A Brief Description of the Whole World, Part 26
Of Abissines, and the Empire of Prester John.
IN the Inland of Africke, lyethThe Situation of the Empire of Prester John. a very large Countrey, extending it self on the East, to some part of the Red Sea, on the South to the Kingdome of Molinda, and a great way farther, on the North to Egypt; on the West to Manicongo. The people whereof are called Abissini, and it self the dominion of him, whom we commonly call in English Prester John; but in Latin some terme him Prestiosus Johannes, but the most part Presbyter Johannes, One of the greatest in the world.writing of him. As he is a Prince absolute, so he hath also a Priestlike or Patriarchall function and jurisdiction among them. This is a very mighty Pr…nce, and reputed to be one of the greatest Emperors in the world.
What was known of this Countrey in former time, was knowne under the name of Ethi…pia, but the voyages of the Portugals in these late daies, have best described it. The people therefore are Christians, as is also the Prince, but differing in many things from the West Church; and in no sort acknowledging any supreme Prerogative of the Bishop of Rome. It is thought that they have retained Christianity even from the time of our Saviour, being supposed to be converted by the Chamberlaine of Candace the Queen of Ethiopia, who was instructed concerning Christ, by Philip the Evangelist in the Acts of the Apostles. Eusebius … his Ecclesiasticall story doth make mention of this. But they do to this da… retaine Circumcision: whereof the reason may be, that the … (their Converter) not having any fu…ther conference with the Apostle, nor any else with him, did receive the ceremonies of the Church imperfectly, retaining Circumcision: which among the Jewes was not aboli shed, when he had conference with Philip.
Within the dominion of Prester John, are the mountaines commonlyLunae Montes. called Lunae montes: where is the first well-spring and rising of the river Nilus: yet there are that fetch the head of this River out of a certaine great Lake toward the South, called Zembre: out of which toward the West, runnes the River of Zaire, into the Kingdome of Mani-congo; The R…ver of Zuama or Cuama, towards the South, to the Kingdome of Monomo…apa, or Benomotapa, as the River Nilus towards the North, through the Kingdome of the Abissines to Egypt, which River running violently along this Countrey, and sometimes hastily increasing by the melting of much snow from the Mountaines, would over-runne and drown a great part of Egypt, but that it is slaked by many ponds, dammes and sluces, which are within the Dominion of Prester John. And in respect hereof, for the maintenance of these the Princes of Egypt, have paid upto the Governour of the Abissines, a great Tribute time out of mind: which of late the great Turke supposing it to be a custome needlesse, did deny; till the people of theThe Abissines drowned Egypt. Abissines by commandement of their Prince, did breake downe their dams, and drowning Egypt, did enforce the Turke to continue his pay, and to give much money for the making of them, very earnestly to his great charge, desiring a peace.
In this Countrey also of Prester John, is the rising of the famous River Nigar, supposed to have inThe River Nigar. it the most and the best precious stones of any River in the World, which rising likewise out of a great L…ke out of that Mount, after it hath runne a good space hideth it self for the space of 60. miles under ground, then appearing again after it hath runne somewhat further, makes a great Lake, and again after a great tract, another; and at last after a long course, fals at Cape Verde, into the Atlantick sea.
Ortelius in his larger Maps, describes it falling into the Sea, like Nilus in Egypt, with seven streames or Ostia: but those that travell these parts say, that there are only some Bayes, but there is no River in those parts running into the Sea, but ….
There be other Countries in Africke, as Ag…simba, Libia interior, Nubia, and others, of whom nothing is famous: but this may be said of Africke in generall, that it bringeth forth store of all sorts of wild Beasts, as Elephants, Lyons, Panthers, Tygers, and the like: yea, according to the Proverbe, Africa semper aliquid oportet novi; Oftentimes, new and strange shapes of wild Beasts are brought forth there; the reason whereof is, that the Countrey being very hot, a d full of Wildernesses, which have in them little water, the Beasts of all sorts being enforced to meet at those few watering places that be, where oftentimes contrary kindes have conjunction the one with the other: so that there arifeth a new kind of Species which taketh part of bo h. Such a one is the Leopard, begotten of the Lyon, and the Beast called Pardus, and somewhat resembling ei her of them. A d thus farre of Africke.