A report of the kingdome of Congo, a region of Africa And of the countries that border rounde about the same. 1. Wherein is also shewed, that the two zones torrida & frigida, are not onely habitable, but inhabited, and very temperate, contrary to the opinion of the old philosophers. 2. That the blacke colour which is in the skinnes of the Ethiopians and Negroes &c. proceedeth not from the sunne. 3. And that the Riuer Nilus springeth not out of the mountains of the Moone, as hath been heretofore beleeued: together with the true cause of the rising and increasing thereof. 4. Besides the description of diuers plants, fishes and beastes, that are found in those countries. Drawen out of the writinges and discourses of Odoardo Lopez a Portingall, by Philippo Pigafetta. Translated out of Italian by Abraham Hartwell.

A REPORTE OF the kingdome of Congo, a Regi∣on of Africa. (Book 1)

Gathered by Philippo Pigafetta, out of the discourses of M. Edwarde Lopes a Portugall. (Book 1)

Chap. 1. The iourney by sea from Lisbone to the kingdome of Congo.

IN the yeare one thousande fiue hundreth threescore and eygh∣teenth,* 1.1 when Don Sebastian king of Portugall, embarked himselfe for the conquest of the kingdome of Marocco: Edwarde Lopes borne at Beneuentum (a place xxiiii. myles distant from Lisbone, neere vpon the South shore of the riuer Tagus) sayled likewise in the moneth of Aprill to∣wardes the hauen of Loanda, situate in the kingdome of Congo, in a shippe called S. Anthony, belonging to an vncle of his, and charged with diuerse marchandises for that kingdome:* 1.2 And it was accompanied with a Patache (which is a small vessell) whereunto the ship did continually yeelde good guarde, & ministred great reliefe, conducting and guiding the same with lightes

in the night time, to the ende it shoulde not loose the way, which the ship it selfe did keepe. He arriued at the Islande of Madera, belonging to the King of Portugal,* 1.3 distant from Lisbone about sixe hundred myles, where he remained xv. dayes, to furnish himselfe with freshe vittaile and wine; which in great aboundance grow∣eth in that Islande, yea and in mine opinion the best in the world, whereof they carry abroad great store in∣to diuers countries, & especially into England. He pro∣uided there also sundry other confections & conserues of Sugar, which in that Islande are made and wrought both in great quantity, and also of singular excellency. From this Islande they departed, leauing all the Cana∣ries belonging to Castile,* 1.4 and tooke hauen at one of the Islandes of Capo verde, called S. Anthony, without ha∣uing any sight thereof before they were come vpon it:* 1.5 and from thence to another Islande called Saint Iacopo,* 1.6 which commaundeth all the rest, and hath a Bishoppe and a Chaplen in it, that rule and gouerne them: and here they prouided themselues againe of victuailes.

I doe not thinke it fitte in this place to tell you the number of the Canarie Islands, which indeede are ma∣ny: nor to make any mention of the Islandes of Capo verde, nor yet to set downe the history and discourse of their situations, because I make hast to the kingdome of Congo: and the shippe stayed here but onely for pas∣sage, and especially for that there doth not want good store of Reportes and histories, which in particularity doe make relation of these countries: Onely this I will say,* 1.7 that these Islandes of Capo verde were established by Ptolomee in the tables of his Geography, to be the begin∣ning of the West, together with the Cape or Promon∣torie

which he termeth Cornu vltimum, or the Islandes Macarie or Blessed, which we commonly call Fortunate. In these Islandes of Capo verde the Portugalles do often arriue, and in those countries do trafficke with sundry marchandises, as little balles of diuers coloured glasse, & other such things, wherein those people do greatly de∣light, and Hollande cloth, and cappes and kniues, and coloured clothes: In exchaunge whereof they bringe back againe, slaues, wax, hony, with other kind of food, and cotton-cloth of sundry colours. Moreouer, right ouer against them within the lande are the countreyes & riuers of Guynee, and of Capo verde, and Sterra Leona, that is to say the Mountain Leona, which is a huge great mountaine and very famous.

From the foresaide Islande of San Iacopo, they direc∣ted their fore-decke towards Bresil: for so they must do to gaine the winde, and taking such harboroughes as were conuenient for the seasons that raigne in those places,* 1.8 to arriue at the ende of their voyage. Two are the waies, whereby they saile from the Isle of San Iaco∣po to Loanda a hauen in the kingdome of Congo:* 1.9 the one is by the coast of Africa, the other by the mayne Ocean, still enlarging their course with the North winde, which very much ruleth there in those Monethes, and for the most parte is called North, euen by the Portu∣galles themselues, & by the Castilians, & by the French, and by all those people of the North sea. And so tur∣ning their foreshippe to the South, and south-east, they holde on forwarde till they be neere the Cape of Good-Hope, leauing behind them the Kingdome of Angola; for by that way they must afterwardes returne: & then they come to the altitude of betweene xxvij. and xxix.

degrees beyond the equinoctiall, quite opposite to our Pole, which South Pole in this writing shall be called the Antarctike,* 1.10 that is to say, contrary to the Arctike, which is our North Pole, and so the Antarctik is oppo∣site thereunto towardes the South.

In that altitude then of the contrary Pole, the Say∣lers vse to meete with certaine windes that they cal Ge∣nerali, which doe blowe there almost all our Sommer, and are termed by them Northeast, and Northeastes in the plural number, and by vs Italians, Li venti dal Graeco, that is to say, the windes betweene the Northeast, and the Easte in the spring time: which peraduenture the Venetians in their proper speech doe call Leuantiere, that is to say, easterly, & the Greekes and Latines terme them Etesii, that is to say, such winds as euery yeare do ordinarily blow in their certayne and accustomed sea∣sons.

And thus sayling euen to xxix degrees of the An∣tarctik, with the North winde, there falleth out an admirable effect. For diuers saylers, perceyuing the first Generall windes when they blowe, doe straight turne their sailes about, and set their fore-ship directly on the way to Angola, and so very oftentimes they fayle and are deceyued. But better it is for him that desireth to arriue at his wished hauen to go much further, & to expect a lustie winde, and after to returne backwarde: wherin it is to be noted for a most memorable accidēt, that the windes do blow very strong from the North, euen vnto xxix. degrees beyond the Equinoctiall, and then they meete with other winds, which being more fierce & furious then they are, doe driue them backe a∣gaine. And this is vsuall and seasonable there for sixe

monethes in the yeare.

Now the ship called S. Anthony, holding on his fore∣said course, met with the said Generall windes, & then turned their prowe and their sayles, by North and by Northwest on the right hand towardes the kingdome of Congo. And sayling onwardes closely with the halfe shippe, they came in twelue dayes and twelue nightes, to the Islande of S. Elena, not looking for the same, nor thinking of it.* 1.11 This Islande was so called, because on the feast day of S. Helene, which falleth vppon the thirde day of May, it was by the Portugalles first des∣cried. And as it is very smal, so is it (as it were) singular by it selfe: for being situate in the height of xvi. degrees towardes the Antarctike, it contayneth in compasse nine miles about, & is farre distant from the firme land. As you sayle by sea, it may be discouered thirty myles of, through certayne hilles: and it is a great miracle of nature, that in so vnmeasurable an Ocean, being all a∣lone and so little as it is, it shoulde arise (as it were) out of a most tempestuous and deep sea, & yet yeeld a most safe harborough, and most aboundant store of reliefe and victuaile, for shippes that are forewearied, and rea∣dy to perishe for thirst, which come out of the In∣dies.

The woodes of it are very thicke, and full of Ebene trees,* 1.12 whereof the Mariners do builde their boates. In the barkes of these trees you may see written the names of an infinite number of Saylers,* 1.13 which passing by that Islande, doe leaue their names cut and carued in the sayde barkes, the letters whereof doe grow greater and greater, as the bodies of the trees doe waxe greater in bignes. The soyle (euen of it selfe) bringeth forth very

excellent fruites.* 1.14 For there groweth the vine, (which was in deede at the first brought thether by the Portu∣galles) and especially in the arbours and walkes that are about the little Church, and in the lodgings that are there for such as sayle thether.* 1.15 You shall see there also huge wild woodes, of Orenges, of Citrones, of Limons and other such Apple trees, that all the yeare long doe carry flowers & fruites both ripe and vnripe. And like∣wise Pomegranates, great and sweete, and of a good indifferent taste, with kernelles great and redde, and ful of pleasant iuyce, and the stones within them very smal: and ripe they are at all seasons of the yeare, as the Oren∣ges are: and figges very great both in quantity and a∣boundance: which naturall gift and property (of being ripe all the yeare long) Homere noted to bee in diuers fruites of the Isle of Corfu.* 1.16

Ouer all the countrey they take Goates,* 1.17 and wilde Kiddes, that are very good to eate, and Boares and o∣ther foure-footed beasts, and Partriches, and wild hens and Pigeons, and other kindes of foules, both great & small. All which beastes and fowles are so secure and so tame, that they feare not a man, because they doe not know in what daunger they are to be killed. So that the people which dwell there doo take of them dayly, and poulder them with salte, that is congealed on the banks of the Islande in certaine caues and holes of the rockes, that are naturally made hollow and eaten by the waues of the sea. And the flesh thereof being thus preserued, they giue to the Saylers that arriue at the Island.

The earth is as it were crommeled like ashes,* 1.18 of co∣lour redde, very fat and fruitfull beyond measure, and so soft, as if ye treade on it with your foote; it will sinke

like sande, and the very trees will shake with the force of a man. And therefore it needeth no labour or tillage: for when it raigneth, the fruites doe presently spring vp out of the olde seede. It beareth rootes of Radish as bigge as a mans legge,* 1.19 and very good to eate. There growe also Colewortes, and Parsley, and Lettise, and Goordes, and Chiche-person, and Faselles, and other kindes of Pulse, naturally: which being ripe doo fall in∣to the fruitfull grounde, and multiply of themselues, and spring agayne without any tilling. Euery shippe that commeth thether, bringeth with it some fruyte or garden hearbe, which being planted taketh roote pre∣sently: and bountifull nature yeeldeth a courteous re∣warde and vsury, by reseruing the fruite thereof for the Saylers when the ship returneth againe.

There are certaine little Riuers in this Islande,* 1.20 that runne in diuerse partes of it: whose water is good and wholesome, and wherein are sundry safe places for ships to ryde in, as if they were hauens. But the prin∣cipall of them is in a place, where they haue erected a little Church, wherein are kept the ornamentes of the Altar, and the priestes vestimentes, and other necessaries for Masse. And when shippes passe that way, the Re∣ligious persons go downe vnto them to celebrate di∣uine seruice.

There is also in the same place a little cottage, where∣in for the most parte some Portingalles doo remayne, sometimes three, sometimes two, yea and sometimes but one alone, being left there, eyther by reason of some infirmitie, or for some offence committed, or else euen voluntarily, because they doe desire by this meanes to leade the life of an Heremite in that wilder∣nesse,

and so to doe penaunce for their sinnes.

Moreouer,* 1.21 in the same place there is so great aboun∣daunce of fish, as if the sea were very neere vnto them: so that you shall not need but onely to cast your hooks into the water, and you shall presently drawe them out againe loaden with fish.

I once demanded the questiō,* 1.22 what reason there was, why the Portingals did neuer make any accompt, nor had any care to fortifie this Island, considering it was so fit and necessary for saylers, and founded there (as it were by the prouidence of God) for the reliefe of the Portingals which passe that way, as Granata doth large∣ly discourse vpon the Creede, first written by him in Spanishe, and since translated by my selfe into Italian: But aunswere was made vnto mee, that there was no need so to doo: for that the Islande serueth to no pur∣pose for the voyage into the Indies, because there is another way for that passage, and it is also a very harde matter to finde it out: but in returning from thence it lyeth full in the way, and is very easily descried. So that it woulde not quite the cost to bestow money & time in maintayning souldiers therein without any profite, seeing none other vessels come thither but onely the Portugals. And when I replyed, that the English had nowe twice entred into those seas;* 1.23 once vnder the con∣duct of Drake, and secondly this year 1588. vnder ano∣ther Pirate, being also an English man and more valiant then hee, called Candish, who is returned home ful of great richesse: It was aunswered, that yet for all that it coulde not possibly bee brought to passe to fortifie the same within a sea being so farre off, and seeing that all the prouision which should build there, must of ne∣cessity

bee brought out of Europe.

To be short,* 1.24 besides all these naturall good giftes aboue rehearsed, the climate is temperate, the ayre pure, cleane and holesome, and the winds which blow there are very pleasaunt. So that sicke persons, and such as were halfe deade with the diseases of the sea, arry∣uing at this Island, haue beene presently healed, and recouered their former strength, through the benigni∣ty of this Country.

From the Islande of S. Helena,* 1.25 they made sayle with the same weather, and so within the space of xvij. dayes came to the hauen of Loanda, which is in the prouince of Congo, the windes being somewhat more calme then they were afore. This is a very sure, and a great hauen, so called of an Islande of the same name, whereof wee shall speake hereafter.

I told you before, there were two courses of sayling from the Islands of Capo verde to Loanda; the one of thē is now declared, which beeing neuer vsed afterwardes, was at the first attempted and performed by the same ship wherein Signor Odoardo went, being then guided by Francesco Martinez the kings Pilot, a man very great∣ly experienced in those seas, and the first that euer con∣ducted vessell by that way: the other is atchieued by passing along the coast of the firme lande.

From the Island of San Iacomo,* 1.26 they come to Capo dos Palmas, and from thence direct themselues to the Islande of San Thomas, which lyeth vnder the Equino∣ctial, so called because it was discouered vpon that day, wherein the feast of that Apostle is vsed to bee celebra∣ted. It is distant from the firme lande CLxxx. myles, right against the riuer called Gaban, which is so termed

because it is in shape very like to that kinde of vesture that it is called a Gaban or a cloake.

The hauen thereof is fore-closed with an Island that raiseth it selfe in the chanell of the riuer,* 1.27 whereunto the Portingalles do sayle with small barkes from S. Thomas Islande, carrying thether such thinges as vsually they carry to the coast of Guinea, and from thence carrying backe with them Iuory, waxe & hony, Oyle of Palme, and blacke-More slaues. Neere to the Islande of S. Thomas towardes the the North lyeth another Islande, cal∣led the Isle of the Prince,* 1.28 distant from the firme lande an hundred and fiue miles, being of the same conditi∣on and trafficke, that the Isle of S. Thomas is, although in circuite somewhat lesse. This Islande of S. Thomas is in fashion almost rounde,* 1.29 and in breadth contayneth Lx. miles, and in compasse Clxxx. Very rich it is and of great trafficke, discouered at the first and conquered by the Portingalles, at such time as they began the con∣quest of the Indies. It hath diuers hauens, but the prin∣cipal and chiefest of all, whereinto the vesselles arriuing there, doe withdraw themselues, is in the place, where the Cittie standeth.

The Islande breedeth an infinite deale of Sugar, & almost all kinds of victuals.* 1.30 In the Citty there are some Churches, and a Bishoppe, with many Clerks and one Chaplen or Prieste. There is also a Castell, with a garrison and Artillary in it, which beat vpon the hauen, being a very great and a safe Port, where many shippes may ride. But a very straunge and admirable thing it is, that when the Portugals did first come thether, there was no sugar there planted, but they brought it thether from other Countreys:* 1.31 as they did Ginger also, which

tooke roote, & grew there in most aboundant manner. The soyle in deed is moyst, and as it were appropriated to foster the Sugar Cane, which without any other wa∣tering, multiplyeth of it selfe, and fructifieth infinitely: the reason whereof is, because the dewe falleth there like rayne and moisteneth the earth.

There are in this Island aboue Lxx. houses or presses for making of Sugar,* 1.32 and euery presse hath many cot∣tages about it as though it were a village, & there may bee about some three hundred persons that are appoin∣ted for that kinde of worke: They do euery yeare loade about fortie great shippes with sugar. True it is indeed that not long ago the wormes (as it were a plague to that land) haue deuoured the rootes of the Canes, and destroyed the fruites of their sugar, in such sort, as now of the forty shippes, they do not load aboue fiue or sixe vessels with that marchandise. And therevpon it com∣meth that sugar is growen so deare in those Coun∣treyes.

The Island of S. Thomas holdeth trafficke with the people that dwell in the firme lande, which do vsually resort to the mouthes or entries of their Riuers: The first whereof (to begin withal) is named the riuer of Fernando di Poo,* 1.33 that is to say, of Fernando Pouldre, who did first discouer the same, and lieth in fiue degrees to∣wardes our Pole. Right against the mouth of it, ryseth an Island of the same name,* 1.34 lying thirty and sixe miles distant from it. The seconde Riuer is called Bora, that is to say,* 1.35 Filth. The thirde La riuiera del Campo: The fourth, di San Benedetto, and the fifth, that of Angra, which in the mouth of it hath an Islande called di Coris∣co,* 1.36 that is to say Thonder. All these doe trafficke the same

marchaundises, which we mentioned before.

But to returne to the voyage of S. Thomas:* 1.37 Depar∣ting from thence towardes the South, wee found the Cape of Lupo Gonzale, which standeth in the altitude of one degree beyonde the Equinoctiall towardes the Pole Antarctike, a hundred & fiue miles distant from the foresaid Isle. And from thence they sayle with land winds, creeping stil all along the coast, and euery day casting ancre in some safe place, either behynde some point, or else in some hauen, vntill they come to the mouth of the greatest Riuer in Congo, called in their tongue Zaire,* 1.38 which signifieth in Latine Sapio, (in English I knowe.) From whence if ye will go through to the hauen of Loanda, yee must saile the length of an hundred and fourescore miles.

