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 called Casar Elcabir, that is, The great palace.

THis large towne was built in the time of Mansor the king and patri∣arke of Maroco; of whom this notable historie is reported, namely, that the said king, as he rode on hunting, being separated from his companie by tempestuous weather, came vnto a certaine vnknowen place, where if he continued all night, fearing least he should die in the fens, he loo∣ked round about him, and at length espied a fisher getting of eeles: can you,* 1.1 〈◊〉〈◊〉 friend (quoth the king) conduct me to the court? The court (saith the fisher) is ten miles distant. Howbeit, the king intreating hard to be conduc∣ted;

if king Mansor himselfe were present (quoth the fisher) I could not at this present conduct him, for feare least he should be drowned in the fennes. Then answered Mansor: what hast thou to doe with the kings life or safetie? Marie (quoth the fisher) I am bound to loue the king as well as mine owne life. Then haue you obtained some singular benefite at his hands, said the king. What greater benefit (quoth the fisher) can be expected at the kings hand, then iustice, loue, and clemencie, which he vouchsafeth vnto his sub∣iects; by whose fauour and wisedome I sillie fisher with my poore wife and children liue a most quiet and contented life, so that I can euen at midnight haue free egresse and regresse vnto this my cottage amidst these vallies and desert fennes, no man lying in wait to doe me iniurie? But (gentle Sir) what∣soeuer you be, if you please to be my guest for this night, you shall be right welcome, and to morrow morning betimes I will attend vpon you at your pleasure. Then the king went vnto the fishers cottage, where after his horse was prouided for, the fisher caused some eeles to be rosted for his supper, while he sate drying of his garments by the fire: but the king not being con∣tented with this fare, demanded if his host had any flesh in the house: Sir (quoth he) I haue a shee-goate and a kid, and they are all my substance of cattell: but because by your countenance you seeme to be some honourable personage, I will aduenture my kid for your sake; and so without any more words he caused his wife to kill it & roste it. Thus the king remained the fish∣ers guest all night: and the next morning about sun-rise, being scarcely gone out of the doores with his liberall host, he espied a great companie of his gentlemen and hunters whooping and hallowing for their king amidst the fennes, but when they saw him, they all greatly reioiced. Then Mansor turning him to the fisher, told him what he was, promising that his libera∣litie should not be vnrewarded. Neere vnto the place were certaine faire ca∣stles and palaces, which the king at his departure gaue vnto the fisher in to∣ken of thankfulnes; and being by the fisher requested, for declaration of his farther loue, to enuiron the said buildings with wals, he condescended there∣unto. From thencefoorth the fisher 〈◊〉〈◊〉 lord and gouernour of that new citie, which in processe of time grew so large, that within these fewe yeeres it contained fower hundred families. And because the soile 〈◊〉〈◊〉 vnto it is so fertile, the king vsed to make his aboad thereabout all summer time, which was a great benefit to the towne. By the walles of this towne runneth* 1.2 the riuer Luccus, which sometimes encreaseth so, that it floweth to the citie∣gates. In this towne are practised diuers manuarie artes and trades of mer∣chandize: also it hath many temples, one college of students, and a stately hospitall. They haue neither springs nor wels, but onely cesternes in stead thereof. The inhabitants are liberall honest people, though not so 〈◊〉〈◊〉 as some others. Their apparell is but meane, being made of cotton-cloth, and wrapped often about their bodies. In the suburbes are great store of gardens replenished with all kinde of fruits. Their grapes are vnsauourie, because the soile is fitter for medow-ground. Euery munday they haue a market vpon

the next plaine, whither their neighbours the Arabians vsually resort. In the moneth of May they goe foorth of their towne a fowling, and take great store of turtles. Their ground is exceeding fruitfull, and yeeldeth thirtie fold increase: but it cannot be tilled for sixe miles about, bicause the Portugals garrison at Arzilla which is but eighteene miles distant, doth so molest and endomage them: whom likewise the gouernour of this towne with three hundred horsemen continually encountereth, and sometime proceedeth euen to the gates of Arzilla.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A pleasant dis∣course how king Mansor was entertained by a fisher.
• * 1.2

  Read Osorius lib. 2. de rebus gestis Eman. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 this towne.