Pilgrimage, Book 7 · Chapter 9
CHAP. IX.
Of the Kingdome of Congo, and the other Kingdomes and Nations adioyning.
THe Kingdome aMaginus. Gi. Botero Ben.part.I.of Congo (vnderstanding so much by the name, as in times past hath beene subiect thereto) hath on the West, the Occan; on the South, the Caphars, and mountaines of the Moone; on the East, those hills from which the Riuers issue and runne into the fountaines of Nilus; and on the North, the Kingdome of Benin. Of these Countries, Pig…fetta bOd.Lop.per Pigafet. translated by A.H.P.du Iarric. hist. Ind. Orient. part.3.from the relation of Odoardo Lopez, a Portugal, hath written two bookes, out of whom P.du larric, Boter… and others, hauehave taken most of their reports.
And in this we will beginne with the most Southerly parts; in which we first come into the Kingdome of Matama (this is the Kings proper name) who being a Gentile, ruleth ouer …uers Prouinces, named Quimbebe. This is a Kingdome cOd.Lopez lib.I.cap.7.great and mightie, extending from Brauagal to Bagamidri: the aire thereof is holesome, the earth… outwardly furnished with store of fruits, in wardly with mines of Cristall and other mettals. The Segniories towards the Sea-coast are very meane, and want Hauens. Angola sometime a Prouince of the Kingdome of Congo, is now a great Kingdome i… selfe, and very populous. They speake the same language, with small difference of dialect, that is vsed in Congo, whose yoake they cast off since the Congois became Christians. Diego dBarr. Dec. …. lib. 2. cap. 3. Od. Lopez ibid.Can first discouered these parts for the Portugals, An.1486. And the Portugals vsed to trade quietly with the Angolans: but some of them trading as high into the Country as Cabazza, the royall City, which is an hundred and fifty miles from the Ocean, were there by order from the King put to the sword, vnderunder pretence of intended treason. This was done 1578. Panlo Dias (to whom the King Sebastian had giuen the gouernment of these parts, with licence to conquer three and thirty leagues alongst the coast to him and his heires) to reuenge himselfe for this despight done to his people, armed such Portugals as he had, and with two Gallies and other vessels, which he kept in the Riuer Coanza, he went on both sides the Riuer, conquering and subduing many Lords vntounto him. The King of Angola raised a mighty armie of a million of men, eP.Diaz (as some report) sent a present to Spaine, of two buts of Negros noses, which were slaine. A.B.as is supposed. For they vse to leaue none at home that is fit to carry a weapon: and make no preparation for victuall, but such, as hauehave any, carrie it vponupon the shoulders of their seruants, and therefore no maruell if their food being soone consumed, their Campes be soone dissolued. Small likewise is their prouision of armour for offence, and for defence much lesse. Diaz sent to the King of Congo for aid, who sent him sixty thousand men: with which, and his owne Nation, he made his party good, against the confused rabbles of the Angolans. The trade of Angola is yet continued, and from thence the Portugals buy and carry to Brasil and other parts yearely, a world of slaues, which are bought within the Land, and are captiues taken in their warres. One Thomas fThom.Turner.Turner that had liued a long time in Brasil, and had also beene at Angola, told me, that it was supposed eight and twenty thousand slaues were yearely shipped from Angola and Congo, at the Hauen of Loanda. He named to me a rich Portugal in Brasil, which had ten thousand of his owne, working in his Ingenios (of which he had eighteene) and in his other employments. His name was Iohn de Paus, exiled from Portugal, and thus enriched in Brasil. A thousand of his slaues, at one time, entered into conspiracy with nine thousand other slaues in the Countrey, and barricadoed themselues for their best defence against their Masters, who had much adoe to reduce some of them into their former seruitude.
