Relations of the most famous kingdomes and common-wealths thorowout the world discoursing of their situations, religions, languages, manners, customes, strengths, greatnesse, and policies. Translated out of the best Italian impression of Boterus. And since the last edition by R.I. now once againe inlarged according to moderne observation; with addition of new estates and countries. Wherein many of the oversights both of the author and translator, are amended. And unto which, a mappe of the whole world, with a table of the countries, are now newly added.

What people inhabit Africke.

FIve severall Nations inhabit this part of the World, (viz.) the Caseres, that is, people without Law: the Moores, the Abussines, the Aegyptians, the Arabians, and the Africans; whereof some are white and some blacke. In Religion some are likewise Gentiles, and worship Idols, some Mahumetans, some Christians, and some Iewes. All which Nations some Writers will have derived from Cham the Sonne of Noe, excepting some certaine Arabians of the feed of Sem, which entred Africke after the residue. And these Arabians are distinguished into many Families or Re∣giments, use diverse and many habitations, and possesse as many Regions; some dwelling by the Sea-side (properly termed Arabians;) some in the Up-land, and they are cal∣led Badium: Others in innumerable swarmes leade a ro∣guish life with their Wives and Children in the Wildernesse, dwelling in Tents instead of Houses, altogether given ro∣spoile, and alike infestuous to neighbour and traveller; which is the cause that the Inhabitants dare not travell a∣lone, but stay the time of the Caravan; that is, the whole assembly of the Merchants, travelling upon Camels and Asses all in one company at a set time of the yeare, for feare of the theevish and roguish Arabians.

As the Nations are diverse, so are their languages: the chiefe they call Aqu••lamarig, that is, the rob••e Language; and of the Arabians inhabiting Africa, the Barbarian Lan∣guage. And this is the true and proper Idiome of the Af••, utterly differing from the residue, save that it favoureth of many Arabicke words. The Gnabets, Zombati, Ghinians, the Mellidi and Gagonti use the Sungai Language. The Gu∣barits, Canontes, Chesenes, and the other blacke-Moores use the G••ber tongue. The Abassines have their proper speech. Moreover, the Chaldean, Aegyptian, and Arabian tongues, with another compounded of all three, are in use in some pla∣ces: and by the intercourse of Merchants, many are ac∣customed

to speake the Moorish, Turkish, Spanish, and Itali∣an Languages. All the Sea-Townes, from the Mediterran to Mount Atlas, speake the Arabian corruptly, except the Kingdome and Citie of Marocco, which wholly speake the Barbarian.

The noblest part at this day is called Barbarie, and contai∣neth all that Sea-tract which reacheth from Aegypt to the Ga∣ditan Sea, inhabited by the Arabians, and including divers Provinces. At first, it was under the Empire of the Greekes; secondly, under the Vandals; and lastly, under the Saracens and Arabians, who left them their language. Some part there∣of at this day is subject to the Turke, some to Xeriffe, and some to the King of Spaine.

Their manners are not so much differing from those of the Arabians, but that they are somewhat more civill, ambitious, light, subtill, treacherous, wrathfull, boasters, suspitious, and exceeding jealous. They are very active and readie Horse∣men, but not able to indure labour.