These bee the two voyages by sea, that bee vsed from the Islande of San Iacomo, which is one of those Islandes, that before wee tolde you were the Islandes of Capo verde, & was but a little while ago first begun to be frequented.

And nowe it is time to intreate of the kingdome of Congo, and all the conditions thereof.

Chap. 2. Of the temperature of the ayre of the kingdome of Congo, and whether it bee very colde or hote: whether the men be white or blacke: whether are more or lesse blacke they that dwell in the hilles, or those that dwell in the playnes: Of the winds and the raynes, and the snowes in those quar∣ters, and of what stature and semblaunce the men of that Countrey are.

THe Kingdome of Congo in the middle part therof,* 1.39 is distant from the Equinoctiall towardes the Pole Antarctike (iust where the Cittie called Congo doth lie) seuen degrees and two thirdes: so that it standeth vnder the Region which auncient writers thought to be vnhabitable, and called it Zona Torrida, (that is to say, a Cincture or Girdle of the earth, which is burnt by the heat of the Sun) wherin they are altogether deceiued.* 1.40 For the habitation there is excee∣ding good, the ayre beyonde all credite temperate, the winter nothing so rough, but is rather like Autumne in this Region of Rome. The people vse no furres, nor chaunge of apparell: they come not neere the fire: nei∣ther

is the colde in the toppes of the Mountaines grea∣ter then that which is in the plaines: but generally in Winter time the ayre is more hote then it is in som∣mer, by reason of their continual raynes, and especially about two houres before & after Noone, so that it can hardely be endured.

The men are blacke,* 1.41 & so are the women, and some of them also somewhat inclyning to the colour of the wilde Oliue. Their hayre is black & curled, and some also red. The stature of the men is of an indifferent big∣nes, and excepting their blacknes they are very like to the Portingalles. The apples of their eies are of diuerse colours, blacke and of the colour of the sea. Their lips are not thicke, as the Nubians and other Negroes are: and so likewise their countenaunces are some fat, some leane, and some betweene both, as in our countreyes there are, and not as the Negroes of Nubia and Guinea, which are very deformed.* 1.42 Their nights and their daies doo not greatly differ: for in all the whole yeare yee shall not discerne the difference betweene them to bee more then a quarter of an houre,

The Winter in this countrey (to speake at large) be∣ginneth at the same time,* 1.43 that our Spring here begin∣neth, that is to say, when the Sun entreth into the Nor∣thren signes, in the Moneth of March. And at the same time that we haue our winter, whē the Sun entreth in∣to the Southern Signs in the moneth of September, then beginneth their sommer. In their winter it rayneth 5. monethes almost continually, that is to say, in April, May, June, July & August. Of faire daies they haue but a few, because the raine falleth so greatly, & the drops of it are so big, as it is a wonder to see. These waters doe

maruellously supple the grounde, which is then very drie, by reason of the heate of the Sommer past, where∣in it neuer rayneth for the space of sixe monethes to∣gether, and after the ground is full and as it were ingor∣ged with water, then do the riuers swell beyond all cre∣dite, and are so replenished with troubled waters, that all the countrey is surrounded by them.

The windes which blow in these Moones through all this region,* 1.44 are the very selfe same that Cesar calleth by a Greeke worde Etesij, that is to say, Ordinary euery yeare: whereby are meant those winds that in the Cearde are noted from the North to the West, and from the North to the Northeast. These windes doo driue the cloudes to the huge and high mountaines, whereupon they rush with very great violence, and being there stai∣ed of their owne nature, they are afterwardes melted into water. So that when it is likely to raine, you shall see the cloudes standing (as it were) vpon the toppes of their highest hils.

And hence ariseth the encreasing and augmentati∣on of the riuers that spring in Aethiopia,* 1.45 and especially of Nilus and others, that discharge themselues into the east and west Ocean: And in the kingdome of Congo and Guinea, through which runneth the riuer Nigir, so called by the auncient writers, and by the newe termed Senega,* 1.46 you shall see the saide riuer encrease at the very selfe same time that Nilus doth; but in deed carrieth his waters towards the west, directly against the Islandes of Capo Verde,* 1.47 whereas Nilus runneth by the Isle of Me∣roe in Egipt towardes the North, refreshing and wate∣ring all those Regions that are full of scorching heates, and wildernesses and deserts. Now for as much as in

the regions of Congo and Aethiopia it is alwaies wont to rayne euery yeare at a certaine set tyme, the swelling and ouerflowing of the riuers there, is of no great consideration, nor any straunge accident to make ac∣compt of.

But in the Countries,* 1.48 that are farre distant and very drie, as in Aegypt, where it neuer raineth (sauing onely in Alexandria and the territories thereof) it is accoun∣ted a maruellous matter, to see euery yeare so great a quantity of thicke troubled water come vppon them, from places so remote, at a certaine set tyme, without missing: which water doth quicken the grounde, and ministreth foode both to man and beast. And there∣vpon the auncients did sacrifice to that riuer, calling it 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the good God, as Ptolomy noteth in his fourth booke. Yea and some of our Christians at this day doo hold it for a miracle. So that without these waters they shoulde perish for hunger, because their liues do de∣pende vpon this increase of the water, as S. Chrysostome saith.

Thus these windes called by Cesar Etesij, and by the Portugalles Generali, do blow with vs in Sommer; but with them in winter, and carry the cloudes vnto the toppes of those huge mountaines, which make them to melt into raine. And so it falleth out that by reason of these raines, their winter (as it is aforesaid) is nothing so colde, because the waters do engender a certayne kind of warmth in those hot regions. This is then the cause of the increase of Nilus, & other riuers in that Climate, whereof the ancients of old times made so great doubt, and inuented so many fables and errours

But in their sommer, which is our winter, there blow

other windes that are quite opposite to the former,* 1.49 e∣uen in Diametro, and are noted in the Carde, from the South to the southeast, which out of all question must needes be colde, because they breath from the contra∣ry Pole Antarctike, and coole all those countreyes, euen for all the worlde as our windes in Sommer doo coole our countreyes. And whereas, there with them, these windes do make the ayre very fayre and cleere, so doo they neuer come vnto vs, but they bring with them great store of raine. And this commeth to passe by a certain naturall disposition of the earth which is gouer∣ned by the Heauens and the Clymates thereof, and by the soueraigne prouidence of God, who hath parted the heauen, and the course of the sunne and of the other planets in such sort, that euery countrey vpon the face of the earth, doth inioy the vertue of their lightes, both in heate, and in colde, and also in all other seasons of the yeare, by a most singular measure and proportion. And certainly if the breath of these winds did not refresh and coole these countries of Aethiopia & Congo, and other places neere about them, it were not possible for them to endure the heate, considering that euen in the night tyme they are constrayned to hange two coueringes ouer them to keep away the heat. The same cooling and refreshing by windes, is common also to the inhabitants of the Isle of Candie, & of the Islandes in Arcipelago, and of Cyprus, and of Asia the lesse, and of Soria, and of Aegypt, which doe liue (as it were) with this refreshing of the foresaid winds of the Northwest, and of the West: so that they may well be called as they are in Greeke Zephyri quasi 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,* 1.50 breeders of life.

Let it bee also remembred, that in the mountaines of

Aethiopia, and of Congo & the regions neere adioyning, there falleth no snow, neither is there any at all in the very toppes of them, sauing onely towardes the Cape of Good-Hope, and certaine other hilles, which the Por∣tugalles call, Sierra Neuada, that is to say, the Snowie mountaines. Neyther is there anye ice or snow to bee founde in all the Countrey of Congo, which would bee better esteemed there then golde, to mingle with their drinkes: So that the riuers there doo not swell and in∣crease by melting of snow, but because the raine doth fall out of the cloudes for fiue whole Moones continu∣ally together, that is to lay in April, May, Iune, Iuly, & August: the first raine sometimes beginning on the xv. day, and sometimes after. And this is the cause why the newe waters of Nilus, which are so greatly desired & expected by the inhabitaunts there, do arriue sooner or later in Aegipt.

Chap. 3. Whether the children which are begotten by Portugalles, be∣ing of a white skinne, and borne in those Countries by the women of Congo, bee blacke or white, or Tawney like a wilde oliue, whom the Portugals call Mulati.

AL the auncient writers haue certainly beleeued,* 1.51 that the cause of blacke co∣lour in men is from the heate of the Sun. For by experience it is founde, that the neerer wee approach to the cuntries of the South, the browner &

blacker are the inhabitants therein. And contrariwise, the farther you go towardes the north, the whiter shall you finde the men, as the French, & the Dutch, & the English, and others. Notwithstanding it is as certaine a thing as may be, that vnder the Equinoctiall, there are people which are borne almost all white, as in the king∣dome of Melinde & Mombaza situate vnder the Equino∣ctial, & in the Isle of San Thomas which lieth also vnder the same Clymate, and was at the first inhabited by the Portingalles, though afterwardes it was disinhabited, and for the space of a hundred yeares and vpwardes their children were continually white, yea and euery day still become whiter and whiter. And so likewise the children of the Portingals, which are borne of the women of Congo, do incline somewhat towards white. So that Signor Odoardo was of opinion, that the blacke colour did not spring from the heate of the Sunne, but from the nature of the seede, being induced thereunto by the reasons aboue mentioned. And surely this his opinion is confirmed by the testimony of Ptolome, who in his discription of the innermost partes of Lybia ma∣keth mention of white Ethiopians which hee calleth in his language 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉; that is to say, white Moores, and in another place also of white Elephants, which are in the same countrey.

Chap. 4. Of the circuite of the Kingdome of Congo, and of the bor∣ders and confines thereof. And first of the Westerne coast.

THe Kingdome of Congo is distingui∣shed by foure borders: The first, of the West, which is watered with the O∣cean sea: the seconde of the North: the thirde of the east, & the last which is towardes the South.

And to beginne with the border lying vpon the sea, the first part of it is in the Bay,* 1.52 called Seno delle Vacche, & is situate in the height of 13. degrees vpon the Antarctik side, and stretcheth all along the coast vnto 4. degrees and a halfe on the North side, neere to the Equinoctial; which space contayneth 630. miles. This Seno delle vac∣che is a hauen but of a moderate bignes, and yet a good one & able to receiue any ship that arriueth. It is called Seno delle vacche, that is to say, the Bay of Cowes, because thereabouts there are pasturing very many heardes of that kind of Cattel: The country is plain, & aboundeth with all manner of victuailes: and there you shall find some kinde of mettels to be publikely solde, especially siluer, and it is subiect to the King of Angola.

A little more forwarde lyeth the Riuer Bengleli,* 1.53 where a certaine Lorde, being subiect to the King of Angola doth specially commande: and about the said

Riuer is a great compasse of countrey, much like to the former. And a little further runneth the riuer Songa,* 1.54 so called by the Portingalles: wherein you may sayle 25. miles vpwardes in a country also like to the former. The followeth the riuer Coanza, which issueth out of a little lake,* 1.55 fedde by a certaine riuer that floweth out of a great lake, being the chiefe and principal spring or head of Nilus, wherof in the other part of this discourse we shall haue occasion to write. Coanza at the mouth of it is two miles broade, and you may sayle with small barkes vpwardes against the streame about 100. miles, but hath no hauen. And here it is to be noted, that all this Country which we haue here described, was wont to be subiect to the king of Congo: but a while ago the Gouernour of that countrey is become the absolute Lorde thereof, and professeth himselfe to bee a friende to the king of Congo, but not his vassall: and yet some∣times he sendeth the King some present, in manner of a tribute.

Beyond the Riuer Coanza is the hauē of Loanda being in ten degrees, made (as it is said) by a certaine Island called Loanda,* 1.56 which signifieth in that lauguage, Bald or Shauen, because it is a Countrey without any hilles and very low: for indeed it scarce rayseth it selfe aboue the sea. This Island was framed of the sand and durt of the sea, and of the riuer Coanza, whose waues meeting to∣gether, and the filthy matter sinking downe there to the bottome, in a continuance of time it grew to be an Island. It may be about 20. miles long, and one mile broade at the most, and in some places but onely a bowshoote. But it is a maruellous thing, that in such a sandy ground if you shall digge to the depth of two or three hande-breadthes

you shall finde sweete water, the best in all those Countreyes. Wherein also there is a very strange effect, that when the Ocean ebbeth, this water becom∣meth somewhat salte, but when it floweth to the top, it is most sweete. A thing that falleth out also in the Islande of Cadis in Spayne, by the report and testimo∣ny of Strabo.

This Islande is the Mine of all the money which the King of Congo spendeth,* 1.57 and all the people therea∣boutes. For vppon the shores you shall haue certayne women, that vse to diue and ducke into the sea, two yardes deepe and more, and fill their baskets with sand, and afterwardes diuide the grauell from certayne smal Shel-fishes that are among it, which are called Lumache: & when these Lumache are seuered by themselues, then doe they picke out the Males from the Females, which they may easily do, because the Female is more fine then the Male, and greatly esteemed for her colour, which is very neat, bright and pleasant to the sight.

These Lumache doo breede in all the shores of the kingdome of Congo, but the best of all are those of Lo∣anda,* 1.58 because they looke very fine, and of a very bright colour, some gray or ashecoloured, and some of other colours not so precious. And here you must note that gold and siluer and mettell is not of any estimation, nor in vse of money in these countreyes, but onely these Lu∣mache: so that neither with golde nor siluer, in masse or in coine you shal buy any thing there, but with these Lumache you shall buy both golde and siluer, or any thing els.

In this Islande there are 7. or 8. Townes, called in that Country language, Libata, the principal where∣of

is Spirito sancto:* 1.59 and therein dwelleth the Gouer∣nour which is sent from Congo, to minister iustice, and to gather the treasure of the moneyes of these Lumache. Here are also Goates, and Sheepe, and Boares in great numbers, which being tame at the first, do afterwardes become wilde and liue in the woods. Here groweth also a tree called Enzanda, which is a great one and al∣waies greene,* 1.60 and endued with a singular qualitie. For from the bowes of it that sproute vpwardes, there hang downe certaine threedes (as it were) which creeping into the earth do take roots, & out from these roots do rise other trees, & so they multiply. And within the out∣most barke thereof, there groweth a certaine kind of pil like fine linnen, which being beaten and cleansed, they spreade out in length and in breadth, and therewith they cloath their men and women, that are of the basest sort.

In this Islande they haue certaine vessels, made of the bodies of Palme-trees,* 1.61 ioyned together and framed after the manner of our boates, with a prowe and a sterne, wherin they passe from place to place, both with oares and sayles. In these boates they vse to fish about the riuers, which are indeede exceeding full of fish, and sometime also they will go ouer to the firme lande.

In that part of this Islande, which is towardes the maine land, in certaine lowe places there grow certaine trees (which when the water of the Ocean ebbeth) di∣scouer themselues: and at the feet thereof you shal find certaine other Shel-fishes cleauing as fast to the trees as may bee,* 1.62 hauing within them a great fish as bigge as a mans hande, and very good meate. The people of the countrey know them very well, and call them Ambizia∣matare,

that is to say,* 1.63 the Fishe of the Rocke. The shels of these fishes, they vse to burne, and thereof make very good lime to builde withall. And being like the corke or barke of the tree which is called Manghi, they dresse their Oxe hydes withall, to make their shooe soles the stronger.

To be briefe this Island bringeth forth neither corne nor wine,* 1.64 but there is great store of victuaile brought thether from all parts thereaboutes, to fetch away these Lumache. For as in all other places all things may be had for money of mettell, so all things here are had for Lu∣mache. Whereby may bee noted, that not onely here in this kingdome of Congo, but also in her neighbour E∣thiopia and in Africa, and in the kingdomes of China, & certaine others of the Indies, they vse moneyes of other matter then of mettall, that is to say, neyther golde, nor siluer, nor copper, nor any other mixture tempered of these. For in Aethiopia their money is Pepper: and in the kingdome of Tombutto, which is about the Riuer Nigir, otherwise called Senega, their money is Cockles or Shelfishe: and among the Azanaghi their moneyes are Porcellette: and in the kingdome of Bengala likewise they vse Porcellette and mettall together. In China they haue certaine Shelfishes, called also Porcellette, which they vse for their money: & in other places Paper stam∣ped with the kings seale, and the barks of the tree called Gelsomora: Whereby it appeareth, that the money which is payed for euerie thing is not mettall, all the worlde ouer, as it is in Europe, and in many and sundry other countries of the earth.

This Islande in the straitest part of it, is very neere to the firme lande, and the people do oftentimes swimme

ouer the channell there. In this straite there arise out of the Ocean certaine Islettes,* 1.65 which shewe themselues forth from the water when it ebbeth, and are couered a∣gaine when it floweth. And in those Islettes you shall see great trees, and most excellent Shelfishes cleauing fast to the bodies of them, such as I tolde you of be∣fore.

Neere to this Islande towardes the outwarde coast to the sea,* 1.66 there swim an innumerable sorte of Whales, that looke blacke, and fighting one with another doe kill themselues: which afterwardes being by the waues cast vp vpon the shore, as bigge as a midling marchants shippe; the Negroes goe forth with their boates to fetch them, and to take the oyle out of them, which be∣ing mingled with pitch they vse to trimme their vessels withall. Vpon the ridges or backes of these creatures, there growe many Shelfishes, made like Snailes, Cockles and Whelkes: whereof Signor Odoardo affirmed, that hee had seene great store. He was also of opinion that Am∣ber commeth not from these fishes. For ouer all the coast of Congo, where there is an infinite number of them,* 1.67 you shal not finde either Ambregriz, or any other Amber, blacke or white in any place. And yet if it should come from these creatures, there must haue beene of necessity great store of it founde vpon these Shores.

