The decades of the newe worlde or west India conteynyng the nauigations and conquestes of the Spanyardes, with the particular description of the moste ryche and large landes and ilandes lately founde in the west ocean perteynyng to the inheritaunce of the kinges of Spayne. ... Wrytten in the Latine tounge by Peter Martyr of Angleria, and translated into Englysshe by Rycharde Eden.

¶ Betwene Gomera and Cape de las Barbas.

THe .xxii. day of Nouember vnder the Tropike of Cancer, the soonne goeth downe west and by south.

Upon the coast of Barberie xxv. leaques by north cape blanke at .iii. leaques of the mayne,* 1.1* 1.2 there is .xv. fadome and good shelly grounde and sande amonge, and no stremes, and two smaule Ilandes standyng in the .xxii. degrees and a t••r••e.

From Gomera to cape de las Barbas is a hūdreth leaques and owr course was south and by east. The sayde cape stan∣deth in .xxii. and a halfe: and all that coaste is starte .xvi. or xvii. fadome deepe, vii. or .viii. leaques of frome the ryuer de Oro to cape de las Barbas,* 1.3 there vse many Spanyardes and Portugales to trade for fysshynge durynge the mooneth of Nouember: and all that coast is very lowe landes. Also wee went from cape de las Barbas southsouthwest and southwest and by south ••yll we brought owre selues in .xx. degrees and a halfe, rekenynge owr selues .vii. leaques of: and that was the least sholes of cape Blanke.

Then we went south vntyll we browght owre selues in xiii. degrees, rekenynge owre selues .xxv. leaques of. And in xv. degrees, we dyd reere the crossiers:* 1.4 and we myght haue rered them sooner if we had loked for theym. They are not ryghte a crosse in the moonethe of Nouember by reason the nyghtes are shorte there. Neuerthelesse we had the syght of them the .xxix. day of the sayde mooneth at nyght.

The fyrst of December owte .xiii. degrees, we sette owre course south and by East vntyll the fourth daye of December at .xii. of the clocke the same day. Then we were in .ix. de∣grees and a terce, rekenynge owr selues .xxx. leaques of the sholes of the ryuer cauled Rio Grande beinge west southweste of them:* 1.5 The which sholes be .xxx. leaques longe.

The fourth of December, we beganne to sette owre cours•• southeaste, we beinge in .vi. degrees and a halfe.

The ninth day of December we set owr course east southeast

The .xiiii. day of the sayde mooneth, we set owre cours•• east, we beinge in .v. degrees and a halfe, rekenynge owre selues .xxxvi. leaques from the coast of Guinea.

The .xix. day of the sayde mooneth, we sette owre course east and by north, rekenynge owr selues .xvii. leaques distan•• from cape Mensurado,* 1.6 the sayde cape beinge east northeast of vs, and the ryuer of Sesto beinge east.* 1.7

The .xxi. day of the sayde mooneth we fel with cape Me¦surado to the southeast abowt two leaques of. This ca••e may be easely knowen, by reason the rysynge of it is lyke a por∣pose hedde. Also towarde the southeast there are three trees, wherof the eastermost tree is the hyghest, and the myddlemost is lyke a heye stacke, and the southermost lyke vnto a iebet: and vppon the mayne, are foure or fyue hygh hylles rysynge one after an other lyke round hoommockes or hyllockes. And the southeast of the three trees, is thre trees lyke a brandier∣wyse: and all the coaste alonge is whyte sande. The sayd•• cape standeth within a lyttle in .vi. degrees.

The .xxii. of. December, we came to the ryuer of Sesto, and remayned there vntyll the .xxix. day of the sayde moneth Here we thought it best to sende before vs the pynne••••e to th•• ryuer of Dulce cauled Rio Dulce, that they myght haue the begynnynge of the market before the commynge of the Iohn.

At the ryuer of Sesto,* 1.8 we had a toonne of graynes. This ryuer standeth in .vi. degrees lackynge a terce. From the ry∣uer of Sesto to Rio Dulce,* 1.9 is .xxv. leaques. Rio Dulce stan¦deth in .v. degrees and a halfe. The ryuer of Sesto is easy to bee knowen by reason there is a ledge of rockes on the south∣east parte of the rode. And at the enterynge into the hauen, are fyue or syxe trees that beare no leaues. This is a good har¦borowe: but very narrowe at the enteraunce into the ryuer. There is also a rocke in the hauen mouth right as yow enter. And all that coast betwene cape de Monte and cape de las Palmas,* 1.10 lyeth southeast and by east, northwest and by weste, beinge three leaques of the shore. And yow shall haue in sum places rockes two leaques of: and that betwene the ryuer of Sesto and cape de las Palmas.* 1.11

Betwene the ryuer of Sesto and the riuer Dulce, is .xxv. leaques. And the hygh lande that is betwene them bothe, is cauled Cakeado,* 1.12 beinge .viii. leaques from the ryuer of Sesto. And to the southeastwarde of hym, is a place cauled Shaw∣gro and an other cauled Shyawe or Shauo,* 1.13 where yow may get fresshe water. Of this Shyawe, lyeth a ledge of rockes: and to the Southeastwarde, lyeth a hed lande cauled Croke.* 1.14 Betwene Cakeado and Croke, is .ix. or .x. leaques. To the Southeastwarde of, is a harborowe cauled saynte Uincent. Ryght ouer ageynst saynt Uincent, is a rocke vnder the wa∣ter, two leaques and a halfe of the shore. To the southeast∣warde of that rocke,* 1.15 yow shall see an Ilande abowt three or foure leaques of. This Ilande is not paste a leaque of the shore. To the east southeast of the Ilande, is a rocke that ly∣eth aboue the water: and by that rocke goeth in the ryuer of Dulce,* 1.16 which yow shall knowe by the sayde ryuer and rocke. The northwest syde of the hauen, is flat sande: and the south east syde therof, is lyke an Ilande and a bare plot••e without any trees, and so is it not many other place.

