Pilgrimage, Book 7 · Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII.
Of Benomotapa, and the parts adioyning.
BEnomotapa, called also Benomotaxa, and Monomotapa, is a large Empire, so entituled after the name of the Prince thereof (for Benomotapa is with them a title, as Caesar or Emperour with vsus) extendeth after some mens reckoning almost a thousand leagues in compasse, between the great Lake, whence Nilus springeth on the North-east, Magnice and Toroa on the South, and the Sea-coast of Sofala on the East. It is betweene the sea and the fresh waters, accounted a huge Iland. Betweene Cuama and Corrientes it is pleasant, holesome, and fruitfull: And from the Cape Corrientes to Magnice, it abounds with beasts; but it is cold. Their principall Cities are Zimbas (happily the same which Ptolomey aPtol. Geogr… lib.4.cap.9.calls Agisymba) and Benamataza; that one and twentie, this fifteene dayes iourney, from Sofala. Of the abundance of Elephants in Benomotapa is said before; whereof Aethiopia is eueryevery where stored with manifold herdes: blo. di Barros, Dec.I.l.10.c.1.although I dare not subscribe to their opinion, that esteeme Elephants as common there, as heere we hauehave Oxen. It is a creature nine cubites high (in their largest stature) and fiue cubits thicke: with long and broad eares, little eyes, short tailes, and great bellies. Of their disposition is spoken alreadie.
The Mines neerest to Sofala, are those of Manica, which are in wide Champaines compassed with mountaines, ninety miles in circuit. The places where the gold is, appeare and are knowne by the drinesse and barrennesse of the soile, as if Nature it selfe could not hord vp gold in her spacious chests, but she must needs proue bare and barren of her wonted good workes; and how much lesse vnnaturall and degenerate mankinde? The Prouince is called Matuca, the people Botonghi, which (although they are betweene the Line and the Tropike) yet in Winter hauehave such snowes in the mountaines, that if any abide there, they die frozen in them; and in Summer-time the aire in the tops of those hills is so cleare and pure, that some of our men, which were then there, saw the new Moone, the same day that she had kissed her bright and bountifull brother.
And who can now charge the bright eye of the world, with the obscure darkenesse of this Peoples hue, which so cold Winters, nor pure Summers, can lessen or lighten? Yea euen in the cold Countries neere the Cape of Good-hope, the Aethiopians hauehave no hope or happe of better colour; whereas the hotter Countries of Libya, and in manner all America (notwithstanding the Sunnes strait looking, and neerenesse, not allowing them a shadow to attend them in the greatest height of his bounty) know not this blacke tincture in the naturalls thereof.
But to returne (and who will not returne?) to the Mines: There are other Mines in the Prouinces of Boro and Quiticui, in which, and in the riuers, is found gold not so pure. The people are carelesse and negligent to get, and the Moores which traded with them, were faine to giuegive their wares in trust, with promise by such a time to pay them in gold, and the people would not faile in their word.
Other Mines are in Toroa, wherein are those buildings which Barrius attributeth to some forren cAs the Portugals hauehave … eir Castles Mina, Sofala, &c. so some Prince, Master fometimes of those Mines.Prince, and I, for the reasons before alledged, to Salomon. It is a square fortresse, of stone; the stones of marueilous greatnesse, without any signe of morter or other matter to …oyne them. The wall fiue and twenty spannes thicke, the height not holding proportion. Ouer the gates are letters, which learned Moores could neither reade nor know what letters they were. There are other buildings besides, of like fashion. The people call them the Court; for an officer keepes it for the Benomotapa, and hath charge of some of his women, that are there kept. They esteeme them beyond humane power to build, and therefore account them the workes of Diuels; and the Moores which saw them, said the Portugals Castles were no way to be compared to them. They are fiue hundred and ten miles from Sofala, Westward, in one and twentie degrees of South…ly Latitude: in all which space is not found one building ancient or later; the people are rude, and dwell in cottages of timber.
