The second voyage to Guinea set out by Sir George Barne,
Sir John Yorke, Thomas Lok, Anthonie Hickman and
Edward Castelin, in the yere 1554. The Captaine
whereof was M. John Lok.
As in the first voiage I have declared rather the order of
the history, then the course of the navigation, whereof
at that time I could have no perfect information: so in
the description of this second voyage, my chiefe intent
hath beene to shew the course of the same, according to
the observation and ordinarie custome of the mariners,
and as I received it at the handes of an expert Pilot, being
one of the chiefe in this voyage, who also with his owne
hands wrote a briefe declaration of the same, as he found
and tried all things, not by conjecture, but by the art of
sayling, and instruments perteining to the mariners
facultie. Not therefore assuming to my selfe the commendations due unto other, neither so bold as in any part
to change or otherwise dispose the order of this voyage
so well observed by art and experience, I have thought
good to set forth the same, in such sort and phrase of
speech as is commonly used among them, and as I
received it of the said Pilot, as I have said. Take it
therefore as followeth.
In the yeere of our Lord 1554 the eleventh day of
October, we departed the
river of Thames with three
goodly ships, the one called the Trinitie, a ship of the
burden of seven-score tunne, the other called the Bartholomew, a ship of the burden of ninetie, the third was the
John Evangelist, a ship of seven score tunne. With
the sayd ships and two pinnesses (whereof the one was
drowned on the coast of England) we went forward on
our voyage, and stayed at Dover fourteene dayes. We
staied also at Rie three or foure dayes. Moreover last
of all we touched at Dartmouth
.
The first day of November at nine of the clocke at night,
departing from the coast of England, we set off the Start,
bearing Southwest all that night in the sea, and the next
day all day, and the next night after, untill the third day
of the said moneth about noone, making our way good,
did runne threescore leagues.
The 17 day in the morning we had sight of the Ile
of Madera, which doth rise to him that commeth in the
Northnortheast part upright land in the west part of it,
and very high: and to the Southsoutheast a low long
land, and a long point, with a saddle thorow the middest
of it, standing in two and thirtie degrees: and in the
West part, many springs of water running downe from
the mountaine, and many white fieldes like unto corne
fields, & some white houses to the Southeast part of it:
and the toppe of the mountaine sheweth very ragged,
if you may see it, and in the Northeast part there is a
bight or bay as though it were a harborow: Also in the
said part, there is a rocke a little distance from the shoare,
and over the sayd bight you shall see a great gappe in
the mountaine.
The 19 day at twelve of the clocke we had sight of the
isle of Palmes and Teneriffa and the Canaries. The
Ile
of Palme, riseth round, & lieth Southeast and Northwest,
and the Northwest part is lowest. In the South is a
round hill over the head land, and another round hill
above that in the land. There are betweene the Southeast
part of the
Ile of Madera & the Northwest part of the
Ile
of Palme seven and fifty leagues. This Isle of Palme
lieth in eight and twenty degrees. And our course from
Madera to the
Ile of Palme was South and South and by
West, so that we had sight of Teneriffa and of the
Canaries. The Southeast part of the
Ile of the Palme, &
the Northnortheast of Teneriffa lie Southeast and Northwest, and betweene them are 20 leagues. Teneriffa and
the great Canary called Gran Canaria, and the West part
of Forteventura stande in seven and twenty degrees and
a halfe. Gomera is a faire Island but very ragged, & lieth
Westsouthwest off Teneriffa. And whosoever wil come
betweene them two Ilands must come South and by East,
and in the South part of Gomera is a towne and a good
rode in the said part of the Iland : and it standeth in seven
and twentie degrees and three terces. Teneriffa is an
high land, with a great high pike like a sugar loafe, and
upon the said pike is snow throughout all the whole yeere.
And by reason of that pike it may be knowen above all
other Ilands, and there we were becalmed the twentieth
day of November, from sixe of the clocke in the morning,
untill foure of the clocke at afternoone.
The two and twentieth day of November, under the
Tropike of Cancer the Sunne goeth downe West and
by South. Upon the coast of Barbarie five and twentie
leagues by
North Cape blanke, at three leagues off
the maine, there are fifteene fadomes and good shelly
ground, and sande among and no streames, and two
small Ilands standing in two and twentie degrees and a
terce.
From Gomera to Cape de las Barbas is an hundred
leagues, and our course was South and by East. The
said Cape standeth in two and twentie and a halfe: and
all that coast is flatte, sixteene or seventeene fadome
deepe. Seven or eight leagues off from the river del Oro
to Cape de las Barbas, there use many Spaniardes and
Portugals to trade for fishing, during the moneth of
November: and all that coast is very low lands. Also
we went from Cape de las Barbas Southsouthwest, and
Southwest and by South, till we brought our selves in
twentie degrees and a halfe, reckoning our selves seven
leagues off: and there were the least sholes of
Cape
Blanke.
