The estates, empires, & principallities of the world Represented by ye description of countries, maners of inhabitants, riches of prouinces, forces, gouernment, religion; and the princes that haue gouerned in euery estate. With the begin[n]ing of all militarie and religious orders. Translated out of French by Edw: Grimstone, sargeant at armes.

The Realme of Congo.

❧ A DISCOVRSE OF THE REALME OF CONGO.

The Contents.

1 THe extent and bounds of the realme of Congo, diuided into six prouinces, and a particular description of either of them, with their chiefe townes. 2. The temperature of the aire of these countries, held inhabitable by the auncients: the equalitie of daies and nights throughout the yeare, and continuall raine during Winter, being then Sommer in our Horizon. 3. Description of the chiefe riuers of those coun∣tries, whereof the most famous are Zaire, and Lelonde, the which ingender crocodiles, and hip∣popotames, [ D] or seahorses. 4. A particular mention of the singularities which are found in euery prouince: as elephants and tygres in that of Bamba, zebre, a beast like vnto a mule, empa∣langes, wild bugles, ciuit cats, serpents fiue and twentie foot long, which the inhabitants of the countrie eat, rammes with wings, camelions, parrats, and pelicans. In the prouince of Congo, elephants, apes, and chrystall. In the countri of Pemba, luco, a kind of graine, white millet, Indian figs or barnanes, and certaine palme trees, from which they draw oyle, wine, vinegar, fruit, and bread: mountaines of Iaspe & Porphire. In the Island of Loande, gray cockle shells very glistring and transparent; and that wonderfull tree called Ensanda, which beares a certaine kind of cloth, wherof the people make garments: blacke whales, and pilchards. 5. The colour, countenance, and disposition of bodie of the inhabitants of this countrie, the forme of their houses and buildings: their money for trafficke, and their boats of war wherein they fight: of their fishing for cockles; [ E] and of their custome and manners like to other Negros: their manner of saluting in the mor∣ning: of their garments made of matts, or barkes of trees: of their drinking, eating, and slee∣ping: of their curing themselues by the vertue of simples, and hearbes knowne vnto them: and of the respect they beare vnto their king. 6. Their riches, consisting in the trafficke of met∣talls, elephants, ciuit cats, fishing of cockles, cloth of Songo, which they draw from palme trees, and Chrystall. 7. The forces of this realme, their armes, and how many thousand men he may arme. 8. What order the king obserues for the gouernment of his realme, his lawes, and the gouernours which he appoints in euery prouince to doe iustice: their militarie discipline, and in what order their armies march, and the three instruments which a generall of an armie doth use, as signes to make them march or stand, and to signifie his will to all the squadrons. 9. Of the idolatrie of the inhabitants of the realme of Congo: in what time, and by whom the Christian faith was denounced vnto them, and how it is at this day receiued by meanes of the Iesuites which are planted there.

[ I] ALthough it be impossible to make an exact discourse of those re∣mote [ A] countries which lie vnder the burning zoane, hauing beene held by the auncients to be inhabitable, and are not yet fully discouered by any of our moderne writers; yet to discharge my dutie, and to giue the reader some satisfaction, I haue thought it fit to set downe as much as I could learne of this Estate of Congo, the which doubtles is very great.

It extends from Saint Katherines Cape, which is two degrees and a halfe from the Equinoctiall, bending towards the South, vnto the Cape of Leo. It hath for bounds [ B] vpon the West, the Aethiopian sea: to the South, the mountaines of the Moone, and the Cafres: towards the East, the mountaine, from whence flow the riuers which runne vnto the springs of Nile: and vpon the North, the realme of Benin: and this realme which comprehends from the moitie of the third degree towards the South, vn∣to the thirteenth degree of altitude, containes by this meanes six hundred and sixtie Ita∣lian miles or there abouts.

The king of Congo doth also commaund in the Island of Loande, which lies be∣twixt a braunch of the riuer of Dande, the which is now called by the name of Bengo, and the riuer of Coanze. There are moreouer certaine Islands which are vpon the ri∣uer of Zaire, whose inhabitants are feudataries to the king of Congo. This realme is [ C] diuided into six famous prouinces, and those are Bamba, Songo, Sunde, Pango, Batta, and Pemba.

The prouince of Bamba, lies vpon the sea coast, from the riuer of Ambrisi, vnto that of Coanze, and this countrie containes many seigneuries. The towne of greatest note in this prouince, is called Bamba, for the chiefe townes giue their names to all the rest of the countrie. It stands betwixt the riuers of Lose and Ambrisi, and it is about one hun∣dred Italian miles from the sea.

The second prouince of the realme of Congo, is called Songo, and lies about the riuers of Zaire and Loango, extending it selfe vnto the riuer of Ambrisi, towards the North, in the seuenth degree and a halfe, and it ends neere to the red rockes of the frontire of [ D] the realme of Loango. The chiefe towne of this prouince is called Songo, whereof the countrie takes the name.

The prouince of Sunde is seated about the towne of Congo, to which the Portugals haue giuen the name of S. Sauiour, and from thence it extends for the space of fortie Ita∣lian miles, or eight Germane leagues, taking fiue miles for euery league, to the riuer of Zaire. The principall towne is also called Sunde.

The prouince of Pango was in former times a realme by it selfe, and was not subiect to the king of Congo. It confines vpon the North, with the prouince of Sunde; to the South, with that of Batte; towards the West, with the countrie of Congo; and vpon the East, with the mountains of the Sunne. The capitall towne of the countrie is called Pan∣go, [ E] and is scituated towards the Westerne part of the riuer of Barbela, which comes from the lake whereas the riuer of Nile hath her spring.

The prouince of Batte confines vpon the North, with that of Pango: and towards the East, with the riuer of Barbela; and extending it selfe to the mountaines of the Sunne, and to the foot of the mountaines of Aphronitre: vpon the South part of these moun∣taines it ioines to Barbela, as far as the burnt mountaine. The chiefe towne is Batta, which giues name vnto the prouince like vnto the rest.

