wordes. Those that hauehave receiued the drinke, walke by, till they can make Vrine, and then they are thereby freed. Others abide till either Vrine frees them, or dizzinesse takes them: which the people no sooner perceiue, but they cry, Vndoke, Vndoke, that is, naughtie Witch: and he is no sooner fallen by his dizzinesse, but they knocke him on the head, and dragging him away, hurle him ouer the Cliffe. In eueryevery Libertie they hauehave such Tryalls, which they make in cases of Theft, and Death of any person. Euerie weeke it falls out that some or other vndergoes this Tryall, which cosumeth multitudes of people.
There be certaine persons called Dunda, which are borne of Negro-Parents, and yet are, by some vnknowne cause, white. They are very rare, and when such happen to be borne, they are brought to the King, & become great Witches: They are his Councellors, and aduise him of luckie and vnluckie dayes for execution of his enterprises. When the King goes any whither, the Dundas goe with him, and beat the ground round about with certaine Exorcismes, before the King sits downe, and then sit downe by him. They will take any thing in the Market, none daring to contradict them.
Kenga is the landing place of Loanga. They hauehave there an Idoll called Gumbiri and a holy House, called Munsa Gumbiri, kept and inhabited by an old woman; where once a yeare is a solemne Feast, which they celebrate with Drummes, Daunces, and Palme-wines: and then they say he speaketh vnderunder the ground. The people call him Mokissa Cola, or a strong Mokisso, and say, That hee comes to stay with Chekoke, the Idoll of the Banza. That Chekoke is a Negro-Image, made sitting on a stoole: a little house is there made him: they annoint him with Toccola, which is a redde colour made of a certaine Wood eThis seemeth to be Red Sanders. A. Bat. sayth it is Log…ood.ground on a stone, and mixed with water, wherewith they daily paint themselues, from the waste vpwards, esteeming it great beautie: otherwise they account not themselues readie. It is for like purpose carried from hence to Angola.
Sometimes it falls out, that some man or boy is taken with some sudden Enthusiasme, or rauishment, becomming madde, and making a whooping and great clamours. They call them Mokisso-Moquat, that is, taken of the Mokisso. They cloth them very handsome, and whatsoeuer they bid in that fit (for it lasteth not very long) they execute as the Mokissos charge.
Morumba is thirtie Leagues Northwards from hence, in the Mani-Loango's Dominion; where he liued nine moneths. There is a House, and in it a great Basket, proportioned like to a Hiue, wherei… is an Image called Morumba, whose Religion extendeth farre. They are sworne to this Religion at tenne or twelue yeares old: but for probation are first put in a House, where they hauehave hard diet, and must be mute for nine or tenne dayes, any prouocation to speake notwithstanding. Then doe they bring him before Morumba, and prescribe him his Kin, or perpetuall abstinence from some certaine meat. They make a cut in his shoulder like to an halfe Moone, and sprinkle the bloud at Morumbas feete, and sweare him to that Religion. In the wound they put a certaine white powder, in token of his late admission; which, so long as it continueth, doth priuiledge him to take his meat and drinke with whomsoeuer hee pleaseth, none denying him the same, at free cost. They also hauehave their fatall Tryalls before this Image, where the accused partie kneeling downe, and clasping the Hiue, sayth, Mene quesa ca bamba Morumba, signifying, That hee comes thither to make tryall of his innocence; and if he be guiltie, hee falls downe dead; being free, hee is freed. Andrew Battell sayth he knew sixe or seuen, in his beeing there, that made this tryall.
Beyond the Countrey of Loango are the Anzignes fOd.Lopez.l.1.…5,, the cruellest Canniballs which the Sunne looketh on. For in other places they eate their enemies, or their dead; but here they take and eate their Kinsfolkes and Countrey-folkes. They keepe Shambles of Mans flesh, as with vsus of Beefe and Muttons. They cate their enemies: Their slaues (if cut out, they will yeeld them more in the seuerall Ioynts, or Peeces, then to be sold aliue) they kill, though it be but to saue a halfe-penny. Some of them for wearinesse of life, and some (oh crueltie of vaine-glory) euen for valour of courage, in contempt of Death, and esteeming it an honourable proofe of their fidelitie and manhood, will offer themselues to the Butcherie, as faithfull subiects vntounto their Princes, of them to bee consumed and eaten, that with their death, and after their death, they may doe them seruice.