Then we went South untill we brought our selves in
13 degrees, reckoning our selves five and twentie leagues
off. And in 15 degrees we did reare the Crossiers, and
we might have reared them sooner if we had looked for
them. They are not right a crosse in the moneth of
November, by reason that the nights are short there.
Neverthelesse we had the sight of them the 29 day of the
said moneth at night.
The first of December, being in 13 degrees we set our
course South and by East, untill the fourth day of
December at 12 of the clocke the same day. Then we
were in nine degrees and a terce, reckoning our selves
30 leagues off the sholes of the river called
Rio Grande,
being Westsouthwest off them, the which sholes be 30
leagues long.
The fourth of December we beganne to set our course
Southeast, we being in sixe degrees and a halfe.
The ninth day of December we set our course Eastsoutheast: the fourteenth day of the sayde moneth we
set our course East, we being in five degrees and a halfe,
reckoning our selves thirty and sixe leagues from the
coast of Guinea.
The nineteenth of the said moneth we set our course
East and by North, reckoning our selves seventeene
leagues distant from
Cape Mensurado, the said Cape
being Eastnortheast of us, and the river of Sesto
being
East.
The one and twentieth day of the said moneth, we fell
with
Cape Mensurado to the Southeast, about two leagues
off. This Cape may be easily knowen, by reason yt the
rising of it is like a Porpose-head. Also toward the
Southeast there are three trees, whereof the Eastermost
tree is the highest, and the middlemost is like a hie stacke,
& the Southermost like unto a gibet: and upon the maine
are foure or five high hilles rising one after another like
round hommocks or hillocks. And the Southeast of the
three trees, brandiernwise: and all the coast along is
white sand. The said Cape standeth within a litle in sixe
degrees.
The two and twentieth of December we came to the
river of Sesto
, & remained there untill the nine and
twentieth day of the said moneth. Here we thought it
best to send before us the pinnesse to the river Dulce,
called
Rio Dulce, that they might have the beginning of
the market before the comming of the John Evangelist.
At the river of Sesto
we had a tunne of graines. This
river standeth in sixe degrees, lacking a terce. From
the river of Sesto
to
Rio Dulce are five and twentie
leagues.
Rio Dulce standeth in five degrees and a halfe.
The river of Sesto
is easie to be knowen, by reason there
is a ledge of rockes on the Southeast part of the Rode.
And at the entring into the haven are five or sixe trees
that beare no leaves. This is a good harborow, but very
narow at ye entrance into the river. There is also a
rocke in the havens mouth right as you enter. And
all that coast betweene
Cape de Monte, and cape de las
Palmas, lieth Southeast & by East, Northwest & by West,
being three leagues off the shore. And you shal have in
some places rocks two leagues off: and that, betweene
the river of Sesto
and cape de las Palmas.
Betweene the river of Sesto
and the river Dulce are five
and twentie leagues : & the high land that is betweene
them both, is called Cakeado, being eight leagues from
the river of Sesto
. And to the Southeastwarde of it is
a place called Shawgro, and an other called Shyawe or
Shauo, where you may get fresh water. Off this Shyawe
lieth a ledge of rockes: and to the Southeastward lieth
a hedland called Croke. Betweene Cakeado and Croke
are nine or ten leagues. To the Southeastward off, is
a harborow called S. Vincent: Right over against S.
Vincent, is a rocke under the water, two leagues & a
halfe off the shore. To the Southeastward of that rocke
you shal see an island about three or foure leagues off:
this island is not past a league off the shore. To the
Eastsoutheast of the island is a rocke that lieth above
the water, and by that rocke goeth in the river Dulce,
which you shall know by the said river and rocke. The
Northwest side of the haven is flat sand, and the Southeast side therof is like an Island, and a bare plot without
any trees, and so is it not in any other place.
In the Rode you shall ride in thirteene or foureteene
fadomes, good oaze and sand, being the markes of the
Rode to bring the Island and the Northeast land together,
and here we ankered the last of December.
The third day of Januarie, we came from the river
Dulce.
Note that Cape de las Palmas is a faire high land, but
some low places thereof by the water side looke like red
cliffes with white strakes like hie wayes, a cable length a
piece, and this is the East part of the cape. This cape is
the Southermost land in all the coast of Guinea, and
standeth in foure degrees and a terce.
The coast from Cape de las Palmas to
Cape Trepointes,
or de Tres Puntas, is faire & cleare without rocke or other
danger.
Twentie and five leagues from Cape de las Palmas, the
land is higher then in any place, untill we come to
Cape
Trepointes: And about ten leagues before you come to
Cape Trepointes, the land riseth still higher and higher,
untill you come to
Cape Trepointes, Also before you come
to the said Cape, after other 5 leagues to the Northwest
part of it, there is certaine broken ground, with two great
rockes, and within them in the bight of a bay, is a castle
called Arra
, perteining to the king of Portugall. You
shall know it by the said rockes that lie off it: for there
is none such from Cape de las Palmas to
Cape Trepointes.
This coast lieth East and by North, West and by
South.
