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 Bresch.

THis ancient towne built by the Romanes vpon the Mediterran sea, standeth many miles distant from Mustuganin. It containeth great store of inhabitants, which are many of them weauers. The people of this towne vse to paint a blacke crosse vpon their cheeke, and two other blacke crosses vpon the palmes of their hands: and the like custome is obser∣ued by all the inhabitants of the mountaines of Alger, and Bugia: the occa∣sion whereof is thought to be this, namely that the Gothes when they first began to inuade these regions, released all those from paying of tribute (as our African historiographers affirme) that would imbrace the Christian re∣ligion. But so often as any tribute was demanded, euery man to eschew the payment thereof, would not sticke to professe himselfe a Christian: where∣fore it was then determined, that such as were Christians indeed should be distinguished from others by the foresaid crosses. At length the Gothes being expelled, they all reuolted vnto the Mahumetan religion; howbeit this custome of painting crosses remained still amongthem, neither doe they know the reason thereof. Likewise the meaner sort of people in Mau∣ritania vse to make such crosses vpon their faces, as we see vsed by some peo∣ple of Europe. This towne aboundeth greatly with figs, and the fields there∣of are exceeding fruitfull for flaxe and barley. The townesmen haue conti∣nued in firme league and friendship with the people of the mountaines ad∣ioyning; by whose fauour they liued an hundred yeeres togither without paying of any tribute at all: but Barbarossa the Turke hauing woon the king∣dome of Telensin put them to great distresse. From hence they vse to tran∣sport by sea great store of figs and flaxe vnto Alger, Tunis, and Bugia, wher∣by they gaine great store of money. Here also you may as yet behold di∣uers monuments of the Romans ancient buildings.