In the rode, yow shall ryde in .xiii. or .xiiii. fadomes, good owes and sande, beinge the markes of the rode to bring the Ilande and the northwest lande togyther. And here wee ankered the last of December.

The thyrde day of Ianuary, we came from the ryuer of Dulce.

Note that cape de las Palmas is a fayre high land.* 1.17 But summe lowe places therof by the water syde, looke like redde cliffes with white strakes like wayes a cable length a piece. And this is to the East parte of the cape. This cape is the southermost lande in all the coast of Guinea:* 1.18 And standeth in foure degrees and a terce.

The coast from cape de las Palmas to cape Trepoyntes or de tres Puntas,* 1.19 is fayre and cleare without rocke or other daungiour.

xxv. leaques from cape de las Palmas, the lande is high∣er then in any place vntyll we came to cape Trepoyntes And abowt .x. leaques before yow comme to cape Trepointes, th•• lande ryseth styll hygher and hygher vntyll yow come to cap•• Trepoyntes. Also before yowe coomme to the sayde cape af∣ter other fiue leaques to the northwest parte of it, there is cer∣teyne

broken grounde with twoo greate rockes: and within them in the byght of a bay, is a castel cauled Arra,* 1.20 perteyning to the kynge of Portugale. Yow shall knowe it by the sayde rockes that lye of it: For there is none such from cape de las Palmas to cape Trepoyntes. This coaste lyeth easte and by north, west and by south. From cape de las Palmas to the sayde castell, is foure score and xv. leaques. And the coaste lyeth from the sayde castell to the Westermoste poynte of the Trepoyntes, southeast and by south, northwest and by north Also the Westermost poynt of the Trepointes, is a lowe lande lyinge halfe a myle owt in the sea: and vppon the innermoste necke to the landwarde, is a tufte of trees, and there we arry¦ued the .xi. day of Ianuary

The .xii. day of Ianuary, we came to a towne cauled Sam¦ma or Samua,* 1.21 beinge .viii. leaques from cape Trepoyntes to¦ward east northeast. Betwene cape Trepointes and the towne of Samua, is a great ledge of rockes a great way owt in the sea. Wee continued foure dayes at that towne: and the capi¦tayne therof wolde needes haue a pledge a shore. But when they receaued the pledge,* 1.22 they k••nte hym styl and wolde traf¦fike no more, but shot of theyr ordinaunce at vs. They haue two or three pieces of ordinaunce and no more.

The .xvi. day of the sayde mooneth, we made rekenynge to come to a place cauled cape Corea where capitayne Don Iohn dw••lleth,* 1.23 whose men interteyned vs frendly. This cape Corea is foure leaques eastwarde of the castell of Mina,* 1.24 otherwyse cauled La Mina, or Castello de Mina, where we arriued the .xviii. day of the mooneth. Here we made sale of al owr cloth sauynge two or three packes.

The .xxvi. day of the same mooneth, we weyd anker and departed from thense to the Trinitie which was .vii. leaques eastwarde of vs where she solde her wares. Then they of the Trinitie wylled vs to go eastwarde of that .viii. or .ix. leaques to sel part of their wares in a place caled Perecow,* 1.25 & an other place named Perecowe grande,* 1.26 beinge the eastermost place of both these, which yow shal knowe by a great rounde hyl nere vnto it named Monte Rodondo lyinge westewarde from it.* 1.27 And by the water syde are many hyghe palme trees. From hense dyd we set furth homewarde the .xiii. day of February and plyed vppe alongest tyll we came within .vii, or, viii,

leaques to cape Trepointes. Abowt .viii. of the clocke the .xv day at after noone, we dyd cast abowt to seawarde. And be∣ware of the currantes,* 1.28 for they wyll deceaue yow sore.

Who so euer shall coomme from the coast of Mina home∣warde,* 1.29 let hym be suer to make his way good west vntyll he reken hym selfe as farre as cape de las Palmas where the cur¦rant setteth alwayes to the eastwarde. And within .xx. lea∣ques eastwarde of cape de las Palmas, is a ••yuer cauled Rio de los Poros where yow may haue fresshe water and balasse enowgh,* 1.30 and plentie of Iuery or Elephantes teethe.* 1.31 This ryuer standeth in foure degrees and almost two terces.

And when yow reken yowre selfe as farre shotte as cape de las Palmas,* 1.32 beinge in a degree or a degree and a halfe, yow may go west or west and by north vntyll yowe comme in three degrees: and then yowe maye go weste northwest, and northwest and by west vntyll you comme in fiue degrees and then northwest. And in the .vi. degrees, wee mette northerly wyndes and greate roos••ynge of tydes. And as wee coulde iudge, the currantes went to the north northwest. Further∣more betwene cape de Monte and cape Uerde, go greate cur∣rantes which deceaue many men.* 1.33

The .xxii. daye of Apryll, wee were in .viii. degrees and two terces: and so we ranne to the northwest, hauynge the wynde at northeast and eastnortheast, and sumtymes at easte vntyll we were at .xviii. deg••ees a••d a terce, which was on May day. And so from .xviii. and two terces, wee hadde the wynde at east and east northeast, and sumtymes at east south∣east: and then wee rekened the Ilandes of cape Uerde easte southeast of vs, wee iudg••••ge owre selues to be .xlviii. lea∣ques of. And in .xx. and .xxi. degrees, wee had the wynde more easterly to the southwa••de then before. And so we ran to the northwest and northnorthwest, and sumetymes north and by west and north vn••yll wee came into .xxxi. degrees, where we rekened owre ••elues a hundreth and foure score leaques southwest and by south of the Ilande de Flore or de los Flores.* 1.34 And there we met with the wynde at south••outh∣east, and ••et owre course north••ast.

In .xxxiii. degrees, we had the wynde at the south and southwest: and then we set owr course north northeast, and so we ranne to xl. degrees: and then we set our course north∣east

the wynde beinge at the southwest and hauynge the Ile de Flore east of vs, and .xvii. leagues of.