From Cape de las Palmas to the said castle is fourescore
and fifteene leagues. And the coast lieth from the said
castle to the Westermost point of Trepoyntes, Southeast
and by South, Northwest and by North. Also the
Westermost point of Trepoyntes is a low lande, lying
halfe a mile out in the sea: and upon the innermost
necke, to the land-ward, is a tuft of trees, and there we
arrived the eleventh day of January.
The 12 day of January we came to a towne called
Samma or Samva, being 8 leagues from
Cape Trepointes
toward Eastnortheast. Betweene
Cape Trepointes and
the towne of Samva is a great ledge of rockes a great
way out in the sea. We continued foure dayes at that
Towne, and the Captaine thereof would needs have a
pledge a shore. But when they received the pledge, they
kept him still, and would traffike no more, but shot off
their ordinance at us. They have two or three pieces of
ordinance and no more.
The sixteenth day of the said month we made reckoning
to come to a place called
Cape Corea, where captaine
Don John dwelleth, whose men entertained us friendly.
This
Cape Corea is foure leagues Eastwarde of the castle
of Mina, otherwise called La mina, or Castello
de mina,
where we arrived the 18 day of the moneth. Here we
made sale of all our cloth, saving two or three packes.
The 26 day of the same moneth we weighed anker,
and departed from thence to the Trinitie, which was
seven leagues Eastward of us, where she solde her wares.
Then they of the Trinitie willed us to go Eastward of
that eight or nine leagues, to sell part of their wares,
in a place called Perecow, and another place named Perecow Grande, being the Eastermost place of both these,
which you shal know by a great round hill neere unto it,
named Monte Rodondo, lying Westward from it, and by
the water side are many high palme trees. From hence
did we set forth homeward the thirteenth day of February,
& plied up alongst till we came within seven or eight
leagues to
Cape Trepointes. About eight of the clocke
the 15 day at afternoone, wee did cast about to seaward:
and beware of the currants, for they will deceive you sore.
Whosoever shall come from the coast of Mina
homeward,
let him be sure to make his way good West, untill he
reckon himselfe as farre as Cape de las Palmas, where
the currant setteth alwayes to the Eastward. And within
twentie leagues Eastward of Cape de las Palmas is a river
called De los Potos, where you may have fresh water and
balast enough, and plenty of ivory or Elephants teeth.
This river standeth in foure degrees, and almost two
terces. And when you reckon your selfe as farre shot as
Cape de las Palmas, being in a degree, or a degree and a
halfe, you may go West, and West by North, untill you
come in three degrees: and then you may go Westnorthwest, and Northwest and by West, untill you come in five
degrees, and then Northwest. And in sixe degrees, we
met Northerly windes, and great ruffling of tides. And as
we could judge, the currants went to the Northnorthwest.
Furthermore betweene
Cape de Monte, and
Cape Verde,
go great currants, which deceive many men.
The 22 day of Aprill, we were in 8 degrees and two
terces: and so we ran to the Northwest, having the
winde at Northeast and Eastnortheast, and sometimes
at East, untill we were at 18 degrees and a terce, which
was on May day. And so from 18 and two terces, we
had the winde at East and Eastnortheast, and sometimes
at
Eastsoutheast: and then we reckoned the Islands of
Cape verde Eastsoutheast of us, we judging our selves
to be 48 leagues off. And in 20 and 21 degrees, we had
the winde more Easterly to the Southward then before.
And so we ran to the Northwest and Northnorthwest,
and sometimes North and by West and North, untill
we came into 31 degrees, where we reckoned our selves
a hundred and fourescore leagues Southwest and by
South of the Island de los Flores, and there wee met
with the winde at
Southsoutheast, and set our course
Northeast.
In 23 degrees we had the winde at the South and
Southwest, and then we set our course Northnortheast,
and so we ran to 40 degrees, and then we set our course
Northeast, the winde being at the Southwest, and having
the
Isle de Flores East of us, and 17 leagues off.
In the 41 degrees we met with the winde at Northeast, and so we ran Northwestward, then we met with
the winde Westnorthwest, and at the West within 6
leagues, running toward the Northwest, and then we cast
about, and lay Northeast, untill we came in 42 degrees,
where we set our course Eastnortheast, judging the
Ile
of Corvo South and by West of us, and sixe and thirtie
leagues distant from us.
A remembrance, that the 21 day of May we communed
with John Rafe, and he thought it best to goe Northeast,
and judged himselfe 25 leagues Eastward to the
Isle de
Flores, and in 39 degrees and a halfe.
Note, that on the fourth day of September, under nine
degrees, we lost the sight of the North starre.
Note also, that in 45 degrees, the compasse is varied
8 degrees to the West.
Item, in 40 degrees the compasse did varie 15 degrees
in the whole.
Item, in 30 degrees and a halfe, the compasse is varied
5 degrees to the West.
Be it also in memory that two or three daies before
we came to Cape de 3 puntas, the pinnesse went alongst
the shore, thinking to sell some of our wares, and so
we came to anker three or foure leagues West and by
South of the Cape de 3 puntas, where we left the Trinitie.
