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 Iewes.

THe Iewes who haue bene dispersed by god throughout the whole world, to confirme vs in the holie faith, entered into Ethiopia in the Queene of Sabas daies, in companie of a son that Salomon had by her, to the number (as the Abassins affirme) of twelue thousand, and there multi∣plied their generation exceedingly. In that they not onely filled Abassia, but spred themselues likewiseall ouer the neighbour prouinces. So that at this day also the Abassins affirme, that vpon Nilus towards the west, there inha∣ibteth a most populous nation of the Iewish stock, vnder a mightie K. And some of our moderne Cosmographers set downe a prouince in those quar∣ters, which they call The land of the Hebrewes, placed as it were vnder the equinoctiall, in certaine vnknowne mountaines, betweene the confines of Abassia, and Congo. And likewise on the north part of the kingdome of Goiame, and the southerly quarter of the kingdome of Gorham, there are certaine mountaines, peopled with Iewes, who there maintaine themselues free, and absolute, through the inaccessiable situations of the same. For in truth by this means, the inhabitants of the mountaines (speaking generally) are the most ancient, and freest people: in that the strong situation of their natiue soile secureth them, from the incursions of forraine nations, and the violence of their neighbours. Such are the Scottes in Britaine, and the Bis∣kaines in Spaine. But to return againe to our purpose: the Anzichi, who ex∣tend from the bankes of the riuer Zaire, euen to the confines of Nubia, vse circumcision, as also diuers other bordering people do, a thing that must necessarilie haue been brought in by the Iewes, & yet remayning stil in vse, after the annihilation of the Mosaicall law amongst them. Some also think, that the people called Cafri or Cafates at this day, who are gentiles, draw their originall from the Iewes, but being enuironed on euery side by Idola∣ters, they haue by little and little swarued from the law of Moses: and so are become, as it were, insensibly, Idolaters. On the other side, the Iewes being woonderfully increased in Spaine, passed one after an other into Affricke and Mauritania, and dispersed themselues euen to the confines of Numi∣dia, especiallie by meanes of traffick, and the profession of goldsmithes, the which being vtterly forbidden the Mahumetans, is altogether practised amongst them by the Iewes, as are likewise diuers other mechanicall crafts, but principallie that of black smithes. A thing which notablie appeareth in mount Sefsaua in the kingdome of Maroco, and in mount Anteta. It is said that Eitdeuet, a towne in the kingdome of Maroco, was inhabited by the Iewes, of the stock (as they affirme) of Dauid, who notwithstanding by little and little are growne Mahumetans. The Iewes encreased afterwards in Af∣frick, when first 〈◊〉〈◊〉 king of Spaine called The catholicke, and after him Emanuell king of Portugal, put them forth of their dominions: For then many went ouer into the kingdomes of Fez and Maroco, and brought in

thither the artes and professions of Europe vnknowne before to those Bar∣barians. In Bedis, Teza, Elmedina, Tefsa, and in Segelmesse euery placeis full of them. They passe also by way of traffick euen to Tombuto, although Iohn Leo writeth how that king was so greatly their enemie, that he confisca∣ted the goods of those that traded with them. It importeth me not to speake of Egypt, because it hath euer beene, as well by reason of the neernes of Pa∣lestina, as for the commodity of traffick, whereunto they are much enclined, as it were, their second countrie. Here in great number, and in a manner in all the cities and townes thereof, they exercise mechanicall arts, and vse traffick and merchandize, as also take vpon them the receit of taxes and cu∣stomes: but aboue all other places, in Alexandria and Cairo, where they a∣mount to the number of fiue and twentie thousand, and the ciuiller sort among them do vsually speake the Castilian toung.

〈◊〉〈◊〉 much may suffice to haue been spoken concerning the Iewes. It now remaineth, that we come to intreat of the Mahumetans of Africa. Concer∣ning whom, before we make any particular relation, it will not be amisse; for the readers more perfect instruction, to speake somewhat in generall: as namely of the sinister proceedings of their first seducer Mahumet; of the variety and propagation of their damned sects ouer the east and south parts of the world; of the fower principall nations which are the mainteiners and vpholders of this diabolicall religion; and of sundry other particulars most worthie the obseruation.