A Geographical Description of All the Countries in the Known World, Part 1 · Subpart 99 – Subpart 110
The Hill Amara in Ethiopia described.
In Ethiopia under Prete Janny, commonly called Prester, or Presbyter John, is an hill called Amara, situated in the navel of the Ethiopian body under the Equinoctial line, adorned with all variety of fruits, wholesome air, pleasant aspect, and prospect: yea Heaven, and Earth, Nature and Industry have all been corrivals to present their riches to it.
It stands in a great plain, having no other hill near it by thirty leagues, the form of it is round: the rock is cut so smooth without any unequal swelling, that to him that stands beneath, its like an high wall: the top is overhanged with rocks, jutting forth for the space of a mile: Its above twenty leagues in the circuit, compassed with a wall on the top, well wrought, that so neither man, nor beast in chase may fall down.
The top is a level, only towards the South is a rising hill beautifying this plain, whence issueth a pleasant Spring which passeth through all that plain, and payeth its tribute to every Garden that will exact it, and so maketh a Lake at length, whence issueth a River that from thence runneth into Nilus.
The way up to it is cut out of the Rock, not with stairs, but by an easy ascent, so that one may ride up with ease, at the foot whereof is a fair Gate with a Corps du Guard: Halfway up is a fair and spacious Hall, cut out of the Rock with three large windows to it, and at the top is another gate with the like Guard: The air above is wholesome, and delectable, so that they live long there without sicknesse▪ There are upon it thirty four Palaces standing by themselves, spacious, sumptuous, and beautiful, where the Princes of the Royal blood have their abode with their Families. There are two Temples also, the most beautiful in all Ethiopia.
There are many flourishing and fruitful Gardens, curiously made, and plentifully furnished with Europian fruits, as Pears, Pippins, &c. and of their own, as Oranges, Citrons, Lemons, &c. Its also adorned with Cedars, Palm-trees, &c. as also with variety of herbs, and flowers to delight the sight, taste, and sent: There are also Cubaio trees, pleasant in taste beyond all comparison, and great store of Balm-trees. There is plenty of all sorts of Grain, and Corn, and such charms of Birds as delight the ear with their melodious warbling notes, and please the eye with their variety of colours, and other creatures that adorn this Paradise.
The aforenamed Churches have their Pillars, and Roofs of stone, richly, and cunningly wrought, the matter and workmanship contending for magnificence: That of Jasper, Alabaster, Marble, Porphyrie; This of painting, gilding, and much curiosity: To these are adjoyning two stately Monasteries; in one whereof are two rare peeces, whereon wonder may justly fasten both her eyes.
The Treasury, and the Library of the Emperor, are such as neither of them is thought to bee matchable in the world; neither that of Constantinople, wherein were one hundred and twenty thousand Books; nor that of Alexandria, wherein were seven hundred thousand Books: For the number in this Library is numberlesse, their price inestimable. There are three great Halls, each above two hundred paces large, with Books of all Sciences, written in fine Parchment, with much curiosity of golden Letters, and other work, and cost in writing, binding, and covers: There are all the Greek Fathers: The Writers of Syria, Egypt, Africa, and the Latine Fathers, with others innumerable, in Greek, Hebrew, Arabick, Abyssine, Egyptian, Syrian, and Chaldee. There are Poets, Philosophers, Physicians, Rabbines, Talmudists, Cabalists, Hieroglyphicks, &c.
The Treasury, leaves them of all other Princes behinde it. Its a Sea that every year receiveth new Rivers, which never run out: every Emperor yearly laying up part of his revenue there. The Jewels here kept are incomparable, Topazes, Amethists, Saphires, Diamonds, &c. Hee hath one Jewel that was found in the River Niger (that brings forth more Gemmes than any other in the world) which is one peece diversified with a thousand variety of stones. Its about two spans, and an half square: there are in it one hundred and sixty Diamonds, one as large as the palm of ones hand: It hath in it above three hundred Emeralds; Rubies the greatest in the World: Above fifty Saphires, Turqueses, Balazes, Amethists, Spinels, Topazes: Jacinths, Chrysolites, &c. Nature here playing the Jeweller, and representing a Map of the worlds Gemmes in this one Jewel, without, and infinitely beyond all Art of Man. Bernardo de Vecheti, a Jeweller, being sent thither by Francis de Medicis, Duke of Florence to see it, accounted it beyond all estimation, and value. The Emperor also hath made him Tables with thousands of stones set in them.
