The world surveyed, or The famous voyages & travailes of Vincent le Blanc, or White, of Marseilles ... containing a more exact description of several parts of the world, then hath hitherto been done by any other authour : the whole work enriched with many authentick histories / originally written in French ; and faithfully rendred into English by F.B., Gent.

CHAP. IX. Of the Town of Bagamidri, and the coro∣nation of their Kings.

TO return to our voyage, I shal tell you that Bagamidri is a Town in Ethiopia, in three degrees of altitude beyond the line, in a fair champion upon the River Zuama, which disbanks as Nile do's. For the kingdom of Bagamidri it reaches to the Tro∣pick, watered by Zuama, called by the inhabitants Zimbada, which crosses the deserts of Manica, where are dismal Mountains, and goes til it ingulphs it self in the Oriental and Meridian sea, com∣posing a most commodious shore, where vessels take in fresh-water and fuel. Here are abundance of wild goats, and small Buls and Cows so fierce, that he must be very skilfull that takes them, they have little horns which grow but skin-deep, moo∣ving them as their ears, as I observed in another place. This River of Zuama is by the Portugalls called, Rio del Spiritu sancto, for the content they receive who saile upon it.

Moreover, in passing or bathing in this River, there ought great caution to be had, and to be well arm'd against the Cro∣codiles, which are here in great numbers: nor is the danger on land much lesse, for the Tigars, of which there are great Troupes, and will very sawcily dismount you, either from Horse or Mule.

Towards the West the Countrey borders on Mancigonge, Eastward on Cafates, to the North it lyes on Gidada, which some call the Countrey of Amazons, South-ward on Mono∣potapa.

The Town of Bagamidri is called Imperial, by reason the King of Tigrai, or Tigremahon, having received his first Crown at the place of his election, receives the second here.

* 1.1This Ceremonie was first instituted in the time of St. Abiblica∣nus, who lived in a cave near the Town, in so high repute, that the King who then reigned would have the honour to be crown'd by so great a Saint, since which time there is an Ordinance, that all the Kings of Tigray shal be crown'd here, (as the several Crowns of our Emperours were received at Aix, Milan, and Rome) and the third he receives from the hand of the Grand Negus, his Soveraign, who hath onely a crown of silver, whereas the King of Tigray hath his of inestimable value.

Here I shal tell you by the way, that in Tigramahon I saw a Church of one intire piece, wrought in a Rock near

to Tecassin, which they call the Church of Creatures, for that 'tis dedicated to the four Evangelists. In the lower Ethi∣opia, there is the like which they call the Maiant Calassen, that is, the Seat of Eternity.

For the Kingdome of the Amazons they report it to be betwixt the country of Damut and Gorage, or Goraga and Gongara where they recount many things, not unlike the stories of our Ancestors; as that the women have the au∣thority, are exceeding valiant, and excellent Archers, that they cut off their right breast to draw a how the better, with o∣ther things of that kinde.

There is mention made of the like women in many other parts of the world. Some say the word Amazon is derived from a country belonging to the Negus, or Monopotapa, near Mancinconge, where the women are of great courage,* 1.2 though the men are Masters, and Preste John makes use of them in his warres. In this country stands the faire city Fe∣lucia, or Falacia, where they say is a sumptuous Tombe of a Princesse called Agagina, built all of a black marble, clear and transparent as glasse. The people of these countries,* 1.3 are of severall complexions, according to the place that gives them breath: For under the line they are neither white nor black, but of a swart tawny colour, though the world affords not a more temperate climate then they are under.

They who live Westward from the countrey of Agagne to Ambian are intirely black, and four degrees from the Line, troubled with excessive raines for three moneths together. But they of the Province of Zembre, are more white and ve∣ry docile, especially the women who are passably beautifull and gracefull, and good Christians, though they were the last that received the faith, since the Eunuch baptized by Saint Philip planted it in the better part of the Provinces of Ethi∣ope, and as some will have in Arabia the happy it self, and as far as Tuprobane▪

Notes

• * 1.1

  Abba Li∣canus who some say baptized Candace the Queen Aluarez. ch. 14,
• * 1.2

  Amazons.
• * 1.3

  People black and white.