In .xli. degrees, we met with the wynd at northeast, and so we ranne northwestwarde. Then we met with the wynde at the west northwest and at the west within .vi. leaques run∣nynge towarde the northwest: And then wee cast abowt and ley northeast vntyll we came in .xlii. degrees, where we sette owr course east northeast, iudgynge the Ile of Coruo south and by west of vs and .xxxvi. leaques distant from vs.* 1.35

A rememberaunce that the .xxi. day of Maye, we commu∣ned with Iohn Rafe, and he thought it best to go northeaste, and iudged hym selfe .xxv. leaques eastwarde to the Ile de Flore, and in .xxxix. degrees and a halfe.

Note that in the fourth day of September vnder nine de∣grees, we lost the syght of the north starre.* 1.36

Note also, that in the .xlv. degrees the compasse is va∣ryed .viii. degrees to the west.* 1.37

Item, in .xl. degrees, the compasse dyd vary .xv. degrees in the hole.

Item, in xxx. degrees and a halfe, the compasse is vary∣ed .v. degrees to the west.

Be it also in memorie, that two or three dayes before we came to cape Trepointes, the pynnesse went alongest the shore th••nkynge to sell sum of owr wares. And so we came to an∣k••r three or foure leaques west and by south of the cape Tre∣poyntes where we lefte the Trinitie.

Then owre pynnesse came a boorde with all owr men. The pynnesse also tooke in more wares. They toulde me more ouer that they wolde go to a place where the Primrose was and had receaued much golde at the fyrste vyage to these par••ies.* 1.38 And tolde me furthermore that it was a good place. But I fearynge and brigantine that was then vppon the coast, dydde wey and folowe theym, and lefte the Trinitie abowte f••ure leaques of from vs. And there we rode ageynste that towne foure dayes: so that Martine by his owne desyre and assente of sum of the commissioners that were in the pinnesse, wente a shore to the towne. And there Iohn Beryn went to trafike from vs beinge three myles of traf••kynge at an other towne. The towne is cauled Samma or Samua.* 1.39 For Samma and Sammaterra,* 1.40 are the names of the two fyrste townes wh••re

wee did trafficke for gold, to the northeast of cape Trepoints:

Hetherto continueth the cou••se of the vyage as it was described by the sayde pylot. Nowe therfore to speake sum∣what of the contrey and people, and of suche thynges as are browght from thense.

They browght from thense at the last vyage, foure hun¦dreth pounde weyght and odde of golde of .xxii. carrattes and one grayne in finenesse.* 1.41 Also .xxxvi. buttes of graynes:* 1.42 and abowt two hundreth and fiftie elephantes teethe of all quan∣tities.* 1.43* 1.44 Of these, I sawe and measured sum of .ix. spannes in length as they were croked▪ Sum of them were as bygge as a mans thygh aboue the knee: and weyed abowte foure score and ten pounde weyght a piece. They say that sum one hath byn seene of a hundreth and .xxv. poun••e weyght. Other there were which they caule the teeth of calues of one or two or three yeares, wherof sum were a foote and a halfe, summe two foote, and sum three or more accordynge to thage of the beaste. These great teeth or tuskes, growe in the vpper iaw downewarde, and not in the nether lawe vpwarde, wherein the paynters and arras woorkers are deceaued. At this laste viage was browght from Guinea the headde of an elephante of such huge byggenesse,* 1.45 that only the bones or crauewe ther¦of besyde the nether ••awe and greate tuskes, wayed abowte two hundreth weyght, and was as muche as I coulde well lyfte from the grounde. In so muche that conside••ynge also herewith the weyght of .ii. such great teeth, the nether ••awes with the lesse teethe, the tounge, the greate hangynge eares, the bygge and longe snowte or troonke, wit•• all the flesshe, braynes, and skynne, with all other partes belongynge to the hole headde, in my iudgemente it coulde wey lyttle lesse then fyue hundreth weyght. This headde dyuers haue sene in the house of the woorthy marchaunt syr Andrewe Iudde, where also I sawe it, and behelde it not onely with my bodely eyes, but much more with the eyes of my mynde and spirite consy∣dered by the woorke,* 1.46 the cunnynge and wysedome of the woorke master: withowt which consyd••ration, the syght of such straunge and woonderfull thynges may rather seeme cu∣riosities then profitable contemplations.

The elephante (which sum caule an oliphant) is the big¦gest of all foure footed beastes.* 1.47 His forelegges are longer

then his hynder He hath ankles in the lower parte of his hynder legges, and fyue toes on his fiete vndiuided. His snowte or troonke is so longe and in such forme that it is to hym in the steede of a hande. For he neyther eateth nor drin∣keth but by bryngynge his troonke to his mouth. Therwith he helpeth vp his master or keeper: therwith he ouerthroweth trees. Bysyde his two greate tuskes, he hath on euery syde of his mouth foure teethe wherwith he eateth and gryndeth his meate. Eyther of these teeth, are almost a span in length as they growe alonge in the lawe: and are abowt two inches in height and almost as much in thickenesse. The tuskes of the male are greater then of the female. His tounge is verye lyttle, and so farre in his mouth that it can not bee seene. Of all beastes they are moste gentyll and tractable. For by many sundry ways they are taught and do vnderstand: In so much that they learne to do due honour to a king, and are of quicke sence and sharpenes of wyt. When the male hath once seaso∣ned the female, he neuer after toucheth her. The male Ele∣phante lyueth two hundreth yeares, or at the leaste one hun∣dreth and twentie. The female almost as longe: but the floure of theyr age, is but .lx. yeares as sum wryte. They can not suffer wynter or coulde. They loue ryuers and wyll often go into them vp to the snowte wherwith they blowe and snuffe, and play in the water: but swymme they canne not for the weyght of theyr bodyes. Plinie and Soline wryte that they vse none adulterie. If they happen to meete with a manne in wyldernesse beinge owt of the way, gentylly they wyl go be∣fore hym and brynge hym into the playne waye. Ioyned in battayle, they haue no smaule respecte vnto thē that be woun¦ded. For they brynge them that are hurt or wery into the mid¦dle of the army to be defended. They are made tame by dryn∣kynge the iuse of barley. They haue continuall warre ageynst dragons which desyre theyr bludde bycause it is very coulde. And therfore the dragon lyinge awayte as the Elephant pas∣seth by,* 1.48 wyndeth his tayle (beinge of exceadynge length) a∣bowt the hynder legges of the elephant: and so steying hym, thrusteth his heade into his tronke and exhausteth his breth, or els byteth hym in the eare wherunto he can not reach with his troonke. And when the elephant waxeth faynt, he fau∣leth downe on the serpente beinge nowe full of bludde: and