In the prouince of Pemba stands the towne of Congo, sometimes called Banze, that is to say, Court, and now S. Sauiour. It is scituated vpon a mountaine, and it is about one hundred and fiftie Italian miles from the sea. There is a mountain of a reasonable heigth, the [ F] which containes about two German leagues: it is full of borroughs, villages, and houses, the which comprehends about one hundred thousand persons.

[ A] ¶ The Qualitie.

ACcording to the opinion of the Auncients, this countrie was inhabitable, for that [] they held all that was vnder the burning Zoane (where they place this countrie) to be so burnt vp, as there was no meanes to liue there. But experience hath proued the contrarie, as Edward Loup a Portugal doth witnesse, who liued long in those parts, with many other Portugals. This Authour reports, That the ayre is so temperat, as Winter is like vnto Autumne, at Rome; so as they change not their garments, neither doe they [ B] seeke for any fire in that season. The tops of mountaines are free from any sharpe cold; and generally in Winter the heat is greater than in Sommer, by reason of the raine which falls continually, especially for the space of two houres before noone, and as much after: And this is the heat that is most insupportable to the men of Europe when they come there.

The night is in a manner equal to the day, and throughout the yeare they obserue ve∣rie little difference. They haue their Winter when we haue the Spring: it begins the fif∣teenth day of March, and Sommer in the middest of September. The raine continues fiue moneths, during Aprill, May, Iune, Iulie, and August: you shall seldome see a cleare day during that time; and raine poures downe so aboundantly, as it is in a manner admi∣rable; [ C] all the moysture being consumed, and drunke vp by the pores of the dried and par∣ched ground. Sommer, on the other side, is exceeding drie, and it seldome raines during all that season. This is the reason why that riuers are filled vp with a thicke and muddie water, and ouerflowing the land, leaues vpon it that grosse humour.

In Sommer, they haue the winds, whic Iulius Caesar, and Hippocrates before him, called Etesies: the Portugals giue it the name of Mestro, or Generall, for that they be com∣mon to that countrie, and we take them for the Easterly winds. This wind causeth raine by the agitation of mists vpon the tops of mountaines, for being encountered, they dis∣solue into raine, and fall to the ground: And commonly they see mists vpon the tops of mountaines, whenas raine approcheth. This continuall raine causeth the swelling of the riuers of Nyle, and Nyger, or Senega, and others of this countrie, which discharge them∣selues [ D] into the Ocean or Mediterranean Seas, and doe moysten and fatten the countries which they water. Wherefore, there f••lling such aboundance of raine during their Win∣ter, which is our Sommer, as well in the realme of Congo, as in the countries of Presbiter Iohn, it is no wonder at the swelling and inundation of the riuers: yet in Aegypt, and in the driest countries wich are neuer watered with raine, except the country which is about Alexandria, they hold the swelling of Nyle for admirable, which neuer failes at a cer∣taine time of the yeare to come and fatten their lands with a slime and muddie water, the which otherwise would yeeld no fruit, vnlesse they are watered after this manner: by rea∣son whereof, in former times they did sacrifice to Nyle, giuing it the name of good An∣gell, [ E] as Prolome doth witnesses; and the Christians at this day which dwell in those coun∣tries, hold the inundation of Nyle for a myraculous thing, without the which they should be famished. Wherefore, the West and North-West, which blowes here in the Sommer season, during the which they haue their Winter, gathers mists and vapours to∣gether vpon the tops of mountaines, and calls the raine, which there doth temper the Winter, by reason of their hot vapours. It is the raine therefore that doth commonly cause the swelling of Nyle, and of other riuers of those countries.

But whenas those people haue their Sommer, their winds are contrarie, being South-East or North East, the which are cold winds, and refresh the grounds as they doe in our countries: for it makes their skie cleare, whereas they cause mists with vs▪ and threatens [ F] raine, by a naturall disposition of the ayre, ground, and climat. And without doubt if this wind did not coole and refresh the countries of Congo, and Aethiopia, the heat would be insupportable. The inhabitants of Greece, Candie, Cypres, Natolia, Syria, and Aegypt, enioy the same wind.

You must all obserue, that no snow falls vpon the mountaines of Aethiopia, Congo,

and the neighbor countries, but vpon those which are towards the Cape of good Hope, [ A] or vpon those which the Portugalls call the mountaines of Snow. If the realme of Con∣go had snow or yce, without doubt one of these two would be more esteemed than gold, for that by this meanes they might refresh their drinke: wherefore, we must conclude, that it is contrarie to the truth to affirme, that the riuers encrease when the snow melts, for that the continuall raine during fiue moneths, is the cause.

[ III] The chiefe riuer of these countries is that of Zaire, which comes from the second lake of Nyle, and is verie great among all them of Africke. It is eight and twentie miles broad at the mouth. She makes diuers great Islands in her course, and among others receiues the riuer of Vambe and Barbela, which come from the first lake; and also, many others [ B] which haue their springs in the lake of Aquelond.

The principall are Coanze, which bounds the realme of Congo, and Angola: and Lelonde, which ingenders Crocodiles, and Sea-horses, from the which the Island of hor∣ses hath taken her name. It doth also ingender a fish called Hogge, which are so great and fat, as there are some of fiue hundred weight, or more.

The Hippopotame, or horse of the riuer, is tawnie, hath little haire, and leapes to land to feed, and in the day time returnes to the water. The Afrikans make some of them tame, and they are exceeding swift, but they must not passe ouer deepe riuers, for they [ III] will presently diue. There doe also ingender in those riuers certaine water oxen, which liue for some dayes vpon the land. The aboundance of water, together with the heat, by [ C] reason of the neerenesse of the Sun, makes the countrie exceeding fertile, and to abound in plants, fruit, hearbes, and graine, and it would yeeld much more, if the industrie of the inhabitants did helpe nature.