The principall hauen of this Island hath his entrance towardes the North,* 1.68 and on that side it is halfe a mile broade, and of a very great depth. Vpon the firme land directly ouer against the Island is a towne called villa di San Paulo,* 1.69 altogether inhabited with Portingalles, and their wiues, which they brought with them out of Spaine: and yet it is not fortified.

All this channell is very full of fish, especially of Sar∣dinaes,* 1.70 and of Anchioues: whereof there is so great store, that in the winter time they will of themselues leape vp to land. Other kindes of most excellent fishes there are, as Soles and Sturgeons and Barbelles, and all manner of dainty fish: and great Crabbes, in straunge aboundance, and all very wholesome: so that the greatest parte of the people that dwel about the banks there, do liue vp∣on them.

Into this channell runneth the Riuer called Bengo,* 1.71 which is a very great one, & nauigable vpwardes xxv. miles. This Riuer with that other of Coanza, whereof I tolde you before, doe make the Isle of Loanda, because when their waters do meete together, they leaue their sande and filth behind them, and so increase the Island. There runneth also into it another great Riuer called Dande,* 1.72 which wil receiue vessels of an hundred tunne: & then another Riuer called Lemba,* 1.73 which neither hath Hauen, neyther do any Shippes enter into it. Very neere vnto this there is also another Riuer called Ozone,* 1.74 which issueth out of the same Lake, whence Nilus like∣wise springeth, and it hath a hauen. Next to Ozone, there is another called Loze,* 1.75 without any hauen: and then a∣nother great one with a hauen called Ambriz,* 1.76 which runneth within foure leagues neere to the Royall Citty of Congo.* 1.77 Last of all is the Riuer Lelunda, which signifi∣eth a Trowtfish, and watereth the rootes of that great hil, wheron the pallace of Congo standeth,* 1.78 called by the Por∣tingalles the Oteiro. This Riuer Lelunda springeth out of the same Lake, from whence Coanza issueth, and ta∣keth into it by the way another Riuer, that commeth from the great Lake: and when it doth not raine, then

you may passe ouer Lelunda on foote, because it hath so little store of water in it.

Next vnto this is the Zaire,* 1.79 a huge Riuer and a large, and in deed the greatest in all the kingdome of Congo. The original of this Riuer commeth out of three Lakes: one is the great Lake from whence Nilus springeth, the second is the little Lake aboue mentioned, and the third is the second great Lake which Nilus engendreth. And certainely, when you will consider the aboundance of water that is in this Riuer, you will say, that there was no nede to haue any fewer or lesser springes to make so huge a streame as this carrieth. For in the very mouth of it, which is the onely entraunce into it, the Riuer is 28. myles broad, and when it is in the height of his in∣crease, he runneth fresh water. 40. or 50. miles into the sea, and sometimes 80. so that the passengers doe refresh themselues withal, & by the troublesomnes of the wa∣ter they know the place where they are. It is nauigable vpwardes with great barkes about 25. miles, vntill you come to a certaine straite betweene the rockes, where it falleth with such a horrible noise, that it may be hearde almost 8. miles. And this place is called by the Portin∣galles Cachiuera, that is to say a Fall, or a Cataracte, like to the Cataractes of Nilus. Betweene the mouth of this Riuer,* 1.80 and the fall thereof, there are diuers great Islands well inhabited, with townes and Lordes obedient to the king of Congo, which sometimes for the great enmi∣tie that is among them doo warre one against another in certaine boates,* 1.81 hollowed out of a stocke of a tree, which is of an vnmesurable bignes, & these boats they call Lungo. The greatest boates that they haue, are made of a certaine tree called Licondo,* 1.82 which is so great, that

sixe men cannot compasse it with their armes, and is in length of proportion aunswerable to the thicknesse, so that one of them will carrie about 200. persons. They rowe these boates with their oares, which are not tyed to any loopes, but they holde them at libertie in their handes, and moue the water therewith at pleasure. E∣uery man hath his oare and his bowe, and when they fight together, they lay downe their oare and take their bowe. Neyther do they vse any other Rudders to turne and gouerne their boates, but onely their oares.

The first of these Islandes,* 1.83 which is but a little one, is called the Isle of Horses, because there are bredde and brought vp in it great store of those creatures that the Greekes call Hippopotami, that is to say, Water-horses. In a certaine village within this Islande doe the Portingals dwel, hauing withdrawen themselues thether for their better securitie. They haue their vesselles to transporte them ouer the water to the firme lande, vpon the south banke of the Riuer, which lande is called the hauen of Pinda,* 1.84 where many shippes doe ryde that arriue there∣in.

In this Riuer there are liuing diuerse kinds of crea∣tures,* 1.85 and namely mighty great Crocodiles, which the Countrey people there call Caiman, and Water-horses a∣boue named: And another kind of creature, that hath (as it were) two hands, and a taile like a Target, which is called Ambize Angulo,* 1.86 that is to say a Hogge-fishe, be∣cause it it as fat as a Porke. The flesh of it is very good, and thereof they make Larde, and so keepe it: neyther hath it the sauour or taste of a fish, although it bee a fishe. It neuer goeth out from the fresh water, but fee∣deth vpon the grasse that groweth on the banks, & hath

a mouth like the mozell of an Oxe. There are of these fishes, that weigh 500. poundes a peece. The fishermen vse to take them in their little boates, by marking the places where they feed, and then with their hookes and forkes, striking and wounding them, they drawe them dead forth of the water: and when they haue cut them in peeces, they carry them to the king: For who soeuer doth not so, encurreth the penaltie of death, and so doe they likewise that take the Trowt, and the Tenche, and another Fishe called Cacongo,* 1.87 which is shaped after the likenes of a Salmon, sauing that it is not red: but indeed so far it is, that it quencheth out the fire whiles it is ro∣sted or broiled. Other fishes also there are that are called Fishes Royall, which are carried to the king, vpon very seuere and rigorous punishmentes, by open proclama∣tion to be inflicted on such as shall do the contrary, be∣sides other kindes of fishes that are taken in this Riuer, the names whereof we thinke it superfluous here to re∣cite.

Beyonde this Riuer of Congo,* 1.88 there commeth downe another Riuer, which the Portingalles call, La Baia de∣las Almadias, that is to say, the Golfe of Barkes, because there are great store of them, that are made there, by reason of the aboundance of woods & trees that growe thereabouts, which are fit for that vse, and wherewith all the Countries round about do furnish themselues. At the mouth of this Bay there are three Islandes, one great Isle in the middle of the Channell, which maketh a conuenient hauen for small vesselles, and two other lesse, but none of them inhabited.

A little higher runneth another streame,* 1.89 not verye great, which is called De las Barreras Rossas, of the redde

Clay-pittes, because it floweth from among certaine Rockes of hils, whose earth is died with a redde colour: where also there is a very high mountain, called by the Portingals, La Sierra Gomplida, that is to say, The long Mountaine.

And yet going vp a little further, there are two Golfes of the sea in the likenesse of a paire of Spectacles, where∣in is a good heauen,* 1.90 called La Baia d' Aluaro Gonzales, that is the Golfe of Aluaro Gonzales. Beyonde all these are certaine hilles and shoars, not worth the remembrance, vntill you come to the Promontorie that is called by the Portingalles Capo de Caterina, which is the border of the kingdome of Congo towardes the Equinoctiall,* 1.91 and is distant from the Equinostiall line two degrees and a halfe, which is 150▪ Italian miles.

Chap. 5. Of the North coast of the Kingdome of Congo, and the confines thereof.

NOw from Capo de Caterina on the North side beginneth another border or Coast of the kingdome of Congo,* 1.92 which Eastwarde stretch∣eth it selfe to the place where the Riuer Vuniba ioyneth with the Ri∣uer Zaire, contayning the space of

600. miles and more. Beyonde this coast of Congo to∣wardes the North, and vnder the Equinoctiall lyne vp∣on the sea shoare, and about 200. miles within lande, (comprehending in that reckoning the foresaide Golfe of Lope Gonzales) the people called the Bramas doo inha∣bite in a Countrey,* 1.93 that is nowe called the kingdome of Loango,* 1.94 and the king thereof Mani-Loango, that is to say, the King of Loango. The Countrey hath great a∣boundance of Elephantes, whose teeth they exchange for iron, whereof they make their arrowe heades, their kniues, and such other instrumentes. In this Countrey also, they weaue certaine cloath of the leaues of Palme trees, in sundry sorts: as wee shal tell you in some other place of this narration.

The king of Loango is in amity with the King of Con∣go,* 1.95 and the report is, that in times past he was his vassaile. The people are circumcised after the manner of the Hebrues, like as also the rest of the nations in those coun∣tries vse to be. They do traffick together one with ano∣ther, & sometimes make war against their neighbors, & are altogether of the same nature, whereof the people of Congo are. Their armour are long targets, which co∣uer almost all their bodies,* 1.96 made of very hard & thicke hides of a certaine beast called Empachas, somwhat lesse then an Oxe, with hornes like the hornes of a Coate: (this Creature is also bred in Germanie, and is called a Dante.) The hides thereof are transported out of these countreyes, and out of the kingdome of Congo into Por∣tingale, and from thence into Flanders, where they are dressed; and then they make ierkens of them as good as breastplates and corselets, which they call iackets of Dante. Their weapons offensiue are dartes with long

and large heads of iron, like Partizans, or like the aunci∣ent Roman Pilum or Iauelin: the staues whereof are of proportionable length to cast, hauing in the middest of them a certaine peece of wood, which they take in their hands, and so with greater force and violence discharge their dartes. They carry also certaine daggers, which are in shape much like to the heads of their dartes.

Beyond the kingdome of Loango, are the people cal∣led Anzigues,* 1.97 of whom wee shall deliuer vnto you a hi∣story, which in truth is very strange, and almost incre∣dible for the beastly and cruell custome, that they vse in eating mans flesh, yea and that of the neerest kinsefolkes they haue: This countrey towards the sea on the West, bordereth vpon the people of Ambus: and towardes the North, vpon other nations of Africa, and the wilder∣nes of Nubia: and towardes the East, vpon the seconde great Lake, from whence the Riuer of Congo springeth, in that parte which is called Anzicana: and from the king∣dome of Congo, it is diuided by the Riuer Zaire, where∣in there are many Islandes (as before is tolde you) scat∣tered from the lake downewardes, & some of them be∣longing to the dominion of the Anzigues, by which Ri∣uer also they do trafficke with the people of Congo.

In this kingdome of the Anzigues there are many Mines of Copper,* 1.98 and great quantitie of Sanders both redde and graie: the red is called Tauilla, and the graie (which is the better esteemed) is called Chicongo, whereof they make a poulder of a verie sweet smell, and diuerse medicines. They do also mingle it with the oyle of Palme tree, and so annoynting all their bodyes ouerwithall, they preserue themselues in health. But the Portingalles vse it being tempered with Vinegar,

which they lay vpon their pulses,* 1.99 & so heale the French Pockes, which they call in that language Chitangas.

Some doe affirme, that this gray Sanders is the very Lignum Aquilae, that groweth in India: and Signor Odo∣ardo affirmed, that the Portingals haue proued it for the heade ake,* 1.100 by laying it on the coales, and taking the smoake of it. The pith and innermost parte of the tree is the best, but the vtter parte is of no estimation.

They make great store of linnen of the Palme tree, both of sundry sortes and coloures, and much cloth of silke, whereof we will discourse more hereafter. The people are subiect to a king▪ that hath other princes vn∣der him: they are very actiue and warlike:* 1.101 They are ready to take armes, and doo fight on foote. Their wea∣pons are different from the weapons of all other people rounde about them: for their bowes are small and short, made of wood, and wrapped about with serpents skins of diuers colours, and so smoothly wrought, that you woulde thinke them to be all one with the wood. And this they doo, both to make the bowe stronger, and also to holde it the faster. Their stringes are of little wood∣den twigges, like reedes, not hollow within, but sound and pliable, and very dainty, such as the Caualieros of Portingale do carry in their handes to beat their palfries withall. They are of an ashe colour, and of a Lion taw∣ney, somwhat tending to blacke. They growe in the Countrey of the Anzigues, and also in the kingdome of Bengala,* 1.102 through which the riuer Ganges runneth. Their arrowes are short and slender, and of a very hard wood, and they carry them on their bow hande. They are so quicke in shooting, that holding xxviij. shaftes or moe in their bow-hand, they will shoote and discharge them

all, before the first arrow light on the grounde: yea and sometimes there haue beene seene diuers stout archers, that haue killed birds as they flie in the ayre.

Other weapons also they make, as Axes and Hat∣chets,* 1.103 which they vse and frame after a strange manner. For the handle is shorter by the halfe then the iron is, and at the lowest end of it there is a pommell▪ for the fa∣ster holding of it in the hand, and all couered ouer with the foresaid skinne of a serpent. In the vppermost ende of it, is the iron very bright and shining, fastned to the woode with plates of Copper, in the manner of two nailes, as long as the handle: it hath two edges, the one cutteth like a hatchet, and maketh a wounde after the fashion of a halfe Roundell▪ the other is a hammer. When they fight with their enemies, or defende them∣selues from their arrowes, they are so exercised with a wonderful speed and nimblenesse to manage their wea∣pons, that whirling them rounde about, as it were in a circle, they keepe all that compasse of the ayre which is before them, so that when the enemie shooteth, & the arrowe beginneth to fall, it lighteth vpon the hatchet, being so swiftly and vehemently whirled about, that it breaketh the force of the arrowe, and so it is repulsed: Then do they hang the Hatchet vpō their shoulder, & be¦gin to shoot themselues. They haue also certaine short daggers, with sheathes of the serpents skins, made like kniues with a haft vnto them, which they vse to weare a crosse. Their girdles are of diuers sorts, but the men of war haue their girdles of Elephants skin, 3. good fingers broad: & because they are at the first 2. fingers thicke, & very harde to handle handsomly, by the heate of the fire they bow thē round, & so with certain buttons tie them

ouerthwart about them. The men are very actiue and nimble,* 1.104 and leape vp and downe the mountaines lyke Goates. Couragious they are and contemne death: men of great simplicitie, loyalty and fidelitie, and such as the Portingalles doo trust more then any other. In so much as Signor Odoardo was wont to saye, that if these Anzichi woulde become Christians, (being of so great fidelity, sincerity, loyalty and simplicity, that they wil offer themselues to death, for the glory of the world, and to please their Lordes will not sticke to giue their owne flesh to bee deuoured) then woulde they with a farre better harte and courage endure martirdome, for the name of our redeemer Iesus Christ, and would most honourably maintaine our faith and religion, with their good testimony, and example against the Gentiles.

Moreouer,* 1.105 the said Signor Odoardo did likewise af∣firme, that there was no conuersing with them, because they were a sauage and a beastly people, sauing onely in respect that they come and trafficke in Congo, bringing thether with them slaues both of their owne nation, & also out of Nubia (whereupon they do border) & linnē∣cloth (whereof we will tell you hereafter.) & Elephantes teeth: in exchange of which chaffare they recarry home with thē Salt & these Lumache, which they vse in steed of their money & coine; and another greater kinde of Lamache, which come from the Isle of S. Thomas, and which they vse to weare for brooches to make them∣selues fine & gallant withal. Other marchaundises also they carry backe with them which are brought out of Portingall, as silks, and linnen, and glasses, & such like.

They vse to circumcise themselues: and another foolish custome they haue, both men and women, as

well of the nobilitie,* 1.106 as of the commonalty, euen from their childhood to mark their faces with sundry slashes made with a knife, as in due place shal be further shew∣ed vnto you.

They keepe a shambles of mans flesh as they do in these countryes for beefe and other victuailes.* 1.107 For their enemies whom they take in the warres, they eate, and also their slaues, if they can haue a good market for them, they sell: or if they cannot, then they deliuer them to the butchers to be cut in peeces, and so solde, to be rosted or boyled. And (that which is a maruellous history to report) some of them being weary of their liues, and some of them euen for valour of courage, and to shew themselues stout and venturous, thinking it to be a great honour vnto them, if they runne into volun∣tary death, thereby to shewe that they haue a speciall contempt of this life, will offer themselues to the but∣chery, as faithfull subiectes to their Princes, for whose sakes, that they may seeme desirous to doe them nota∣ble seruice, they do not onely deliuer themselues to be deuoured by them, but also their slaues, when they are fat and well fed, they doe kill and eate them. True it is that many nations there are, that feede vpon mans flesh as in the east Indies, and in Bresill, and in other places: but that is onely the flesh of their aduersaries and ene∣mies,* 1.108 but to eat the flesh of their owne frendes and sub∣iectes and kinsefolkes, it is without all example in any place of the worlde, sauing onely in this nation of the Anzichi.

The ordinary apparel of these people is thus:* 1.109 The cō∣mon sort go naked from the girdle vpwards, & without any thing vpon their heades, hauing their hayre trussed

vp and curled. The noble men are apparelled in silkes and other cloath, and weare vpon their heades blewe and red, and blacke colours, and hattes and hoodes of Portingale Veluet, and other kindes of cappes vsuall in that countrey. And indeede they are all desirous to haue their apparell handsome and neat as their hability will suffer them. The women are all couered from top to toe, after the common manner of Africa. The poorer sort of them doe girde themselues close from the girdle downewards. The noble women and such as are of wealth, do weare certaine mantelles, which they cast ouer their heades, but keepe their faces open and at li∣bertie: & shooes they haue on their feet, but the poore go barefoote. They go very quicke and lightsome: Their stature is comely, and their conditions fayre and commendable.