All the people of this Region is of curled haire, and more ingenious then those which are against Mosambique, Quiloa and Mclinde, among whom are many that eat mans flesh, and let their kine bloud to satisfie their thirst. These seeme prone to receiue the Faith: for they beleeue in One GOD, whom they call Moz…o and hauehave no Idols, not worship other thing: They punish nothing more seuerely then Witchcraft, whereunto other Negros are exceedingly addicted; no such person escapeth death. The like detestation they conceiue against Adultery and Theft. EueryEvery one may hauehave as many wiues as they will: but the first is principall, the other serue her; and her children are heires. A woman is not marriageable with them, till her Naturall purgation testifie for her abilitie to Conception: and therefore they entertaine the first fluxe therof with a great Feast.
In two things they are religious; in Obseruation of dayes, and Rites concerning their dead. Of dayes, they obserued the first day of the Moone, the sixt, the seuenth, the eleuenth, the sixteenth, the seuenteenth, the twentieth, and the eight and twentieth, because in that day their King was borne. The religion is in the first, sixt, and seuenth, all the rest are repetitions, aboue ten. When any is dead, after his bodie is eaten, his neere kindred, or his wife which hath had most children by him, keepe the bones, with some signes whereby to know, whose they were: and eueryevery seuenth day they obserue Exequies in the same place where they are kept: They spread many cloaths, and set thereon tables furnished with bread and sodden flesh, which they offer to the dead with prayers and supplications. And the principall thing they request of them, is, the good successe of their Kings affaires. These prayers they make, being cloathed in white garments: after which, the good-man and his family eat their offerings. The Benomotapa must weare cloathes of the same Countrey, for feare of infection; others may weare forren cloath. He is serued on the knee, and when he drinketh or cougheth, all they which are about him make a shout, that all the Towne may know. None may cough in his presence: also, eueryevery one must sit in token of reuerence; to stand, is a signe of dignitie, which he affordeth the Portugals and Moores, and is the chiefe honor can be yeelded any. The second honor is to sit on a cloath in his house: the third, that a man may hauehave a doore in his house, which is the dignity of great Lords. For meaner persons, they need not feare to hauehave any thing stolne out of their open houses, seeling the seueritie of Iustice doth secure them. Doores are not for necessitie, but for honor. Their houses are of pyramidall or steeple forme, all the timbers meeting in the middest at the toppe: couered with earth and straw. Some of them are made of timbers, as long and bigge as a great shippes mast: the greater they are, the more honorable.
The Benomotapa hath musike whither so euer he goeth, with singers: and more then fiue hundred iesters, which hauehave their captaine or master of Mis-rule. The royall ensigne is a little plow-share, with an iuory point, which he carrieth always at his girdle; by which is signified peace, and husbanding of the ground. He beareth likewise one or two dPorta vna … due Zagaie. Bot… saith, vna Zapoa, … due dardi: a mattocke and two darts.swords in token of Iustice, and defence of his people. The Countrey is free; and giues him no other payments, but presents, when they come to speake with him: and certaine dayes seruice. No inferiour comes before his superiour without some present, in token of obedience and courtesie. The Captaines of warre with all theirs bestow seuen dayes in thirtie in his husbandry or other businesse. He must confirme all sentences of Iudgement in his owne person: there needs no prison, for matters are presently dispatched, according to the allegations and testimonies that are brought. And if there be not sufficient testimonies, then the matter is tried by oath, in this manner. They beat the barke of a certaine tree, and cast the powder thereof in water; eOf such like water, see the next Chapter.which the partie drinketh, and if he doe not vomit, he is cleared; if he vomit, he is condemned. And if the accuser, when the accused partie vomiteth not, will drinke of the same, and doth not vomit, he is then acquitted, and the matter dispatched. If any sue to him, he speedeth not, but by mediation of a third person, which also sets downe the summe that the King must hauehave, sometime at so deare rate, that the suter rather refuseth the Kings grant. They hauehave no horse, and therefore warre on foot: The spoiles are generally shared amongst all. When he marcheth, in the place where he is to lodge they make a new house of wood, and therein must continuall fire be kept, without euer going out; saying, that in the ashes might be wrought some witcheries to the indamagement of his person. And when they go to the warres, they neuer wash their hands nor faces, till they hauehave obtained victory. They hauehave their wiues with them, which are so loued and respected, that if the Kings sonne meet with one of them in the street, he giues her way. Benomotapa hath more then a thousand women; but the first is Principall, although she be inferiour in bloud, and her sonne succeeds. And in seed-time and haruest, the Queene goeth to the field and ouer-seeth the stuffe, esteeming it a great honor. Thus farre out of Barrius.