But let vs come to the particularities of the prouinces which we haue described, ha∣uing discoursed in general of all these countries.

In the prouince of Bamba, there is a mountaine, where they find many mynes of sil∣uer, and other mettalls. They haue also in this countrie many Elephants, by reason of the many forests, and riuers. These Elephants are exceeding great, for that they grow vnto the middest of their age, and they liue commonly vnto the age of one hundred and fiftie yeares. [ D]

Those which we haue seene in Portugall, and elswhere in Europe, were lesse, for that they were brought away too young. The greatnesse of these beasts may be conceiued by their teeth, which haue beene gathered vp, whereof some haue beene two hundred weight. In the language of Congo, the Elephants tooth is called Mene Manzao. The young Elephants are called Moana Manzo. Their eares are not lesse than the greatest Turkish targets; the greatest are six foot long, fanshioned like an egge, and they are narrow towards the shoulder. With the motion of their eares and tayle, they driue away flies, and they kill them when they rest vpon them, drawing together their skin. The haire of their tayle is verie thicke, and like to little blacke shining reeds, and those of the youn∣ger are the fairest and strongest, and of greater price. [ E]

Without doubt the Auncients did not know the nature of the Elephant, whenas they said they could not bend their hammes, and therefore they did leane against some tree to sleepe, and by this meanes were easie to be taken: for the Portugals and Flemings haue seene the contrarie, for they get vp into trees drawing vp their haunches to gather leaues orboughes, or stoope easily downe when they drinke in any place where the water is low, the which they could not doe if they had no joynts.

This prouince hath Tygres of the same forme we see them painted in these parts. These beasts, as Edward doth witnesse, doe neuer set vpon white men, but they often assaile the Negroes; so as at a time finding two men, the one white, and the other blacke, slee∣ping together, these beasts did furiously fall vpon the blacke man, and neuer offered to [ F] hurt the white. Whenas they are prest with the sharpenesse of hunger, they fall vpon tame cartell, whenas they find nothing in the field. The people of Congo call them En∣goi. They hold that the arme holes of this beast are venimous, and that if any eats them, he dyes mad.

[ A] The same prouince breeds another beast called Zebre by the inhabitants, the which is like vnto a mule, but it ingenders. Finally, the disposition of the haire is very strange; for from the ridge of the backe to the bellie, there are lines or strikes of three colours, white, blacke, and yellow, all being ordered by a just proportion, and euery strike being of the breadth of three fingers. These beasts multiplie greatly, for that they haue young euery yeare. They are wild, & exceeding swift; so as the Portugals among their prouerbs, haue that of the swiftnesse of the Zebre. This beast being made tame, might serue for a horse in the war, bearing and drawing men and burdens, to the end we may see how God hath prouided for things necessarie.

[ B] But for that this countrie wants horses, and the inhabitants haue not the art to make the Zabre tame, nor know how to vse oxen, notwithstanding they haue many in these countries: the men do the office of beasts; for being set at the corners of streets or high∣waies, they carrie litters or chaires: so as they that are to make a journey speedily, change the men often that carrie them, and by this meanes they soone dispatch the way they are to go.

They do also find other beasts, whereof some are as big as an oxe, others are lesse, which they call Empalanges: then they haue wild bugles or oxen, woolues which smell very farre off, and which doe exceedingly loue a certaine oyle which they draw out of palme trees. Moreouer, they haue foxes, stags, goats, conies, and hares, in great aboundance, for that they pursue them not to death when they hunt, as they doe in Europe. They [ C] haue great numbers of Ciuit Cats, the which they take and make tame, to the end they may get the good scent which comes from this beast, the which is wonderfull plea∣sing vnto them.

There are diuers sorts of serpents and vipers, whereof some are fiue and twentie foot long. and fiue broad, hauing the bellie very large, and the throat so wide, as they will de∣uoure a stag, or any other beast of the like bignesse. They liue as well vpon the land as in the water. When they are full they sleepe willingly, and then the inhabitants kill them, and feed vpon their flesh, which they hold to be better than that of any foule. Finally, there are vipers whose poison is so strong, as when they haue bitten any one, he dies within fiue and twentie houres. There are also to be seene certaine beasts as big as a ram, [ D] hauing wings like a dragon, they haue a taile, a long beake, and many rankes of teeth. they liue of raw flesh, and haue but two legs: their skinne is red mixt with greene and blew.

The same prouince hath also camelions, with great store of hens, turkies, peacocks, geese, ducks, tame & wild partridges, phesants, pigeons, turtles, eagles, faulcons, sparrow∣haukes, and pelicans: and this countrie abounds in parrats both greene and gray; and there are great numbers of red birds, which are exceeding faire, with many other kinds of small birds, which sing like vnto them of the Canaries.

The prouince of Congo breeds many elephants, and there are diuers sorts of apes, [ E] the which will play a thousand trickes, seeking to imitat men. There are many kine and diuers of those other beasts whereof we haue made mention. Besides all these things, there growes great store of chrystall, and other mettalls, among the which, the in∣habitants preferre yron.

In the countrie of Pemba, they find yron in that great mountaine whereof we haue made mention in the description of prouinces. The soile of this mountaine is very fruit∣full, by reason of the bountie of the aire. It hath excellent good water, which neuer hurts any man that drinkes it. There is store of grasse, and aboundance of cattell, and fruit trees, which are continually greene. This soile yeelds all kind of graine that is ordinarie in those countries, especially, that which they call Luco, the which they esteeme as [ F] much as we do our best wheat: it is like vnto mustard seed, but that it is somewhat big∣ger. They grind it in a hand mill, and it makes good meale, of a good tast, and very plea∣sing. The bread which is made thereof, yeelds nothing in bountie to ours. There is great aboundance of this graine in Congo, whether it hath beene brought of late yeares

from the countrie whereas Nile hath her spring, especially from that, whereas Nile filles [ A] the second lake.

