Cosmographie in four bookes : containing the chorographie and historie of the whole vvorld, and all the principall kingdomes, provinces, seas and isles thereof / by Peter Heylyn.

3. MOROCCO.

THe Kingdom of MOROCCO hath on the East the River Malva, by which parted from Tre∣mesen; on the West, the Atlantick Ocean; on the South Mount Atlas; and on the North the Kingdom of Fesse. So called from Morocco, the chief City of it; in former times known by the name of Mauritania Sitifensis, from Sitiphis, in those times the principal City, as Procopius telleth us.

The Country said to be fruitful of all things necessary to life, pleasing to the fight, and sweet to smell to: particularly, well stored with Grain and Pulse, plentiful of Oyl, Honey and Sugar, liberally furnished with Dates, Grapes, Figs, Apples, Pears, and all sorts of Fruits; exceedingly well stocked with Cattel, but with Goats especially, whose skins afford a very excellent kind of leather, and of their ••leece materials for the finest Chamlets, which are here made in most of their Cities. The whole Country divided commonly into these seven parts, viz. 1. Guzzula, 2. Sus, 3. Morocco specially so called, 4. Hea. 5. Hascora, 6. Duccala, and 7. Tedles.

1. GVZZVLA, the most Southern Province of this Kingdom hath on the East some part of Tremesen, on the West Sus or Susa, from which parted by a ridge of Mountains called Ilda; on the South Mount Atlas; and on the North, part of the territory of Morocco, and the rest of Susa. The Country rich in Mines of Brasse, Iron, and other metals, of which are made many Vtensils for do∣mestick uses, exported hence into other places. The People barbarous and rude, not easily acknow∣ledging subjection to the Kings of Morocco; and at continual wars amongst themselves, except only for two moneths in the year; which being the time of their publike Marts, and then much visited with Strangers from other Countries, they lay aside their private quarrels, and cheerfully entertain such Merchants as repair unto them. Walled Towns here are not any, but some very great Villages; the chief whereof, 1. Guzula, on the Northern bank of the River Sus, whence the name of the Province. 2. Tagressa, not far off, but on the other side of the water, towards the foot of Mount Atlas. 3. Tedza, inclining towards the borders of Morocco. Of these nothing memorable.

2. West of Guzzula, lieth the Province of SVS or SVSA, so called from the River Sus, (with which well watered) or giving name to it. Rich in Gold-Mines, the cause of continual wars amongst the people; well stored with Sugar-Canes, which the Inhabitants know neither how to boyl nor purifie; and on the Sea-shores furnished with great plenty of Amber, bought by the Por∣tugals of the people at an easie rate. Chief Towns hereof, 1. Cape D'Aguer, on a Promontory so called; a place of such importance to the Portugals, that the taking of it by Mahomet then King of Sus (after of Morocco also) made them all the Forts which they had in this Country. 2. Tagavast, a 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and wealthy Town, the greatest in the Province, and situate in a large Plain near the foot of Mount Atlas. 3. Teijent, situate in a spacious Plain also, but on the banks of the River Sus: divided into three parts, each a mile from the other; which joyned together, make the exact figure of a Tri∣angle. 4. Messa, or Massa, seated at the influx of the said River, on the Promontory called Ca•••• Gilen: three Towns in one; not much the better for the Sea, and but ill befriended by the Land, as leated in a barren and unpleasing soile; remarkable for a fair Temple, the beams and raster•• of which are made of the bones of Whales, which usually are left dead on the sh••re. 5. Taro••••••, a large Town, built by the Africans, before the conquest of this Country by the Geths or Sarace••s; the Residence of the Vice-Roy for the Kings of Fesse, when the Lords of this kingdom, but more enriched