To returne to Angola, we may adde the report of another of our Countrey-men, gAndrew Battell was taken by the Portugals on the coast of Brasil, and shipped ouer to Congo, where (and in the Countries adiacent) he liued very many yeares, and was Sergeant of a Band, &c.Andrew Battell (my neere neighbour, dwelling at Leigh in Essex) who serued vnderunder Manuel Silnera Pèrera, Gouernor vnderunder the King of Spaine, at his Citie of Saint Paul: and with him went farre into the Countrey of Angola, their army being eight hundred Portugals, and fifty thousand Naturals. This Andrew Battell telleth that they are all Heathens in Angola. They had their Idols of wood in the middest of their townes, fashioned like a Negro, and at the foot thereof was a great heape of Elephants teeth, containing three or foure tunnes of them: these were piled in the earth, and vponupon them were set the skulls of dead-men, which they had slaine in the watres, in monument of their victory. The Idoll they call Mokisso, and some of them hauehave houses built ouer them. If any be sicke, he accounteth it Mokisso's hand, and sendeth to appease his angry god, with powring wine (which they hauehave of the Palme-tree) at his feet. They hauehave proper names of distinction for their Mokissos, as Kissung…, Kal…kete, &c. and vse to sweare by them, Kissungowy, that is, by Kissango. They hauehave another more solemne oath, intriall of controuersies: hThis triall is called Motamba.for which purpose they lay a kinde of hatchet, which they hauehave, in the fire, and the Ganga-Mokisso, or Mokissos Priest taketh the same redde hot, and draweth it neere to the skinne of the accused partie; and if there be two, hee causeth their legges to be set neere together, and draweth this hot iron without touching betweene them; if it burnes, that partie is condemned as guiltie, otherwise he is freed.
For the ceremonies about the dead, they first wash him, then paint him, thirdly apparell him in new clothes, and then bring him to his graue, which is made like a vault, after it is digged a little way down, vndermined, and made spacious within, and there set him on a seat of earth, with his beads (which they vse in chaines and bracelets for ornament) and the most part of his goods, with him in his lasting home. They kill Goats, and shed the bloud in the graues, and powre wine there, in memoriall of the dead.
They are much giuen iOd. Lopez.to diuination by birds. If a bird flie on their left hand, or cry in some manner which they interpret ominous and vnluckie, they will cease from the enterprises which they hauehave in hand. Their Priests are kGi.Bot.B….part.I.lib.3.called Gange, and so highly reputed, that the people thinke it in their power to send plenty or scarsity, life or death. They are skilfull in Medicinall herbes, and in poysons; and by familiarity with the Diuell foretell things to come.
In Angola cuery man taketh as many wiues as he will. There are mines of siluer, and of most excellent copper. They hauehave many kine, but louelove dogges better then any other flesh, and sat them to the shambles. Andrew Battell told me, that the dogges in those Countries are all of one sort, prick-eared curres of a meane bignes, which they vse also to hant with, but they open not; (for because they cannot barke) and therefore they hang clappers made of little boords about their neckes. He hath seene a mastiffe sold for three slaues. Lopez affirmeth that a great dog was exchanged for two and twenty slaues; which might happen vponupon some extraordinary occasion. The money in Angola is glasse-beads, which they vse also, as is said, for ornament. The King of Angola hath seemed willing to become Christian, and hath sent to the King of Congo for that purpose, but could not obtaine any Priests in that scarcity to instruct him.
This Kingdome hath many Lord-ships subiect thereto, as farre on the Sea-coast as C. Negro. Towards a Lake, called Aquelunda, lieth a Countrey called Quizama, the Inhabitants whereof being gouerned after the manner of a Common-wealth, hauehave shewed themselues friendly to the Portugals, and helped them in their warres against Angola. The houses in Angola are made in fashion like a Bee-hiue. The women at the first sight of the new Moone, turne vp their bummes, in despight, as offended with their menstruous courses which they ascribe vntounto her. The men sometimes in a valorous resolution, will deuote themselues vntounto some haughty attempt in the warres: and taking leaue of the King, will vow neuer to returne, till they bring him a horse-head, or some other thing very dangerous in the enterprise, and will either doe it or die. Horse-tailes are great iewels, and two slaues will be giuen for one taile, which commonly they bring from the Riuer of Plate, where horses are exceedingly encreased and growne wilde. They will, by fiering the grasse round about, hemme the horses about with a fiery circle, the fire still streightning and approching neerer, till they hauehave aduantage enough to kill them: Thus hauehave the Europaean cattell of horse and kine so encreased in that other world, as they spare not to kill the one for their hides, and the other for their tailes.