This prouince doth also beare aboundance of white millet, which they call mazze, that is to say, graine of Congo. It doth also yeeld meaz or Turkie wheat, which they esteeme but little, and the inhabitants call it Mazza Mamprito, that is to say, corne of Portugal. There is store of rice, but they esteeme it not. The same prouince hath diuers fruit trees, whereof the poore people liue, as cytron and lymon trees, which beare fruit of a won∣derfull pleasing tast. There grow bananes, which some hold to be the same that the Aegyptians and Syrians call muse, and some others Indian figs: there tast is very good and pleasing, hauing a sweetnesse mixt with sharpnesse, and it is a good food, and hath [ B] nothing hurtfull.

The fields are full of diuers sorts of palme trees, wereof the one beares dates, and the other nuts. There is also another kind of palme tree, vnlike vnto the other two, from the which, they draw oyle, wine, vineger, fruit, and bread. They dray oyle from the fruit, as from oliues, and this oile hath the colour and substance of our butter: yet it is somewhat greene tending to yellow. They vse it in steed of oile and butter, putting it in their lamps, and rubbing their bodies, that they may run more nimbly. To conclude, it is of great vse in time of necessitie, for that they of these countries which haue trauelled thither, had died for hunger without this oyle. They draw wine from the tops of the trees which they pierce, and then there runs out liquor which is white, cleere, and fresh. First of all it [ C] is sweet, and then it growes sower; so as they may put it vpon their sallets in s••eed of vi∣neger. This liquor being taken fresh prouokes vrine; so as there are few in these coun∣tries that are troubled with grauell or the stone. Moreouer, when they drinke much, it makes them drunke, and doth nourish exceedingly. They make bread of the stones or shells of this fruit, and these stones are fashioned like an almond, but harder. The meat that is within is of a very good tast, and this fruit is greene both within and without, and it is good raw or roasted. There are other trees which beare a fruit called Cola, as big as a pineapple, and somewhat like vnto chestnuts, in the which there be foure stones, the which are red, or incarnat, the which they breake with their teeth, and roule them in their mouthes to disalter them. These fruits being cast into the water, make it sharpe and [ D] pleasing to the tast, they fortifie the stomach, and correct the corruption of the liuer. There are other kinds of wild palme trees, which beare great store of fruit good to eat, and whose leaues serue to couer their cottages, and to make baskets, and other thing ne∣cessarie for the houshould. There are yet other trees called ogegues, which carrie fruit like to yellow plummes, whose tast and smell is very pleasant. Besides these fruits, they haue others which may serue for phisicke, and are also of a good tast, as the Tamarindes, which are sweet and sharpe, and are good against burning feuers. The Moores and Turks which trauell by land, take the pappe of the Tamerinde, and mingle it with water, the which they drinke to coole the liuer, the reines, and the inward parts, as also to keepe the bodie soluble, vsing Cassia for the same effect. This prouince hath Melons, coucum∣bers, [ E] and such like, in great aboundance.

There is moreouer great store of stone, and mountaines of as goodly marble as can be seene, which were sufficient to build a whole Temple: and besides there are mountains of Iaspis and Porphyrie, as also of white marble, and of many other colours, and it is this marble which at Rome they call of Numidia, and of Africke. And in some there grow Iacinth stones, which may easily be seperated from the rest. They may make whole pillars, obeliskes, and other workes, which would be very faire, yea admirable, by reason of the Iacinths which are mixt among the stone. There are other rockes, in which they find mettalls, as brasse which is greene and yellow, whereof they may make goodly sta∣tues, and other things. [ F]

But I am resolued in the conclusion hereof to speake something of the riuer of Zaire, which is the greatest riuer of the realme of Congo, and comes partly from the same lake, from whence Nile hath her spring. This riuer hath such aboundance of water, as

[ A] it is almost incredible, being fiue miles and a halfe broad, before it comes vnto the sea, and when it enters, her water runs among the salt, and looseth not her freshnesse for the space of eight, ten, yea sixteene leagues: whereby Sea men doe easily know where they are. They may go with their boats fiue leagues vp the riuer verie safely, but afterwards they find the water verie violent and forcible, for that the riuers falls in that place from a precipe with a great noyse, like vnto Nyle, and Danowe in some places.

As for the riuer of Lelonde, which runs at the foot of the mountaine, where the roy∣all towne of Congo is built, whenas the raine ceaseth, it dries vp, and one may easily wade ouer it.

[ B] They find vpon the shore of the Island of Loande, certaine cockles, which be gray, and verie glistering; and although there be some vpon the other shores of the realmes of Congo, yet those of Loande are most esteemed. There growes also a strange tree called Ensanda, the which is alwaies greene, and hath many vertues. The branches grow verie high, and there hang downe certaine small threeds, which comming to the ground, take root; so as these trees multiply strangely. Vpon the first barke of this tree, there growes a kind of lynnen cloth, which being made clean, serues to make garments for the common people.

In that part which is neerest to the firme land, there growes certaine trees, at the foot whereof salt water springs vp. There they find oysters as bigge as a mans hand, of a verie good tast, the which are well knowne to the inhabitants, who call them Ambizimitare, [ C] as a man would say, fish of a stoane. Neere vnto this Island, about the exterior part, there are many blacke Whales seene, which commonly make warre together; so as many die, which the inhabitants fish for, and hauing caught them, they take their fat, with the which, being mingled with pitch, they calke their ships. Here they also find many Pil∣chards, and verie great store of Soles, Sturgeons, Mulets, and Crafishes, which are of good substance.

¶ The Manners.