of late by the Merchants of France and England, who have here a Staple for their Sugars. By this Commerce the people made more civil then in other parts of this Province: the whole number of them thought to amount to 3000 families. 6. Tedza, more within the land, bigger then Taradant, but less wealthy; the chief Ornament of it being a fair Mahometan Temple, liberally furnished with Priests and Readers of that Law, at the common charge. Not far from hence the Hill Anchisa, where it snoweth at all seasons of the year, and yet the people go extreme thin in the sharpest Winter. No∣thing else memorable of this Province, but that a little before the Xeriffe made himself King of Mo∣rocco, it had the title of a Kingdom, and gave the title of King to Mahomet the second Xeriffe, made King of Tarada••t or Sus, before he dispossessed his brother of the Crown of Morocco. 3. Northward of Sus, lieth the Province of MOROCCO, specially so called, the most fruitful and best peopled part of Barhary; not much unlike to Lombardy in wealth, and pleasures: the very Hills hereof as fruitful as the Vallies in other places. To which fertility of the so••l, the Rivers 1 Tensist, and 2 Asisin••ad, give no small advantage, though much defaced by the frequent incursions of the Portugals, who have extreamly spoiled this Country. Places of most observation in it, 1. Delgumaba, built upon a very high Mountain, and environed with many other Hills; at the foot whereof the Fountain of Asisi∣••uad. 2. Elgiumuba, a small but ancient Town, on the River Sisseva. 3. Tesrast, a small Town up∣on Asifinuad. 4. Imizmizi, situate on a Rock, spacious, and seated neer the entrance of a narrow way leading into Guzzala. 5. Tenezze, an old Town, but very well fortified. 6. Agnet, upon the River Tensift, all ruined except the Fort, and some scattered houses: formerly second unto none but Mo∣rocco, (from which distant 24 miles) the Hils and Valley about it adorned with pleasant Gardens, fruitful Vineyards, a fair River, and Fields so fertile that they yield a fifty-fold increase. 7. Se••sina, where they have snow at all times of the year. 8. Temnella, an Heretical Town differing in opinion from the rest of the Mahometan Sect; and so well grounded in their ••enets, that they challenge all their Opposites to a Disputation. 9. Hantera, very full of Jewes. 10. Morocco, the principal of this province, and of all the Kingdom situate in or near the place where once stood the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Ile∣merum of Ptolomy. Once reckoned amongst the greatest Cities of the World, at what 〈◊〉〈◊〉 was ••a••d to contain 100000 families: since so defaced and wasted by the depredations of the Arabians, and the removal of the Seat-Royal to Fesse, when that Kingdom was in the Ascendent, that it is hardly a third part so great as formerly. The founder of it Joseph, sirnamed Telesinus, the second King of the house of the Almoravides; but much enlarged and beautified by Abdul-Mumen, one of his successors. The principal buildings in it are the Church and the Castle: the Church of Mosque, one of the greatest in the World, adorned with many sumptuous pillars, brought out of Spain, when the M••••rs had the possession of that Country; and beautified with a stately Steeple, in compass at the bottom an hundred yards, and of so great height, that the Hils of Azati (one of the branches of the Lesser Atlas) being 130 miles distant, may be thence easily discerned: the Castle very large, and strong, on a Tower whereof stand three Globes made of pure Gold, weighing 130000 Barbary Duckets; which divers Kings have gone about to take down and convert into money, but all desisted in regard of some crosse accident or other which befell them in it; insomuch that the common people think them to be guarded with spirits.

4. North of Morocco, on the further side of Tensift and Asifinuad, is the Province of HEA: Rough, mountainous, and woody, yet watered with many pleasant Rils, and would be plentiful enough in all commodities, if the industry of the people were not wanting to it. A sort of people little better then meerly barbarous, without all Artists either Ingenious or Mechanick; except some Chirurgeons, whom they keep to circumcise their Children; and some few Teachers of their Law, which can hardly ••ead. Their food a Pap made of Barley-meal, which in stead of Spoons they claw forth with their fingers; the Ground they eat on, serving for table, stools and napkins. At endless ••eud with one another; yet so kind to strangers, that in one of their chief Towns, called 1 Tedneft. the Gentlemen used to cast lots who should entertain them. A town of good esteem in former times, situate in a large Plain on the River Tensift: but in the year 1514. almost wholly abandoned, upon a rumor that the Arabians had a purpose to sell it to the Portugals. 2. Teculeth, seated on a good Port, and once very well traded, there being in it at that time 1000 families, some Hospitals, and a beautiful Musque; in the year 1514. destroyed by the Portugals. 3. Tenent, a Sea-town in the hands of the Portugals. 4. Fl∣muridin, a strong peece, as the name importeth, the word signifying the Disciples Fort; so called, be∣cause a certain Heretick in the Law of Mahomet (whereof this Kingdom yields good plenty) retired hither with his Disciples, fortified it and defended it against the King of M••recco. 5. Iguillinguigu••l, seated on the top of an hill, and fortified by the Country-people (or old African Moers•• against the Arabians. 6. Tefethne, beautified with a pretty Haven, but not capable of any great sh••pping. 7. Taglesse, a Den of Thieves and Cut-throats. 8. Tesegdelt; as courteous and civil, as the other barbarous: At the Gates whereof a Guard is set fo•• entertainment of Strangers; whom if they have no acquaintance there, they are to provide of Accommodation in some Gentlemans house, where it 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them nothing but thanks, and some kind acknowledgment.