In this hill are kept the Princes of the Blood Royal, as in a prison, and never return thence, except they bee chosen Emperors. Anno Christi 1608. there were six of them: These meet all together when they please to recreate themselves by hauking, hunting, &c. and they have grave persons to instruct them in learning, and vertue. Purchas Pilgrimage. p. 677. &c.
The chiefest Cities in Abassia, or Aethiopia superior, Described.
The chiefest Cities in this Empire are: 1. Saba, in which are four Gates made of Alabaster, and Jasper, wrought with antique work, and the doors thereof curiously carved. It hath in it five thousand great and sumptuous houses: the streets are spacious, and so shaded with Pent-houses, that a man may walk without being offended by either Sun or rain. The other Cities are 2. Aruma. 3. Cossomum. 4. Zameta, the seat of Barnagasso, or the Vice-Roy. 5. Suacen, before described. 6. Tanape. 7. And Zembra: The Kings Court also is a wandring City; For his Pavilions, and Tents belonging to him, and his retinue being pitched, take up ten miles in compasse.
In this Empire are seventy Tributary Kingdomes, the chief whereof are 1. Barnagassum, which lyeth towards the Red-sea, and borders on the Turks. 2. Tigremaon, famous for her Mines of Gold. 3. Angote, where the Inhabitants use Salt, Pepper, and Iron instead of mony, and feed on raw flesh. 4. Amara, where is that famous Mountain before described. 5. Guagere, which is an Island in the River Nilus, one hundred seventy and five miles long, and one hundred twenty and five broad, &c. The Natives call this Emperor, The Negus. His revenues are so great, that besides the expences of his Court, and Camp, he coffers up three millions every year.
The Islands in the Red-Sea, belonging to Africa Described.
That which is now called the Red-Sea, or Arabian Gulph, that parts Asia from Africa, is in length one thousand and two hundred miles, in breadth for the most part one hundred: Its so full of sholds, that …xcept they keep the channel in the middest, there is no sailing but by daylight: At the entrance into it, stands the Ile of Babel mandel, or Babmandel, which the ancient Kings of Egypt used to chain up to keep the passage.
Sues is neer the bottome of this Sea, where the Turk hath his Arsenal, and Gallies for those Seas: The Timber is brought out of Caramania by Sea, by the River Nilus, and by Cammels the rest of the way, at incredible charges. Some think that Pharaoh was here drowned: Others think that the passage of the Israelites was at Tor, where this Sea is not above nine miles over. Ezion Geber was a Port hereabouts whence Solomon sent his Fleet to Ophir for Gold, &c.
Bernice was a Port in the Red-sea, where the Indian Drugs, and Spices were unladen in the time of the Roman Empire, and from thence carried to Alexandria in Egypt. Zidem is twelve leagues from Mecca, where since the ships used to unlade their Spicery, as formerly they did at Bernice.
A little further is the Ile of Mehun: and then the Ile of Cameran, one of the hotest places in the world: then Dalaqua, where they get pearls. Its one hundred twenty and five Leagues long, and twelve broad. Mazzua is another Island which makes Ercocco a good Haven. There are diverse other small Iles, in which there is nothing memorable.
The chiefest Islands belonging to Africa Described. Madagascar Described.