[ D] THe inhabitants of these countries are blacke, yet some women incline to yellow. [ V] These for the most part haue their haire blacke or reddish. The men are of a meane stature, and in a manner therein like vnto the Portugals. They haue all the apple of the eye of diuers colours, blacke, and of the colour of salt water. Their lips are thicke, but not so great as the inhabitants of Nubia, and other Negros. Their faces are also ve∣rie different, for some are leane, others are fat, and some are betwixt both, like vnto the Portugals, and they differ something from other Negroes, which are foule, and ill fa∣uoured.

They of the prouince of Bamba, are so strong, as they will cut a slaue a sunder in the middest, and they will strike off the head of an oxe at one blow. They of the prouince [ E] of Songo are continually in warre with the Anzicains their neighbours: And as for the inhabitants of the prouince of Sunde, they esteeme yron more than all other mettalls in the world, as we haue formerly made mention, whereof they make swords, kniues, and other things, which are verie profitable, whereas other mettalls serue not for so necessa∣rie vses.

In the prouince of Pemba, in which the towne of Congo stands, the inhabitants cut the branches of certaine trees called Ogegues, and make hedges, alleys, and arbours, to keepe them from the Sunne. They carrie Tamarinde in their mouthes, to preuent thirst. The houses of the inhabitants of Congo, are low, and verie narrow; not for want of ma∣terialls, (as we haue shewed discoursing of their quarries of stone and marble, besides the [ F] which, there is store of lyme and tymber;) but by reason of the little industrie of the inha∣bitants, who know not how to build, nor haue any carpenters, nor masons, for the ere∣cting of houses. They of Congo vse cockles instead of gold and coyne, and make their traffique therewith.

The Islanders of the riuer of Zaire haue in former times had great warres against them,

and they did fight in boats which they made of the bodies of trees made hollow. This [ A] tree is called Liconde, and it is sometimes of that bignesse, as two or three men, yea more, cannot sadome it; so as many times a boat made of one of the biggest trees, will be able to containe two hundred men. They make these boats to go verie swiftly, euerie man holds his oare, and a bow, and when they are to fight, they let slip their oares, and vse their bows against their enemies.

As for them of the Island of Loande, they fish for their cockles after this manner. The women go a little into the sea, and bring forth baskets full of sand, the which they lay vp∣on the shore, and then they take the sand from the cockles, which are verie small, and of diuers formes: for there be some males, and some females, and these haue the best co∣lour, [ B] and are most pleasing to the sight. All things are bought with these cockles, yea gold, siluer, and victualls. To conclude, they not onely take away the vse of gold coy∣ned, or of any other mettall, in all the countries subiect to the king of Congo, but also in other parts of Africke, and in the realme of China, and some places at the Indies: for in Aethiopia they giue pepper instead of gold or siluer coyned, and in the realme of Tom∣but, neere to the riuer of Senega, they giue cockles. These Islanders haue boats made of Palme trees, or Indian nut trees, which go with sayles and oares. They are such ex∣pert and cunning swimmers, as many times they swim ouer the strait, to go to the firme land.

But to speake in generall of the manners of all the inhabitants of Congo, they partici∣pat [ C] much with the other Negroes, at the least with them that are their neighbours. They alwaies poure something out of the pot before they take any drinke. They doe neuer drinke whilest they dyne: but after their meat, they quench their thirst with store of wa∣ter, or with the wine of Palme trees, or else with water mixt with honie. Whenas they meet in a morning, or in the day time, they salute one another: And whenas they wil ho∣nour any one, they kneele downe, and clap their hands, remayning in that sort vntill the other hath rendred the salutation, with these words, Fuio, Fuio, Fuio, with the which they wish them good lucke.

They steale willingly from strangers, but they vse no theft among themselues. The women are all giuen to make loue, especially with strangers, not caring for their reputa∣tions, [ D] so as they may satisfie their lustfull desires. The women and men go equally bare headed, hauing their haire artificially bound vp, and yet it is but short. Some weare hats of the barke of a tree, or else made of Indian nuts. Some haue great bunches of feathers tyed to their haire with wyre. There are many, both men and women, which weare verie heauie pendants at their eares. Their garments are in a manner all of mats made of the barke of trees, and red: They weare vpon these mats, Ape skins, and of other beasts. Many weare girdles of Bugle skins, and some of them are aboue two or three foot broad. Many of the women weare hoopes of yron, copper, or tynne, about their thighs, and the ends are so artificially joyned, as they can hardly be discerned: And there are some men which delight to go after that manner. They lye on the ground vpon mats, [ E] and eat diuers fruits, fish, and flesh, all which they put together in a dish. The chiefe among them doe most commonly eat alone vpon mats. They neuer doe their businesse vpon the ground, holding it a sinne; but they make great broad holes. They vse drums, which are narrow beneath, and wide aboue, and flutes made of Aelephants teeth. This is practised most commonly by them that liue in the countrie, for in townes they liue more daintily, and with more ciuilitie.

The inhabitants of Congo doe honour vnto their kings, sweeping all the way verie carefully where he is to passe. I haue said that the men went clothed with mats: but now they imitat the Portugals much. And as for the women, they haue three jupes one vpon another, wherewith they couer the lower part of their bodies. Euerie jupe hath a [ F] girdle, and the lowest goes downe to their heeles, the second vnto their knees, and the third vnto their thighs; and in stead of welts, they haue tassels of diuers colours. Before they couer themselues with a vayle, and behind with a little cloake, and all is made of the leaues of Palme trees. They couer their heads with a kind of bonnet, like vnto men, and

[ A] haue their faces bare. It is true that women of base condition and slaues haue nothing couered but the lower part. But now women of qualitie seeke to attire themselues after the Portugal manner, wearing vpon their heads veluet caps, with pretious stones, and chaines of gold; yet the meaner sort follow the auncient custome.