with the poyse of his body breaketh hym: so that his owne bludde with the bludde of the elephant, runneth owt of hym mengeled togyther: whiche beinge coulde, is congeled into that substaunce which the apothecaries caule Sanguis Draconis,* 1.49 (that is) dragons blud, otherwyse cauled Cinnabaris, although there be an other kynde of Cinnaba••is,* 1.50 commonly cauled cinoper or vermilion which the paynters vse in certeyne coloures.

They are also of three kyndes,* 1.51 as of the marysshes, the playnes, and the mountaynes, no lese differynge in conditi∣ons. Philostratus wryteth, that as much as the elephant of Lybia in byggenesse passeth the horse of Ny••ea, so much doth the elephantes of India excede them of Lybia. For of the ele¦phantes of India, sum haue byn seene of the heyght of .ix. cu¦bites. The other do so greatly feare these that they dare not abyde the syght of them. Of the Indian elephantes, only the males haue tuskes. But of them of Ethiopia and Lybia, both kyndes are tusked. They are of dyuers heyghtes, as of .xii. xiii. and .xiiii. dodrantes, euery dodrant beinge a measure of ix. ynches. Sum wryte that an elephant is bygger then three wylde oxen or buffes. They of India are blacke or of the co∣lour of a mouse. But they of Ethiope or Guinea, are browne. The hyde or skynne of them all, is very harde and withowte heare or brystels. Theyr eares are two dodrantes brode, and theyr eyes very lyttle. Owr men sawe one drynkyng at a ry∣uer in Guinea as they sayled into the lande.

Of other properties and conditions of the elephant, as of theyr maruelous docili••ie, of theyr feight and vse in the war∣res, of theyr generation and chastitie, when they were fyrste seene in the theaters and tryumphes of the Romans, howe they are taken and tamed, and when they cast theyr tuskes, with thuse of the same in medicine, who so desyreth to know, let hym rede Plinie in the .viii. booke of his natural hystorie. He also wryteth in his .xii. booke, that in oulde tyme they made many goodly woorkes of Iuery or elephantes teeth:* 1.52 as tables, tressels, postes of houses, rayles, lattesses for wyn∣dowes, Images of theyr goddes, and dyuers other thynges of Iuery both coloured and vncoloured and intermyxte with sundry kyndes of precious wooddes, as at this day are made certeyne chayres, lutes, and virginalles.

They had such plentie therof in owlde tyme, that (as farre as I remember) Iosephus wryteth that one of the gates of Hie∣rusalem was cauled Porta Eburnea, (that is) the Iuery gate. The whytenesse thereof was so muche esteemed that it was thought to represent the naturall fayrenesse of mans skynne: In so much that such as went abowt to set furth (or rather corrupte) naturall bewtie with colours and payntynge, were reproued by this prouerbe: Ebur atramento candesacere. That is: To make Iuery whyte with ynke. The poettes also descri∣bynge the fayre neckes of bewtifull virgins, caule them Ebur∣nea colla: That is: Iuery neckes. And to haue sayde thus much of elephantes and Iuery, it may suffice.

* 1.53Nowe therfore to speke sumwhat of the people and their maners and maner of lyuynge, with also an other briefe de∣scription of Africa. It is to vnderstande that the people whi¦che nowe inhabite the regions of the coast of Guinea and the mydde partes of Affrica, as Lybia the inner, and Nubia with dyuers other great and large regions abowt the same, were in oulde tyme cauled Ethiopes and Nigrite, which we nowe caule Moores, Moorens, or Negros, a people of beastly ly∣uynge, without a god, lawe, religion, or common welth, and so scorched and vexed with the heate of the soonne, that in many places they curse it when it ryseth. Of the regions and people abowt the inner Libia (cauled Libia Interior) Gemma Phrysius wryteth thus.* 1.54

Lybia Interior, is very large and desolate, in the whiche are many horrible wyldernesses and mountaynes replenisshed with dyuers kyndes of wylde and monstrous beastes and ser¦pentes. Fyrst from Mauritania or Barberie toward the south is Getulia,* 1.55 a rowgh and saluage region whose inhabitantes are wylde and wand••rynge people. After these folowe the people cauled Melanogetuli and Pharus••i whiche wander in the wyldernesse caryinge with them greate gourdes of water. The Ethiopians cauled Nigrite,* 1.56* 1.57 occupie a great parte of A∣phrica, and are extended to th•• West Ocean. Southwarde al∣so they reache to the ryuer Nigritis whose nature agreeth with the ryuer of Nilus forasmuch as it is increased and di••i¦nyssh••d at the same tyme,* 1.58 and bryngeth furth the like beastes as the Crocodile. By reason wherof, I thinke this to be the same ryuer which the Portugales caule Senega. For this ry∣uer

is also of the same nature. It is furthermore ma••uelous and very strange that is sayde of this ryuer.* 1.59 And this is, that on the one syde therof, thinhabitauntes are of hygh•• stature and blacke: and on the other side of browne or tawny colour and lowe stature, which thynge also owre men confirme to be trewe.