Then our pinnesse came aboord with all our men,
the pinnesse also tooke in more wares. They told me
moreover that they would goe to a place where the Primrose was, and had received much gold at the first voyage
to these parties, and tolde me furthermore that it was a
good place: but I fearing a brigantine that was then upon
the coast, did wey and follow them, and left the Trinitie
about foure leagues off from us, and there we rode against
that towne foure dayes: so that Martine by his owne
desire, and assent of some of the Commissioners that were
in the pinnesse, went a shoare to the towne, and there
John Berin went to trafique from us, being three miles off
trafiquing at an other towne. The towne is called Samma
or Samva, for Samma and Sammaterra, are the names of
the two first townes, where we did trafique for gold, to
the
Northeast of Cape de 3 puntas.
Hitherto continueth the course of the voyage, as it was
described by the sayde Pilot. Nowe therefore I will
speake somewhat of the countrey and people, and of such
things as are brought from thence.
They brought from thence at the last voiage foure
hundred pound weight and odde of gold, of two and
twentie carrats and one graine in finenesse : also sixe and
thirtie buts of graines, & about two hundred and fifty
Elephants teeth of all quantities. Of these I saw &
measured some of nine spans in length, as they were
crooked. Some of them were as bigge as a mans thigh
above the knee, and weyed about fourescore and ten
pound weight a peece. They say that some one hath bin
seene of an hundred and five & twentie pound weight.
Other there were which they call the teeth of calves, of
one or two or three yeeres, whereof some were a foot and
a halfe, some two foot, and some 3 or more, according to
ye age of the beast. These great teeth or tusks grow in
the upper jaw downeward, and not in the nether jaw
upward, wherein the Painters and Arras
workers are
deceived. At this last voyage was brought from Guinea
the head of an Elephant, of such huge bignesse, that
onely the bones or cranew thereof, beside the nether jaw &
great tusks, weighed about two hundred weight, and was
as much as I could well lift from the ground: insomuch
that considering also herewith the weight of two such
great teeth, the nether jaw with the lesse teeth, the
tongue, the great hanging eares, the bigge & long snout
or troonke, with all the flesh, braines, and skinne, with
all other parts belonging to the whole head, in my judgement it could weigh litle lesse then five hundred weight.
This head divers have scene in the house of the worthy
marchant sir Andrew Judde, where also I saw it, and
beheld it, not onely with my bodily eyes, but much more
with the eyes of my mind and spirit, considering by the
worke, the cunning and wisedome of the workemaister:
without which consideration, the sight of such strange
and wonderfull things may rather seeme curiosities, then
profitable contemplations.
The Elephant (which some call an Oliphant) is the
biggest of all foure footed beasts, his forelegs are longer
then his hinder, he hath ancles in the lower part of his
hinder legges, and five toes on his feete undivided, his
snout or tronke is so long, and in such forme, that it
is to him in the stead of a hand: for he neither eateth
nor drinketh but by bringing his tronke to his mouth,
therewith he helpeth up his Master or keeper, therewith
he overthroweth trees. Beside his two great tusks, he
hath on every side of his mouth foure teeth, wherewith
he eateth and grindeth his meate: either of these teeth
are almost a span in length, as they grow along in the
jaw, and are about two inches in height, and almost as
much in thicknesse. The tuskes of the male are greater
then of the female : his tongue is very litle, and so farre
in his mouth, that it cannot be seene: of all beastes they
are most gentle and tractable, for by many sundry wayes
they are taught, and doe understand: insomuch that they
learne to doe due honor to a king, and are of quicke sense
and sharpenesse of wit. When the male hath once
seasoned the female, he never after toucheth her. The
male Elephant liveth two hundreth yeeres, or at the least
one hundred and twentie: the female almost as long, but
the floure of their age is but threescore yeres, as some
write. They cannot suffer winter or cold: they love
rivers, and will often go into them up to the snout,
wherewith they blow and snuffe, and play in the water:
but swimme they cannot, for the weight of their bodies.
Plinie and Soline write, that they use none adulterie. If
they happen to meete with a man in wildernesse being
out of the way, gently they wil go before him, & bring him
into the plaine way. Joyned in battel, they have no small
respect unto them that be wounded: for they bring them
that are hurt or weary into the middle of the army to be
defended: they are made tame by drinking the juise of
barley. They have continual warre against Dragons,
which desire their blood, because it is very cold: and
therfore the Dragon lying awaite as the Elephant passeth
by, windeth his taile (being of exceeding length, about the
hinder legs of the Elephant, & so staying him, thrusteth
his head into his tronke and exhausteth his breath, or else
biteth him in the eare, wherunto he cannot reach with his
tronke, and when the Elephant waxeth faint, he falleth
downe on the serpent, being now full of blood, and with
the poise of his body breaketh him: so that his owne
blood with the blood of the Elephant runneth out of him
mingled together, which being colde, is congealed into that
substance which the Apothecaries call Sanguis Draconis,
(that is) Dragons blood, otherwise called Cinnabaris,
although there be an other kinde of Cinnabaris, commonly
called Cinoper or Vermilion
, which the Painters use in
certaine colours.