Iohannes Boterus fGi.Bot.B….pag.I.tells, That his chiefe warriours are women, namely, certaine Amazones, which feare off their left pappes, as Odoardo gOd. Lopes Co…go hist.lib.….cap.9.Lopez reporteth, least they should hinder their shooting, after the manner of the auncient Amazones: they are quicke, bold, couragious, and constant in battell, and most constant in inconstancie: for when they make shew of flight, they will returne (espying their aduantage) with the greatest fury. They dwell in certaine countries by themselues, and at certaine times hauehave men to accompany with them for generation, to whom they send their males; reseruing all the female children which they hauehave. Thus we finde Amazons, which the Ancients reported in Asia, and Diodorus Libya, now in these times, if this report be true, in Aethiopia: and Huldericus hShmidel historia Nautgat. in Am.cap.37.Shmidel hath told of the like in America.
In the yeare 1560. Consalvus iEman. Acosta Rerum in oriente gest. Comment.Silueria, with two other Iesuites, went from Goa to the Kingdomes of Inhamban, and Monomotapa: and coming to Inhamban, they went to Tonge, the Citie royall, where they baptised the King and all his people in a short space, naming the King, Constantine, the Queene, Mary. Thence went Consalvus to Monomotapa, and so preuailed with his Images, Preaching, and Contempt of the world, that he wanne the King and his mother, with multitudes of others to Baptisme. But soone after the King, by suggestion of the Moores, slew him. Schastian in reuenge raised an armie of sixteene hundred, kR…ter… part.2. lib.3.most of them being Gentlemen, which he sent vnderunder the conduct of Francis Barretto. The Benomotapa fearing the Portugals forces, offered reasonable conditions, which Barretto refusing, was discomfited, not by the Negro, but by the aire; the malignitie whereof (the sowre sauce of all these golden Countries in Africa) consumed his people. There are other Kingdomes adioyning to Monomotapa, and the mountaines of the Moone, Matana, Melemba, Quinbebe, Berteca, Bauagul, of which I can giuegive you but the names.
Caphraria, or the Land of the Caphars is next to be considered, which Maginus boundeth betweene Rio di spirito sancto, and Cape Negro, extending to the Cape of good hope Southwards. Why hee should call this part the Caphars, I know not: for the Arabians, of whom this word is borrowed, giuegive that name to all the Heathen people in Africa: yea both the Arabians, and all of their religion, call all such as receiue not that superstition, Caphars, euen Christians also, as Master Ienkinson lA. Ienkinson in Hakl. tom.…. pag 327.long since told vsus. And for the Heathens in Africa, Barrius affirmeth, that it is by the Moores giuen to them all: signifying, Without Law, or lawlesse people. Zanguebar is in this respect called Cafraria. It should seeme it is appropriated to these the Southerliest Nations of Africa; for want of other the more true proper names which were vnknowne. With the names of the Capes, and other places of note, Master Pory mPory before ….c….hath already acquainted his English Reader: OnelyOnly that notable and famous Cape of good hope (so named nOsor. de reb. …m. lib.I. This was An. 1487. The discouerie therof is lagely related by Io.di Barros in his first Decade of Asia lib.3.by Iohn the second, King of Portugal, for that hope which hee conceiued of a way to the Indies, when it was first discouered) deserueth some mention. It hath three head-lands, the Westermost whereof beareth name of Good hope, the middlemost, Cabo fals…, because they hauehave sometimes, in their returne from the Indies, mistaken this for the former: betweene which two Capes runneth into the Sea a mightie Riuer, called by the Portugals, Rio dul…e, which springeth out of a Lake called Gale, situate among the mountaines of the Moone, so much celebrated by the ancient Geographers: The third and Eastermost, is that of Agulhas or Needles, about fiue and twenty leagues from the first: both which seeme as two hornes, wherewith it threatens the Ocean, which in these parts is found oftentimes o'Bartholom… Dias, who first discouered this Cape, called it Ca. Tormeut…s, in regard of the troubles and dangers he there sustained.tempestuous, and when it cannot preuaile against this rough-faced and horned Promontory, it wrekes the whole malice vponupon the shippes, whose ribbes, in the enraged fits, it would breake if they were of iron; as Lins…hoen pLinscot.lib.I. cap.93. Nauig. Verbussi.testisieth of his owne experience. True it is, that sometimes it is passed with more ease; but