There are also other people of Lybia cauled Garamantes,* 1.60 whose women are common. For they contracte no matrimo∣nie, neyther haue respect to chastitie. After these ••re the na∣tions of the people cauled Pyrei, Sathiodaphnite, Odrangi, M••maces, Lynxamate, Dolopes, Agangine, Leuce Ethiopes,* 1.61 Xilicei Ethiopes, Calcei Ethiopes, and Nubi. These haue the same situation in Ptolomie that they nowe giue to the kyng∣dome of Nub••a. Here are certeyne Christians vnder the do∣minion of the greate Emperoure of Ethiopie cauled Prester Iohn.* 1.62 From these towarde the west, is a great nation of peo¦ple cauled Aphricerones: whose region (as farre as maye bee gathered by con••ecture) is the same that is nowe cauled Reg∣num Orguene,* 1.63 confinynge vppon the east partes of Guin••a. From hense westwarde and sumwhat towarde the north, are the kyngedomes of Gambra and Budomel not farre from the ryuer of Senega.* 1.64 And from hense towarde the inlande regi∣ons and alonge by the sea coast, are the regions of Ginoia or Guinea which wee commonly caule Gynne.* 1.65 On the west side of these regions towarde the Ocean, is the cape or poynt cau¦led Cabouerde or Caput viride (that is) the greene cape,* 1.66 to the wh••¦che the P••rtugales fyrst directe theyr course when they sayle to America or the lande of Brasile.* 1.67 Then departynge frome hense, they t••r••e to the ryght hande towarde the quarter of the wynde cauled Garbino which is betwene the west and the south. Bu•• to speake sumwhat more of Ethiopia.* 1.68 Althowgh there are many nations of people so named, yet is Ethiopia chiefely diuyded into two partes: wherof the one is cauled E∣thiopia vnder Egypte, a great and ryche region. To this per¦teyneth the Ilande of Meroe,* 1.69 imbrased rounde abowte with the stremes of the ryuer Nilus. In this Ilande women reyg∣ned in oulde tyme. Iosephus wryteth that it was sumtyme cauled Sabea: and that the queene of Saba came from thense to Hierusalem to heare the wysedome of Salomon.* 1.70 From hense towarde the East, reigneth the sayde Christian Empe∣roure

Prester Iohn whom sum caule Papa Iohannes, and o∣ther say that he is cauled Pean Iuan (that is greate Iohn,* 1.71 whose empyre reacheth farre beyonde Nilus, and is extended to the coastes of the redde sea and Indian sea. The myddle of the region is almost in the 66. degrees of longitude, and .xii. degrees of latitude. Abowte th••s region inhabite the people cauled Clodii,* 1.72 Risophagi, Babilonii, Axiunite, Mosyli, and Molybe. After these is the region cauled Trogloditica, whose inhabitauntes dwell in caues and dennes. For these are theyr houses,* 1.73 and the flesshe of serpentes theyr meate, as wryteth Plinie and Diodorus Siculus. They haue no speache, but rather a grynnynge and chatterynge. There are also people without heades cauled Blemines,* 1.74 hauynge theyr eyes and mouth in theyr breste. Lykewyse S••rucophagi and naked Gā¦pha••antes. Satyrs also which haue nothynge of men but on¦ly shape. More ouer Oripei great hunters. Mennones also, and the region of Smyrnophora which bryngeth furth myrre After these is the region of Azania in the whiche m••nye ele∣phantes are founde.* 1.75* 1.76 A great parte of the other regions of A∣frike that are beyonde the Equinoctiall line, are nowe ascry∣bed to the kingedome of Melinde,* 1.77 whose inhabitauntes are accustomed to tra••••ike with the nations of Arabie, and theyr kynge is ioyded in frendship with the kyng of Portugale, and payeth tribute to Prester Iohn.

The other Ethiope cauled ••••hiopia Interior (that is) the inner Ethiope,* 1.78 is not yet knowen for the greatnesse therof but on∣ly by the sea coastes. Yet is it described in this maner. Fyrste from the Equinoctiall towarde the south, is a great•• region of Ethiopians which bryngeth furth whyte elephantes,* 1.79 ty∣gers, and the beastes cauled Rhinocerontes. Also a region that bryngeth furth plentie of Cinamome, lyinge betwene the braunches of Nilus. Also the kingdome of Habech or Habas¦sia,* 1.80 a region of Chrysten men, lying both on this syde and be¦yonde Nilus. Here are also the Ethiopians cauled Ichthio∣phagi (that is) such as lyue only by fisshe:* 1.81 and were sumtime subdued by the warres of great Alexander. Furthermore the Ethiopians cauled Rhansii, and Anthropoph••gi that are ac∣customed to eate mans flesshe,* 1.82 inhabite the regions nere vnto the mountaynes cauled Montes Lunae,* 1.83 (that is) the mountaynes of the moone. Gazatia,* 1.84 is vnder the tropike of Capricorne.

After this, foloweth th•• fronte of affrike, the cape of Buena Speranza or Caput Bonae Spei, (that is) the cape of good hope,* 1.85 by the which they pa••se that sayle from Spayne to Calicut. But by what names the capes and goulfes are cauled, foras∣muche as the same are in eu••ry globe and carde, it were here super••••uous to rehearse them.

Sum wryte that Aphrica was so named by the Grecians bycause it is withowt coulde.* 1.86 For the Greeke letter Alpha or, A, signifyeth pryuation, voyde, or withowt: and phrice, signifieth coulde.* 1.87 For in d••ede althowgh in the steede of wynter they haue a cloudye and tempestious season, yet is it not coulde, but rather smoothering hot with also hot shoures of raine and sumwhere suche scorchynge wyndes, that what by one meanes and other they seeme at certeyne tymes to liue as it were in fornaces▪* 1.88 and in maner alredy halfe way in Pur¦gatorie or hel. Gemma Phrisius writeth that in certeyne partes of Aphrica, (as in Atlas the greater) the ayer in the night season is seene shyninge with many straunge fyers and flames rys••nge in maner as high as the moone: And that in the element are sumtime harde as it were the sounde of pipes, trumpettes, and droomines. Whiche noyses may perhappes be caused by the vehemente and sundry motions of such fyery exhalations in the ayer,* 1.89 as we se the lyke in many experiences wrought by fyre, ayer, & wynd. The holownesse also & diuers reflexions & breaking of the cloudes may be greate causes here of, bysyde the vehement cold of the myddle region of the ayer wherby the sayd fyery exhalations ascending thether are sud¦denly stryken backe with greate force. For euen common and dayly experience teacheth vs by the whyssinge of a burninge torge what noyse fyer maketh in the ayer,* 1.90 & much more where it striueth when it is inclosed with aye as apereth in gonns, and as the like is sene in only ayer inclosed, as in orgen pipes and such other instrumentes that go by winde. For wynde as say the philosophers is none other then ayer vehemently mo∣ued,* 1.91 as we see in a payer of belowes and suche other.