They are also of three kinds, as of the Marshes, the
plaines, and the mountaines, no lesse differing in conditions. Philostratus writeth, that as much as the
Elephant of Libya in bignes passeth the horse of
Nysea,
so much doe the Elephants of India exceed them of Libya
:
for the Elephants of India, some have bene seene of the
height of nine cubits: the other do so greatly feare these,
that they dare not abide the sight of them. Of the Indian
Elephants onely the males have tuskes, but of them of
Ethiopia
and Libya
both kindes are tusked: they are of
divers heights, as of twelve, thirteene, and fourteene
dodrants, every dodrant being a measure of nine inches.
Some write that an Elephant is bigger then three wilde
Oxen or Buffes. They of India are black, or of ye colour
of a mouse, but they of Ethiope or Guinea are browne:
the hide or skinne of them all is very hard, and without
haire or bristles: their cares are two dodrants broad, and
their eyes very little. Our men saw one drinking at a
river in Guinea, as they sailed into the land.
Of other properties & conditions of the Elephant, as
of their marvellous docilitie, of their fight and use in the
warres, of their generation and chastitie, when they were
first seene in the Theaters and triumphes of the Romanes,
how they are taken & tamed, and when they cast their
tusks, with the use of the same in medicine, who so
desireth to know, let him reade Plinie, in the eight booke
of his naturall history. He also writeth in his twelft
booke, that in olde time they made many goodly workes
of ivory or Elephants teeth: as tables, tressels, postes of
houses, railes, lattesses for windowes, images of their
gods, and divers other things of ivory, both coloured and
uncoloured, and intermixt with sundry kindes of precious,
woods, as at this day are made certaine chaires, lutes,,
and virginals. They had such plenty thereof in olde time,,
that (as far as I remember) Josephus writeth, that one of
the gates of Hierusalem was called Porta Eburnea, (that
is) the Ivory gate. The whitenesse thereof was so much
esteemed, that it was thought to represent the natural
fairnesse of mans skinne: insomuch that such as went
about to set foorth (or rather corrupt) naturall beautie
with colours and painting, were reproved by this proverbe, Ebur atramento candefacere, that is, To make ivory
white with inke. The Poets also describing the faire
necks of beautifull virgins, call them Eburnea colla, that is,
Ivory necks. And to have said thus much of Elephants
and Ivory, it may suffice.
Now therefore I will speake somewhat of the people
and their maners, and maner of living, with an other
briefe description of Africa
also. It is to be understood,
that the people which now inhabite the regions of the
coast of Guinea, and the midle parts of Africa
, as Libya
the inner, and Nubia
, with divers other great & large
regions about the same, were in old time called Æthiopes
and Nigritae, which we now call Moores, Moorens, or
Negroes, a people of beastly living, without a God, lawe,
religion, or common wealth, and so scorched and vexed
with the heat of the sunne, that in many places they curse
it when it riseth. Of the regions and people about the
inner Libya
(called Libya
interior) Gemma Phrysius
writeth thus.
Libya
interior is very large and desolate, in the which
are many horrible wildernesses & mountaines, replenished
with divers kinds of wilde and monstrous beastes and
serpents. First from Mauritania
or Barbary toward the
South is Getulia, a rough and savage region, whose
inhabitants are wilde and wandering people. After these
follow the people called Melanogetuli and Pharusii, which
wander in the wildernesse, carrying with them great
gourdes of water. The Ethiopians called Nigritae occupy
a great part of Africa
, and are extended to the
West
Ocean. Southward also they reach to the river Nigritis,
whose nature agreeth with the river of Nilus, forasmuch
as it is increased and diminished at the same time, and
bringeth forth the like beasts as the Crocodile. By
reason whereof, I thinke this to be the same river which
the Portugals call Senega: For this river is also of the
same nature. It is furthermore marveilous and very
strange that is said of this river: And this is, that on the
one side thereof, the inhabitants are of high stature and
black, and on the other side, of browne or tawnie colour,
and low stature, which thing also our men confirme to be
true.
There are also other people of Libya
called Garamantes,
whose women are common: for they contract no matrimonie, neither have respect to chastitie. After these are
the nations of the people called Pyrei, Sathiodaphnitae,
Odrangi, Mimaces, Lynxamatae, Dolopes, Aganginae,
Leuci Ethiopes, Xilicei Ethiopes, Calcei Ethiopes, and
Nubi. These have the same situation in
Ptolome that
they now give to the kingdome of Nubia
. Here are
certaine Christians under the dominion of the great
Emperour of Æthiopia, called Prester John. From these
toward the West is a great nation of people called
Aphricerones, whose region (as farre as may be gathered
by conjecture) is the same that is now called Regnum
Orguene, confining upon the East parts of Guinea.
From hence Westward, and somewhat toward the North,
are the kingdoms of Gambra and Budomel, not farre
from the
river of Senega. And from hence toward the
inland regions, and along by the sea coast, are the regions
of Ginoia or Guinea, which we commonly call Ginnee.
