A geographical historie of Africa, written in Arabicke and Italian by Iohn Leo a More, borne in Granada, and brought vp in Barbarie. Wherein he hath at large described, not onely the qualities, situations, and true distances of the regions, cities, townes, mountaines, riuers, and other places throughout all the north and principall partes of Africa; but also the descents and families of their kings ... gathered partly out of his owne diligent obseruations, and partly out of the ancient records and chronicles of the Arabians and Mores. Before which, out of the best ancient and moderne writers, is prefixed a generall description of Africa, and also a particular treatise of all the maine lands and isles vndescribed by Iohn Leo. ... Translated and collected by Iohn Pory, lately of Goneuill and Caius College in Cambridge

Of the towne of Melela in Garet.

THis great and ancient towne built by the Africans vpon a cer∣taine bay or hauen of the Mediterran sea, containeth almost two thousand families. It was in times past well stored with inhabi∣tants, as being the head-citie of the whole prouince. It had a great iurisdiction or territorie belonging thereto, and collected great abun∣dance of yron and honie, whereupon the towne it selfe was called Mellela, which word in their language signifieth honie. In the hauen of this towne they fish for pearles, and get great store of oisters wherein pearles doe breed. This towne was once subiect vnto the Goths, but fell afterward into the Ma∣humetans possession. The Goths being chased thence, fled ouer to Granada, which citie is almost an hundred miles distant, to wit, so farre as the bredth

of the sea is ouer. In my time the king of Spaine sent a great armie against this towne: before the arriuall whereof, the townesmen sent vnto the king of Fez for aide, who making warre as then against the people of Temesna, could send but small forces to succour them. Which the townesmen being aduertised of, and fearing least their small forces would prooue too weake for the Spanyards great armada, they tooke all the bag and baggage that they could carrie, and fled vnto the mountains of Buthoia. Howbeit the captaine of the Fessan soldiers, both to be reuenged vpon the townesmens cowardice, and also to leaue nothing for the Spanyards to inioy, burnt downe all the houses, temples, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉. This was done in the yeere of the Hegeira 896, which was in the yeere of our Lord 1487. But the Spanyards, for all* 1.1 they found the citie so wasted, would not depart thereupon, but first built a strong castle, and afterward by little and little repaired the towne-walles, and by that meanes haue kept possession thereof euen till this day.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 enioyed and reedified by the Spani∣ards.