Their language is altogether different from the lan∣guage of Congo,* 1.110 and yet the Anzichi will learne the lan∣guage of Congo, very soone and easily, because it is the plainer tonge: but the people of Congo do very hardely learne the language of the Anzichi. And when I once demaunded what their religion was, it was tolde mee they were Gentils, and that was all that I could learne of them.

Chap. 6. Of the East coast of the Kingdome of Congo, and the confines thereof.

THe East Coast of the kingdome of Congo, beginneth (as we haue tolde you) at the meeting of the Riuer Vumba,* 1.111 and the Riuer of Zaire; and so with a line drawen towardes the South in equall di∣stance from the Riuer Nilus, which lyeth on the left hande, it taketh vp a great mountaine which is very high, & not inhabited in the toppes thereof, called the mountaine of Christal,* 1.112 because there is in it great quantity of Christal both of the mountaine and of the cliffe, and of all sorts. And then passing on further includeth the hilles that are called Sierras de Sol,* 1.113 that is to say, the hilles of the Sunne, because they are exceeding high. And yet it neuer sno∣weth vpon them, neyther doe they beare any thing, but are very bare and without any trees at all: On the leaft hand there arise other hils, called the hilles of Sal-Nitrum,* 1.114 because there is in thē great store of that Mine∣ral. And so cutting ouer the riuer Berbela, that commeth

out of the first Lake, there endeth the ancient bound of the kingdome of Congo on the East.

Thus then the east coast of this kingdome is deriued from the meeting of the two foresaid riuers Vumba and Zaire, vntill you come to the lake Achelunda, and to the Countrey of Malemba; contayning the space of sixe hundred miles. From this lyne, which is drawen in the easterne coast of Congo to the riuer Nilus, and to the two Lakes (whereof mention shalbe made in conuenient place) there is the space of 150. miles of ground wel in∣habited, and good store of hils, which do yeeld sundry mettalles, with much linnen, and cloth of the Palme tree.

And seeing wee are now come to this point of this discourse,* 1.115 it will be very necessary to declare vnto you the maruellous arte which the people of this countrey, and other places thereabouts do vse in making cloathes of sundry sortes, as Veluets shorne and vnshorne, cloth of Tinue, Sattens, Taffata, Damaskes, Sarcenettes and such like, not of any silken stuffe, (for they haue no knowledge of the Silkewormes at all, although some of their apparell bee made of silke that is brought thether from our Countreys.) But they weaue their cloathes a∣forenamed of the leaues of Palme trees, which trees they alwayes keepe vnder and lowe to the grounde, euery yeare cutting them, and watering them, to the ende they may grow smal and tender against the new spring. Out of these leaues being cleansed & purged after their manner they drawe forth their threedes, which are all very fine and dainty, and all of one euennesse, sauing that those which are longest, are best esteemed. For of those they weaue their greatest peeces. These stuffes

they worke of diuers fashions, as some with a nappe vp∣on them like Veluet on both sides, and other cloath cal∣led Damaskes, braunched with leaues, and such other thinges; & the Broccati, which are called High and Lowe, and are farre more precious then ours are. This kinde of cloath no man may weare but the king, and such as it pleaseth him. The greatest peeces are of these Broccati: for they contayne in length fower and fiue spannes, and in breadth, three and foure spannes, and are called Incorimbas, by the name of the countrey where it grow∣eth, which is about the Riuer Vumba. The Veluettes are called Enzachas of the same bignesse, and the Damaskes Insulas, and the Rasi Maricas, and the Zendadi Tangas, & the Ormesini Engombos. Of the lighter sort of these stuffes they haue greater peeces which are wrought by the An∣zichi, and are sixe spannes long, and fiue spannes broade, wherewith euery man may apparell himselfe according to his habilitie. Besides that, they are very thicke and sounde to keepe out the water, and yet very light to weare. The Portingalles haue lately begun to vse them for tents and boothes, which do maruellously resist both water and winde.

This coast then shutteth vp the kingdome of Congo, which lyeth Westwarde of it:* 1.116 and from this Coast with a line of equall distance somwhat more towardes the East runneth the riuer Nilus, about 150. miles, contay∣ning within it a Countrey that aboundeth with all the commodities aboue rehearsed, possessed by sundrye Lordes, some subiect to Prete Gianni, and some to the mighty King Moënemugi. In all which Countrey there was nothing worth the noting, sauing that from Nilus towards the West, the people do trafficke with the

[illustration]

kingdome of Congo, and the riuers of that sea: and from thence towardes the East they goe through the king∣domes of Moenemugi, euen to the sea of Mombaza and Mozambiche.

Chap. 7. Of the confines of the kingdome of Congo to∣wardes the South.

THis Easterne Coast (as it is be∣fore set downe) endeth in the mountain called Serras de Plata,* 1.117 that is the mountaines of siluer,* 1.118 and there beginneth the fourth and last border of the kingdome of Congo, towardes the South, that is to say, from the foresaide mountaine to the Bay of Cowes on the West, contay∣ning in length the space of foure hundred & fifty miles. And this Southerne line doth parte the kingdome of Angola in the middle, and leaueth on the left hand of it, the foresaide mountaines of Siluer, and further beyond them towardes the South the Kingdome of Matama, which is a great kingdome, very mighty, and absolute of it selfe, and sometimes in amity, and sometimes at vtter enmitie with the kingdome of Angola.

The king of Matama is in religion a Gentile,* 1.119 and his

kingdome stretcheth towardes the South to the riuer Brauagal, and neere to the mountains commonly called the Mountaynes of the Moone, and towardes the east bordereth on the Westerne bankes of the riuer Bagami∣dri, and so crosseth ouer the riuer Coari.

This countrey aboundeth in vaultes of Christall and other mettalles, and all manner of victuaile, and good ayre. And although the people thereof, & their neigh∣bour borderers do trafficke together: Yet the King of Matama, and the king of Angola doo oftentimes warre one against the other, as we told you before: And this riuer Bagamidri diuideth the kingdome of Matapa from the kingdome of Monomata, which is towards the East, and whereof Iohn de Barros doth most largely discourse in the first Chapter of his tenth booke.

Towardes the sea coast there are diuers Lordes, that take vpon them the title of kinges: but indeed they are of very base and slender estate: Neyther are there any portes or hauens of any account or name in the riuers there. And nowe forasmuch as wee haue oftentimes made mention of the kingdome of Angola,* 1.120 this will be a very conuenient place for vs to intreate thereof: be∣cause it hath beene heretofore saide, that the king of Angola, being in times past but a Gouernour or Deputy vnder the king of Congo, although since that tyme he is become a good Christian, yet hath he made himselfe a free and an absolute Prince, and vsurped all that quar∣ter to his owne iurisdiction, which before hee had in re∣giment and gouernement vnder another. And so after∣wards in time conquered other countries thereabouts, insomuch as he is now growen to bee a great Prince, & a rich, and in power little inferiour to the king of Congo

himselfe, and therefore eyther payeth tribute, or refu∣seth to pay tribute vnto him, euen at his owne good pleasure.

It came to passe,* 1.121 that Don Giouanni the second, being king of Portingall, planted the christian religion in the Kingdome of Congo, and thereupon the king of Congo became a Christian. After which time the Lorde of Angola was alwaies in amitie, and (as it were) a vassall of the forenamed King of Congo, and the people of both countries did trafficke together one with another, and the Lord of Angola did euery yeare sende some presents to the king of Congo. And by licence from the King of Congo there was a great trade betweene the Portingalles and the people of Angola at the hauen of Loanda, where they bought slaues and chaunged them for o∣ther marchaundises, and so transported all into the Isle of Sainte Thomas. Whereby it came to passe, that the trafficke was heere vnited with the trafficke of S. Thomas: so that the shippes did vse first to arriue at that Islande, and then afterwarde passed ouer to Loan∣da. And when this trade began in processe of time to increase, they dispatched their shippes from Lisbone to Angola of themselues, and sent with them a Gouernour called Paulo Diaz of Nouais,* 1.122 to whome this busines did (as it were) of right appertaine, in regarde of the good desertes of his auncesters, who first discouered this traf∣ficke. To this Paulo Diaz did Don Sebastiano King of Portingale graunt leaue and authority to conquere,* 1.123 for the space of xxxiij. leagues vpwardes along the coast, beginning at the Riuer Coanza towards the South, and within the lande also, whatsoeuer hee coulde get, to∣wardes all his charges for him and his heyres. With

him there went many other shippes that opened and found out a great trade with Angola, which notwith∣standing was directed to the foresaide hauen of Loanda where the saide shippes did still discharge themselues. And so by little & little he entred into the firme land,* 1.124 & made himselfe a house in a certain village called Anzelle within a mile neer to the riuer Coanza, because it was the more commodious & nigher to the trafficke of Angola.

When the trade here beganne thus to increase, and marchaundises were freely caried by the Portingales, & the people of Congo to Cabazo a place belonging to the Lorde of Angola,* 1.125 and distant from the sea, 150. miles, there to sell and barter them, it pleased his Lordship to giue out order, that all the Marchants should be slaine, and their goods confiscated, alleadging for his defence, that they were come thether as spies, and to take pos∣session of his estate: but in truth it is thought that hee did it onely to gaine all that wealth to himselfe, consi∣dering that it was a people that did not deale in the ha∣bite of warriours, but after the manner of Marchants. And this fell out in the same yeare, that the King Don Sebastiano was discomfited in Barbarie.

When Paulo Diaz vnderstoode of this course, he put himselfe in armes against the King of Angola,* 1.126 and with such a troupe of Portingals as he could gather together that were to bee founde in that countrey, and with two Gallies and other vessels, which he kept in the riuer Co∣anza, he went forwarde on both sides of the riuer con∣quering, and by force subdued many Lords, and made them his frendes and subiectes. But the king of Angola perceyuing that his vassalles had yeelded to the obedi∣ence of Paulo Diaz, and that with all prosperous suc∣cesse

he had gayned much land vpon him, he assembled a great army to go against him, and so vtterly to destroy him.* 1.127 Whereupon Paulo Diaz requested the King of Congo that he woulde succour him with some helpe to defende himselfe withall, who presently sent vnto him for aid an army of 60 thousand men, vnder the conduct of his cosin Don Sebastiano Manibamba, and another cap∣tayne with 120. Portingale souldiers, that were in those countryes, and all of his owne pay for the atchieuing of this enterprise. This army was to ioyne with Paulo Di∣az, and so altogether to warre against the King of Ango∣la: but arriuing at the shoare, where they were to passe ouer the riuer Bengo, within 12. miles of Loāda, & where they shoulde haue met with many barkes to carry the Campe to the other shore, partly because the said barks had slacked their cōming, & partly because much time wold haue been spent in transporting so many men, the whole armie tooke their way quite ouer the riuer, and so going on forwardes they met with the people of the King of Angola, that were ready to stoppe the souldiers of Congo,* 1.128 from entering vpon their Countrey.

The military order of the Mociconghi (for by that terme we do call the naturall borne people of the king∣dome of Congo, as wee call the Spaniardes those that are naturally borne in Spaine) and the military order of the people of Angola, is almost all one: For both of them doo vsually fight on foote, and diuide their armie into seuerall troupes, fitting themselues according to the si∣tuation of the field where they doo incampe, & aduan∣cing their ensignes and banners in such sort as before is remembrd.

The remoues of their armie are guided and directed

by certaine seuerall soundes and noyses, that pro∣ceede from the Captayne Generall,* 1.129 who goeth into the middest of the Armie, and there signifieth what is to bee put in execution: that is to say, eyther that they shall ioyne battell, or els retyre, or put on forward, or turne to the right hand, and to the leaft hand, or to performe any other warlick action. For by these seueral sounds di∣stinctly deliuered frō one to another they doe all vnder∣stande the commandementes of their Captayne, as we heere among vs doo vnderstande the pleasure of our Generall by the sundrie stroakes of the Drumme, and the Captaines soundes of the Trompet.* 1.130

Three principall soundes they haue which they vse in warre: One which is vttered aloude, by great Rattles [ 1] fastned in certaine woodden cases, hollowed out of a tree, and couered with leather, which they strike with [ 2] certaine little handles of Iuory. Another is made by a certaine kinde of instrument, fashioned like a Pyramis turned vpwarde: for the lower ende of it is sharpe and endeth as it were in a point, and the vpper end waxeth broader & broader like the bottom of a Triangle, in such sort that beneath they are narrow & like an Angle, & a∣boue they are large and wide. This instrument is made of certayne thinne plates of iron, which are hollowe and empty within, and very like to a bell turned vp side downe. They make them ring, by striking them with woodden wandes: and oftentimes they do also cracke them, to the ende that the sound should be more harsh, horrible, and warlicke: The thirde instrument is [ 3] framed of Elephants teeth, some great, and some small, hollowe within, and blowen at a certaine hole which they make on the side of it, in manner of the Fife, and

not aloft like the Pipe. These are tempered by them in such sort that they yeelde as warlicke and harmonious musicke as the Cornet doth, and so pleasant and iocund a noyse, that it moueth and stirreth vp their courages, & maketh them not to care for any daunger whatsoeuer. Now of these three seueral sorts of warlick instruments, there are some bigger and some lesse.* 1.131 For the Captayne Generall carrieth alwaies with him the greater sort, to the ende that by them he may giue signification to the whole Campe what they shall doo. The particular bandes and troupes of the armie haue in like manner their smaller sort, and euery Captayne in his seuerall re∣giment hath also one of the smallest, which they strike with their handes. Whereupon it falleth out, that when they heare the sounde of the generall Rattle, or Cornet, or the other thirde kinde of instrument, euery part of the army doth presently answere in the same note, signi∣fying thereby that they haue wel vnderstood the good pleasure of the Captaine, and so consequently the vnder Captaines do the like. Neyther do they onely vse these instruments and sounds vniuersally, but also when they are in fight in skirmish, the valiant and couragious souldiers go before the rest, & with this kinde of belles, which they strike with their woodden wandes, they dance, & encourage their fellows, & by the note do sig∣nifie vnto them in what danger they are, and what wea∣pons they haue met withall.

The militarie apparell of the better sort,* 1.132 and of the Lords of the Moci-Conghi is this. On their heades they carry a cappe, which is garnished with sundry plumes of the feathers of the Eastruche, of the Peaeocke, of the Cocke, and of other kindes of birdes, which make them

to seeme men of greater stature then they are, and terri∣ble to looke vpon. From the girdle vpwards they are all naked, and haue hanging about them from their necks, both on the right side and on the leaft, euen as lowe as to both their flanks, certaine chaines of iron, with rings vpon them as bigge as a mans little finger, which they vse for a certaine military pompe & brauery. From the girdle downewardes they haue breeches of linnen, or sendale, which are couered with cloath, and reach downe to their heeles, but then they are folded againe vpwardes and tucked vnder their girdle. Vpon their girdle, which (as we tolde you) is made with exquisite and curious worke, they do fasten certaine belles, very like to the instruments that are before named, which in moouing of themselues and in fighting with their ene∣mies, do ring & make a noise, & ad courage vnto them, while they are in combate with their aduersaries. Vp∣on their legges they haue likewise their buskins after the Portingall fashion.* 1.133 Their armour we haue already declared, that is to say, bowe and arrowes, sworde, dag∣ger and Target: but yet with this caueat, that whosoe∣uer weareth a bowe, he weareth also a dagger, but no target: for those two weapons may not be worne toge∣ther, but sword & target they may lawfully weare both at once.

The common souldiers go all naked from the girdle∣stead vpwardes,* 1.134 and haue the rest of their bodies armed with bowe and arrowes and daggers. These are they that do first offer the skirmish, going out before the rest of the armie, as it were seuerally and dispersedly pro∣uoking to fight, and receyuing the shot from a farre of, they turne and winde this way and that way, and

doo nimbly leape from one side to another, to the ende they may auoide the lighting of their enemies arrowes. Besides these there are also certaine quicke and gallant young men that runne out before the rest, which with the ringing of their bels (as afore is sayde) are as it were comforters of their fellows, and when they haue fought so much, that the Captaine thinketh them to bee euen weary, then doth he call them backe with the sounde of one of those instruments aboue mentioned: so that per∣ceyuing the medley to waxe hote, they turne about and retyre themselues back againe, & others succeed in their places, which course is still obserued and kept vntill such time, as both the armies do indeed ioyne all their maine forces together, and so fight it out.

In the place aboue described,* 1.135 there were sundry en∣counters on the one side and on the other. And in the first battels the people of Congo remayned conquerours: but afterwards, when they had diuers times fought to∣gether with great losse on both sides, and victuailes be∣gan nowe to faile, and consequently men waxed sicke and died, the Campe of the king of Congo was dissolued, and euery man returned to his owne home.

In this meane while Paulo Diaz,* 1.136 though he coulde not ioyne his forces with the Armie of his frendes that came to succour him, yet set himselfe forwardes, and passing ouer the riuer stayed at Luiola, because it was a place very strong & fit to resist the King of Angola. The situation of Luiola is this: The two riuers Coanza and Luiola do ioyne together about 105. miles from the sea shore, and a little aboue the said ioyning together, these Riuers doe seauer themselues for the space of an Arcu∣buse shotte, so that they make as it were an Islande be∣tweene

them: In which Islande at the meeting of the two riuers there riseth a hill, which Paulo Diaz surprised and fortified for his better safety. And whereas in times past there was neuer any habitation there, nowe at this present it is growen to be a prety conntrey inhabited by the Portingalles.