On the Westside
of these regions toward the Ocean, is
the cape or point called Cabo verde, or Caput viride,
(that is) the greene cape, to the which the Portugals first
direct their course when they saile to America
, or the land
of Brasile
. Then departing from hence, they turne to
the right hand toward the quarter of the winde called
Garbino, which is betweene the West and the South.
But to speake somewhat more of Æthiopia: although
there are many nations of people so named, yet is
Aethiopia chiefly divided into two parts, whereof the one
is called Aethiopia under Aegypt, a great & rich region.
To this perteineth the
Island Meroe, imbraced round
about with the stremes of the river Nilus. In this Island
women reigned in old time. Josephus writeth, that it was
sometime called Sabea: and that the Queene of Saba
came from thence to Jerusalem, to heare the wisedom of
Salomon. From hence toward the East reigneth the said
Christian Emperor Prester John, whom some cal Papa
Johannes, & other say that he is called Pean Juan (that is)
great John, whose Empire reacheth far beyond Nilus,
and is extended to the coasts of the
Red sea &
Indian sea.
The middle of the region is almost in 66. degrees of
longitude, and 12. degrees of latitude. About this region
inhabite the people called Clodi, Risophagi, Babylonii,
Axiunitae, Molili, and Molibae. After these is the region
called Troglodytica, whose inhabitants dwel in caves and
dennes : for these are their houses, & the flesh of serpents
their meat, as writeth Plinie, and Diodorus Siculus. They
have no speech, but rather a grinning and chattering.
There are also people without heads, called Blemines,
having their eyes and mouth in their breast. Likewise
Strucophagi, and naked Ganphasantes: Satyrs also,
which have nothing of men but onely shape. Moreover
Oripei, great hunters. Mennones also, and the region of
Smyrnophora, which bringeth foorth myrrhe. After these
is the region of Azania, in the which many Elephants are
found. A great part of the other regions of Africke that
are beyond the Aequinoctiall line, are now ascribed to the
kingdome of Melinde, whose inhabitants are accustomed
to trafique with the nations of Arabia
, and their king is
joyned in friendship with the king of Portugal, and payeth
tribute to Prester John.
The other Ethiope, called Æthiopia interior (that is)
the inner Ethiope, is not yet knowne for the greatnesse
thereof, but onely by the sea coastes: yet is it described
in this maner. First from the Aequinoctiall toward ye
South, is a great region of Aethiopians, which bringeth
forth white Elephants, Tygers, and the beastes called
Rhinocerotes. Also a region that bringeth foorth plenty
of cynamome, lying betweene the branches of Nilus. Also
the kingdome of Habech or Habasia, a region of Christian
men, lying both on this side and beyond Nilus. Here are
also the Aethiopians, called Ichthiophagi (that is) such as
live onely by fish, and were sometimes subdued by the
warres of great Alexander. Furthermore the Aethiopians
called Rhapsii, & Anthropophagi, yt are accustomed to eat
mans flesh, inhabite the regions neere unto the mountains
called Montes Lunae (that is) the mountaines of the
Moone. Gazatia is under the Tropike of Capricorne.
After this followeth the front of Afrike, the
Cape of Buena
Speranza, or Caput Bonae Spei, that is, the
Cape of good
hope, by the which they passe that saile from Lisbon
to
Calicut
. But by what names the Capes and gulfes are
called, forasmuch as the same are in every globe and
card, it were here superfluous to rehearse them.
Some write that Africa
was so named by the Grecians,
because it is without colde. For the Greeke letter Alpha
or A signifieth privation, voyd, or without: and Phrice
signifieth colde. For in deed although in the stead of
Winter they have a cloudy and tempestuous season, yet
is it not colde, but rather smoothering hote, with hote
showres of raine also, and somewhere such scorching
windes, that what by one meanes and other, they seeme
at certaine times to live as it were in fornaces, and in
maner already halfe way in Purgatorie or hell. Gemma
Phrisius writeth, that in certaine parts of Africa
, as in
Atlas the greater, the aire in the night season is scene
shining, with many strange fires and flames rising in
maner as high as the Moone : and that in the element are
sometime heard as it were the sound of pipes, trumpets
and drummes: which noises may perhaps be caused by
the vehement and sundry motions of such firie exhalations in the aire, as we see the like in many experiences
wrought by fire, aire and winde. The hollownesse also,
and divers reflexions and breaking of the cloudes may be
great causes hereof, beside the vehement colde of the
middle region of the aire, whereby the said fiery exhalations, ascending thither, are suddenly stricken backe with
great force: for even common and dayly experience
teacheth us, by the whissing of a burning torch, what
noise fire maketh in the aire, and much more where it
striveth when it is inclosed with aire, as appeareth in
gunnes, and as the like is seene in onely aire inclosed, as
in Organ pipes, and such other instruments that go by
winde. For winde (as say the Philosophers) is none other
then aire vehemently moved, as we see in a paire of
bellowes, and such other.