not so vsually: and Lins…hoten tells, that at his returne from India, the Saint Thomas, a new Carrick, was heere cast away, qThey found it there in Aprill as cold as with vsus in Winter, when it freezeth not: and yet the people are blacke.and their shippe, wherein he sailed, in such danger, that one while they prayed, another while murmured, another time would returne backe, and the Captaine professed no small maruell why our LORD suffered such good Catholikes to endure such torments, and the English Heretikes, and blasphemers to passe so easily. The waues there (saith he) strike against a shippe, as if they stroke against a hill, that if it were of stone it would at last be broken. Heere Captaine rSir Iames Lancaster. Hakl.tom.2. part.2.Lancaster traded with the people, and for two kniues bought an oxe, for one, a sheepe, &c. in good quantitie. Their sheepe are great, with great tailes, but hairy, not woolled. Their oxen great, not fat, but well fleshed. The Captaine killed there an Antelope as bigge as a Colt. There were diuers great beasts vnknowne to them. When they had passed this Cape, they lost their Admirall Captaine Raimond, and neuer saw them, or heard of them more. And foure dayes after they found as terrible an enemie from aboue, and encountered with a thunder-clap, which slew foure of their men out-right, their neckes being wrung asunder: And of fourescore and fourteene men there was not one vntouched, but some were blinde, others bruised in their legges and armes, or brests, others drawne out, as if they had beene racked; which all yet, GOD be thanked, did after recouer.
The Hollanders in the yeare 1595. traffiked with the Cafres, which were valiant, but base in apparell, couered with Oxe or sheepe-skinnes wrapped about their shoulders, with the hairy side inward, in forme of a mantle: their priuy-parts couered with a sheepes taile, fastened before and behinde with a girdle. But now we see it made a daily matter to the Portugal, English, and Dutch, so capable of hope of Good, that the Cape of Good hope is nothing feared: although at home many hauehave no good hope of publike good, and wish that they would carry out of Europe lesse money, and bring home more men. For my part, I wish so well to Nauigation and discoueries, that I could wish such complaints to be but calumnies, and to be the knauigations of false discouerers. I cannot omit, fBotero.that vponupon the toppe of this Promontory, Nature hath as it were framed her selfe a delightfull bower, heere to sit and contemplate the great Seas, which from the South, East and West bea… vponupon this shore: and therefore hath heere formed a great plaine, pleasant in situation, which with the fragrant herbes, varietie of flowers, and flourishing verdure of all things, seemes a terrestriall Paradise. It is called the table of the Cape. That which from hence lieth to Cape Negro, hath not to our purpose any thing notable. This also deserueth mention, that notwithstanding all the damages of this dreadfull Promontory, and the seas on this side and beyond, tMoff…us hist. Ind.l.II.1535.Iames Botellius a Portugal, to recouer the fauour of his Prince, Iohn the third, by the first bringing newes of a happy accident that then befell in India, in a little boat or vessell scarse eighteene foot long, and six broad, sailed from Cochin to Dabul, and from thence alongst the Arabian and African shores, doubling this Terrible Cape, and missing Saint Helena, came yet safe to Lisbone, worthily welcomed both for his message, and the messenger, that durst aduenture to encounter Neptunes strongest forces, notwithstanding so weake furniture.
The Hollanders uDe Bry Iad. Or. part.3.at the Cape of Good hope, had of the inhabitants two kine for two rustie kniues, and one much greater for a new one: two fat bulls and three sheepe for a barre of iron, weighing threescore and ten pounds. The people make much account of iron: they are of short stature: darkish colour: their armes are adorned with copper and iuory, their fingers with rings of gold, and with beads of bone and wood. They brand their bodies with diuers markes. And because they alway annoint themselues with grease and fat, they yeeld a ranke smell. If we killed a beast for our vse, they would aske the inwards, and eat them raw, the filth being not well cleansed from them. At their Feasts they would seeth a beast in his hide, fastned on foure stickes with fire vnderneath. They liued miserably, yet for gallantry ware bones and peeces of dried flesh about their neckes. Neere this Cape are weeds growing in the sea fiue and twentie fathome long.