Sum of owre men of good credit that were in this last vyage to Guinea, affirme ernestly that in the nyght sea∣son they felt a sensible heate to coomme from the beames of the moone.* 1.92 The which thynge altho••ghe it be straunge and insensible to vs that inhabite coulde regions, yet doothe it

stande with good reason that it may so be, forasmuche as the nature of the starres and planets (as wryteth Plinie) consy∣steth of fyre,* 1.93 and con••eyneth in it a spirite of lyfe, whiche cannot be wi••hout heate.

And that the moone gyueth heate vpon the earth, the pro∣phete Dauyd seemeth to confirme in his .Cxx. Psalme, where speakynge of such men as are defended from euyls by goddes protection, he sayth thus: Per diem sol non exuret te, necluna per noc∣tem. That is to say. In the day the soonne shall not burne the nor the moone by nyght.

They say furthermore that in certeyne places of the sea, they sawe certeyne stremes of water which they caule spoutes faulynge owt of the ayer into the sea:* 1.94 And that sum of these are as bygge as the greate pyllers of churches: In so muche that sumtymes they faule into shyppes and put them in great•• daungiour of drownynge. Sum phantasie that these shulde bee the ••arractes of heauen whiche were all opened at Noes fludde.* 1.95 But I thynke them rather to be suche fluxions and eruptions as Aristotle in his boke de Mundo, saith to chaūse in the sea. For speakynge of suche straunge thynges as are seene often tymes in the sea,* 1.96 he wryteth thus: Often tymes also euen in the sea are seene euaporations of fyre, and suche eruptions and breakyng furth of sprynges, that the mouthes of ryuers are opened, whyrlepooles, and fluxions are caused of such other vehement motions not only in the middest of the sea, but also in creekes and streyghtes. At certeyne tymes al∣so, a great quantitie of water is suddeynly lyfted vp and ca∣ryed abowt with the moone. &c. By which woordes of Ary∣stotle it dooth appere that such waters maye bee lyfted vp in one place at one tyme, and suddeynly faule downe in an other place at an other tyme. And hereunto perhappes perteyneth it that Kycharde Chaunceler toulde me that he harde Seba∣stian Cabot reporte,* 1.97 that (as farre as I remember) eyther a∣bowt the coastes of Brasile or Rio de Plata, his shyppe or pin¦nes was suddeinly lyfted from the sea and cast vpon the land I wotte not howe farre. The which thynge and suche other lyke woonderfull and straunge woorkes of nature whyle I consyder and caule to rememberaunce the narownes of mans vnderstandynge and knowleage in comparyson of her mighty poure,* 1.98 I can but cease to maruayle and confesse with Plinie

that nothynge is to her impossible, the leaste parte of whose poure is not yet knowen to men.

Many thynges more owre men sawe and consydered in this vyage worthy to bee noted, wherof I haue thought good to put sum in memory that the reader maye aswell take plea∣sure in the varietie of thynges as knowleage of the hystorye. Amonge other thynges therefore touchynge the maners and nature of the people, this may seeme straunge that theyr prin¦ces and noble men vse to pounse and rase theyr skynnes with prety knottes in diuers formes as it were branched damaske,* 1.99 thynkynge that to be a decent ornament. And albeit they go in maner all naked, yet are many of them and especially their women in maner laden with collars, braslettes, hoopes, and chaynes eyther of golde, copper, or Iuery.* 1.100 I my selfe haue one of theyr braselettes of Iuery wayinge twoo pounde and vi. ounces of Troye weyght, whiche make .xxxviii. ounces.* 1.101 This, one of theyr women dyd weare vppon her arme. It is made of one hole piece of the byggest parte of the toothe tur∣ned and sumwhat carued, with a hole in the myddest wherin they put theyr handes to weare it on theyr arme. Sum haue of euery arme one and as many on theyr legges,* 1.102 wherewith sum of theym are so galded that althoughe they are in maner made lame therby, yet wyll they by no meanes leaue them of. sum weare also on theyr legges great shackels of bryght cop∣per which they thynke to bee no lesse cumly. They weare al∣so collars, braslets, garlandes and gyrdels of certeyne blewe stones lyke beades. Lykewyse sum of theyr women weare on theyr bare armes certeyne foresleeues made of the plates of beaten golde.* 1.103 On theyr fyngers also they weare rynges made of golden wyres with a knotte or wrethe lyke vnto that whi∣che chyldren make in a rynge of a russhe. Amonge other thin¦ges of golde that owr men bowght of them for exchaunge of theyr wares, were certeyne dogges chaynes and collers.* 1.104

They are very ware people in theyr bargenynge, and wyl not lose one sparke of golde of any value. They vse weyghtes and measures, and are very circumspecte in occupyinge the same. They that shall haue to do with them must vse them ••en¦telly▪ for they wyl not trafike or brynge in any wares if they be euyll vse. At the fyrst v••age that owr men had in••o the••e parties, it so chaunsed that at theyr departure from the fyrste

place where they dyd trafike, one of them eyther stole a musk•• catte or tooke her a way by force,* 1.105 not in••strustynge that that shulde haue hyndered theyr bargenynge in an other place why¦ther they intended to go. But for al the hast they could make with full sayles, the fame of theyr mysusage so preuented thē that the people of that place also offended therby, wold bring in no wares: In so muche that they were inforced eyther to restore the catte or pay for her at theyr price before they could trafike there.

Theyr houses are made of foure postes or trees,* 1.106 and coue∣red with bouwes.

