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 countries of Benin, Meleghete, Ghinea, and Sierra Leona.

WEstward from the countries last mentioned lyeth the kingdome of Benin, hauing a very proper towne of that name, and an hauen called Gurte. The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 liue in Idolatry, and are a rude and brutish na∣tion; notwithstanding that their prince is serued with such high reuerence, and neuer commeth in sight but with great solemnity, & many ceremonies: at whose death his chiefe fauorites count it the greatest point of honour to be buried with him, to the end (as they vainely imagine) they may doe him seruice in another world. This countrie aboundeth with long pepper called* 1.1 by the Portugals Pimienta dal rabo, which is as much to say, as ppeper with a tayle: This tailed or long pepper so far excelleth the pepper of the east In∣dies, that an ounce therof is of more force then halfe a pound of that other. For which cause the kings of Portugale haue done what lay in them, to keep it from being brought into these parts of Europe, least it should too much abase the estimation and price of their Indian pepper. All which notwith∣standing there hath bin great quantitie secretly conueied from thence by the Portugals: as likewise the English and French nations, and of late yeeres the Hollanders haue had great traffique into those parts.

Next follow the kingdomes of Temian and Dauma; and lower to the* 1.2 south the prouince of Meleghete, a place very famous and well knowne, in regard of a little red graine which there groweth, being in shape somewhat like to the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Italy, but of a most vehement and firy tast: and these lit∣tle graines are by the apothecaries called Grana Paradisi. Here also is made* 1.3 of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and the ashes of the Palme-tree, a kind of sope, which hath double the force of ours. For which cause it is forbidden by the Portugals, who* 1.4 haue vpon that coast a little to the east of Cabo das tres puntas, in the nor∣therly latitude of fiue degrees, a strong castle called San Georgio de lá Mi∣na, whereunto by way of traffike they draw all the gold and riches of the countries adioining.

Westward of these lieth the countrie of Ghinea, inhabited by a people which the ancient writers called * 1.5 Autolatae, and Ichthyophagi: Ghinea is so named, according to the chiefe citie thereof called Genni, being situate vpon the riuer of Sanega. The people of this countrie towards the sea∣coast liue vpon fish; and they of the inland sustaine themselues with Lizards and such like creatures; & in some places more temperate their food consi∣steth of herbes and milke. They conuerse togither in great families; and they fight oftentimes for water and for pastures; neither haue they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 knowledge of learning or liberall arts. So long as the sun continueth in our northren signes, that is, from the xj. of March to the xiij. of September, this people in regard of extreme 〈◊〉〈◊〉 heat, are constrained all the day time (being ordinarily with them of 12. howers) to retire themselues within their

houses, and to do all their busines in the night. The countrey in most pla∣ces is destitute of trees that beare fruite: neither haue the greatest part of the inhabitants any haire on their bodies, saue onely a thicke tuft growing vpon their heads: they sell their children vnto strangers, supposing that their estate cannot possiblie be impaired. Vnto these naturall miseries of the place, you may ad the insupportable mischiefes which are here done by the locustes: for albeit these creatures do infinite harme likewise in all the inner parts of Africa; yet seemeth it that this countrey of Ghinea is their most proper habitation; whither they do often resort in such innumerable swarmes, that like a mightie thicke cloud they come raking along in the skie, and afterward falling downe, they couer the face of the earth, deuouring all things that they light vpon. Their comming towards any place is known two or three daies before by the yellownes of the sunne. But in most places* 1.6 where they haunt, the poore people are reuenged of them by killing and dri∣uing them in the aire for their foode: which custome is commonly vsed by the Arabians and Ethiopians; and the Portugals also haue found vessels full of them vpon the coast of Cambaia, where they do the like mischiefes. They which haue eaten of them affirme that they are of a good taste, and that their flesh (so much as it is) is as white as that of a lobster. These may seem to be al one with those grashoppers which God sent to plague Egypt; and the same kind of locustes, which the holy prophet Iohn Baptist fed vpon in the wildernes.

Moreouer along the coasts of Meleghete and Ghinea are diuers small riuers and freshets, containing little water, and running a slow pace: which notwithstanding are the best and pleasantest things that are to be founde in these forlorne countries. For wheresoeuer any little water springeth or run∣neth, thither do the people resort, partly for the watring of their scorched groūds, & partly to quench their own thirst. Also vpō these coasts are diuers and sundry headlands which stretch into the sea; as namely The faire cape, The three-pointed cape, The cape of Palmetrees, Cabo da Verga, & Sierra* 1.7 Leona. This cape last mentioned hath an exceeding high mountaine there∣upon, which causeth it to be seene a mightie distance off. It seemeth to be the same promontorie which Hanno and Ptolemey call The chariot of the gods. It is called by the name of a lyon in regard of the dreadfull thunders and lightnings which are continually heard from the top thereof: howbeit neere vnto it are found apes, munkeies, and such other beasts as liue in tem∣perate places.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Of this long pep∣per read Ramu∣sius, vol. 1. fol. 115. pag. 2.
• * 1.2

  The prouinces of Temian, Dauma, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.3

  Grana Para∣disi.
• * 1.4

  The 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Mina.
• * 1.5

  Pliny calleth them 〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.6

  〈◊〉〈◊〉.
• * 1.7

  Sierra 〈◊〉〈◊〉.