Madagascar, or St. Laurence Island, is the greatest Island in the World, being a thousand miles in length, and in some places four hundred miles in breadth: Its full of Towns, people, Minerals, Beasts, Woods, waters, and what's requirable in a fruitful land. Its a good place for victualling, as they passe into the East-Indies, the air quick, and healthfull: Its divided into four Kingdomes, each King with their Ebony Scepters ruling his people, being jealous of each others greatnesse. The Sea Towns are infected with Mahometisme, the midland eclipsed with black Idolatry. Nature hath taught them Laws, they punish Murther with death; adultery with publick shame, and the…t with banishment. Fishing delights them more than Tillage. The people are generally strong, couragious, and proper. The men cover their naked bodies in warre, with strong and Massy Targets, their right hand, brandishing a long neat pike, or lance of Ebony, barbed with Iron, kept as bright as silver, which they can throw with excellent dexterity, and skill: Their colour is black, they anoint their naked bodies with Grease, and Tallow; proud to see their skin shine, and are not offended with the stink: their hair is long, black, and curled: They wear a few leaves plaited about their wasts, but are elsewhere naked; their ears are bored and wide; they pink, and cut their flesh; and whilst the men seek their prey abroad, the women keep constantly at home and spin. The boys marry at ten, and the maids at twelve years old. They know no Letters: Nihil scire, nil jucundius. The earth is rich in Minerals, Gold, Silver, Iron, Copper, &c. but hearing of the cruelty, and covetousnesse of the Portugals, they prohibit the diging of them. If you will buy any thing of them, they give it in exchange for Agats, Helitropians, Jasper; and long red Cornelian beads, which they prefer before all the Diamonds of India, and of which they are so proud, that the owner, bee hee Subject or King, is oft dethroned for it, one string of them being able to put them all into a combustion. Bracelets, Copper-chaines, beads, bells, and Babies are much esteemed, for which you shall have in exchange, sheep with great tails, Beeves, Bufaloes, Camels, Antilops, Red-deer, Leopards, Goats, Milk, Hens, Eggs, VVheat, Barley, Rice, Oranges, Lemons, Lymes, Pomcitrons, Plantanes, Sugar Canes, Ginger, Toddy; Coconuts, &c. Herb. Travels.
Their time of marriage is for men at twelve, and for women at ten. They have a kind of Bean growing on trees, the Cod whereof is two footlong.
The Island of Mohelia described.
Mohelia, another Island beyond it, where the houses are made of Reeds, or straw, fitted to the heat of such a torrid climate. The Inhabitants are cole black, have great heads, big lips, flat noses, sharp chins, huge limbs, go naked, having only a few plantane leaves about their wastes, to veil their modest parts; they cut, and pink in several works their skins, face, armes, and thighs, striving to exceed each other in variety. Tobacco is of great account amongst them, which they suck out of long Canes, called hubble-bubbles: They have store of Buffols, Goats, Turtles, Hens, huge Bats, Camelions, Rice, Pease, Cuscus, Honey, Oisters, Breames, and much other fish: They have also Toddy, Cocos, Plantanes, Orenges, Lemons, Lymes, Pomecitrons, Tamarind, Sugar-Canes, &c. The Isle is alwayes green, each day a gentle breeze, and shower bedewing the earth, and mollifying the scorching Sun; so that it is alwayes adorned in Floraes Livery, yea, roabed with Natures best Arras, pleasantly refreshed with silver purling streams, and shaded with dainty trees of all sorts. Here you may have thirty Orenges, or Lemons for a sheet of paper: for two sheets ten Coco-Nuts: An Oxe for a peece of eight, and a Goat for six pence.
The Isle of St. Hellen described.
This Island is on this side the Cape of Good Hope, and nearer to the African, than to the American shore: the Seas about it are very deep, and the Land so high and precipitious, that the Marriners use to say, A man may chuse whether hee will break his heart going up, or his neck comming down: But when up, no place yeelds a more delightful object: Its even, and plain, cloathed with sweet grasse, long, and curious: The springs above are sweet; there are but two Rivolets in the Island: there are abundance of Hogs, and Goats: there are also Phesants, Powts, Quails, Hens, Partridges, and diverse sorts of useful herbs, as Wood-sorrel, Trifolie, Basil, Parsly, Mint, Spinage, Fennil, Annis, Radish, and Lemons.
The Island of St. Thomas described.
The Island of St. Thomas is of a round figure, being one hundred and fourscore miles in compasse; It lyeth directly under the Aequinoctial line: it so aboundeth with Sugar, that forty ships are laden from thence yearly: The chief City is Pavoasan: At the first discovery it was wholly overgrown with woods, now it is inhabited by the Portugals, and Negroes; the latter often living till they bee an hundred years old: the Portugals not exceeding fifty. It will bear no fruit that hath a stone in it. In the midst is a woody Mountain continually over-shadowed with a thick cloud, which so moistens the Trees, which are many, that from thence droppeth water sufficient to water all their Sugar grounds.
Princes Island described.
Princes Island lyes between the Aequator, and the Tropick of Capricorn, near unto the Isle of St. Hellen: Its called Princes Island, because, when it was first discovered, the revenues of it were allowed to the Prince of Portugal.
