A Brief Description of the Whole World, Part 25
Of the other Countries of Africke, lying neare the Sea.
FRom beyond the hill Atlas major, unto the South of Africke, is nothing (almost it. Antiquity) worthy the readiag: and those things which are written for the most part, are fables: For towards the South par… of Africke, as well as towards the North part of Europe and Asia, be supposed to be men of strange shapes, as some with Dogs heads, some without heads, and some with one foot alone, which was very huge, and such like: which that counterfeit Fryer (who write that book which is counted Saint Augustines, ad fraetres in Eremo; and who would gladly father upon Saint Augustine, the erecting of the Augustine Fryers) doth say, that he saw travelling down from Hippo, Southward in Africa: But as the Asse in Aesope, which was cloathed in the Lyons skin, did by his long ears shew himself to be an Ass, and not a Lyon; so this foolish fellow, by his lying, doth shew himself to be a counterfeit, and not Saint Augustine.
In the new Writers there are some few things to be observed: as first, that all the people in generall to the South, lying with the Zona Torrida, are not onelyonly blackish like the Moor, but are exceeding blacke. And therefore as in old time by an excellency, some of them are called Nigritae, so at this day they are named Negro's, as then whom no men are blacker.
Secondly, the Inhabitants of all these parts which border on the Sea coast, even u…to Caput bonae spei, have been Gentiles, adoringTheir Religion. The Portu gals have there setled themselves. Images and foolish shapes for their Gods, neither bearing of Christ, nor beleeving on Mahomet, till such time as the Portugals comming among them, having professed Christ for themselves, but have won few of the people to embrace their Religion.
Thirdly, that the Portugals passing along Africa to the East Indies, have setled themselves in many places of those Countries, building Castles and Townes for their own safety, and to keep the people in subjection, to their great commodities.
One of the first Countries famousThe Country of Guinea. beyond Morocco, is Guinea, which we call Ginnie, within the compasse whereof, lyeth the Cape, called the Cape Verde, and the other, the Cape of the three points; and the Towne and Castle named Si…rta Li…na, at which place (as commonly all Travellers do touch, that do p…sse that way for fresh …er and …ther sh…p-provision …ur English men have found tra… Their Commodities for Trade.icke into the parts of this Countrey, where th i… greatest comm… dity is Gold, and Elephants teeth; of both which there is good store.
Beyond that, toward the South, not …arre from the Equinoctiall, lyethThe Kingdome of Congo. the K…gdome of Congo, com monly called Mani-congo. Where the Portugals at their first arrivall finding the people to be Heathens without G…d, did induce them to a profession of Christ, and to be baptized in great abundance, allowing of the principles of Religion, untill such time as the Priest did▪ teach them to lead their lives… according to their profession; which the most part of them in no case enduring, they returned back again to their Gentilisme.Their Religion
Beyond Mani-congo so fare to the South, as almost ten degrees beyond the Tropicke of Capricorne, lyeth the Lands end; which is a promontory, now called Caput bonae spei, which Vascus Gama the Portug…l did discover, and so called it, because he had there good hope that the Land did turn to the North; and that following the course th…reof hee might bee brought to Arabia and Persia, but es…ecially to Calecut in India. Which course, when himself and other o… his Countrey-men after him did follow, th…y fou…d on the coast up towards Arabia, the Kingdome of Mosambique, Melinda, Magadazo, and others? whose people were all Gentiles, and now are in league with the Portugals, who have built divers holds for their safety. Of which Countries, and manners of the people, he that listeth to read, may finde much in the History of Oso … ▪ and Petrus Maffaeus; but there is no matter of any great importance.
Beyond the Cape toward the North, before you come to Mosumbique, between the Rivers of Cuama, and Sancto Spirito, lyes theThe Kingdom of Monomotapa. Kingdome of Monomotapa, where the Portugals also have arrived, and so much was done there by the preaching of Gonsalvo de Silva, a Jesuite, that the King and Queen of that Countrey with many others were converted from GentilismeTheir Religion. to Christiani…y, and baptized: But certaine Mahumetans incensing the King thereof afterwards against the Portugals, made him to revolt from his Religion, and to put to death this Jesuite and divers others. Which fact of his the Portugals assavi…g to revenge with an Army sent for out of Portugall, they profited little against him, but were themselves▪ consumed by the discommodities of the Countrey, and the distemperature of the a…e.
There are also other Kingdomes sin this part of Africke, of whom we know little besides their namesThe Kingdome of Adel, &c. and site in generall, as Adel, Monomugi, Angola, and therefore it shall be sufficient to have named them in a word.