Purchas his pilgrimes. part 2 In fiue bookes. The first, contayning the voyages and peregrinations made by ancient kings, patriarkes, apostles, philosophers, and others, to and thorow the remoter parts of the knowne world: enquiries also of languages and religions, especially of the moderne diuersified professions of Christianitie. The second, a description of all the circum-nauigations of the globe. The third, nauigations and voyages of English-men, alongst the coasts of Africa ... The fourth, English voyages beyond the East Indies, to the ilands of Iapan, China, Cauchinchina, the Philippinæ with others ... The fifth, nauigations, voyages, traffiques, discoueries, of the English nation in the easterne parts of the world ... The first part.

§. VI.

Collections taken out of IOHN LEO his sixt Booke of the Historie of Africa. [ 50]

IN Barca they haue not any Corne growing at all. But Corne and other necessaries are brought vnto them by Sea from Sicilia, which that euery of them may purchase, they are constrained to lay their sonnes to gage, and then goe rob and rifle trauellers to redeeme them againe. Neuer did you heare of more cruell and bloody theeues: * 1.1 for after they haue robbed Merchants of all their goods and apparell, they powre warme milke downe their throats, hanging them vp by the heeles vpon some tree, and forcing them to cast their gorge, wherein the lewd varlets search diligently for gold, suspecting that the Mer∣chants swallowed vp their Crownes before they entred that dangerous Desart.

Being about to describe all the Cities and Townes of Numidia, I will first begin with Tesset: which ancient Towne built by the Numidians, neere vnto the Libyan Desarts, and enuironed [ 60] * 1.2 with walles of Sun-dried Bricke, deserueth scarcely the name of a Towne; and yet containeth foure hundred Families. It is compassed round about with sandy Plaines, sauing that neere vn∣to the Towne grow some store of Dates, of Mill-seed, and of Barlev, which the miserable

Townesmen vse for food. They are constrained also to pay large Tribute vnto the Arabians Inhabiting the next Desarts. They exercise traffique in the land of Negroes and in Guzula, in∣somuch, that they spend most of their time in forren Regions. They are of a blacke colour, and destitute of all learning. The women indeed teach their young children the first rudiments of learning, but before they can attaine to any perfection, they are put to labour, and to the Plough∣tayle. The said women are somewhat whiter then other women: some of them get their li∣uing by spinning and carding of wooll, and the residue spend their time in idlenesse. Such as are accounted richest in this Region, possesse but very few Cattell. They Till their ground with * 1.3 an Horse and a Camell, which kind of Plowing is obserued throughout all Numidia.

Guaden situate vpon the Numidian Desart, neere vnto Libia, is Inhabited by most miserable [ 10] and grosse people. Heere groweth nothing but Dates: and the Inhabitants ar at such enmitie with their neighbours, that it is dangerous for them to goe abroad. Howbeit, they giue them∣selues * 1.4 to hunting, and take certaine wilde Beasts called Elamth, and Ostriches, neither doe they eate any other flesh. All their Goats they reserue for milke. And these people also are blacke of colour.