The Isle of Cape Verde described.
Next to Cape Verde are seven Islands full of birds, but empty of Inhabitants: But the Isles of Cape Verde are nine; they were first discovered, Anno Christi 1440. None of them are inhabited but St. Jago, and Del Fogo, so called, because it burns perpetually: They were taken by Sir Anthony Sherly, Anno Christi 1596. who had in one night such a showre of ashes, as hee did lie by Del Fogo, that in the morning you might have written with your finger upon the Deck of his ship. St. Jago was taken by Sir Francis Drake, Anno Christi 1585. Brava, and Bona Vista have better names, than natures, they yeeld no matter for History: As neither do the Isles of St. Matthew, Sancta Cruz, St. Paul, and Conception. The former of these are called the Gorgades, and abound with Goats. The latter the Hesperides, distant from Africk ten thousand furlongs.
The Island of Maio described.
Maio hath in it a Lake two leagues long, where the Sun congeals and turns the water into salt. Here the Sea looketh like a green field, being covered over with an herb called Sergasso, like to our Sampher, which lies so thick that a man cannot see the water, hindring the ships passage, except it hath a strong wind: It is yellowish of colour, and beareth an empty berry, like Goosberries. Its four hundred miles distant from the coast of Africk, and the Sea is so deep, that no ground can bee found, and yet this herb is thought to come from the bottome. These coasts are troubled with continual thunders, and lightenings; and unwholesome raines; and if this rain-water stand but a little, it turns into Worms, and it fills the meat that is hung up in it with Worms. Here swims also upon the face of the waters another herb like a Cocks-comb, which is so venemous, that it can hardly bee touched without peril. In these Seas also they meet with great and tedious calmes.
The Canary Islands described.
The Canary Islands are twenty leagues from the continent of Lybia, being six in number. Canaria, La-Palma, Teneriffa, Lancerota, Hierro, La-Gomara; and Forteventura. The ancient Inhabitants knew no God but Nature; were ignorant of the use of fire; shaved with flint-stones: Nursed their Children by Goats; tilled the Earth with Horns of Oxen; abominated the slaughter of Beasts; like beasts used women in common; had no meum, and tuum.
The Woods their dwelling was, the Herbs their diet;
And on the leaves, and boughs, they slept in quiet.
They are now inhabited by the Spaniards, who have the Inquisition amongst them: The Grand Canary is the residence of the Inquisitor whither all the other Isles repair for Justice. Its one hundred and twenty miles in compasse: Hath store of Goats, Bees, Asses, Hogs, Barley, Rye, Rice, variety of flowers, Grapes, and other excellent fruits.
Teneriff may compare with the Grand Canary in multitude of Inhabitants; and exceeds it in Grapes, yeelding yearly eight and twenty thousand Buts of Sack; of the high Pike in this Island, see afterwards.
Hyerro is famous for that Tree, which (like the Rock in the Desart) affords sweet water to all the Inhabitants: The description whereof, see afterwards.
Madara stands in two and thirty degrees, and is the greatest of all the Atlantick Isles: It was so called of the wildernesses of trees there growing, which when they were first fired, they burned so furiously, that the people for a time were forced to go some space into the Sea from the violent heat, and the wood-ashes made the soil so fat, that at first it yeelded threescore fold, since but thirty: The excellent Wines that wee have from thence are made of Vines that were brought from Candy, and they bring forth more Grapes than leaves, the clusters being two, three, and four spans long. At first here were many Pigeons that would suffer themselves to bee taken, not knowing, and therefore not fearing a man.
Forty miles from Madara is the Isle of Porto Santo, or All-Saints, because discovered upon that day Anno Christi 1428. Here were such store of Conies, bred of one shee Cony, brought hither great with young, that the Island was almost destroyed, and made unhabitable by them.
The Isle of Malta described.
Within the Streights there are only some few Islands belonging to Affrica, whereof the Isle of Melita, or Malta is the chiefest: In old time famous for the Temple of Juno, spoiled by the Roman Verres. Its distant from Sicilie threescore miles, from Africa one hundred and ninety: It was sometimes subject to the Carthaginians. It is now held by the Knights of Malta, whose valour appeared Anno Christi 1565. by defending it against their mighty and powerful adversary the Turk.