Some of our men of good credit that were in this last
voiage to Guinea, affirme earnestly that in the night
season they felt a sensible heat to come from the beames
of the moone. The which thing, although it be strange
and insensible to us that inhabite cold regions, yet doeth
it stand with good reason that it may so be, forasmuch as
the nature of starres and planets (as writeth Plinie) consisteth of fire, and conteineth in it a spirit of life, which
cannot be without heat.
And, that the Moone giveth heate upon the earth the
Prophet David seemeth to confirme in his 121. Psalme,
where speaking of such men as are defended from evils
by Gods protection, hee saith thus: Per diem Sol non
exuret te, nec Luna
per noctem. That is to say, In the
day the Sunne shall not burne thee, nor the Moone by
night.
They say furthermore, that in certaine places of the
sea they saw certaine streames of water, which they call
spouts, falling out of the aire into the sea, & that some
of these are as bigge as the great pillars of Churches:
insomuch that sometimes they fall into shippes, and put
them in great danger of drowning. Some faine that
these should be the Cataracts of heaven, which were
all opened at
Noes floud. But I thinke them rather to
be such fluxions and eruptions as Aristotle in his booke
de Mundo
saith, to chance in the sea. For speaking
of such strange things as are seene often times in the sea,
he writeth thus. Oftentimes also even in the sea are
seene evaporations of fire, and such eruptions and breaking foorth of springs, that the mouthes of rivers are
opened. Whirlepooles, and fluxions are caused of such
other vehement motions, not only in the middest of the
sea, but also in creeks & streights. At certaine times
also, a great quantity of water is suddenly lifted up and
carried about with the Moone, &c. By which wordes of
Aristotle it doth appeare that such waters be lifted up in
one place at one time, and suddenly fall downe in an
other place at another time. And hereunto perhaps perteineth it that Richard Chanceller told me that he heard
Sebastian Cabot report, that (as farre as I remember)
either about the coasts of Brasile
or
Rio de Plata, his
shippe or pinnesse was suddenly lifted from the sea, and
cast upon land, I wot not howe farre. The which thing,
and such other like wonderfull and strange workes of
nature while I consider, and call to remembrance the
narrownesse of mans understanding and knowledge, in
comparison of her mightie power, I can but cease to
marvell and confesse with Plinie, that nothing is to her
impossible, the least part of whose power is not yet
knowen to men. Many things more our men saw and
considered in this voyage, woorthy to be noted, whereof
I have thought good to put some in memory, that the
reader may aswell take pleasure in the variety of things,
as knowledge of the historic. Among other things therefore, touching the maners and nature of the people, this
may seeme strange, that their princes & noble men use
to pounce and rase their skinnes with pretie knots in
divers formes, as it were branched damaske, thinking that
to be a decent ornament. And albeit they goe in maner
all naked, yet are many of them, & especialy their women,
in maner laden with collars, bracelets, hoopes, and
chaines, either of gold, copper, or ivory. I my selfe have
one of their braslets of Ivory, weighing two pound and
sixe ounces of Troy
weight, which make eight and thirtie
ounces: this one of their women did weare upon her
arme. It is made of one whole piece of the biggest part
of the tooth, turned and somewhat carved, with a hole in
the midst, wherin they put their hands to weare it on their
arme. Some have on every arme one, and as many on
their legges, wherewith some of them are so galled, that
although they are in maner made lame thereby, yet will
they by no meanes leave them off. Some weare also on
their legges great shackles of bright copper, which they
thinke to bee no lesse comely. They weare also collars,
bracelets, garlands, and girdles, of certain blew stones
like beads. Likewise some of their women weare on
their bare armes certaine foresleeves made of the plates
of beaten golde. On their fingers also they weare rings,
made of golden wires, with a knot or wreath, like unto
that which children make in a ring of a rush. Among
other things of golde that our men bought of them for
exchange of their wares, were certaine dog-chaines and
collers.
They are very wary people in their bargaining, and
will not lose one sparke of golde of any value. They
use weights and measures, and are very circumspect in
occupying the same. They that shall have to doe with
them, must use them gently: for they will not trafique
or bring in any wares if they be evill used. At the first
voyage that our men had into these parties, it so chanced,
that at their departure from the first place where they
did trafick, one of them either stole a muske Cat, or
tooke her away by force, not mistrusting that that should
have hindered their bargaining in another place whither
they intended to goe. But for all the haste they coulde
make with full sailes, the fame of their misusage so
prevented them, that the people of that place also,
offended thereby, would bring in no wares: insomuch
that they were inforced either to restore the Cat, or pay
for her at their price, before they could trafique there.
Their houses are made of foure postes or trees, and
covered with boughes.
Their common feeding is of roots, & such fishes as
they take, whereof they have great plenty.
There are also such flying fishes as are seene in the
sea of the West Indies. Our men salted of their fishes,
hoping to provide store thereof: but they would take no
salt, and must therfore be eaten forthwith as some say.