Next to Angola Northwards, lOd. Lopez.is the Kingdome of Congo, the Westerne line whereof Lopez extendeth three hundred threescore and fifteene miles; the Northerne, fiue hundred and forty; the Easterne, fiue hundred; and the Southerne, three hundred and threescore. The bredth thereof from the mouth of Zaire, crossing ouer the mountaines of the Sunne, and the mountaines of Crystall, is six hundred miles. And yet is it much streightned of the ancient bounds, only the title except, which still holdeth the old stile: Don Aluaro King of Congo, and of Abundos, and of Matama, and of Quizama, and of Angola, and of Cacongo, and of the seuen Kingdomes of Congere Amolaza, and of the Langelungos, and Lord of the Riuer Zaire, and of the Anziquos, and Anziquana, and of Loango. The present Kingdome is diuided into six Prouinces, Bamba, Songo, Sundi, Pango, Batta, Pemba. Bamba is the chiefe for greatnesse and riches, then gouerned by Don Sebastian Mani-Bamba: the word Mani is a title of honor, and signifieth a Prince or Lord: when need requireth, the Mani-Bamba may hauehave in campe foure hundred thousand men of warre. Therein are mines of siluer: and on the Sea-coast, a kinde of shells which they vse for money, for siluer and gold is not vsed for money amongst them. In this Prounce are yearely bought by the Portugals aboue fiue thousand Negros. There are among them very mightie men, that will cleaue a slaue in the middest, or cut off a bulls head at one blow. Yea one of them did beare on his arme a vessell of wine, containing the fourth part of a Butt, and might weigh three hundred and fiue and twenty pound, vntill it was cleane emptied. There are certaine creatures as big as Rammes, and hauehave wings like Dragons, with long tailes and chappes, and diuers rowes of teeth, and feed vponupon raw flesh. Their colour is blew and greene, their skinne be-painted like scales, and they hauehave but two feet. These the Pagan Negro's doe worship for gods, and at this day many of them are kept for a miracle. And because they are very rare, the chiefe Lords doe curiously preserue them, and suffer the people to worship them, in regard of the profit which accreweth to them by the offerings which the people make vntounto them. Other Creatures of these parts are mentioned in the first Chapter of this booke. Peacockes are not common, and are very deare, their seathers being vsed for royall ensignes. The King of Angola bringeth vp some in an inclosed wood, and suffereth none to keepe them but himselfe. To speake at large of the other fiue Prouinces, would be tedious to the Reader, and Master mHistory of Congo translated by Abraham Hartwell.Hartwell hath taught Lopez to speake English, of whom such as are desirous, may be further satisfied. Ouer-against the Ile Loanda, where the shell-money is gathered, is vponupon the Continent the Towne of Saint Paul, inhabited with Portugals and their wiues.