The Ascension xCap.Rob.Couert.built their Pinnesse Anno 1608. at Soldania, about fifteene or sixteene leagues from the Cape of Good Hope, and there tooke in for their prouision about foure hundred head of cattell, as Oxen, Steeres, Sheepe, and Lambes, together with fowles and fresh water. They filled their boat with Seales at the Ile Pengwin, a little from thence. Such was the brutish nature of the inhabitants, that when the English had cast out of their shippe one of those Seales, and the same had lien fourteene dayes, and now swarmed with crawling Maggots, they would take them vp and eate them; as they would also doe the guts, garbage, and panch of the beasts. They more esteemed iron, then gold or siluer. Heere the first night after they weighed anchor, The Ascension lost the Vnson and the Good Hope, their Pinnesse (so neere the Cape of Good Hope) which, me thinkes, obseruing what after besell them, seemes an ommous presage, written in these names, of their other losses which followed, concluded with the losse of their shippe on the coast of Cambaya. It is morally true, that ascending and aspiring mindes lose Vnion ( yProu.13.10.for onelyonly by pride doth man make Contention) Vnion being gone, Good Hope followeth, Qn… concordia cres…nnt discordia & res & spes pereunt: and so it befell in this their tragedie, after the losse of those vessels which bare such names. The shippe was lost by the Masters indiscretion, but yet hath the honor (suruiuing her fates) that she was the first English shippe that euer sailed on those seas. The people were saued, and trauelled from Surrat to Brainport, a Citie bigger then London, of great trading, and so passed till they came to the Great Mogors Court at Agra, where they saw the beginning of a goodly Monument, which he hath beene nine yeares in building, for his father, with fiue thousand work-men continually: the matter is fine marble, the forme nine-square, two English miles about, and nine stories in height, whereon the Mogor said (as a Frier there reported) that he would bestow an hundred millions of treasure. From thence some of them passed by land to Bucker and Sucker, (as he calls them) and thence through Persia to Baydat, and so to Aleppo, from whence they came for England: which land-trauell through three so mightie States of the Great Mogor, Soph…, and Turke, had deserued mention elsewhere in more proper place, if then it had come to my hands. But let vsus returne(left this Ascension or extension of our Discourse bring it to the like shipwrack) vntounto the Aethiopian Cafres.
Modesty had almost forbidden me to recite that, which may with some easily obtaine a Plaudite, in the last Act and finishing of this Chapter, concerning the Caffares. Linschoten zLinschot.c.41.shall recite it for me. They liue, saith he, like beasts (he speaketh of those which liue neere Mosambique, and those especially more within the Land) they are blacke as pitch, with flat noses, thicke lippes, some hauehave holes both aboue and vnderunder in their lippes, and, as it were, other mouthes in their cheekes, wherein they thruft small bones to beautifie themselues: for which cause they rase and seare their bodies with irons. If they will make a diuellish forme and picture, they represent a white man in his apparell, as thinking nothing more vgly. Some also file their teeth as sharpe as needles. They hauehave Villages wherein they dwell together, and in eueryevery Village a Lord or King, to whom they are subiect. Religion and Faith are vnknowne to them. They vse mutuall warres, and some eat mans flesh. When they take prisoners in war, or kill their enemies, they obserue a more then beastly testimony of their great valour, which is after this manner. They cut off their priuy members (to depriue them of all hope of generation) and then drie them well for preseruation: after which, they come before the King with great reuerence, in the presence of the principall men of the Villages, and there take these members, so dried, one by one in their mouthes, and spit them on the ground at the Kings feet, which the King with great thankes accepteth; and the more to honor them, causeth them all to be taken vp, and giuen to them againe, which is from thenceforth an ensigne of their Knight-hood. For they take all those members, and tie them on a string like a bracelet or chaine; and at all solemne meetings, as when they marry, or goe to a Wedding or Feast, the Bride, or wiues of these Knights, doe weare that chaine about their neckes, being, saith our Author, among them as great an honor as the Golden Fleece, or the renowned Garter with vsus, and their wiues as proud, as if some Crowne or Scepter had befallen them.