The king eats after the Portugall manner, and doth justice publickely without any great formalitie; for that all things are debated before him in few words. The courtiers vse flutes, by the sound whereof they daunce a la moresco, keeping time with great gra∣uitie, and an actiue disposition that is very pleasing. They all know the vertues of many hearbs, so as euery one is his owne physitian and Chyrurgeon. They cure the feuer with [ B] the wood of sandal in poulder, and the paine in the head by opening a veine. They purge themselues with a certaine poulder made of the barke of trees.

¶ The Riches.

WE may easily coniecture of the wealth of the inhabitants of the realme of Con∣go, [ VI] seeing they haue such aboundance of mettalls, as they may impart to their neighbours, retaining a great quantitie to themselues. And if we shall consider their ele∣phants, we may easily imagine, that they receiue in exchange for their teeth, whereof they haue great numbers, matters of no small price. If in like manner we shall cast our eyes vpon the ciuit cats, wherewith they abound, we shall soone see how much they are [ C] sought vnto by forraine merchants which trafficke into these countries. If passing on, we shall looke vnto their king, there is no man would doubt, but that he which hath all these countries vnder his obedience is exceeding rich. It is impossible to say what he drawes from his Estates, for that he hath not his reuenue in coine, like vnto our princes; but we may confidently affirme that this king receiues great riches from all parts; for if his subiects be very rich by reason of their great trafficke, their king must needs be held very rich, powerfull, and as well furnished with all things, as any monarch in Africke.

The fishing of sea cockles in the Island of Loande, is very beneficiall to this prince: and he doth commonly entertaine a gouernour in this Island, who hath a care of this fish∣ing. He drawes much from the prouince of Pemba, which is held to be verie rich, by rea∣son [ D] of her mines of siluer, and other mettalls, as also for their sea cockles which they find along the shoare, which serue in those countries in steed of coyne. They haue also great trafficke of slaues, whereof the Portugalls buy a great number, sending them to sell in other prouinces. After this, the linnen cloth of the prouince of Songo (which is made of Indian palme trees) is much sought after, as also in the prouince of Sunde, and the Portugals do willingly buy it. The Chrystall which they find in this prouince is of no lit∣tle esteeme, and yeelds the inhabitants some commoditie; but yet not so great as the rest abouementioned. This king doth also receiue great presents from the king of Angola, the which is a kind of tribute.

[ E] ¶ The Forces.

THis monarch hath so many men in his dominions, and so apt to armes, as he will [ VII] trouble him very much that shall attempt any thing against his Estate: yet he wants townes and places of strength, and hath nothing vpon the frontire that is defensible. His people are not well armed; so as they of Europe should annoy them very much, if they should enter into this countrie with any good numbers. But as for their neighbors, they are able to prescribe them a law, and to keepe them vnder, or to subdue them, if they once assaile them.

[ F] But to speake something in particular, Pamba is the bulwarke of all the realme of Congo. From thence they draw their souldiers which make warre against the rebells, for that the inhabitants of this countrie are very valiant, and accustomed to warre; so as vp∣on any vrgent necessitie, the king may easily raise foure hundred thousand men armed after the countrie manner.

These men (who are exceding strong, as hath beene said) weare swords 〈◊〉〈◊〉 [ A] and broad, like vnto the Suisses, and these the Portugals do bring them. Besides these swords, they are good archers, and handle their targets well, the which are made of the barkes of trees.

The gouernour of Batta hath hargue busiers, for that neere vnto the mountaines of the S••nne and Aphronitre, towards the East and West countries of Nile, there are certaine men called Giaquas, among them of Congo, and in their owne language, they are cal∣led Agag, who are furious and watchfull to get some spoile; so as they make dayly incur∣sions into the neighbor prouinces, especially, into that of Batta, by reason whereof the inhabitants are alwaies watchfull, and readie to arme vpon the least bruit of their com∣ming. [ B] This prouince may send to the warres seuentie or eightie thousand good souldiers well armed, and fit for any good exploit. You may easily judge of the rest, by these two prouinces whereof we haue made mention.

¶ The Gouernment.

[ VIII] THe king hath a gouernor in euery prouince, who makes his aboad in the chiefe town of his gouernment. He hath many noblemen in his dominions, but they all acknow∣ledge the king for absolute lord of what they hold These lords are called Mani, as Mani Loanda, Mani Coanza, &c. Lord of Loanda, Lord of Coanza. The king is wonderful∣ly [ C] honoured by his subiects: & there is a good policie obserued throughout all his realm by the meanes of his gouernours. They haue no written lawes and ordinances, but they judge according to their ancient customes, and the equitie of euery mans cause. Among the rest, there is one law, that no man may sell Zebres skinnes▪ vnlesse with all he sell that which is vnder the arme holes (the which is venimous) to take away all meanes and sub∣iect to do ill. And as for the sea hog, the fishermen are bound to bring it presently vnto the king vpon paine of death.

The inhabitants of Cong obserue these orders in time of war: they are all footmen, and they strech themselues out, or march close together, according to the commoditie of the place, or they diuide themselues into diuers squadron••. The armie doth march, and [ D] is gouerned by the signalls and cries which come from the generall being in the mid∣dest: for be it to beginne the battaile, or that he will haue the armie turne to the right hand, or to the left, aduance, or retire, or doe any other thing, he hath particular signes, and certaine cries which declare his will, and what they must doe. He hath three chiefe instruments which he vseth to giue any signe: for, first they vse instruments of wood, which make a horrible noise whenas they sound them, or else drummes, putting a skin on the barke of some hollow tree, and they beat them with stickes of Iuorie. They haue also a triangular instrument like vnto a pyramed turned vpward, which being made of plates of yron closely ioined together, is beaten with stickes of wood. Lastly they vse elephants teeth, the which are made hollow, and pierced on the side like vnto phyphes; [ E] these make a warlike sound, the which puts courage into the souldiers, and makes them contemne dangers.