These Anzichi stretch from Zaire to Nubia. They hauehave many Mines of Copper, and great quantitie of Sanders, redde and gray; wherewith (mixed with the Oyle of Palme-tree) they annoint themselues. The Portugalls temper it with Vineger, for the healing of the French Pokes: by the smoake thereof they driue away the head-ache. It is incredible, or at least would so seeme to vsus, which Lopez reporteth, That they carrying their arrowes (which are short and slender, of a very hard wood) in the Bowe hand, will shoot off eight and twentie (so many they hold at once) before the first of them fall to ground; and with a short Hatchet, with a sudden whirling themselues about, breake the force of the enemies arrowes, and then hanging this Hatchet on their shoulder, discharge their owne arrowes. They are of great simplicitie, loyaltie, and fidelitie, and the Portugalls more trust them then any other slaues. They are yet sauage and beastly, and there is no conuersing with them: but they bring slaues of their owne Nation, and out of Nubi…o Congo to sell; for which they recarrie Salt, and Shells, which they vse for Mon…, Silkes, Linnen, Glasses, and such like.
They gAll the Heathen Nations in these parts of Africa are circumcised.circumcise themselues, and besides that, both men and women, both of the Nobilitie and Comminaltie, from their childhood marke their faces with sundry slashes made with a knife. I asked (sayth hCap.10.Lopez) of their Religion, and it was told me that they were Gentiles; which was all I could learne of them. They worship the Sunne for the greatest God, as though it were a man; and the Moone next, as though it were a woman. Otherwise eueryevery man chuseth to himselfe his owne Idoll, and worships it after his owne pleasure. The Anzichi iG.Bot.Ben. part.1.l.3.hauehave one King principall, which hath many Princes vnderunder him.
Of Ambus and Medera, Northerne Regions, little besides the names is knowne. Biafar is inhabited with people much addicted to Enchauntments, Witchcrafts, and all abhominable Sorceries. Of the Giacchi wee hauehave made often mention, and of their incursions into Congo. These, in their owne Language, are called Agag, as Lopez kLopez.l.1.13. & l.2.c.9.testifieth, and liue on both sides of Nilus, in the borders of the Empire of Mohenhe-Muge. They vse to marke themselues about the lippe, vponupon their cheekes, with certaine lines which they make with yron Instruments, and with fire. Moreouer, they hauehave a custome to turne their eye-lids backwards, so that their blacke skinnes, white eyes, and cauterized markes seeme to conspire a dreadfull and gastly deformitie in their faces. They hold warre with the lThese Amazones are (as we hauehave obserued) doubted of in other places: and Andr.Battell, which trauelled neere to those parts, denieth this report of Lopez as vntrue.Amazones; and of late yeares hauehave inuaded the neighbour Nations. Their weapons are Darts, their food humane flesh, without all humanitie deuoured.
Andrew Battell mAndr. Battell liued (by occasion of the Portugalls trechery) with the lagges a longer time then euer any Christian, or white man had done: and serued thē with his Musket in their warres: neither could Lopez (saith he) hauehave true intelligence whence they came. For the Christians at that time had but vncertain cōiectures of them: neither after had the Portugalls any cōuersing, but by way of commerce: but he being betrayed, fled to thē for his life, and after, by stealth escaped from them: the only European that euer liued in their campe.liued amongst them sixteene moneths. He sayth, they are called Iagges by the Portugall, by themselues Imbangolas, and came from Sierra Liona. This either is not the former Nation, but so called of like condition in manners, and inuasion of Countries, or else these reports agree not. Howsoeuer, he affirmeth, That they are exceeding deuourers of mans flesh, for which, they refuse Beefe and Goates, whereof they take plentie. They hauehave no setled habitation, but wander in an vnsetled course. They rise in Haruest, and inuading some Countrey, there stay as long as they find the Palmes, or other sufficient meanes of maintenance, and then seeke new aduentures. For they neither Plant nor Sowe, nor breed vp Cattell: and which is more strange, they nourish vp none of