The Riuers of Congo are many, Bengo, Coanza, Dande, Lembe, Ozone, Loze, Anibriz, and the greatest of all, Zaire: all which hauehave some, either affinity in mutuall marriages of their streames, or consanguinity in the fountaines from whence they flow, which are certaine Lakes, the first of which is Zembre, the other Aquelunda. In all these Riuers are common the rarities of Nilus, the ouer-flowing of the waters, Riuer-horses, Crocodiles, and such like. Andrew Battell told me of a huge Crocodile, which was reported to hauehave eaten a whole Alibamba, that is, a company of eight or nine slaues chained together, and at last paid for his greedinesse: the chaine holding him slaue, as before it had the Negroes, and by his vndigestible nature deuouring the deuourer; remaining in the belly of him after he was found, in testimony of this victorie. He hath seene them watch and take their prey, hailing a Gennet, man, or other creature into the waters. A souldiour thus drawne in by a Crocodile, in shallower waters, with his knife wounded him in the belly, and slew him. In their summer it raineth not, and then the places in their winter (the time of the Sunnes neerest presence, attended with daily raines) couered with water, doe grow thicke, and matted with abundance of little trees, herbes and plants, with the fatned wombe of that moist soile, conceiueth by the directer beames of the Sunne, which the ouer-flowing waters in the winter carry away, as it were small nThey call these patches of ground thus carried in Zaire, Balsa's.Ilands, lifting them vp together with the rootes and soile, the yong trees and deere standing and growing thereon, carried captiue vntounto Neptunes eternall prisons. In Bengo and Coanza they are forced to set vp, for a time, houses vponupon cratches, their other houses being taken vp for the Riuers lodgings. Zaire is of such force, that no shippe can get in against the current, but neere to the shore: yea it preuailes against the Oceans saltness threescore, and as some say, fourescore miles, within the Sea, before his proud waues yeeld their full homage, and receiue that salt temper in token of subiection. Such is the haughtie spirit of that streame, which ouer-running the low Countries as it passeth, and swollen with conceit of daily conquests, and daily supplies, which in armies of showers are by the clouds sent to his succour, runnes now in a furious rage, thinking euen to swallow the Ocean, which before he neuer saw, with his mouth wide gaping, eight and twentie miles, as Lopez affirmeth, in the opening; but meeting with a more Giant-like enemie, which lies lurking vnderunder the cliffes to receiue his assault, is presently swallowed in that wider wombe; yet so, as alwayes being conquered, he neuer giues ouer, but in an eternall quarrell, with deepe indented srownes in his angrie face, foming with disdaine, and filling the aire with noise, (with fresh helpe) supplies those forces which the salt-sea hath consumed. In this Riuer is a Fish called Ambize, Angulo, or Hog-fish, that hath, as it were, two hands, and a taile like a Target, which eateth like Porke, and whereof they make Larde, and hath not the sauour or taste of fish. It seedeth on the grasse that groweth on the bankes of the Riuer, and neuer goeth out: it hath a mouth like the mozell of an Oxe: there are of them that weigh fiue hundred pound a peece.
About the yeare 1490. Iohn the second, King of Portugal, sent Consalno di Sosa, with three shippes, and Priests in them, to bring the King and people of Congo to Christian Religion, oOf the conuersion of Congo, reade 10. di Batros. Dec.3.l.3.c.10. and Osorius de reb. Emanuelis, lib 3. and Maffaeus. hist. ind. lib.i. and Lopez. lib. 2. and Got.Arthus hist. Ind. Orientalis, lib. 14.15.16.17.which was effected; and although hence arose ciuill warres amongst them, yet the matter was at last ended to the aduancement of the Christian Religion (such as the Portugals taught, and no doubt infinitely better then their Pagan superstition, howsoeuer spotted with many Romish staines) And from that time to this, now an hundred and twentie yeares, hath Congo continued Christian, vnderunder Iohn, Alfonso, Piedro, and the rest of their Kings.
When the first Bishoppe of Saint Thomas went into Congo, to take possession of his Pastorall charge there (for the Kingdome of Congo was annexed to the Bishoprike of Saint Thomas) from the Sea-side to the Citie, which is an hundred and fiftie miles, King Piedro caused the wayes to bee made smooth and trimme, and couered ouer with mattes, that the Bishoppe should not set his feet vponupon any part of the ground, not adorned: all the wayes, trees, and higher places swarming with people, offering Lambes, Kiddes, Chickins, Partriches, Venison, Fish, and other necessaries, to testifie their zeale. And at last arriuing at the Citie of Saint Sauiours (before called Banza, which signifieth a Court, and is commonly attributed to all the chiefe Cities, where the King of any of those Countries holdeth his residence) hee was there receiued by the King and his Nobles, and ordained the Church there to be the Cathedrall Church of his See, which had belonging to it eight and twentie Canons, with other Officers, and ornaments vsuall.