Howbeit other affirme, that if they be salted immediatly
after they be taken, they wil last uncorrupted ten or
twelve dayes. But this is more strange, that part of
such flesh as they caried with them out of England, which
putrified there, became sweete againe at their returne to
the clime of temperate regions.
They use also a strange making of bread, in this maner.
They grinde betweene two stones with their handes as
much corne as they thinke may suffice their family, and
when they have thus brought it to floure, they put thereto
a certaine quantitie of water, and make thereof very
thinne dough, which they sticke upon some post of their
houses, where it is baked by the heate of the Sunne: so
that when the master of the house or any of his family
will eate thereof, they take it downe and eate it.
They have very faire wheate, the eare whereof is two
handfuls in length, and as bigge as a great Bulrush,
and almost foure inches about where it is biggest. The
stemme or straw seemeth to be almost as bigge as the
litle finger of a mans hand, or litle lesse. The graines
of this wheate are as big as our peason, round also, and
very white, and somewhat shining, like pearles that have
lost their colour. Almost all the substance of them
turneth into floure, & maketh litle bran or none. I told
in one eare two hundred & threescore graines. The eare
is inclosed in three blades longer then it selfe, & of two
inches broad a piece. And by this fruitfulnes the Sunne
seemeth partly to recompence such griefes and molestations as they otherwise receive by the fervent heate
thereof. It is doubtlesse a worthy contemplation to consider the contrary effects of the sunne: or rather the
contrary passions of such things as receive the influence
of his beames, either to their hurt or benefit. Their
drinke is either water, or the juise that droppeth from
the cut branches of the barren Date trees, called Palmitos.
For either they hang great gourdes at the said branches
every evening, and let them so hang all night, or else
they set them on the ground under the trees, that the
droppes may fall therein. They say that this kinde of
drinke is in taste much like unto whey, but somewhat
sweeter, and more pleasant. They cut the branches every
evening, because they are seared up in the day by the
heate of the Sunne. They have also great beanes as
bigge as chestnuts, and very hard, with a shell in the
stead of a huske.
Many things more might be saide of the maners of
the people, and of the wonders and monstrous things
that are engendred in
Africke. But it shall suffice to
have saide thus much of such things as our men partly
sawe, and partly brought with them.
And whereas before speaking of the fruit of graines,
I described the same to have holes by the side (as in
deede it hath, as it is brought hither) yet was I afterward
enfourmed, that those holes were made to put stringes
or twigges through the fruite, thereby to hang them up
to dry at the Sunne. They grow not past a foote and
a halfe, or two foote from the ground, and are as red as
blood when they are gathered. The graines themselves
are called of the Phisicions Grana Paradisi.
At their comming home the keeles of their shippes
were marveilously overgrowne with certaine shelles of
two inches length and more, as thicke as they could
stand, and of such bignesse that a man might put his
thumbe in the mouthes of them. They certainely affirme
that in these there groweth a certaine slimie substance,
which at the length slipping out of the shell and falling
in the sea, becommeth those foules which we call Barnacles. The like shelles have bene seene in ships returning from Iseland, but these shels were not past halfe an
inch in length. Of the other that came from Guinea, I
sawe the Primerose lying in the docke, and in maner
covered with the said shels, which in my judgement should
greatly hinder her sayling. Their ships were also in many
places eaten with the wormes called Bromas or Bissas,
whereof mention is made in the Decades. These creepe
betweene the plankes, which they eate through in many
places.
Among other things that chanced to them in this
voyage, this is worthy to be noted, that wheras they
sailed thither in seven weekes, they could returne in no
lesse space then twentie weekes. The cause whereof they
say to be this: That about the coast of Cabo Verde the
winde is ever at the East, by reason whereof they were
enforced to saile farre out of their course into the maine
Ocean, to finde the winde at the West to bring them
home. There died of our men at this last voyage about
twentie and foure, whereof many died at their returne
into the clime of the colde regions, as betweene the
Islands of Azores and England. They brought with them
certaine blacke slaves, whereof some were tall and strong
men, and could wel agree with our meates and drinkes.
The colde and moyst aire doth somewhat offend them.
Yet doubtlesse men that are borne in hot Regions may
better abide colde, then men that are borne in colde
Regions may abide heate, forasmuch as vehement heate
resolveth the radicall moysture of mens bodies, as colde
constraineth and preserveth the same.
This is also to be considered as a secret worke of
nature, that throughout all Africke, under the Æquinoctial line, and neere about the same on both sides, the
regions are extreeme hote, and the people very blacke.
Whereas contrarily such regions of the West Indies as
are under the same line are very temperate, and the people
neither blacke, nor with curlde and short wooll on their
heads, as they of Africke have, but of the colour of an
Olive, with long and blacke heare on their heads: the
cause of which variety is declared in divers places in the
Decades.
It is also worthy to be noted that some of them that
were at this voyage told me: That is, that they overtooke
the course of the Sunne, so that they had it North from
them at noone, the 14. day of March. And to have said
thus much of these voyages, it may suffice.