their owne children, although they hauehave ten or twentie wiues a man, of the properest and comeliest slaues they can take. But when they are in trauaile, they digge a hole in the Earth, which presently receiueth, in that darke prison of death, the new-borne creature, not yet made happie with the light of life. Their reason is, that they will not bee troubled with education, nor in their flitting wanderings be troubled with such cumbersome burthens. Once, a secret prouidence both punisheth the fathers wickednesse, and preuenteth a Viperous generation: if that may be a preuention, where there is a succession without generation: and as Plinie nPlin l.5.c.17.sayth of the Esseni; Gens aelerna est in qua nemo nascitur. For of the conquered Nations they preserue the boyes from ten to twentie yeares of age, and bring them vp, as the hope of their succession, like Negro-Azimogli oAzimogli are the children of Christians ta… frō the parents by the Turke, the spawne of their lanizaries, with education fitting their designes. These weare a Collar about their necke, in token of slauerie, vntill they bring an enemies head slaine in battaile; and then are they vncollared, freed, and dignified with the title of Souldiors. If one of them runnes away, he is killed and eaten. So that hemmed in betwixt hope and feare, they grow very resolute and aduenturous, their Collars breeding shame, disdaine, & desperate furie, till they redeeme their freedome, as you hauehave heard. Elembe the great Iagge brought with him twelue thousand of these cruell monsters from Sierra Liona, and after much mischiefe and spoyle setled himselfe in Benguele, twelue degrees from the Line Southwards, and there breedeth and groweth into a Nation. But Kelandula, sometime his page, proceeds in that beastly life before mentioned, and the people of Elembe by great troupes runne to him, and follow his Campe, in hope of spoyle. They hauehave no Fetisso's, or Idols. The Great Iagge, or Prince, is master of all their Ceremonies, and is a great Witch. I hauehave seene this Kelandula (sayth our Author) continue a Sacrifice from Sunne to Sunne; the Rites where of were these: Himselfe sat on a stoole in great Pompe, with a Cappe adorned with Peacockes feathers (which Fowles, in one Countrey called Shelambanza, are found wilde) and in one place empaled, about the graue of the King, are fiftie kept, and fedde by an olde woman, and are called Ingilla Mokisso, that is, Birds of Mokisso. Now about him thus set, attended fortie or fiftie women, each of them wearing continually a Zebras tayle in their hands: There were also certaine Gangas, Priests, or Witches. Behind them were many with Drummes and Pipes, and Pungas (certaine Instruments made of Elephants teeth, made hollow a yard and halfe, and with a hole like a Flute, which yeeld a loud and harsh sound, that may be heard a myle off.) These strike, and sound, and sing, and the women weaue (as is said) till the Sunne be almost downe. Then they bring forth a Pot, which is set on the fire, with Leaues, and Rootes, and Water therein: and with a kinde of white powder, the Witches, or Gangas, spot themselues, one on the one cheeke, the other on the other; and likewise their foreheads, temples, breasts, shoulders, and bellies, vsing many inchaunting tearmes, which are holden to be prayers for victorie. At Sunne-set a Ganga brings his Kissengula, or Warre-Hatchet, to the Prince (this weapon they vse to weare at their girdles) and putting the same in his hand, biddes him be strong, their God goes with him, and he shall hauehave victorie. After this they bring him foure or fiue Negros, of which, with a terrible countenance, the Great Iagge with his Hatchet kills two, and other two are killed without the Fort. Likewise, fiue Kine are slaine within, and other fiue without the Fort; and as many Goates, and as many Dogges, after the same manner. This is their Sacrifice, at the end whereof all the flesh is in a Feast consumed. Andrew Battell was commaunded to depart when the slaughter began, for their Deuill, or Mokisso (as they said) would then appeare and speake to them. This Sacrifice is called Kissembula; which they solemnize when they attempt any great enterprise. There were few left of the naturall Iagges, but of this vnnaturall broode the present succession was raysed.