5. Northwards of Hea, stands the Province of DVCALA, bounded on the West with the main Atlantick, and on the North with the River Ommirobili, by which parted from the Kingdom of Fesse. Of three dayes journy long, about two in breadth; thrusting into the Ocean with a craggy Promontory, which some of the Ancients called Ulagium, others the Promontory of the Sun; 〈◊〉〈◊〉 by the Christians of Europe called the Cape of Cantin; by the Moors, Gebelelhudi••. Populous enough, the quality of the men considered, ignorant both of letters and of all good manners: Yet not ••o

populous as it hath been in former times, much of the Country being abandoned for fear of the Por∣tugals who have taken all their best towns on the Sea-coast, and destroyed the rest. Amongst these, 1. Azasi, at the foot of the hils so called; surprised by the Portugals, under colour of making a Store∣house for their Merchandise. 2. Azamez, seated at the mouth of the River Ommirobili, the furthest town of this kingdom towards that of Fesse; the people whereof were extremely addicted unto Sodomy, till subdued by the Portugeze. 3. Elmedina, once the Metropolis of this Province; but now for feat of those Invaders, in a manner desolated. 4. Conte, of the foundation of the Goths. 5. Tic, built by the old African Moors, but possessed by the Portugals. 6. Subeit, 7. Teneracost, 8. Centpuis, 9. Terga, 10. Bulahuan; all sacked and ruined by the same people, when they took Azamor (the Key of this Province) which was in the year 1513. At which time it is said, that Mahomet King of Fesse passing through this Province with an Army to repress these insolencies, at every Altar (whereof here are many in the Roads) kneeled, and said unto this effect: Lord, thou knowest that the cause of my coming into this wild place, is only to free this people of Duccola from the rebellious and wicked Arabians, and their cruel Enemies the Christians: which purpose if thou doest not approve of, let the punishment fall upon my person, but not upon my followers who deserve it not. With greater piety then could be looked for from a blind Mahometan.

6. Eastward of Duccala, along the banks of Ommirobili, lieth the Province of HASCORA, a fruitful Country, intermixt of rich fields and pleasant gardens: furnished with most sorts of choisest fruits, and amongst others, Grapes of such extraordinary greatness, that they are said to be as big as a Pullets egg; Good store of Honey it hath also, and some Mines of Iron. Inhabited by a more civil people then any of the rest, and consequently more deserving so rich a soil. Places of most importance in it. 1. Ezo, an old town, situate on a lofty mountain. 2. Eluinina, of a later erection. 3. Alemdine, conquered for the King of Fesse by a Merchant, whose Paramour the Prince or Governour hereof had taken from him: Situate in a pleasant, but little Valley, but begirt with hils, and well inhabited by Gentlemen, Merchants, and Artificers. 4. Tagodast, on the top of an hill, environed with four others of equal height.

7. More East, betwixt Hascora and the River Malva, is the Province of TEDLES, bounded on the East with the Kingdom of Tremesen, and on the North with that of Fesse, from which last parted by the River Servi, which on the North east border of it meets with Ommirob••li. The whole Province in form triangular; of no great either length or breadth, but sufficiently fruitful, and well inhabited for the bigness. Some Towns it hath, and those not meanly populous for so small a Province; the chief whereof, 1. Tesza, built by the old African-Moors, and beautified with many Mahometan Mosques; the wals of which made of a kind of Marble, which they here call Tesza, whence the name of the town. 2. Esza, seated on the River Ommirobili, where it receiveth that of Deyme, which rising out of Atlas-Minor, and passing by Tesza last mentioned, doth here lose its name. 3. Chythite, renowned for the stout resistance which it hath made from time to time against those of Fesse. 4. Ethiad, abounding in all sorts of victuals.

These Provinces make up the Kingdom of Morocco: infested miserably while it remained subject to the Kings of Fesse, by the Portugals on the one side, and the wild Arabians on the other. Concern∣ing which last people we are to know, that when the Saracens conquered Africk, they contented themselves with the command, and left unto the Natives the possession of it; forbidding the Arabians (with whose course of life they were well acquainted) to passe over Nilus. Elcain, the last of the successors of Hucba in the Kingdom of Cairoan, having subdued the rest of Africk, and added it unto his Estate, passed forwards into Egypt, which he conquered also, assuming to himself the title of Caliph: But in his absence, the Lieutenant whom he left in Africk rebelled against him, and acknowledging the Caliph of Bagdet for his lawful Lord, received of him for this good service the Kingdom of Africa. Despairing to recover his lost Estate, and yet not willing that it should be useful unto his Enemies, he licenced the Arabians, for a Ducat a man, to passe over the Nile with their tents and families: On which agreement, almost half the Tribes of Arabia Deserta, and many of Arabia Felix, went into Africa; where they sacked Tripolis, Cairoan, and the rest of the principal Cities; tyrannizing over all Barbary, till restrained at last by Joseph the founder of Morocco, (of whom more hereafter.) Since which time, though they lost their unlimited Empire, yet they still swarm like Locusts over all the Country; and neither apply themselves to tillage, or building houses, or any civil course of life; nor suffer those to live in quiet, who would otherwise manure and improve the Country. The rest of the Storie of these Kingdoms we shall have anon, when we have taken a Survey of the Kingdom of Fesse.