After Don Piedro succeeded Francisco, and after him, Diego: who being dead, his sonne and two other Competitours of the Kingdome were slaine, and Henrico, brother to Diego, was made King, and after his death, Aluar…, whom the Giacchi draue out of his Kingdome, till King Sebastian sent Francesco di Gone… to expell them.
The greatest, and most zealous Prince for Christian Religion, was Alphonso, who, on paine of death, forbad to all his subiects the hauing, or worshipping of Idols, which he commanded should be all brought, and deliuered to the Lieutenants of the Countrey, together with their Characters and Witcheries. For before eueryevery pLopez.man adored that which best liked him: some, those Dragons before spoken of; others, Serpents, which they nourished with their daintiest prouisions. Some worshipped the greatest Goats they could get; some, Tigres; and the more vncouth and deformed any beasts were, the more in their beastly and deformed superstition were they obserued. Battes, Owles, and Scritch-owles, birds of darknesse, were the obiects of their darkened Deuotions; Snakes and Adders enuenomed their soules, with a more deadly poyson, then they could doe their bodies. Beasts, Birds, Herbes, Trees, Characters, and the formes of those things painted and grauen, yea the skinnes of them, being dead, bring stuffed with straw, had their shares in this diffused varietie, and confused masse of irreligious Religion. The ceremonies they vsed to them, were, kneeling on their knees, casting themselues groueling on the earth, defiling their faces with dust, verball prayers, reall offerings. They had their Witches, which made the people beleeue that their Idols could speake: and if any man had recouered of any sicknesse, after he had recommended himsefe to them, they would affirme that the angry Idol was now appeased. All these Idols King Alphonso caused to be burned in one heape in stead whereof the Portugals gaue them Images of Saints, and Crucifixes to worship. This may seeme an exchange rather, then a ceasing from superstition, were not some fundamentall and especiall substrance of Truth communicated, besides those blinde shadowes, wherewith (no doubt) GOD draweth some out of darkenesse, this darknesse notwithstanding, in a true and sauing, though a dimme and shadowed light; wherewith as farre going before vsus in affection, as we before them in knowledge; I dare not but in the hope of the saluation of some, thanke GOD for this glimse of heauenly light, rather then rashly to censure and sentence them to a totall and hellish darkenesse.
Emanuel qMa…us hist. Ind.lib. 3.& 15.since sent supplies of religious persons, to confirme them in their Christianitie, and his sonne, Iohn the third, sent also Iesuites to that purpose, who erected Schooles among them: and they also send their sonnes into Portugal to learne the Sciences and knowledge of Europe. GOD Almighty grant that those fountaines may be clea…ed of all popish mire, that thence more holesome waters may flow, to the watering of this Aethiopian Vineyard.
They vse in Congo rArthus ca.15.Linschot.lib.2. Andrew Ba'tell saith, that the tree which thus strangely multiplieth it selfe, is called the Manga tree.to make cloathes of the Enzanda tree, (of which some write the same things that are reported of the Indian Fig-tree, that it sends forth a hairy substance from the branches, which no sooner touch the ground, but they take roote and grow vp, in such sort, that one tree would multiply it selfe into a wood, if Nature set not some obstacle.) The inner-most barke of the Inzanda, by beating, is made excellent cloath. Other trees there are, which the Tides couer, and are discouered by the Ebbes, laden at the roote with Oisters. But more admirable is that huge tree called Alicunde, of which my friend Andrew Battell sAnd. Battell.supposeth some are as bigge (besides their wonderfull tallnesse) as twelue men can fathome. It spreads like an Oake. Some of them are hollow, and the liberall clowdes into those Naturall Caskes dispense such plentie of water, that one time three or foure thousand of them in that hote region, continued foure and twentie houres at one of those trees, which yeelded them all drinke of her watery store, and was not emptied. Their Negros climbed vp with pegges (for the tree is smooth, and therefore not otherwise to be climbed, and so soft, that it easily receiued pegges of a harder wood, driuen into her yeelding substance with a stone) and dipped the water, as it had beene, out of a Well. He supposed that there is fortie tunne of water in some one of them. It yeeldeth them good opportunitie for hony, to which end the countrey-people make a kinde of Chest, with one hole into the same, and hang it vponupon one of these trees; which they take downe once a yeare, and with fire and smoake chasing or killing the Bees, take thence a large quantitie of hony. Neither is it liberall alone to the hungrie and thirstie appetite, but very bountifully it cloathes their backes, with the barke thereof, which being taken from the yonger Alicundes and beaten, one fathome which they cut out of the tree, will by this meanes extend it selfe into twentie, and presently is cloath fit for tLinschot.lib.….Lopez. These Boats, saith Andrew Battell, are made of another tree, for the A…cunde is of too spungie a suostance for that purpose.wearing; though not so fine as that which the Inzandatree yeeldeth. It serues them also for boats, one of which cut out in proportion of a Scute, will hold hundreths of men.