From this place thus surprised by Paulo Diaz, and called Luiola, you may saile along the riuer with certain small vesselles, euen to the sea, and goe by lande with∣out any daunger for the space of one hundred and fiue miles.* 1.137 Neere therevnto are the hilles that are called the hilles of Cabambe, producing infinite store of siluer: which the saide Diaz doth euery day by little and little endeauour to conquere. And these hils are the graund quarrell betweene him and the people of Angola. For knowing that the Portingalles doe esteeme greatly of these hilles, in regarde of the siluer pits which are there in great aboundance, they doe vse all the force and skill they can to keepe the Portingalles from them. They fight also with them in diuers other places: for the Por∣tingalles passing ouer the riuer Coanza doe continually make inroades into the countries that are subiect to the king of Angola.

The weapons of these peoples, are bowes sixe hand∣fulles long,* 1.138 with stringes made of the barkes of trees: & arrowes of woode, lesse then a mans little finger, and sixe handefuls long. They haue iron heads made like a hooke, and feathers of birdes in the toppes of them: and of these arrowes they vse to carry to the number of sixe or seauen vpon their bow hand, without any quiuer at all. Their daggers are fashioned with a haft after the manner of a knife, which they weare at their girdle, on

their left side, and hold them aloft in their hands, when they fight with them.* 1.139 By their Militarie actions and pro∣ceedinges you may obserue their great skill and good order in matter of warre. For in diuers battels that were betweene them and the Portingalles, it was plainly seene how they coulde choose their aduantages against their enemies, as by assaulting them in the night time, and in rayny weather, to the ende that their arcubuses and guns shold not take fire, & also by diuiding their forces into many troups, to trouble them the more. The king doth not vse to go to the warre in his owne person, but sendeth his Captains in his steed. The people are also ac∣customed to flie & run away incontinently, as soone as they see their Captaine slaine, neyther can they be per∣swaded to stay by any reason or argument, but present∣ly yeelde vp the fielde. They are all footemen, neyther haue they any horses at all. And therefore the Cap∣taines if they will not go on foote, cause themselues to be carried on the shoulders of their slaues, after one of the three manners, which wee will shew vnto you here∣after. This nation goeth out to warre in number almost infinite, and very confusedly: they leaue no man at home that is fit to carry a weapon: they make no prepa∣ration of victuailes necessary for the Campe: but such as perhaps haue any, conuey it with them vpon the shol∣ders of their seruantes, and yet they haue sundry sortes of creatures that might bee managed, and serue their turnes to drawe and to carry as in the seconde part of this Treatise shalbe described vnto you. And thereup∣on it falleth out, that when they come into any country with their whole armie, all their foode is quickly quite consumed, & then hauing nothing leaft to feede vpon,

they dissolue their hoast euen in the greatest necessity of prosecuting their enterprise, and so are inforced by hunger to returne into their owne countries.

They are greatly giuen to Diuination by birdes: If a bird chaunce to flie on their leaft hand,* 1.140 or crie in such manner, as those which make profession to vnderstand the same, doe say that it fore-sheweth ill lucke and ad∣uersity, or that they may go no further forwardes, they will presently turne backe and repayre home: which custome was also in the old time obserued by the anci∣ent Romanes, and likewise at this day by sundry other Pagans.

Now if it shall seeme straunge to any man,* 1.141 that so few Portingall souldiours as Paulo Diaz retayneth there with him, and others of the Portingall nation, which traffick into the Realme, & relieue him with succours, being in number but three hundred at the most, ac∣counting their slaues, and also the Malcontentes, the rebelles and fugitiues of Angola which dayly resort vn∣to him, & amount not in al to the quantity of xv, thou∣sand men, should be able to make so gallant a resistance against that innumerable rabble of Negroes, being sub∣iect to the king of Angola, which are gathered there to∣gether (as it is said) to the number of a Million of soules. I aunswere, that great reason may bee alleadged for the same. For the armie of the Negroes is all naked, and vt∣terly destitute of all prouision and furniture for armour of defence: And as for their weapons of offence, they consist onely but of bowes and daggers (as I told you.) But our fewe Portingalles that are there, are well lap∣ped in certaine iackets that are stuffed and basted with bombast, and stitched and quilted very soundly, which

keepe their armes very safe, and their bodies downe∣wardes as lowe as their knees: Their heades also are ar∣med with cappes made of the same stuffe, which doo resist the shot of the arrow and the stroke of the dagger: Besides that, they are girt with longe swords, and some horsemen there are among them that carry speares for their weapons. Now you must vnderstande that one man on horsebacke, is of more worth then a hundred Negroes, because the horsemen do affray them greatly: & especially of those that do discharge guns and pee∣ces of artillarie against them, they doo stande continu∣ally in an extreame bodily feare. So that these few be∣ing well armed, and cunningly and artificially ordered, must needes ouercome the other, though they be very many in number.

This kingdome of Angola,* 1.142 is full of people beyonde all credite: For euery man taketh as many wiues as hee listeth, and so they multiply infinitely: But they doe not vse so to do in the kingdome of Congo, which liueth after the manner of the Christians. And so Signor Odo∣ardo did affirme and belieue, that the kingdome of An∣gola had a Million of fighting men, by reason that euery man taking to him as many wiues as he woulde, begot many children, and likewise because euery man doeth willingly go to the warres in the seruice of his Prince.

This kingdome also is very rich in mines of Siluer, & most excellent Copper,* 1.143 and for other kindes of mettall there is more in this kingdome then in any other coun∣trey of the world whatsoeuer. Fruitfull it is in all man∣ner of foode, and sundry sortes of cattell, and specially for great heards of Kine. True it is, that this people do loue Dogs flesh better then any other meate: & for that

that purpose they feede and fatten them, and then kill them, and sell them in their open shambles. It is con∣stantly affirmed,* 1.144 that a great dogge accustomed to the Bull was solde by exchaunge for xxij. slaues, which af∣ter the rate of x. Duckates a poll, were worth in all 220. Duccates: in so high a price and account do they holde that Creature.

The moneyes that are vsed in Angola, are much dif∣ferent from the Lumache of Congo:* 1.145 for they of Angola do vse beades of glasse, such as are made in Venice as big as a Nut, and some of lesser quantity, and of diuers and sundry colours and fashions. These doe the people of Angola make, not onely to vse them for money, but also for an ornament of their men and women, to weare a∣bout their neckes and their armes, and are called in their tongue Anzolos: but when they are threeded vpon a stringe lyke a payre of Beades, they call them Mizanga.

The King of Angola is by religion a Gentile,* 1.146 and worshippeth Idoles, and so doo all the people in his kingdome. It is true, that hee hath greatly desired to become a Christian, after the example of the King of Congo. But because there hath not beene as yet any pos∣sibility to sende Priestes vnto him, that might illuminate and instruct him, he remayneth still in darkenes. The foresaide Signor Odoardo tolde mee that in his time the king of Angola sent an Ambassadour to the King of Con∣go, requesting that he would sende him some religious persons to inform him in the Christian religiō: but the King of Congo had none there that hee coulde spare, & therefore coulde sende him none. At this day, both these kinges doo trafficke together, and are in amity

one with another, the king of Angola hauing now clee∣red and discharged himselfe for the iniuries & slaugh∣ters that were committed vpon those of Congo, and vp∣on the Portingalles at Cabazo.

The language of the people of Angola is all one with the language of the people of Congo,* 1.147 because (as wee told you before) they are both but one kingdome. One∣ly the difference betweene them is, as commonly it is betweene two nations that border one vpon another, as for example betweene the Portingalles and the Casti∣lians, or rather betweene the Venetians and the Calabri∣ans, who pronouncing their wordes in a diuers man∣ner, and vttering them in seuerall sortes, although it be all one speech, yet do they very hardly vnderstand one another.

Wee haue signified vnto you heretofore, that the Bay of Cowes doth diuide the kingdome of Angola in the middest, and hitherto wee haue treated but of the one halfe thereof:* 1.148 Now we will describe vnto you the seconde parte of it, which lyeth from the said Bay of Cowes towardes the South. From this Bay then, to the black Cape called Capo Negro,* 1.149 by the coast of the Ocean they doe reckon two hundred & twenty miles of such country and soile as the former is, and possessed by ma∣ny Lordes that are subiect to the king of Angola. From Capo Negro there runneth a line towardes the East, through the middest of the Mountaynes, that are called Monti Freddi,* 1.150 that is to say, the Cold Mountaines: which also in some certaine parts of them, that are higher then the rest, towardes the Equinoctiall are tearmed by the Portingalles Monti Neuosi, or Snowie Mountaines, and so endeth at the rootes of other Mountaynes that are

called the Mountaines of Chrystall. (Out of these Snowie Mountains do spring the waters of the Lake Dumbea Zoc∣che.)* 1.151 This foresaid line from the mountaine of Christall draweth onwardes towardes the North through the Mountaines of Siluer, till you come to Malemba, where wee tolde you the kingdome of Congo was diuided, and parted the Riuer of Coari in the middest. And this is the Countrey possessed by the King of Angola, where∣of I haue no more to say, then is already set downe, nei∣ther of the qualities of his person, nor of his Court.

Chap. 8. Of the circuite of the Kingdome of Congo possessed by the King that nowe is, according to the foure borders aboue described.

BEginning therefore at the Riuer Co∣anza, and drawing towardes the Equinoctiall 375. miles, you shal find the Riuer that they call Las Barreras Vermellias,* 1.152 or the Redde Pittes, which are indeed the ragged ruines of cer∣taine rockes worne by the sea, and when they fall downe doo shew themselues to be of a redde colour.* 1.153 From thence by a direct line vpon the North, that which the King possesseth is 450. miles.

And thē the said line diuiding it self towards the South passeth by the hilles of Christall (not those that we told you before did belong to Angola,* 1.154 but others that are called by the same name) and so by the moun∣tains of Salnitro, trauersing the Riuer Verbela at the roots of the Mountaines of Siluer it endeth at the Lake A∣quelunda,* 1.155 which is the space of 500. miles. The fourth line runneth along the Riuer Coanza, which issueth out of the said Lake & contayneth 360. miles. So that the whole Realme now possessed by Don Aluaro the king of Congo is in compasse 1685. miles.* 1.156 But the breadth there∣of beginneth at the mouth of the Riuer Zaire, where the point is, which in the Portingal speech is called Pa∣draon, and so cutting the kingdome of Congo in the mid∣dle, and crossing ouer the mountaines of the Sunne, and the mountaines of Christall,* 1.157 there it endeth, containing the space of 6••0. miles, & within 150. miles, neere to the Riuer Nilus. Very true it is indeed, that in ancient time the predecessors of this Prince did raigne ouer many other countreyes thereaboutes, which in processe of time they haue lost: and although they bee now in the gouernement of others,* 1.158 yet doo the Kings of Con∣go retaine still to this day the titles of those regions, as for example, Don Aluaro, king of Congo, and of Abundos, and of Matama, and of Quizama, and of Angola, and of Cacongo, and of the seauen kingdomes of Congere Amo∣laza, and of the Pangelungos, and Lorde of the Riuer Zaire, and of the Anziquos, and Anziquana, and of Lo∣ango.

Chap. 9. The sixe Prouinces of the kingdome of Congo, and first of the Prouince of Bamba.

THis kingdome is diuided into sixe Prouinces, that is to say, Bamba, Songo, Sundi, Pango, Batta & Pemba. The Prouince of Bamba, (which is the greatest and the richest) is gouerned by Don Sebastian Mani Bamba,* 1.159 cosin to the King Don Al∣uaro last deceased, and it is situated vpon the sea coast, from the riuer Ambrize, vntill you come to the riuer Coanza towardes the South. This Don Sebastian hath vnder his dominion many Princes and Lordes, and the names of the greatest of them are these, Don Antonio Mani-Bamba, who is Lieuetenant and brother to Don Sebastian, and Mani-Lemba another, and Mani-Dandi, & Mani-Bengo, and Mani-Loanda, who is gouernour of the Island of Loanda, and Mani-Corimba, and Mani-Coanza, and Mani-Cazzanzi. All these doo gouerne all the sea coast but within lande, for that parte which belongeth to Angola, there are another people called the Ambun∣dos, who dwelling on the borders of Angola are subiect

to the saide Mani-Bamba, and they are these, Angazi, Chinghengo, Motollo, Chabonda, and many others of ba∣ser condition.

Note, that this worde Mani signifieth a Prince or a Lord,* 1.160 and the rest of the word is the name of the coun∣trey and Lordeshippe, where the Lorde ruleth. As for example, Mani-Bamba signifieth the Lord of the coun∣trey of Bamba, & Mani-Corimba the Lorde of the coun∣trey of Corimba,* 1.161 which is a parte of Bamba, and so like∣wise of the rest. This Prouince of Bamba confineth with Angola,* 1.162 on the South, & vpon the East of it towardes the Lake Achelunda lyeth the country of Quizama, which is gouerned like a comon wealth, and is diuided among a number of Lordes, who in deed liuing at their owne libertie, doo neyther obey the King of Congo, nor the King of Angola. And to bee short, these Lords of Qui∣zama, after they had a long time quarrelled with Paulo Diaz, yet at last they became his subiects, because they woulde auoide the yoake of the King of Angola, and by their good aid and assistance doth Paulo Diaz great∣ly helpe himselfe against the said King of Angola.

Nowe the aforesaid Countrey of Bamba,* 1.163 (as wee haue tolde you) is the principall Prouince of all the Realme of Congo, and in deed the very keye, and the buckler and the sworde, and the defence thereof, and (as it were) the frontier which opposeth it selfe against all their enemies. For it resisteth all the reuoltes and re∣bellions of those quarters, and hath very valorous peo∣ple in it, that are alwaies ready for to fight, so that they do continually keep their aduersaries of Angola in great awe: and if it happen at any time that their king stande in neede, they are alwaies at his commaunde to annoy

the other countries whensoeuer. When neede requi∣reth,* 1.164 hee may haue in Campe foure hundred thousande men of warre, and yet that number is but onely the sixt parte of the whole kingdome, though indeede it be the better parte and the stronger. The principall Citty of this Prouince lieth in the plaine which is betweene the riuer Loze and Ambrize,* 1.165 and is called Panza (which is a common name for euery towne.) There dwelleth the Lorde of the Prouince, and it is distant from the sea a hundred miles. In this Signorie also doo the hilles be∣ginne,* 1.166 where the mines of Siluer and other Mettalles are founde, and so stretch out towardes the kingdome of Angola. It is very rich: for vpon the coast of the sea there, they haue great store of the Lumache, which are vsed for Moneyes ouer all the kingdome of Congo: Be∣sides, there is also a greater trafficke & Market for slaues, that are brought out of Angola, then in any place els. For there are yearely bought by the Portingalles aboue fiue thousand head of Negroes, which afterwardes they conueigh away with them, and so sell them into diuers parts of the worlde.

The people of this Prouince are in armes the most valiant of all the Kingdome of Congo.* 1.167 They go armed like the Sclauonians, with long and large swords, that are brought them out of Portingal. There are among them very mighty men, that wil cleaue a slaue in the middest at one blowe, and cut of the head of a Bull at one stroke with one of those swordes. And (that which is more, and will peraduenture seeme incredible) one of these valiant men did beare vppon his arme a certaine vessell of wine, which was the fourth parte of a Butte, and might waigh about 325. pound, vntill it was cleane

emptied. Moreouer, they do carry bow and arrowes, whereat they are very quicke and nimble, and withall their long Targets made of the Dants skin, whereof we told you before, when we made mentiō of the Anzichi.

The Creatures that are founde in this Prouince, are first the Elephantes,* 1.168 which doo breed ouer all the king∣dome of Congo, but principally in the countrey of Bam∣ba, because it aboundeth in Woodes, in pastures and in waters, more then any of the rest, by reason of the many riuers that runne through it. And therefore the countrey is (as it were) appropriated to nourishe and breede such a kinde of beaste, as is indeede of an vnrea∣sonable bignesse.* 1.169 For Signor Odoardo tolde me, that hee had oftentimes taken the measure of an Elephantes foot in the dust,* 1.170 & one of them was in plain Diameteer fower spannes broade. Whereby if you frame the whole cir∣cle of the foote, accordingly you may by proportion finde out the bignesse of the whole bodie of the beast. This foot they cal Malo-Manzao that is to say, the Foot of an Elephant. And if in Portingal, in Italy, & in Germany, ther haue been seen in our times, any of these creatures that were far lesser in respect of the aforesaid hugenes, you must vnderstande that they were but young, and brought into those countreyes in their tender age, of purpose to make them tame.* 1.171 But in these quarters they say that the Elephantes doe liue an hundred and fiftie yeares, and that vntill the middle of their age they con∣tinue still in growing.* 1.172 And to confirme this truth hee added, that he had seene and waighed diuerse of their teeth (which are not of home, as some thinke) and their waight amounted to 200. pounds a peece after the rate of xii. ounces to euery pound. In the language of Congo

the Elephants tooth is called Mene-Manzao, that is to say, The tooth of an Elephant: and their young ones are called Moana-Manzao, that is, a young Elephant. Their eares are greater then the greatest Targattes that the Turks vse to weare, in length sixe spans, in shape like an Eg, & towards their sholders they grow to be narrow∣er & sharper. With their ears, & with their tronke, and with their tayle, they beate away the flies that trouble them: yea and some haue leaft it in writing, that where they cannot reach with their tronke, with their eares, or with their taile, they will gather their skinne toge∣ther, and so nip the poore flies to death betweene the wrincles.