Theyr common feedynge is of rootes and such fysshes as they take,* 1.107 wherof they haue great plentie. There are also such flyinge fysshes as are seene in the sea of the Weste Indies.* 1.108 Owre men salted of theyr fysshes hopynge to prouyde store therof. But they wolde take no salte: And muste therefore be eaten furthwith as sum say. Howe be it, other affirme that if they be salted immediatly after they be taken, they wyl last vncorrupted .x. or .xii. dayes. But this is more straunge, that parte of such flesshe as they caryed with them owte of Eng∣lande and putrifyed there,* 1.109 became sweete ageyne at theyr re∣turne to the clime of temperate regions.

They vse also a straunge makynge of breade in this ma∣ner.* 1.110 They grynde betwene two stones with theyr handes as much c••rne as they thynke maye suffice theyr famelie. And when they haue thus brought it to floure, they put thereto a certeyne quantitie of water and make therof very thin dowgh which they stycke vppon sum post of theyr houses, where it is baked by the heate of the sonne: So that when the master of the house or any of his famely wyll eate thereof, they take it downe and eate it.

They haue very fayre wheate,* 1.111 the ere whereof is twoo handfulles in length and as bygge as a great bulrusshe, and almost foure ynches abowt where it is byggest. The steme or strawe, semeth to be almost as bygge as the lyttle fynger of a mans hande, or lyttle lesse. The graynes of this wheate are as bygge as owr peason: rounde also, and verye whyte and sumwhat shynynge lyke perles that haue lost theyr colour. Al∣most all the substaunce of theym turneth into floure, and ma∣keth lyttle branne or none. I toulde in one ere twoo hun∣dreth

and three score graynes. The ere is inclosed in thre bla∣des longer then it selfe, and of two inches brode a piece. And by this frutefulnesse the soonne seemeth partly to recompence such greefes and molestations as they otherwyse receaue by the feruent heate therof. It is doubtlesse a woorthy contem∣plation to consider the contrary effectes of the soonne:* 1.112 or ra∣ther the contrary passions of suche thynges as receaue thinflu¦ence of his beames eyther to theyr hurte or benefite.

Theyr drynke is eyther water or the iuise that droppeth from the cut braunches of the barren date trees cauled Pal∣mites.* 1.113 For eyther they hange greate gourdes at the sayde branches euery euenynge and let them so hange all nyght, or els they set them on the ground vnder the trees that the drop¦pes may faule therin. They say that this kynde of drynke is in tast much lyke vnto whey, but sumwhat sweeter and more pleasaunt. They cut•••• the branches euery euenynge bycause they are scred vp in the day by the heate of the soonne. They haue also great beanes as bygge as chestenuttes, and verye harde with a shell in the steede of a huske.

Many thynges more myght be sayd of the maners of the people and of the woonders and monstrous thynges that are engendered in Afrike. But it shall suffice to haue sayde thus much of such thynges as owre men partely sawe and partely browght with them.

And wheras before speakynge of the frute of graynes,* 1.114 I descrybed the same to haue holes by the syde (as in deede it is as it is browght hether) yet was I afterwarde informed that those holes were made to put strynges or twygges throughe the frute therby to hange them vp to drye at the sonne. They growe not paste a foote and a halfe or twoo foote frome the grownde: and are as red as bludde when they are gathered. The graynes them selu••s, are cauled of the physisians, Gra∣na Paradysi.

At theyr comminge home, the keles of theyr shyppes were maruelously ouergrowē with certein shels of .ii. ynches length and more as thycke as they coulde stande,* 1.115 and of such bygge∣nes that a man may put his thom in the mouthes of thē. They certeynly affirme that in these there groweth a certeyne slymy substaunce which at the length slypping owt of the shel & fau∣ling in the sea, becōmeth those foules which we cal barnacles* 1.116

The lyke shelles haue byn seene in shyppes returning from I••∣lande. But these shelles were not past halfe an inch in length. Of the other that came from Guinea, I sawe the Prymrose lyinge in the docke, and in maner couered with the sayd shel∣les, which in my iu••gemente shulde greately hynder her say∣lynge. Theyr shyppes were also in many places eaten with the woormes cauled Bromas or Bissas whereof mention is made in the Decades.* 1.117 These creepe betwene the plankes whiche they eate throwgh in many places.* 1.118

Amonge other thynges that chaunced to them in this vy∣age, this is woorthy to be noted, that wheras they sayled the¦ther in seuen weekes, they coulde returne in no lesse space then .xx. weekes. The cause wherof they say to be this: ••hat abowt the coast of Cabo Uerde, the wynd is euer at the East by reason whereof they were info••ced to sayle farre owte of theyr course into the mayne Ocean to fynde the wynde at the west to brynge them home.* 1.119 There dyed of owre men at this last vyage abowt .xxiiii. whereof many dyed at theyr returne into the clime of the coulde regions, as betwene the Ilandes of Soria and Englande. They browght with them certeyne blacke slaues, wherof sum were taule and stronge men, and coulde well agree with owr meates and drynkes.* 1.120 The coulde and moyst ayer dooth sumwhat offende them. Yet doubtlesse men that are borne in hotte regions may better abyde coulde, then men that are borne in coulde regions may abyde heate, forasmuch as vehement heate resolueth the radicall moisture of mens bodies, as could cōstreyneth and preserueth the same

This is also to bee consydered as a secreate woorke of na∣ture, that throughout all Afryke vnder the Equinoctiall line and neare abowt the same on bothe sydes, the regions are ex¦treeme hotte and the people very blacke. Wheras contraryly such regions of the West Indies as are vnder the same line,* 1.121 are very temperate and the people neyther blacke nor with curlde and short woolle on theyr heades as haue they of Af∣fryke, but of the coloure of an olyue with longe and blacke heare on theyr heades: the cause of which varietie is declared in dyuers places in the Decades.