Now that we hauehave thus discoursed of these former Nations, let vsus take view of the more in-land and Easterly borders, which abutte on Congo: where we shall find the great Lake Aquilunda, which with her many Riuers aforesaid watereth all that great Countrey, assisted therein by a farre greater Lake, called Zembre, great Mother and chiefe Ladie of the Waters in Africa. As for the Mountaines of the Moone, now called Toroa, there is a Lake called Gale, of no great quantitie, whence issueth a Riuer, named Camissa, and by the Portugalls, the sweet Riuer, disemboquing at the False Cape, an Arme whereof had before entred the Sea (in 32.40.) of Infante pIo.di Barros Dec.1.l.3.c.4. Od. Lopez.l.2.c.8 & Pigafctta., one of Dias his companions, in the first Discouerie of those parts, called Infante because he there went first on Land. But from those Hills of the Moone, the Lake whence Nilus springeth hath no helpe. Neither are there two Lakes, East and West, distant from each other about foure hundred and fiftie myles, as Ptolomey describeth; for then the one should be in the confines of Congo and Angola, the other about Sofala and Monomotapa: where is found but one Lake (for Aquilunde is no tributarie to Nilus.) This Lake is betweene Angola and Monomotapa, and containeth in Diameter 195. myles. There is indeede another Lake which Nilus maketh in his course, but standeth Northward from the first Lake Zembre, and not in East or West parallel. Neither doth Nilus (as some affirme) hide it selfe vnderunder the ground, and after rise againe, but it runneth through monstrous and desart Valleyes, without any setled Channell, and where no people inhabiteth, from whence that fabulous opinion did grow. This Lake is situate in twelue degrees of Southerly latitude, and is compassed about like a vault with exceeding high Mountaines, the greatest whereof are called Cafates, vponupon the East; and the Hills of Sal-Nitrum, and the Hills of Siluer on another side, and on the other side with diuerse other Mountaines. The Riuer Nilus runneth Northwards foure hundred myles, and then entreth into another great Lake, which the inhabitants doe call a Sea. It is much bigger then the first, and containeth in bredth two hundred and twentie myles, tight vnderunder the Equinoctiall Line. Of this second Lake, the Anzichi giuegive certaine and perfect intelligence: for they traffique into those parts. And they report, That in this second Lake there is a people that sayleth in great ships, and can write, and vseth number, weight, and measure, which they hauehave not in the parts of Congo; that they build their houses with Lime and Stone, and for their fashions and qualities may be compared with the Portugalls. This seemeth to be in Goiame, where the Abassine entituleth himselfe King, and in his title (as before qCap.3.you hauehave read) calls it the Fountaine of Nilus: which Alvares rF. Alvares, c.135.also mentioneth, that Peter Covilian saw. He affirmeth, That there are Iewes about those parts, which perhaps are the people that the Anzichi speake of. From this second Lake in Goiame, the Riuer which is there called Gihon, passeth through the Pretes Dominion to Meroe, and so to Aegypt, as elsewhere is shewed. In these two great Lakes are diuerse Islands, that we speake not of the Tritons, and other I know not what monsters, there reported to be found. The Lake Zembre yeeldeth not Nilus alone, but Zaire, a farre more spacious Riuer in widenesse, and more violent in force then Nilus, or any other Riuer in Africa, Europe, or Asia, of which we lately related. And besides her Northerne and Westerne tributes, carried by those two Riuers to the Mediterranean and Ocean Seas, she sendeth her great streames of Magnice, Coava, and Cuama, into the inner or Easterne Ocean.
Magnice sOd.Lopez. l.2.c.9.springing out of Zembre, receiueth in his voyage to the Sea three other Riuers; Nagoa, called S. Christophers; and Margues, which both spring out of the Mountaines of the Moone, by the people there called Toroa: the third is Arroe, which besides his waters, payeth to Neptune, which neither needes, nor heedes it, a great quantitie of Gold, which it washeth from the Mountaines of Monomotapa (a Countrey extending it selfe betweene Magnice and Cuama) whose seuen mouthes seeke to swallow vp many Islands which they hold in their iawes, but through greedinesse loose that which greedinesse makes them seeke, not able to swallow so great morsels, which therefore remaine and are inhabited with Pagans. Boterus tG.Bot. B… part.1.l.3.sayth, That this Riuer runnes out of that Lake, a great space in one channell, and then is diuided into two; the one called Spirito santo, running into the Sea, vnderunder the Cape Couenti; the other Cuama, receiueth the Riuers Panami, Luangua, Arruia, Mangiono, Inadire, Ruina, and is sayled more then seuen hundred myles.
Coava is also a great Riuer. The inhabitants within Land, about these Riuers, are (as you hauehave heard) Pagans and rude people. Let me now hauehave leaue to conuey my selfe downe this Riuer Coava into the Ocean, and there take view of the many Islands with which Nature hath adorned this African world, as with many Brooches and Iewels set and hanged about the fringes of her garments: and first learning what we can by heare-say of the Islands in and from the Redde Sea hither, we will in some Portugall Carricke sayle round about the African Coast, and acquaint you with what wee shall finde worthiest obseruation: and then not willing as yet to set foot in Lisbone, as we meet with the fleet of Spaine sayling to the New-found World, will passe with them for further Discoueries. For, to goe into the Mediterranean, to discouer the African Islands there, will scarce be worth the while. To heare a little of those few may content vsus.