The generall of the armie is forced to carrie a great number of these kinds of instru∣ments, both great and small: for whenas he giues a signe to the whole armie, he must vse the great instrument: if to a part, then he vseth a lesse; so as euery troupe hath a particular signe, the which they vnderstand. The souldiers haue also signals amongst themselues; for the formost are for the most part men exceeding actiue, who in the mid∣dest of the fight, giue courage to the rest with little bells, and instruct them how to auoid daungers.

Whenas they beginne to fight, they open their rankes, that they may the more eas••y [ F] cast their darts, and auoid their enemies blowes by their disposition: whenas the for∣most seeme to be wearie, they presently sound a retreat, and then they that fight retire by little and little, to giue place to them that are fresh; and this they do sometimes vntil that both armies ioyne.

[ A] There is not any one in the realme of Congo that hath any thing proper to himselfe, or that can dispose of any thing to his heires, for that all belongs vnto the king, who giues and takes away at his pleasure. The kings children are subiect to this law, so as if they pay not that yearely, which they owe vnto the king, they are depriued of that which they hold.

The Gouernor of the prouince of Batta, who is of the bloud royall, sits alwaies nee∣rest vnto the king, and hath such authoritie in consultations, as no man dares contradict him. He eats sometime at the kings table, but standing, and no man receiues this honour, no not the kings owne children. He carries with him flute players, and other musitions [ B] like vnto the king, and he hath this priuiledge, to haue Harquebuziers of his own gouern∣ment, the which is not graunted vnto the kings children, to whom, if need require, they giue Harquebuziers that be strangers.

They seldome put any criminall offendor to death, and if any one of Congo hath a suit against one of Portugal, it is decided according to the laws of Portugal.

¶ The Religion.

ALthough that the faith and Christian religion be crept into this realme, yet it is full of [ IX] Idolaters, whereof some worship the Sunne as husband to the Moone, and hold it [ C] for their soueraigne god: and they do also honour the Moone, as his wife, giuing it the second ranke. Some others worship those beasts which are like vnto dragons, whereof we haue made mention, treating of the qualitie of the countrie. And some worship the Earth, as the nurse and mother of all things. To conclude, they are so ful of foolish errors, as we may justly say, that in all their beliefe, they know not what they beleeue. But it shall be fit to let the Reader see by what meanes the name of Christ hath beene planted in these countries, and in what esteeme and honour it is at this day.

The realme of Congo was conuerted vnto the Christian faith by the meanes of D. Iohn the second, king of Portugal, after this manner: Iames Cano, a Captaine to this king, coasting Africke by his commaundement, after a long voyage came vnto the great riuer [ D] of Zaire, and continuing his nauigation, he discouered many lands, whereas he found the inhabitants much more tractable than those which had beene formerly discouered. And to giue a more particular account vnto his king, he resolued to go to the Court of this realme, where being arriued, and courteously entertayned, he began to shew the vanitie of idolatrie, and the greatnesse of the Christian faith, and he found this prince so well disposed, as returning into Portugal, he not onely carried an Embassadour backe with him, but also some noblemens children, to the end they might learne the Christian faith, and be well instructed, then hauing receiued baptisme, be sent backe vn∣to their houses, with certaine Portugal Priests fit to preach the Gospell, and to plant the faith in this realme.

[ E] These children continued two yeares in Portugal, and were well entertained, careful∣ly instructed in the Christian faith, and baptised with great solemnitie. Being confirmed in the faith, King Iohn sent them into their countries, with an honourable embassage, and withall, three Friers of the order of S. Dominicke, men of integritie, and of great lear∣ning, to instruct that nation. Being arriued at Congo, they first conuerted the kings vnkle together with a sonne of his. The King and Queene were afterwards baptised, and this prince in short time caused a goodly Church to be built vnder the name of the Ho∣lie Crosse.

The king was christened by the name of Iohn, his queene by that of Elinor, and their eldest sonne was called Alphonso. This prince was excellent in bountie and liberalitie, [ F] who not content with his owne conuersion, imployed himselfe with great loue an zeale to conuert the subiects: but we must not thinke, that the word of God, or his Crosse, can be planted without much paine. These fathers of S. Dominicke, besides the malignitie of the ayre, and insupportable heat which consumed and wasted them, were also ill intrea∣ted by them of Congo: for although that when they spake of the holie ceremonies and

diuine mysteries, they seemed tractable, for that they thought that those things which [ A] were aboue the capacitie of man, were more fit for the maiestie of God; yet whenas they begun to speake of temperance, continencie, restitution of another mans goods, pardon of offences receiued, with articles of Christian profession, they not onely discouered a dif∣ficultie, but also a contrarietie, and opposition. The king himselfe, who in the begin∣ning had shewed so great zeale, grew cold, and being loath to leaue their southsay∣ings and sorceries, but especially the multitude of wiues (which is a generall difficultie among the Barbarians) he gaue no eare vnto those preachers, and the women not able to endure to be chased away, or confined into any place by their husbands, or to haue one preferred before another, troubled the whole Court, and the citie where the king made [ B] his aboad. They were the more incited to this disorder by Panse Aquitime, the kings se∣cond sonne, who would not be baptised; by reason whereof, there grew great hatred be∣twixt him and his elder brother, who was wonderfully affected to the Christian religion, and maintayned Christs cause as much as might be.

Vpon these contrarieties the king died, and the brethren fel to armes. The euent was, that Alphonso, with six and thirtie souldiers, calling vpon the name of Iesus Christ, and that of S. Iaques, after the Portugal manner, defeated his enemie, who was taken, and died in his detestable opinion. Doubtlesse God fauoured Alphonso in this war••e with apparent myracles; for they say, that being readie to giue battaile, there was so great a light, as his eyes, and his companions, were dazeled for a time, wherewith they conceiued [ C] a great hope to obtaine the victorie. But afterwards, lifting vp their eyes to heauen, they saw fiue shining swords, which the king tooke at that time for his armes, and his succes∣sors haue continued vnto this day. His enemies confest that they had not beene vanqui∣shed by the king, or his souldiers, but by a woman which was wonderfull white, who da∣zeled their eyes with an insupportable light, and by a knight, who mounted vpon a bay horse hauing a purple crosse vpon his brest, strucke them, and bare them to the ground.