They haue in their taile certaine hayres or bristles as bigge as rushes or broome-spriggs,* 1.173 of a shining black colour. The older they bee, the fayrer and stronger they be, and of great price among them. For the people of that countrey doe greatly esteeme them because the noble men and women of the kingdome of Angola, and of the Ambundi their neighbours doe vse to adorne and bedecke their neckes withal, & therefore do loue them, for that they are indeede very fayre and rare, and grow vpon so goodly a beast. They are very stronge, and like a twined corde, so that if a man shall striue to breake them asunder with both his handes, hee shall not bee able with all his force and strength to cracke them, but rather spoyle his handes with them. And for the cause lately rehearsed, many there are, which waiting for the Elephantes, when they ascend some steepe and narrowe way, doe come behinde them, and with very sharpe kniues cut of their tayles: the poor beast being not able in those straits to turne back to reuenge it selfe, not with

his tronke to reach his enemie. And this they do, onely to haue those haires, which they sell for two or three flaues a peece. Other light & couragious persons there are, that trusting much to their swiftnes in running, do he in a waite, and set vpon the poore beastes behinde, whiles they are in feeding, and at one blow attempt to cut off their tayles, & so endeauour to saue themselues by running away in a rounde. For the greatnes of the beast is such, as outright it is very swift, because it ma∣keth very large strides though in deede but slowe, and in the plaine is farre quicker then any lustie horse: but in turning rounde it looseth much time, and so the huntseman escapeth in safetie. And therefore many haue beene surprised and slaine by the Elephantes, that haue sought to escape from them by running away out∣right.

Our Auncestors,* 1.174 being not well enformed in these matters haue leaft in writing, that the Elephantes could not ly down vpō the ground, but that they vsed to lean themselues against a tree: which being before weake∣ned or sawed in sunder by the hunters, both the Ele∣phantes and the tree fel downe to the earth, and so were taken. But Signor Odoardo affirmed vpon his credit, that they lay downe vpon the ground, that they kneeled vp∣on their knees, and that they woulde with both their fore-feete leape vpon the trees to feede on the leaues, & stoope downe to drink of the waters, that were in their caues, and that they had their iointes as other creatures haue, sauing that in some partes they do somewhat dif∣fer from others: as for example, frō the hoofes of their fore-feete, vp to their shoulders, you shall not perceaue that they haue any more then two ioyntes. In their

feeding: they vse to shake and roote vp the great trees with the force of their shoulders,* 1.175 and strength of their whole backes▪ But the smaller trees they take between both their teeth, and so bowe them and plucke them downe, that they may feede vpon the leaues of them: insomuch as sometimes they breake one of their teeth with so doing. And this is the cause why you shall find diuers of them in the fieldes that haue lost their teeth. They chawe their meate with their short teeth, which are not seene as their two long tuskes are: and they car∣ry it to their mouth by their long Snout, or Tronke, which is to them in steed of an arme & a hand. The tip of their Tronke is fashioned & diuided into little slits, and (as it were) fingers, wherewith they will take vp very small thinges, as Nuttes, and Strawes, and Berries, & so reach them to their mouth, as I Philippo Pigafetta haue seene my selfe at Lisbone.

The Females of these creatures doe beare their broode in their wombe for the space of two yeares and no more:* 1.176 And forasmuch as the younge Elephant can∣not so quickly bee brought vp, (for it groweth very slowly) the milke is kept from it, and so it waxeth apt to feede of it selfe. And therefore Mother Nature hath prouided that the Elephantes are not great with young, but from seauen yeares to seauen yeares.

Their skinne is harde beyond all credite.* 1.177 For be∣ing fower fingers thicke, it cannot bee pearced, no not with the shot of an Arcubuse. And Signor Odoardo re∣ported, that with a little Gunne, which is called a Pe∣treraa, one of them was stricken, without any wound making, but indeede he was grieuously bruised, so that he ranne away from that place all in a rage, the space of

three daies iourney and there died, after hee had slaine certaine slaues that he met by the way.* 1.178

The people of that Countrey haue not the skill to tame these beastes. Whereby they might reape great commodity and profite, for carrying their stuffe from place to place for diuerse other good vses. But yet they take them; by digging certaine deepe trenches in the places, where they vse to pasture; which trenches are very narrowe at the bottome, and broade aboue, to the end the beast may not help himselfe, & leape out when he is fallen into them. These trenches they couer with Soddes of earth, and grasse, and leaues, because the beast shoulde not see their traine, but passing ouer them remaine there entrenched. Whereupon the Gentle∣man beforenamed tolde mee, that hee had seene with his owne eyes a very straunge and admirable thing in Coanza,* 1.179 namely, that a younge Elephant following his damme fell downe by chaunce into one of these pittes, and after that shee coulde not with all her skill and strength drawe him out of it, she buried him therein, and couered him with earth, with branches, and with bowes, insomuch as she filled the pit vp to the toppe, to the ende that the hunters shoulde not enioy her calfe, choosing rather to kill it her selfe, then to leaue it to the mercie of the cruell huntsemen. This louing and kind mother, not fearing the people (that stood round about her, & shouted against her, & threatned her with sun∣dryweapons, & vttered straunge clamours and noyses to affray her, & cast many fiers at her) but assuring her selfe in her owne stronge and valiant nature, did labour and toyle from morning till night, that she might draw her calfe out of the pitte: and when shee founde that

it was not possible for her to atchieue what she desired, then shee couered it in manner as wee haue tolde you.

The Elephant is a very gentle beast, and trusteth greatly in his natural strength. He feareth nothing, nor hurteth any man that doth not trouble him:* 1.180 and haun∣teth neere to mens houses without doing any harme at all. If he espie men that go in his walke, he wil not med∣dle with them, vnlesse they seeke to molest him: sauing that sometimes peraduenture hee will gently with his snowte hoyse them vpwardes into the ayre, whom he meeteth withall in his way; and that is all the hurt hee will doo vnto them. These Elephantes doo greatly de∣light in waters: and if a man be desirous to see them, his best way is to lie somewhere nigh to the Riuers, and Lakes, where they vse to haunt about noone tide, to drinke, to refresh themselues, and to bathe their bodies in the water: for there they will stande vp to their bel∣lies, and all the rest of their bodie, that is aboue the wa∣ter, they will wash all ouer with the water that they snuffe vp into their snout for that purpose. And be∣cause there are so many foords & pastures (as is said) in the kingdome of Congo, therefore is there very great store of these creatures in that countrey. For Signor O∣doardo affirmed, that in the way betweene Cazanze, & Loanda, in a little grassie valley hee had seene about a hundred of them in a company, olde and young that followed their dammes: and these were the first young ones that euer hee saw till that day. And herewithall you must vnderstand, that they vse to go together in heardes, as Kine, and Camelles, and other such like gen∣tle Creatures doo, and not alone like Lions and other such wilde beastes. Now the reason why this country

aboundeth so in Iuory, is easy to be yeelded. For so many Elephantes being bredde in that Region, they made no account of that commodity in times past: but onely af∣ter that the Portingalles began to trafficke with those countreyes, it grewe in estimation: and so hauing ga∣thered together in so many ages an infinite quantity thereof, which they found in their fieldes, they haue sould them till this day at a very good penniworth.

It is not knowen,* 1.181 whether there be in that countrey any other beast that is so big as an Elephant is, nor whe∣ther there breed therein any Rinoceros, which is a Crea∣tures as bigge indeede as the Elephant, and in India is cal∣led a Bada. But yet there are brought into the countries of the Anzichi some of their hornes that growe vpon their noses, that are both of great value & estimation, & also vsed for the help of diuers diseases. So that it is very credible and likely, that there are some of them to bee founde in those quarters.

There are in the Region of the Anzichi Lions also, like the Lions that breed in other partes of the worlde,* 1.182 but they doo not vse to haunt the Region of Bamba: But in Bamba there are very great store of Tigres, which are of the very same shape that those in Florence are,* 1.183 which Signor Odoardo saw there, and testified to be very Tygres indeed. He tolde mee also of a notable cu∣stome which they haue: And that is, that they will not set vpon any men that are white, but onely such as are blacke: And it hath beene found, that when the white and the blacke haue slept together in the night time, they haue slayne the blacke to deuoure them, and spa∣red the white. When they are hungry they will bee so bolde as to fetch cattell euen out of the yardes that

are about the houses without any feare at all, when they cannot finde any victuailes abroade in the fieldes. They are very daungerous and hurtfull to all kindes of Creatures whatsoeuer they be, and in that language they are called Engoi. They are as fierce and cruell beastes as the Lion, and roare as the Lion doth. They are also altogether like the Lion, sauing onely in the co∣lour of their haire; for the Tygre is spotted, but the Lyon is all of one colour.* 1.184 They vse to take and kill these Ty∣gres after diuers manners. For besides that, which hath beene before spoken, they poyson them with Sublimate or some other venome, mingled with flesh which is laid for them. Or els they tie young Goates at certaine lines made like snares, and fastned about the stocke of a tree, so that when the beast commeth to her pray, the en∣gine openeth it selfe, and the more the beast striueth withall, the more it is intangled, and so at last is hanged therein. Another way they haue to kill them, that is with arrowes, with Iauelins, and with Arcubuses. It is a Creature very harmeful, both to the Negroes them∣selues, and also to their flockes of sheepe and heards of cattell.* 1.185 Notwithstanding Signor Odoardo tolde me, that he had gotten one of them, that was fifteene dayes old, and he brought it vp with Goates milke: which be∣ing afterwardes growen bigger would followe him like a dogge: and although it were very tame, yet it would not willingly suffer any other to touch it besides his maister. He woulde also roare mightily, and when he was angry, his eies wold looke very terribly & fearfully. But in processe of time this Tygre killed a Dogge, belong∣ing to the house, and also a Zebra, that were very 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to their maister, and thereupon, perceiuing 〈…〉〈…〉

[illustration]

a beast it was, hee slewe it with an Arcubuse-shot. He reported moreouer, that the Mostacchios of the Ty∣gre are helde in that Region to be mortall poyson: for being giuen in meates, it procureth a man to die, as it were in a madnesse: And therefore the king doth pu∣nish all those that bring him a Tygres skinne without the Mostacchios.

There breedeth likewise in this Countrey another Creature,* 1.186 which they call a Zebra, commonly founde also in certaine Prouinces of Barbary and Africa: which although it be altogether made like a great Mule, yet is not a Mule indeed, for it beareth young ones. It hath a most singular skinne, and peculiar from all other crea∣tures. For from the ridge of the chine downe towards the bellie, it is straked with rowes of three colours, blacke, white, and browne Bay, about the breadth of three fingers a peece, and so meet againe together in a circle, euery rowe, with his owne colour. So that the necke, and the head; and the Mane (which is not great) and the eares, and all the legges are so interchaunged with these colours, and in such manner and order, as without all faile, if the first strake beginne with white, then followeth the second with blacke, & in the thirde place the Bay: & so another course beginning in white endeth still in Bay. And this rule is generally and infal∣libly obserued ouer all the body. The tayle is like the tayle of a Mule, of a Morell colour, but yet it is well co∣loured, and hath a glistring glosse. The feet like the feet of a Mule, and so are the hooffes. But touching the rest of her carriage and qualities, she is very lusty and plea∣saunt as a horse: and specially in going, and in running she is so light & so swift that it is admirable. In somuch

as in Portingale and in Castile also, it is commonly vsed (as it were for a prouerbe) As swift as a Zebra, when they will signifie an exceeding quickenes. These creatures are all wilde, they breede euery yeare, and are there in such aboundance that they are innumerable. If they were made tame, they woulde serue to runne and to drawe for the warres, and for many other good vses, as well as the best horses that are. So that Mother Nature seemeth to haue sufficiently prouided in euery country for the commodity and necessity of man, with diuers sortes of Creatures, of nourishments, and temperature of ayre, to the ende hee shoulde want nothing. And therefore they hauing no horses at all in the whole Kingdome of Congo, nor any skill to vse their oxen to the yoke, or to the packsaddle, that they might ey∣ther be drawen or carryed, nor to tame their Zebraes with bridle and saddle, or any other way to take the be∣nefite of their beastes, that might transport them from place to place:* 1.187 Euen very necessity hath taught them to vse men in steed of labouring cattel. For either they lay thēselues al along in certain Litters (as it were) or els set themselues vpright, with shadows ouer them to keepe them from the Sunne, and so they cause themselues to be carried too and fro, by their slaues, or by other men that for wages are alwaies ready at Poste-houses to that purpose. They that meane to iourney with speede, do take with them many slaues, and when the first num∣ber are weary, then do the seconde number vndertake the burden, and so successiuely chaunge one after ano∣ther, as the Tartarians and Persians vse to do with their horses: and these men being thus accustomed to these labours, (and so often chaunging) will go as fast, as any

[illustration]

[illustration]

[illustration]

[illustration]

[illustration]

[illustration]

Postilion gallop. Of all which fashions of carrying or go∣ing in iourney, we haue set down the pictures as also of the Zebra, of the apparel both of the men & women, of the souldiers, and of the Military Instrumentes or Cor∣nets.

There are also to bee founde in this countrey cer∣taine other foure-footed beastes,* 1.188 somewhat lesse then Oxen, of colour red, with hornes like Goats horns, which are very smooth and glistering, and enclining to black: whereof they make diuers prety knackes, as they doe likewise of the Buffes hornes. They haue their heades and their haires, like the heads and haires of Oxen: and their skinnes are of great estimation: & therefore they are carried into Portingall, and from thence into Germa∣ny, to be dressed, and then they are called Dantes. The king of Congo is very desirous to haue some men that had skill to cleanse them and dresse them, and to make them fit for vse, to the end hee might employ them for Armour of defence. And yet those nations doo alrea∣dy vse them for shieldes and Targats: and do find that they will resist the blowe of a weapon, and especially the shot of an Arrow. They kill them with Arcubuses and with arrowes. But if they doe espy the huntsman, they wil set vpon him, and being by nature very fierce, and couragious, they will so knocke him and thumpe him with their feete and their Muzzle (because they cannot do him any harme with their hornes) that they wil leaue him either halfe deade or starke dead. There is also an infinite number of wilde Buffes,* 1.189 that go wan∣dring about the deserts in the kingdoms of the Anzichi, and wilde Asses likewise, which the Greekes call Ona∣gri.

There are besides these, other beasts called Empalan∣ga,* 1.190 which are in bignesse and shape like Oxen, sauing that they holde their necke and heade aloft, and haue their hornes broade and crooked, three handbreadthes long, diuided into knots, and sharp at the endes, where∣of they might make very faire Cornets to sound withall: and although they liue in the forrests, yet are they not noysome nor harmefull. The skinnes of their neckes are vsed for shoo-soles, and their flesh for meate. They might likewise bee brought to drawe the plough, and doo good seruice in any other labour, and tilling of the ground. Moreouer they feed great heards of Kine, and tame Oxen,* 1.191 tame Hogges and wilde Boares, flockes of Sheepe and Goates. Signor Odoardo affirmed, that the Goates and the Sheepe doo bring forth two, and three, & foure lambes or kids at a time, and two when they haue fewest, and neuer one alone at any time. And because their pasture is so fat, they do all sucke, and milke their owne dammes, which hee proued himselfe to be true in his owne house, where hee had very great store of that Cattell.

There are Wolues also which loue the oyle of Palmes beyonde all measure,* 1.192 and haue a great sent: a propertie that Virgile attributeth to Dogges, Odora Canum vis, The smelling sent of Dogges. They will smell this oyle a farre off, and steale it in the night time out of their houses of strawe, and sometimes from those that carry it by the way, whiles the poore soules doe rest themselues and sleepe. The oyle (as shall be tolde you) is made of the Palme tree: it is thicke and harde like Butter. And it is a maruell to see, how these Wolues do take a bottle that is full of this liquor betweene their teeth, & so cast it

on their shoulders and run away withall, as our Wolues here doo with a Sheepe. There are very great store of Foxes,* 1.193 that steale Hennes as our Foxes doo. And further in this country of Bamba, there is an innumerable quan∣tity of hunting game,* 1.194 as Stagges, Fallow-Deere, Roebucks, and Gazelles, whereof he affirmed that he had seene ex∣ceeding great heardes, as also of Conies and Hares, be∣cause there were no hunters to kill them.

In the Region of Pemba there are many wilde Ciuet-Cattes,* 1.195 which the Portingales call Algazia, and some of these the people of that countrey had made tame, that they might inioy their Ciuet, in the smell whereof they doo greatly delight. But this was before the Portingals did trafficke with those Countryes. And in Manibatta there are caught many Sables,* 1.196 with very white hayres and exceeding fine, called Incire: but no man may weare these skinnes, vnlesse the Prince permit him so to do: for it is helde in great estimation, and euery Sa∣ble is worth a slaue. Towardes the Anzichi they catch Marterns also,* 1.197 wherewith they apparrell themselues, as in due place we will note vnto you.

Apes,* 1.198 Monkeyes, and such other kinde of beastes, small and great of all sortes there are many in the Regi∣on of Sogno, that lyeth vpon the Riuer Zaire. Some of them are very pleasant and gamesome, and make good pastime, and are vsed by the Lordes there for their re∣creation and to shew them sport. For although they be vnreasonable Creatures, yet will they notably coun∣terfait the countenances, the fashions, & the actions of men. In euery one of these Regions abouenamed, there are some of the aforesaid Creatures, in some places mo, and in some places fewer.