It is also woorthy to bee noted that summe of them that were at this vyage toulde me. That is, that they ouertooke the course of the soonne, so that they had it north from them

at noone the .xiiii. day of Marche. And to haue sayde thus much of these vyages it may suffice. For (as I haue sayd be∣fore) Wheras the parteners at whose charges this booke is prynted, wolde longe sence haue me proceaded no further, I had not thought to haue wrytten any thynge of these vyages but that the liberalitie of master Toy encoraged me to attempt the same. Whiche I speake not to the reproche of other in whome I thynke there lacked no good wyll, but that they thought the booke wolde be to chargeable.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The coast of ••arbarye.
• * 1.2

  Cape blanke.
• * 1.3

  The ryuer of de Oro.
• * 1.4

  The crosiers or crosse starres.
• * 1.5

  Rio Grande
• * 1.6

  Cape Mesu∣rado.
• * 1.7

  The riuer of Sesto.
• * 1.8

  The riuer of Sesto.
• * 1.9

  Rio Dulce.
• * 1.10

  Cape de Mon¦te.
• * 1.11

  Cape de las Palmas.
• * 1.12

  The lande of Cakeado.
• * 1.13

  Shauo.
• * 1.14

  Croke▪
• * 1.15

  Saint Uincen∣tes harborou▪
• * 1.16

  The riuer Dulce.
• * 1.17

  Cape de las Palmas.
• * 1.18

  The coast of Gu••nea.
• * 1.19

  Cape de tres Puntas.
• * 1.20

  The castell of Arra.
• * 1.21

  The towne of Samma.
• * 1.22

  The plege was ••t Iohn yorke his n••∣v. c.
• * 1.23

  Cape Corea.
• * 1.24

  The castel of mina pe••tey∣kinge to the kinge of Por∣tugale.
• * 1.25

  Perecowe.
• * 1.26

  Perecowe grande.
• * 1.27

  Monte rodō∣do.
• * 1.28

  The currant••
• * 1.29

  Frome mina homewarde.
• * 1.30

  Rio de los Poros.
• * 1.31

  Iverye.
• * 1.32

  Cape de las Palmas,
• * 1.33

  Currantes.
• * 1.34

  The Ile de F••ore.
• * 1.35

  The Ile of Corvo.
• * 1.36

  where they lost the light of the northe starre.
• * 1.37

  howe the compasse dooth varie.
• * 1.38

  The prym∣rose.
• * 1.39

  The towne of Samma.
• * 1.40

  Golde.
• * 1.41

  Golde foure hundreth weyght.
• * 1.42

  Graynes▪
• * 1.43

  Iuery.
• * 1.44

  Elephante•• teethe.
• * 1.45

  The head of an Elephant.
• * 1.46

  The contem∣plations of gods workes
• * 1.47

  The descrip∣tion and pro∣pert••es of the Elephante.
• * 1.48

  Debate be∣twene the E∣lephant and the dragon.
• * 1.49

  Sanguis Draco∣nis.
• * 1.50

  Cinnabaris.
• * 1.51

  Thre kyndes of elephātes.
• * 1.52

  workes of Iuery.
• * 1.53

  The peop••e of Africa.
• * 1.54

  Libia Interior.
• * 1.55

  Getul••a.
• * 1.56

  Ethiopes.
• * 1.57

  Nigrite.
• * 1.58

  The ryuer Ni¦gritis or Se∣nega.
• * 1.59

  A strange thynge.
• * 1.60

  Garamantes.
• * 1.61

  People of Lybia.
• * 1.62

  Prester Iohn.
• * 1.63

  Regnum Or∣guene.
• * 1.64

  Gambra.
• * 1.65

  Guinea or Gino••a.
• * 1.66

  Cap. Uerde.
• * 1.67

  The Portu∣gales nauigat••ons to Bra∣si••e.
• * 1.68

  Ethiopia.
• * 1.69

  The Ilande of Meroe.
• * 1.70

  The queene of Saba.
• * 1.71

  Prester Iohn emperour of Ethiopia.
• * 1.72

  People of the east syde of Africa.
• * 1.73

  Ophiophagi.
• * 1.74

  Pe••ple with∣out heades.
• * 1.75

  Myrre.
• * 1.76

  Azania.
• * 1.77

  Regnum Me∣linde.
• * 1.78

  Ethiopia In∣terior.
• * 1.79

  whyte ele∣phantes.
• * 1.80

  habassia.
• * 1.81

  Ichthiophagi
• * 1.82

  Anthropopha¦gi.
• * 1.83

  Montes Lu∣na.
• * 1.84

  Gazatia.
• * 1.85

  Cap Bonae Spei.
• * 1.86

  Ephica with¦owt coulde.
• * 1.87

  The winter of Africa.
• * 1.88

  Flames of fire & noyse in the ayer.
• * 1.89

  Uhe myddell region of the ••er is coulde.
• * 1.90

  The strife of clementes.
• * 1.91

  wynde.
• * 1.92

  The heate of the moone.
• * 1.93

  The nature of ••he stars.
• * 1.94

  Spoutes of water fauling out of the ayer.
• * 1.95

  Cataracts of heauen.
• * 1.96

  Uehement motions in the sea.
• * 1.97

  A straunge. thynge.
• * 1.98

  The poure of nature.
• * 1.99

  They ••ase their ••kinnes.
• * 1.100

  Fine iewells.
• * 1.101

  A braslet.
• * 1.102

  ••hackelles.
• * 1.103

  ••inges.
• * 1.104

  Dogs chain•• of golde.
• * 1.105

  A mu••ke cat.
• * 1.106

  Their hous••s.
• * 1.107

  Their feding.
• * 1.108

  Fleing fishes
• * 1.109

  A straunge thyng.
• * 1.110

  Their bread.
• * 1.111

  Their wheate.
• * 1.112

  The soonne.
• * 1.113

  Their drinke.
• * 1.114

  Graynes.
• * 1.115

  Shelles that cleaue to shippes.
• * 1.116

  Barnacles.
• * 1.117

  Bromas.
• * 1.118

  A secreate.
• * 1.119

  The death of owr men.
• * 1.120

  Could may be better abidē then heate.
• * 1.121

  The west In¦••ise.