After the victorie, he drew all the noblemen of his kingdome together, commaunding them to cause all their Idolls to be brought into one place, the which he burnt vpon the topof a high mountaine. He raigned fiftie yeares in peace, during the which, he aduaun∣ced the Christian faith wonderfully, by his authoritie, example, yea and by his preaching. [ D] King D. Emanuel did not abandon the enterprise, for he sent out of Portugal into Congo, twelue Friers, of those which the Portugals call Blew, of the which father Iohn Marien was the chiefe, with Architects, Carpenters, and Masons to build Churches, and with a rich furniture for diuine seruice: And king Alphonso sent his sonne Henrie, with many princes of his realme, to Rome, where they were receiued with verie much honour. King Alphonso had his sonne Peter for successour, in whose time they sent an Eunuch into the Island of S. Thomas, who had the care of Congo, where they erected a Colledge in the towne of S. Sauiour, of eight and twentie Channoins, in the Church of the holie Crosse. The second bishop was of the royall house of Congo, who went to Rome, and di∣ed in his returne. Peter had Francis for his successour in the realme, who raigned little, [ E] and being dead, Diego his kinsman succeeded him. In his time, Iohn the third, king of Portugal, hearing that the king cared not much for religion, and that the Merchants and Priests of Europe did not much aduaunce it, but did scandalize the new Christians by their bad liues, sent foure Iesuits thither to repaire all disorders. These religious men comming first to S. Thomas, and then to Congo, were receiued courteously by the king, and imploying themselues presently in the worke for the which they were sent, one of them began to instruct six hundred children in learning, and in the Christian doctrine, and the rest went into the countrie, preaching with admirable fruit, for in fiue moneths they conuerted aboue fiue thousand persons, and built three Churches. But falling after∣wards one after another into troublesome and languishing diseases, they were forced [ F] to returne into Europe. At that time, they made a third Bishop, who was a Portugois by nation, who found great difficultie by reason of the contumacie of the Channoins, and the Clergie.

In the meane time, king Diego died, and after his decease, there grew great contention

[ A] for the succession of the realme, during which in a manner all the Portugois which were at S. Sauiour were slaine, except the priests. In the end Henrie brother to Diego obtained the crowne, and after him (who died soone after in barraile against the Anziques) Aluaro his sonne raigned. He to reconcile himselfe vnto the Portugois, assembled them altoge∣ther that liued dispersedly throughout the realm, as wel religious, as lay men, & he wrat for his discharge vnto the king and the bishops of S. Thomas. The bishop hauing seene the letters, past into the realme of Congo, where hauing set some order for the discipline of the clergie, he returned to S. Thomas, where he ended his daies.

It happened partly through the absence, and partly for the want of bishops, that the [ B] aduancement of religion was much hindered, and likely to decline in all those countries, for that one called Francis, a man of great authoritie, both in regard of his house, as of his wealth, began to say openly that it was a vaine thing to haue but one wife, and in the end he abandoned the Christian faith, and was the cause that the king lost much of his for∣mer zeale,

They say, that this Francis being dead and buried in the Church of the holie Crosse, the deuills vncouered a part of the Church, and with a feareful noise drew him out of his graue, and carried him away, the which did much trouble the king: but he was moued more by an accident which happened afterwards: for the Giaguas leauing their countrie entred by great numbers into the realme of Congo, and comming to fight with this king, [ C] they put him to flight, and did so terri••ie him, as not holding himselfe safe in his chiefe citie, he abandoned the realme, and retired himselfe into an Island of Zaire called the Horse Island, with the Portugal priests, and the princes of his realme. Seeing him∣selfe reduced to this extremitie, for that besides the losse of his countrie, his people died of hunger, and they sold themselues one to another for a vild price to haue meat; he had recourse to Don S••bastian king of Portugal, from whom he obtained six hundred souldi∣ers, by whose valour he chased his enemies out of the realme, and was restored to his for∣mer estate within one yeare and a halfe. In his time the Bishopricke of S. Thomas was giuen to Anthonie of Glioue a Castillian, who after many difficulties propounded by the gouernour of that Island, was in the end conducted to Congo, with two religious [ D] men, and foure priest, where for a time he maintained things in good estate. In the meane time, king Aluaro died, and had for successor his sonne bearing the same name, who failed not to sollicite D. Sebastian, and D. Henrie kings of Portugal, and after them the Catho∣like king, to send him preachers, and other church men to maintaine and augment the faith in his realme. And amiddest these goodly desseignes he died, leauing for successour his sonne bearing the name of Aluaro.

In the middest of these troubles, certaine Iesuits past into Congo, and began to preach vnto the people. These religious men haue built a house in the Island of Loande, where there remaines six or seuen priests, who go vp and downe where necessitie calls them. For the number of the baptised being very great, there are so few men to entertaine them [ E] in deuotion, as the bad graine exceeds the good. In the yeare 1587, king Aluaro, who for that he was not borne of lawfull marriage was little esteemed of the most part of his sub∣iects, would haue neere vnto his person one of these fathers, by whose meanes and au∣thoritie he purchased himselfe reputation, and came to be honoured. And God fauoured his intention, for that hauing against him a sister of his by the fathers side, with a brother of hers, he gaue them battaile with a great armie, and carried himselfe so valiantly in the fight, as he not only def••ated the armie, but also slew the generall. After which, he ordai∣ned that in the place where he was slaine, they should build a church in honour of our la∣die: and to encourage others by his example, he first of all laid hand to worke, and by very fauourable edicts aduanced the preaching of the Gospel, and the enterprise of these [ F] religious men.