Of Adders, and Snakes in these countries there bree∣deth a certaine kinde,* 1.199 that in respect of our countryes is very straunge, and of an excessiue greatnesse. For you shall finde some that are xxv. spanne long, and fiue span broade: and the bellie and the mouth so large, that they can swallow and receiue into their bellie a whole Stag, or any other creature of that bignesse. And it is cal∣led that is to say a great Water-Adder.* 1.200 It wil go forth of the water vp to the land to prey for his victuails, and then returne into the riuers againe, and so it liueth in both the Elements. It wil get it self vp vpon the bows & braunches of trees, and there watch the cattell that feed thereaboutes, which when they are come neere vnto it, presently it will fall vpon them, and wind it selfe in many twines about them, and clappe his tayle on their hinder partes, and so it strayneth them and biteth so ma∣ny holes in them, that at last it killeth them. And then it draweth them into some woode or other solitary place, where it deuoureth them at pleasure, skinne, hornes, hooffes and all. Now it falleth out, that when it is thus full, and (as it were) great with so monstrous a meale, it becommeth almost drunke & very sleepie, so that any child may kil it. And in this sort wil it remaine full & satisfied for the space of 5. or 6. daies together, & then returne againe to prey. These Adders do change their skinnes in their ordinarie seasons, yea and some∣times after they haue eaten so monstrously, and the said sloughes, when they are found, are gathered vp and re∣serued for a shew of so vnmeasurable a Creature. These Adders are also greatly esteemed by the Pagan Negroes, for they do vse to rost them, and eate them for meat, & make more account of them then they doo of Hennes,

or any such delicate flesh. They find great store of them when they haue occasion to burne their thicke woods: for there they shall haue them lying on the ground, ro∣sted with the fire.

Besides these there are Vipers also,* 1.201 well knowne vnto that people. Which Vipers are so venemous, that such as are bitten by them doe die within the space of xxiiii. houres: But the Negroes are acquainted with certaine hearbes that will heale their woundes.

There are also certaine other Creatures,* 1.202 which be∣ing as big as Rams, haue wings like Dragons, with long tailes and long chappes, and diuerse rowes of teeth, & feede vpon raw flesh. Their colour is blew and greene, their skinne bepaynted like scales, and two feete they haue but no more. The Pagan Negroes, do vse to wor∣shippe them as Goddes, and at this day you may see di∣uers of them that are kept for a maruaile. And because they are very rare, the Chiefe Lordes there doo curi∣ously preserue them, and suffer the people to worship them, which tendeth greatly to their profite, by reason of the giftes and oblations which the people offer vnto them.

There are there also to be found Chameleons,* 1.203 which haue fower feete, and breede vpon the rockes, and liue of the winde and the aire, of the bignesse and likenesse of an Efte, with a sharpe heade, and a tayle like a sawe. They are for the most parte of the colour of the skie, but somewhat more duskie and greenish, and if you stand to looke a while vpon them, you shall see them chaunge themselues into diuers colours. They dwell much vpon high rockes and trees, to the ende they may take aire, wherewith they are nourished.

Other serpentes there are that are venemous, that carrie vpon the tippe of their taile a certaine little roundell like a bell,* 1.204 which ringeth as they go, so as it may be hearde. It may be it was there set by nature, of purpose, that people should beware of them, and it is founde by experience that these belles and the heades of the serpents are very good remedies against an ague, and against the trembling of the hart. These kindes and sortes of lande-Creatures are to be founde in these re∣gions, besides others also that are commonly to be had in other countries.

It resteth now, that we speake somewhat touching Birdes,* 1.205 and first of all of the Eastriche, because it is big∣ger then all the rest. These Eastriches are found in those partes of Sundi and of Batta, that are towardes the Mu∣zambi. The young Eastriches doo spring out of their egges, being warmed and disclosed by the eye & heate of the Sunne. Their feathers are vsed in steede of En∣signes and Banners in warre,* 1.206 mingled with some plumes of the Peacocke, and are fashioned in the likenesse of a shadowe against the Sunne. And forasmuch as I am fallen into the speech of Peacockes, I must tell you by the way, that in the partes, of Angola, there are Peacockes brought vp priuately in a certaine woode that is com∣passed about with walles: and the king will not suffer any other bodie to keepe those birdes but onely him∣selfe, because they are for the Royall Ensignes, as I tolde you before. And it is read in auncient histories of A∣lexander the Great, that he did also priuiledge this Birde, at such time as he first saw it in Europe.

There are also Indie-Cockes and Hens, and Geese, and Duckes of all sortes both wilde and tame:* 1.207 Partriches so

many as children take them with ginnes. Other birdes they haue likewise, as Pheasantes, which they call Gallig∣noles, Pigeons,* 1.208 Turtles, and of these small birdes called Becca fichi an infinite number. Birdes of prey, as Eagles-Royall, Faulcons, Gerfaulcons and Sparhaukes, and others, great store, which notwithstanding the people neuer vse to hauke withall. Birdes of the sea, as Pellicanes (for so the Portingalles do call them) white and great,* 1.209 which swimme vnder the water, and haue their throates so wide, that they will swallow a whole fish at once. This bird hath so good a stomacke, and naturally so hot, that it easily digesteth the fish that it swalloweth whole, and the skinne of it is so hoat, that the people of that coun∣trey do vse to weare them, and to warme their colde stomackes withall, and therefore make great reckoning of them.

There are many white Herons and Gray Bittours,* 1.210 that feede in the washes there, and are called Royall Birdes. Other Fowles there are of the likenesse of a Crane, with a red bill and redde feete, as bigge as Storkes, and their feathers for the most part redde and white, and some darke graye. Goodly birdes they are to looke too, and the people of the countrey doo call them Flemminges, because they doo much resemble them, and are good meat to eate.

They haue Parrattes of gray colour,* 1.211 great and very talkatiue: & others of greene colour, but they are little ones & not so talkatiue: They haue likewise certaine smal little birds, which they call Birds of Musicke, and yet greater thē the Canarie Birds, of feather & bill red: some greene, with their feet & bill only black: some all white: some gray or dunne: some all blacke, and this kinde is

more sweet in their notes then all the rest aforenamed: for you woulde thinke that they talked in their singing. Others there are of diuers colours: but they do all sing in sundrie sorts, so that the chiefe Lords of those coun∣treyes, from auncient times to this day, haue continu∣ally kept them in cages, and greatly esteemed them for their song.

Chap. 10. Of the Prouince of Sogno, which is the Countrey of the Riuer Zaire, and Loango.

THis Countrey is bounded with the Riuer Ambrize,* 1.212 towardes the North in seauen degrees and a halfe, and so tra∣uersing the Riuer Lelunda, and the Ri∣uer Zaire it endeth at the Rockes called Barreuras Vermellias, that is to say, the Redde pittes, which are in the borders of the Kingdome of Loango. In the middest of this Prouince there is a certaine Territory,* 1.213 called by the same name Sogno, where the Gouernour of the Countrey dwelleth. The chiefe Lordes that rule this Prouince are called Mani-Sogno, that is Princes of Sogno, and are commonly of the blood Royall. The Prince that gouerneth there at this day is

called Dō Diego Mani-Sogno. He hath vnder his dominiō many other petty Lords,* 1.214 & other prouinces, that in olde time were free and liued by themselues, as the people of Mombalas, situate somwhat neere to the Cittie of Congo, which are now subiect to this gouernement. And on the other side of the Riuer Zaire towardes the North is the Prouince of Palmar, that is to say of Palmes, because there is great store of Palme trees growing therein. O∣ther Lordes there are, that border vpon the King of Loango, who was sometime subiect to the King of Con∣go, but in processe of time he became a free Lord, and now professeth himselfe to be in amity with the king of Congo, but not to be this vassall. The people that are vn∣der these Lords in those borders, are called the Bramas: and they reach within land,* 1.215 vnder the Equinoctiall line towardes the East to the boundes of Anzicana, all along the Mountaines which diuide them from the Anzichi vpon the North. They are called by the people of Loan∣go, Congreamolal, because they were subiect to Congo.

In this Countrey of Loango there are many Elephants and great store of Iuory which they doo willingly ex∣chaunge for a little iron,* 1.216 so that for the naile of a shippe (be it neuer so small) they will giue a whole Elephantes tooth. The reason thereof is either because there grow∣eth no iron in that place, or els they haue not the skill to get it out of the mines where it groweth: But all the iron they can get they employ for heading of their ar∣rowes, and their other weapons, as we told you, when we spake of the Bramas.

They make great store of cloth of the Palme trees,* 1.217 whereof wee made mention before: but these are lesser and yet very fine. They haue greate aboundance of

Kine and of other cattell before named. They are in Religion Pagans: their apparell after the fashion of the people of Congo: They maintaine warre with their bordering neighbours, which are the Anzichi and the inhabitants of Anzicana, & when they enterprise warre against the Anzichi, then they craue aide of the people of Congo, and so they remaine halfe in freedome, and halfe in daunger of others. They worship what they list, and hold the Sunne for the greatest God, as though it were a man, and the Moone next, as though it were a woman. Otherwise euery man chooseth to himselfe his owne idol, and worshippeth it after his owne plea∣sure. These people would easily embrace the Christi∣an Religion: For many of them, that dwell vpon the borders of Congo haue beene conuerted to Christen∣dome: and the rest, for want of Priestes and of such as should instruct them in true religion, do remaine stil in their blindnes.

Chap. 11. Of the third Prouince called Sundi.

THis Prouince of Sundi is the nee∣rest of all to the Citty of Congo, called Citta di San-Saluatore,* 1.218 the Citty of Saint Sauiours, and be∣ginneth about 40. miles distant from it, and quite out of the ter∣ritory thereof, and reacheth to

the riuer Zaire, and so ouer the same to the other side where the Caduta or Fall is, which wee mentioned be∣fore: and then holdeth on vpwardes on both sides to∣wards the North, bordering vpon Anzicana and the An∣zichi. Towardes the South it goeth along the said riuer Zaire, vntill you come to the meeting of it with the Ri∣uer Bancare, and all along the bankes thereof, euen to the rootes of the mountaine of Christall.* 1.219 In the bounds of the Prouince of Pango, it hath her principall Terri∣tory, where the Gouernour lyeth, who hath his name from the Prouince of Sundi, and is seated about a daies iourney neere to the Fall of the Riuer, towardes the South.

This Prouince is the chiefest of all the rest,* 1.220 and (as it were) the Patrimony of all the kingdome of Congo: and therefore it is alwaies gouerned by the Kinges eldest Sonne, and by those Princes that are to succeede him. As it fell out in the time of their first Christian King, that was called Don Iohn: whose eldest sonne, that was Gouernour here succeeded him, and was called Don Alfonso. And euer sithence, the Kinges of Congo haue successiuely continued this custome, to consigne this Gouernement to those Princes which are to succeede in the kingdome: As did the king that nowe is called Don Aluaro, who was in this Gouernment before Don Aluaro the King his father died,* 1.221 and was called Mani-Sundi.

And here by the way you must note, that in all the Kingdome of Congo there is not any person, that posses∣seth any proper goodes of his owne, whereof hee may dispose, and leaue to his heyres: but all is the Kinges, & he distributeth all offices, all goodes, and all landes, to

whomsoeuer it pleaseth him. Yea and to this law, euen the Kinges owne sonnes are subiect. So that if any man do not pay his tribute yearely (as hee ought) the King taketh away his Gouernement from him, and gi∣ueth it to another. As it happened to the king that now liueth, who at the time that Signor Odoardo was at the Courte, being of his owne nature very liberall, and bountifull beyond measure, and one that bestowed much vpon his seruants, could not discharge those im∣positions that the king had layed on him. Whereupon he was by the king depriued of his reuenews, of his go∣uernement, and of his royall fauour, that is to say in that language, hee was Tombocado, as we will declare more at full in the seconde part of this discourse.

Many Lords there are that are subiect to the Gouer∣nour or Sundi. The people do trafficke with their neigh∣bour Countries,* 1.222 felling and bartering diuers things. As for example, falt, & clothes of sundry colours, brought from the Indies, and from Portingale, and Luma•••••••••• to serue for their coine. And for these commodities they doo exchaunge cloth of Palme trees, and Iuory, and the skinnes of Sables and Marternes, and certaine girdles wrought of the leaues of Palme trees, which are great∣ly esteemed in those partes.

There groweth in these countries great store of Chri∣stall, and diuers kinds of mettall: but Iron they loue a∣boue all the rest, saying that the other mettalles are to no vse: for with Iron they can make kniues, and wea∣pons, and hatchers, and such like instruments, that are necessary and profitable for the vse of mans nature.

Chap. 12. Of the fourth Prouince called Pango.

THe Prouince of Pango in aunci∣ent time was a free kingdome,* 1.223 that was gouerned of it selfe, & bordereth on the North vppon Sundi, on the South vpon Batta, on the West vpon the Countie of Congo, and on the East, vpon the mountaines of the Sunne. The principal Territory,* 1.224 where the Gouernours dwel∣ling is, hath the same name that the Prouince hath, viz. Pango. It standeth vpon the Westerne side of the Ri∣uer Barbela, and in olde time was called Pangue-lungos, and in time afterwardes the worde was corrupted and chaunged into Pango. Through the middest of this Prouince runneth the riuer Berbela, which fetcheth his originall from the great Lake (whence the riuer Nilus also taketh his beginning) and from another lesser Lake called Achelunda, and so dischargeth it selfe into Zaire.

And although this be the least Countrey of all the rest, yet doth it yeeld no lesse tribute then the rest.

This Prouince was conquered after the Countrey of Sundi, and made subiect to the Princes of Congo: and is now all one with it, both in speech and manners, nei∣ther is there any difference at all betweene them.* 1.225 The present Gouernour thereof is called Don Francesco Ma∣ni-Pango, and is descended from the most auncient no∣bilitie of all the Lordes of Congo: and in all consultati∣ons touching the State he is sent for, because he is nowe an olde man, and of great wisedome. For hee hath re∣mained in the gouernment of this region for the space of fiftie yeares, and no man euer complained of him, neither did the king at any time take his gouernement from him.

The trafficke of this Prouince is like the trafficke of Sundi.

Chap. 13. Of the fift Prouince called Batta.

THe boundes of this Prouince are towards the North,* 1.226 the Countrey of Pango: on the East it taketh quite ouer the Riuer Barbela, and reacheth to the Mountaines of the Sunne, and to the foote of the

Mountaines of Sal-Nitre. And on the South from the said Mountains, by a line passing through the meeting of the riuers Barbela and Cacinga, to the mountaine Brus∣ciato, that is to say Scorched.

Within these boundes is Batta contayned,* 1.227 and the Principall Cittie, where the Prince dwelleth, is likewise called Batta. In auncient time it was called Aghirimba, but afterwardes the word was corrupted, and it is now called Batta. It was in old time a very strong and a great Kingdome, & voluntarily of it selfe, without any war it ioyned it selfe with the kingdome of Congo, peraduen∣ture because there was some dissention among their Lords:* 1.228 and therefore it hath more preheminence then the rest of the Prouinces of the kingdome of Congo, in priuiledges and liberties. For the Gouernment of Batta is alwaies assigned to one, that is of the bloode of the Kings of that countrey at their choise and pleasure, ha∣uing no more respect to one then to another, so that he be of the stocke and bloud Royall, neyther to the eldest sonne nor to the second. Neither yet goeth this Go∣uernement by inheritaunce, but the king of Congo (as is told you before) doth dispose it at his own pleasure to whō he thinketh best, to the end they shold not vsurpe it by way of succession, or by rebellion. Hee dwelleth neerer the king then any other Gouernour or Lorde of the kingdom of Congo, & is the secōd person therin, nei∣ther may any man gainsay his arguments & reasons, as they may any of the rest, for it is so decreede among them. Nowe if the line of the king of Congo should chaunce to faile, so that there were none of that blood to succeed,* 1.229 the succession shall fall vpon the gouernour of Batta. Hee that now gouerneth there, is called Don

Pedro Mani-Batta.

Sometimes he eateth at the kinges owne table, but yet in a baser seat then the kinges seat is, and that also not sitting, but standing, which is not graunted to any other Lord of Congo, no nor to the sons of the king him∣selfe. His Court and his traine is little lesse then the Court & traine of the king of Congo. For he hath Trom∣pets and Drummes and other instrumentes going before him, as becommeth a Prince, and by the Portingalles he is commonly called the Prince of Batta, because (as it is said) if the succession shoulde faile in the bloode of the kinges of Congo, the empire of the whole kingdome must light vpon some one of this stocke.

Hee doth holde continuall warres with the Pagans that border vpon him: and hee is able to gather toge∣ther about 70. or 80. thousand fighting men. And be∣cause hee doth still mayntaine warre with the people that are next him,* 1.230 he hath liberty graunted vnto him to entertaine Arcubusiers, that shall bee of his owne natu∣rall subiectes. For the king of Congo will not suffer any other Gouernour of any other Prouinces, nor any of their children, to haue any Arcubusiers, that are borne within their Countrey, but onely the Portingalles. Sig∣nor Odoardo demaunding once of the King, why he did not giue leaue to his other Gouernours to retaine shot about them: the King aunswered, that if peraduenture they should rebell against him with a thousand, or two thousande Arcubusiers, he should not haue any possi∣bility to make them resistance.