Of their Palme-trees, which they keepe with watering and cutting eueryevery yeare, they make Veluets, Sattens, Taffatas, Damaskes, Sarcenets, and such like, out of the cleansed and purged leaues thereof drawing long and euen threeds for that purpose.
And for their Palme-wiues, which they draw out of the toppe of a kinde of Palme, which at first is strong and inebriating wine, and in time declineth to a sowre and holesome vineger: of the stone of the fruit, which is like an Almond, they also make bread, of the shale of the fruit, Oyle, which also serueth them for Butter: Lopez distinguisheth this tree from the Coco tree, which is there also growing: and another Palme that beareth Dates; other that beare Cola, like a Pine-apple, excellent for the stomacke, and for the liuer most admirable: it being supposed, that the liuer of a Henne or other bird, putrified, sprinkled with this matter, recouereth the former freshnesse and soundnesse. Other sorts of Palmes yeeld other fruits, and of their leaues they make mattes, wherewith they couer their houses. Lopez saw a Pomecitron, the kirnell whereof left within the rinde, yeelded a pretie tall sprigge in foure dayes.
Of stones they hauehave such store to build with, that in some places they may cut out a Church of one peece. There are whole mountaines of Porphyrie, of Iasper, of white Marble, and other Marbles: One especiall, that yeeldeth faire Iacinthes, that are good Iewels, straked like as it were with naturall veines.
The Port and Ile of Loanda lying ouer-against the Portugall Towne of Saint Paul, famous for many things, deserueth especiall mention for this, that it yeeldeth, in lesse then halfe a yard digging, waters very sweet; but of so contrary a Nature to the Sea, her mightie neighbour, that when the Sea ebbeth, the water is salt, and when it floweth, the same is sweete and fresh: as if the Sea imparted that which it selfe hath not, or rather enuied that which it hath, and therefore alway at his comming, re-demandeth that saltnesse from those springs, to attend vponupon their Ocean-mother. So doe wee see the siluer Lampes of Heauen in the Sunnes absence to lighten the World, which yet want light, when it is most plentifull, to shew themselues. Euen nature sealeth and confirmeth Monopolies to her principall Courtiers, alwayes prouided, that it thereby better serueth for the common good, and therefore no precedent to such dropsie and splen-like Monopolies, Monie-pollings, with which some exorbitant members burthen themselues, and make others by lighting, heauie: worthily therefore by the Sunne of our Great Britaine, at the first rising of his morning brightnesse, dispersed from our Horizon. But how farre is Loanda from Britaine? And yet our scope is to bring Loanda and all the world else into our Britaine, that our Britaines might see the in and out-side of the same. Loanda is reported (as some affirme of Egypt and Nilus) to bee the issue of the Oceans sand, and Coanza's mire, which in processe of time brought forth in their disagreeing agreement, this Iland.
In Congo the King is Lord supreme: and none hath power to bequeath his goods to his kindred, but the King is heire generall to all men.