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.

11. ADEL.

ADEL is bounded on the North with some parts of Dangali and the Red Sea; on the South with Adea; on the East with the Red-Sea, and the Indian or Arabian Ocean; on the West with Fatigar; extended on the Sea coast from the Cape of Docono, to the Cape of Guardasu, conceived most probably to be the Ardmata of Ptolomy, a noted Promontory in his time.

The Country plentiful of Flesh, Hony, Wax, Corn, Gold and Ivory; great flocks of Sheep, and many of those Sheep of such burdensom Fleeces, that their tails weigh 25 pounds; some Kine they have, which have horns like a Stag; others but one horn only, and that in the forehead, about a foot and an half long, but bending backwards. The People inhabiting on the Sea coasts, are of Arabian parentage, and of the Mahometan religion; those towards the Inland Countries, of the old Aethi∣opick race, and wholly Gentiles.

Chief towns hereof, 1 Zeila, a noted Port town, situate in or neer the place where Ptolomy pla∣ceth Avalites; stored with variety of merchandise, and yielding some representation of Antiquity in the building thereof, being lime and stone, materials not much used amongst them in these later times. Of great both beauty and esteem, till the year 1516. when sacked and burnt by the Portugals;

before that time the most noted Emporie of all Aethiopia for the Indian trade. 2 Barbora, seated on the same Sea-coast, well frequented by Merchants, and possibly may be the Mundi or Malao of Ptolomy; neighboured by a lofty Promontory, which they call Mount Fellez. 3 Mette, another of the Sea-towns neer the Cape of Guardafuni, supposed to be the Acane of the Antient writers. 4 Assam, 5 Selir, and 6 Bidar, on the Sea-coasts also. 7 Arar, the principal of the Kingdom, more within the Land and about 38 Leagues from Zeila.

This Country formerly a member of the Aethiopian Empire, is of late grown to so great strength and reputation, that the Kings hereof have freed themselves from all signs of subjection to that Crown, and think themselves the mightier Princes of the two. Advanced to this repute and power by Gradogna, or Guadameth, who reigned here in the year 1540. by whom Clandius the Neguz was so overlaid, and his Country so destroyed by continual incursions, that he was forced to abandon his Frontiers, retire himself into the heart of his Estates, and crave aid of the Portugals. And though by their assistance and the help of their shot, he was twice victorious; yet in the third battel he was vanquished, and in the fourth An 1559 slain upon the place. This King accounted for a Saint by the Moors and Saracens, in regard of his continual wars against the Christians, did so esta∣blish the affairs of his little Kingdom, and left it so well setled unto his successors, that the Abassine Emperor hath ever since left it out of his Titles; though many other of those small Kingdoms are reck∣oned in the Imperial stile, in which he hath as little power as he hath in this. It is said also, that in the battel wherein Claudius was slain, and his Army routed, consisting of 60000 Foot and 500 Horse of his own Subjects, besides the Portugals: the King of Adel got into his possession the greatest masse of Coin and treasure that was ever seen. A victory obtained as well by policie as force; the Abassines being seldom fought with, or their Country wasted and depopulated by the Kings of Adel, till by the strict observance of their Lenten Fast, they were grown so weak, that they were not able to discharge their domestick businesses, and therefore most unable to resist a prevailing Enemy.