And forasmuch as wee haue told you,* 1.231 that the King hath graunted licence, onely to the prince of Batta, to entertaine Arcubusiers in his owne countrey, it is fitte

you should vnderstand, that hee doth it vpon very ne∣cessary occasion. For towardes the East of Batta, be∣yond the mountaines of the Sunne, and of Sal-Nitre, vp∣on the bankes of the East and West of the riuer Nilus, & in the borders of the Empire of Mohenhe-Muge there liueth a nation,* 1.232 which by the people of Congo, are called Giaquas, but in their own language they are called Agag: Very fierce they are and warlicke, much giuen to fight and pillage, and make continuall inroades into the Countries neere adioyning, and sometimes among the rest into the Prouince of Batta. So that this Countrey must needes be in continuall Armes, and stande vpon good guarde, and maintaine Arcubusiers to defende themselues from them.

The Prince of Batta hath many Lordes vnder him: and the naturall people of this Prouince are called Mon∣sobos,* 1.233 and their language is well vnderstoode by the in∣habitants of Congo. They are farre more rude and ru∣sticall then the Moci-Conghi, and the slaues that are brought from thence, doo proue more obstinate and stubborne, then those that come from other Coun∣tries.

Their trafficke is the same, that the trafficke of the other countreyes are,* 1.234 whereof we haue last intreated. And the profite which the king receyueth from Batta, amounteth to double asmuch, as he receiueth out of a∣ny two of the other Prouinces before mentioned.

Chap. 14. Of the sixt and last Prouince called Pemba.

THe Prouince of Pemba is seated in the heart and middle of the King∣dome of Congo,* 1.235 compassed and comprised within the boundes before described, whose Gouer∣uernour is called Don Antonio Mani-Pemba,* 1.236 seconde sonne to King Don Aluaro, that dead is, and brother to the king that raygneth at this present. And forasmuch as his father did loue him dearely, he assigned vnto him this Gouernement, because he knew not what better thing to giue him, sauing the Realme it selfe: which in deed he would willingly haue bestowed on him, for that he was more like vnto him in quality & nature then his el∣dest son was. But it would not be by reason of the lawe of the Kingdome, which wold not haue yeelded there∣vnto.

This countrey is the very Center and middest of all the state of Congo, and the originall of all the auncient Kings, and the Territorie where they were borne, and the chiefe and principall seat of all the other Prouinces

and Principalities. And therefore the chiefe and roy∣all Citty of all that Empire is assigned to this Prouince,* 1.237 whereof we will heareafter deliuer you a full informa∣tion. The Gouernour of Pemba dwelleth in a Terri∣torie of the same name, situate at the foote of the Scor∣ched Mountaine, along the Riuer Loze, which riseth out of the Lake, and runneth through the Region of Bamba into the sea.

The Courtiers, and Lordes, and seruitors belong∣ing to the king of Congo,* 1.238 haue their goods and possessi∣ons, and reuenewes in this Prouince, because it is nee∣rest to the Court, & very conuenient for the conueigh∣ing of their victuailes, and their other stuffe vnto the Court. Some of these Lordes, in that parte specially, that bordereth vpon the aforesaid Prouince of Bamba, haue much a doo to keep fight and defende themselues from the people of Quizama, because they are neerest vnto them. For this people (as wee tolde you) did rebell against the king of Congo, and reuolted from him, and doe professe that they will bee at libertie, and go∣uerned of themselues.

And here will we end the first booke,* 1.239 which con∣sisteth of the description of the kingdome of Congo in generall, and of his borders, and in particular of all the sixe Prouinces thereof. Now it remayneth that wee proceede forwarde to the second booke:* 1.240 Wherein we will treate of the situation of the Cittie of Congo, and of the Territorie therevnto belonging, of the first chri∣stening of the king, of his manners, of his Court and of other conditions appertayning to the politicke and militarie Gouernment of these people. And afterward we will describe vnto you the kingdomes neere ad∣ioyning,

and all the regions thereaboutes towardes the South, euen till you come to the Cape of Good Hope, and the riuers and countries of the Ocean that is right a∣gainst India: and within land the kingdomes of Presbi∣ter Iohn, touching also by the way the spring and original of Nilus, and the causes of his won∣derful encrease, which sundry fooles doe account to bee a Miracle.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Anno Dom. 1578.
• * 1.2

  Patache 1. a Brigandine or a Pinnisse.
• * 1.3

  The Island of Madera.
• * 1.4

  The Canaries.
• * 1.5

  Isle of S. An∣thony.
• * 1.6

  Isle of S. Iames
• * 1.7

  The Islandes of Capo verde.
• * 1.8

  Two waies from S. Iacopo to Loanda.
• * 1.9

  The first way.
• * 1.10

  The Antarctik is the South Pole.
• * 1.11

  Isle of S. Elena.
• * 1.12

  The commo∣dities of S. Elena.
• * 1.13

  Woode.
• * 1.14

  Vine trees
• * 1.15

  Fruites.
• * 1.16

  Odysi. H.
• * 1.17

  Victuailes.
• * 1.18

  The Soyle.
• * 1.19

  Rootes and hearbes.
• * 1.20

  Riuers.
• * 1.21

  Fishe.
• * 1.22

  Why the Is∣land of S. Elena is not fortified
• * 1.23

  This slaunde∣rous terme v∣sed here by this Portugal, cannot im∣peach the cre∣dite of these two honoura∣ble gentlemen
• * 1.24

  The Climate.
• * 1.25

  The Port of Loanda.
• * 1.26

  The seconde course of say∣ling to Loāda. The Isle of S. Thomas.
• * 1.27

  The Hauen of S. Thomas.
• * 1.28

  The Isle of the Prince.
• * 1.29

  The Isle of S. Thomas. Great traffick.
• * 1.30

  Sugar. Churches. A Castell.
• * 1.31

  Ginger.
• * 1.32

  70. houses to make sugar in.
• * 1.33

  The Riuer & Island of Fer∣nando Poo.
• * 1.34

  R, Bora. La Riuierae del Campo.
• * 1.35

  R. di San. Be∣nedetto.
• * 1.36

  R di Angra. The Isle of Corisco.
• * 1.37

  The Cape of Lupo Gonzale.
• * 1.38

  Zaire the grea∣test Riuer of Congo.
• * 1.39

  The situation of Congo.
• * 1.40

  The tempera∣ture of the kingdome.
• * 1.41

  The complex∣ion of the people.
• * 1.42

  Small diffe∣rence between their, daies & nightes.
• * 1.43

  Their winter & sommer.
• * 1.44

  The winds in this Country, in winter time.
• * 1.45

  The cause of the encrease of Nilus, and other riuers in Ethiopia.
• * 1.46

  The Riuer Nigir or Se∣nega, runneth westwarde.
• * 1.47

  Nilus run∣neth north∣warde.
• * 1.48

  It neuer ray∣neth in Egypt but onely in Alexandria.
• * 1.49

  Their winds in sommer time.
• * 1.50

  No Snow nor ice in Ethiopia or Congo.
• * 1.51

  The true cause of white & blacke in the bodies of the inhabi∣tantes of these countries.
• * 1.52

  The westerne border of Congo. The Bay of Cowes.
• * 1.53

  The Riuer Bengleli.
• * 1.54

  The R. Son
• * 1.55

  The R. Coāza
• * 1.56

  The Island of Loanda.
• * 1.57

  The money of Congo.
• * 1.58

  The Lumache of Loanda.
• * 1.59

  Spirito Santo.
• * 1.60

  The tree Eu∣zanda.
• * 1.61

  Their Boates.
• * 1.62

  Shelfishes.
• * 1.63

  Ambiziama∣tare.
• * 1.64

  What kind of money is vsed in sundry countries.
• * 1.65

  Certaine Islettes.
• * 1.66

  Great store of Whales
• * 1.67

  Amber com∣meth not from the Whales.
• * 1.68

  The hauen of Loanda.
• * 1.69

  Villa di San Paulo.
• * 1.70

  Store of fish.
• * 1.71

  The R. Bengo.
• * 1.72

  The R. Dande
• * 1.73

  The R. Lembe.
• * 1.74

  The R. Ozone.
• * 1.75

  The R. Loze.
• * 1.76

  The R. Am∣briz
• * 1.77

  The L. Lelun∣da.
• * 1.78

  The Oteiro of Congo.
• * 1.79

  The R. Zaire.
• * 1.80

  Certaine Is∣landes.
• * 1.81

  Boates.
• * 1.82

  The tree Li∣condo.
• * 1.83

  The Isle of Horses.
• * 1.84

  The hauen of Pinda.
• * 1.85

  Crocodiles. Water-horses.
• * 1.86

  Hogge-fish.
• * 1.87

  Cacongo, a fish like a Salmon.
• * 1.88

  La Baia de las Almadias.
• * 1.89

  The R. de las Barreras Ver∣meglias.
• * 1.90

  Baya d' Aluaro Gonzales.
• * 1.91

  Capo di Cate∣rina.
• * 1.92

  The Northren border of Congo.
• * 1.93

  The Bramas.
• * 1.94

  The kingdom of Loango.
• * 1.95

  The people of Loango cir∣cumcised.
• * 1.96

  Their armour, Empachias▪
• * 1.97

  The countrey of Anzicos.
• * 1.98

  Sanders.
• * 1.99

  Medicines for the French Pockes.
• * 1.100

  For the heade¦ache.
• * 1.101

  Their Bowes.
• * 1.102

  Their arrows.
• * 1.103

  Their weapons
• * 1.104

  The nature of the Anzicos▪
• * 1.105

  Their mar∣chandise.
• * 1.106

  The Anzichi are circumci∣sed and mar∣ked in their faces.
• * 1.107

  A shambles of mans flesh.
• * 1.108

  A strange beastly cu∣stome.
• * 1.109

  Their apparel.
• * 1.110

  Their lan∣guage.
• * 1.111

  The Easterne border of Congo.
• * 1.112

  The moun∣taine of Chry∣stall.
• * 1.113

  The moun∣taines of the Sunne.
• * 1.114

  The moun∣tains of Sal-Nitrum.
• * 1.115

  The arte of making Silkes in this Eastern Coast.
• * 1.116

  The Riuer Nilus.
• * 1.117

  The Southern Coast.
• * 1.118

  The moun∣tain of Siluer.
• * 1.119

  The K. of Matama.
• * 1.120

  The K. of Angola.
• * 1.121

  Iohn the se∣cond, K. of Portingall, first brought chri∣stianity into Congo.
• * 1.122

  Paulo Diaz the first disco∣uerer of this trafficke.
• * 1.123

  Don Sebastian K. of Portin∣gall.
• * 1.124

  Paulo Diaz buildeth a house in Anzelle
• * 1.125

  The authour calleth him Lord, because he was then but a petty king.
• * 1.126

  Paulo Diaz in armes a∣gainst the K. of Angola.
• * 1.127

  P. Diaz de∣mandeth suc∣cour of the K. of Congo.
• * 1.128

  The millitary order of the people of Congo.
• * 1.129

  How the soul∣diers doo vn∣derstand the pleasure of their Generall.
• * 1.130

  Three kinds of instru∣ments vsed in their wars.
• * 1.131

  The vse of these instru∣ments.
• * 1.132

  The Millitary apparell of the better sort.
• * 1.133

  Their weapōs.
• * 1.134

  The Military apparell of the meaner sort.
• * 1.135

  The issue of this battell.
• * 1.136

  P. Diaz at Luiola.
• * 1.137

  The hilles of Cabambe.
• * 1.138

  The weapons of the people of Angola.
• * 1.139

  Their military actions.
• * 1.140

  They are giuē to diuination by birdes.
• * 1.141

  Why so small a number, as Paulo Diaz, had with him, was able to re∣sist so huge an armie of the K. of Angola.
• * 1.142

  The Kingdom of Angola ve∣ry populous.
• * 1.143

  The commo∣dities of An∣gola.
• * 1.144

  A Dogge solde for 220. duc∣cates.
• * 1.145

  The money of Angola,
• * 1.146

  The Religion of Angola.
• * 1.147

  The language of the people of Angola.
• * 1.148

  The rest of the Kingdome of Angola descri∣bed.
• * 1.149

  Copo Negro. 1. The blacke Cape.
• * 1.150

  Monti Freddi 1. the cold mountaines.
• * 1.151

  The moun∣ainest of Chri∣stall.
• * 1.152

  The West cō∣taineth 375. miles.
• * 1.153

  The North 540.
• * 1.154

  The East 500,
• * 1.155

  The South. 360.
• * 1.156

  The kingdom of Congo con∣tayneth in cō∣passe, 1685. miles.
• * 1.157

  In breadth 600. miles.
• * 1.158

  The title or stile of the King of Congo
• * 1.159

  The first pro∣uince is Bam∣ba, and the de∣scription of it. Sebastian chief Gouernour of Bamba, and those that rule vnder him.
• * 1.160

  Mani what it signifieth.
• * 1.161

  The Confines of Bamba,
• * 1.162

  The country of Quizama.
• * 1.163

  Bamba the principall Prouince of all Congo.
• * 1.164

  Bamba yeeld∣eth for a need 400000 men of warre
• * 1.165

  Panza the principall Ci∣ty of Bamba.
• * 1.166

  Mines of Sil∣uer and other mettalles.
• * 1.167

  Valiāt, migh∣tie & strong men in Bāba.
• * 1.168

  Certain crea∣tures in Bam∣ba Prouince. Elephantes.
• * 1.169

  An Elephantes foot 4. spanne broad.
• * 1.170

  You may find hereby what the bignes of the whole Ele∣phant was▪ if you will vse the Arte of Proportion, as Pithagoras did by the foot of Hercules, Aul. Gelltus lib. 1. Cap. 10.
• * 1.171

  The Elephant liueth 150. yeares.
• * 1.172

  An Elephants tooth of 200. waight.
• * 1.173

  Certain haires in the Ele∣phants taile, very precious.
• * 1.174

  An errour of ancient wri∣ters.
• * 1.175

  The manner of the Elephāts feeding.
• * 1.176

  The Shee-Ele∣phant.
• * 1.177

  The Elephants skinne.
• * 1.178

  The manner of taking the Elephantes.
• * 1.179

  A straunge effect of Na∣ture.
• * 1.180

  The nature of the Elephant.
• * 1.181

  Rinoceros.
• * 1.182

  Lyons.
• * 1.183

  Tygres.
• * 1.184

  The manner of taking the tame Tygres.
• * 1.185

  A tame Ty∣ger.
• * 1.186

  The Zebra▪
• * 1.187

  The manner of the carry∣ing of the Moci-Conghi.
• * 1.188

  The Dantes
• * 1.189

  Wilde Buffes, Wilde Asses.
• * 1.190

  Empalanga▪
• * 1.191

  Other fruitful Cattell.
• * 1.192

  Wolues.
• * 1.193

  Foxes.
• * 1.194

  Hunting game.
• * 1.195

  In Pembae, Ci∣uet Cattes,
• * 1.196

  In Batta, Sa∣bles.
• * 1.197

  In Anziguâ Marternes.
• * 1.198

  In Sogno, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and Monkeyes.
• * 1.199

  Adders and Snakes of a huge scantling
• * 1.200

  The Author doth not set downe the name.
• * 1.201

  Vipers.
• * 1.202

  Another strange crea∣ture.
• * 1.203

  Chamelions.
• * 1.204

  A straunge Serpent.
• * 1.205

  The Eastrich.
• * 1.206

  Peacocks.
• * 1.207

  Fowles of diuers sorts.
• * 1.208

  Birds of prey.
• * 1.209

  Birdes of the sea.
• * 1.210

  Other kinds of foule.
• * 1.211

  Parrats. Birdes of mu∣sicke.
• * 1.212

  The second Prouince Sog∣no, and the de∣scription thereof.
• * 1.213

  Sogno the chief towne of this Prouince.
• * 1.214

  Don Diego chiefe Gouer∣nour of Sogno, & those that rule vnder him.
• * 1.215

  The Bramas.
• * 1.216

  The commo∣dities of Sogno
• * 1.217

  The manner of the life of the inhabi∣tants.
• * 1.218

  The third pro∣uince Sundi, & the description thereof:
• * 1.219

  The chiefe towne of Sun∣di.
• * 1.220

  This prouince of Sundi is alwaies gouer∣ned by the heire apparent of the K. of Congo.
• * 1.221

  In al the king∣dome of Con∣go, no man hath any thing of his owne whereof hee may dispose, or 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.222

  The manner of y^e life of Sū∣di inhabitants
• * 1.223

  The fourth prouince Pan∣go, and the de∣scription ther∣of.
• * 1.224

  Pāgo the chief town of this Prouince.
• * 1.225

  Don Francisco chiefe Gouer∣nour of Pango
• * 1.226

  The fift Pro¦uince Batta & the descrip∣tion thereof.
• * 1.227

  Batta the chiefe towne of all Batta.
• * 1.228

  The Preemi∣nence of the Gouernour of Batta.
• * 1.229

  Don Pedro chiefe Gouer∣nour of Batta.
• * 1.230

  The K. of Cō∣go wil not suf∣fer any natural borne subiect in Congo, to haue an Arcu∣buse.
• * 1.231

  The reason why the K. of Congo permit∣teth Mani-Batta to haue Arcubusiers in his Prouince.
• * 1.232

  The Giac••••••▪
• * 1.233

  The conditi∣ons of the people of Batta.
• * 1.234

  Their traffick.
• * 1.235

  The sixt Pro∣uince Pemba, and the situa∣tion thereof.
• * 1.236

  Don Antonio cheife Gouer∣nor of Pemba.
• * 1.237

  The chiefe Cittie of all Congo is situate in this pro∣uince of Pēba,
• * 1.238

  The Courtiers &c. dwel for the most part in Pemba.
• * 1.239

  Conclusion of this booke.
• * 1.240

  The contents of the seconde booke.