The Prouince of Dara beginneth at Mount Atlas, extendeth itselfe Southward by the De∣sarts * 1.5 of Libia, almost two hundred and fiftie miles, and the breadth thereof is very narrow. All the Inhabitants dwell vpon a certaine Riuer which is called by the name of the Prouince. This Riuer sometime so ouerfloweth, that a man would thinke it to be a Sea, but in Summer it * 1.6 so diminishe••h, that any one may passe ouer it on foot. If so be it ouerfloweth about the begin∣ning * 1.7 of Aprill, it bringeth great plenty vnto the whole Region: if not, there followeth great scarcitie of Corne. Vpon the banke of this Riuer there are sundry Villages and Hamlets, and [ 20] diuers Castles also, which are enuironed with walles made of Sunne-dried Bricke and Mortar. All their Beames and Planchers consist of Date-trees, being notwithstanding vnfit for the pur∣pose; for the wood of Date-trees is not solid, but flexible and spungie. On either side of the said Riuer for the space of fiue or sixe miles, the fields abound exceedingly with Dates, which with good keeping will last many yeeres: and as heere are diuers kinds of Dates, so they are sold at sundry prices: for a bushell of some is woorth a Ducat, but others wherewith they feede their Horses and Camels, are scarce of a quarter so much value. Of Date-trees some are male and fe∣male: * 1.8 the male bring foorth flowers onely, and the female fruit: but the flowers of the female will not open, vnlesse the boughes and flowers of the male be ioyned vnto them: And if they bee not ioyned, the Dates will prooue starke naught, and containe great stones. The Inhabi∣tants [ 30] of Dara liue vpon Barley and other grosse meate: neither may they eate no bread but one∣ly * 1.9 vpon Festiuall dayes. Their Castles are Inhabited by Gold-smithes and other Artificers, and so are all the Regions lying in the way from Tombuto to Fez: in this Prouince also there are three or foure proper Townes, frequented Merchants and strangers, and containing many Shops and Temples. But the principall Towne called beni Sabih, and Inhabited with most va∣liant and liberall people, is diuided into two parts, either part hauing a seuerall Captaine or Gouernour: which Gouernours are oftentimes at great dissension, and especially when they moisten their arable Grounds, by reason that they are so skanted of water. A Merchant they will most courteously entertaine a whole yeere together, and then friendly dimissing him, they require nought at his hands, but will accept such liberality as he thinkes good to bestow vpon them. The said Gouernours so often as they fall a skirmishing, hire the next Arabians to aide [ 40] them, allowing them daily halfe a Ducat for their pay, and sometimes more, and giuing them their allowance euery day. In time of peace they trim their Harquebuzes, Hand-guns, and o∣ther weapons: neither saw I euer (to my remembrance) more cunning Harquebuziers then at this place. In this Prouince groweth great store of Indico, being an herbe like vnto the wilde * 1.10 woad, and this herbe they exchange with the Merchants of Fez and Tremisen for other wares. Corne is very scarce among them, and is brought thither from Fez and other Regions, neither haue they any great store of Goats or Horses, vnto whom in stead of Prouender they giue Dates, and a kind of herbe also which groweth in the Kingdome of Naples, and is called by the Neapolitans Farfa. They feed their Goats with the Nuts or Stones of their Dates beaten to * 1.11 powder, whereby they grow exceeding fat, and yeeld great quantity of milke. Their owne [ 50] food is the flesh of Camels and Goats, being vnsauory and displeasant in taste. Likewise they kill and eate Ostriches, the flesh whereof tasteth not much vnlike to the flesh of a dunghill∣cocke, sauing that it is more tough and made of a stronger smell, especially the Ostriches legge: which consisteth of slime flesh. Their women are faire, fat, and courteous: and they keepe diuers slaues which are brought out of the land of Negroes.

This Territory extending it selfe along the Riuer of Ziz from North to South almost twentie miles, contayneth about three hundred and fiftie Castles, besides Villages and Hamlets: three of which Castles are more principall then the rest. The first called Tenegent, and consisting of a [ 60] thousand and moe Families, standeth neere vnto the Citie of Segelmesse, and is inhabited with great store of Artificers. The second called Tebuhasan, standeth about eight miles to the South of Tenegent, being furnished also with great numbers of Inhabitants, and so fr••quented with

Merchants, that there is not in that respect the like place to bee found in all the whole Region besides. The third called Mamun, is resorted vnto by sundry Merchants, both Iewes and Moores.

These three Castles haue three seuerall Gouernours, who are at great dissention among them∣selues. They will oftentimes destroy one anothers Chanels, whereby their fields are watered, which cannot without great cost be repayred againe. They will stow the Palme-trees also to the very stockes: and vnto them a company of lewd Arabians associate themselues. They Coyne both Siluer and Gold money: but their Gold is not very speciall. Their Siluer Coyne weigheth foure graines a piece, eightie of which pieces are esteemed to bee worth one piece of their Gold Coyne. The Iewes and Arabians pay excessiue Tribute here. Some of their princi∣pall men are exceeding rich, and vse great Traffique vnto the Land of Negros: whither they [ 10] transport Wares of Barbarie, exchanging the same for Gold and Slaues. The Territory of Se∣gelmesse * 1.12 liue vpon Dates, except it be in certaine places where some Corne grew. Here are infinite numbers of Scorpions, but no Flyes at all. In Summer time this Region is extremely hot, and then are the Riuers so destitute of water, that the people are constrayned to draw salt water out of certaine Pits. The said Territory contayneth in circuit about eighty miles, all which, after the destruction of Segelmesse, the Inhabitants with small cost walled round about, to the end they might not be molested by continuall inrodes of Horsemen. While they liued all at vnitie and concord, they retayned their libertie: but since they fell to mutuall debate, their wall was ra∣zed, and each faction inuited the Arabians to helpe them, vnder whom by little and little they were brought in subiection. [ 20]

The common people together with one of our African Cosmographers, called Bicri, suppose * 1.13 that the Towne of Segelmesse was built by Alexander the Great, for the reliefe of his sicke and wounded Souldiers. Which opinion seemeth not probable to me: for I could neuer reade that Alexander the Great came into any part of these Regions. This Towne was situate vpon a Plaine neere vnto the Riuer of Ziz, and was enuironed with most stately and high wals, euen as in many places it is to be seene at this present. When the Mahumetans came first into Africa, the Inhabitants of this Towne were subiect vnto the Family of Zeneta; which Family was at length dispossessed of that authority by King Ioseph the Sonne of Tesfin, of the Family of Lun∣tuna. The Towne it selfe was very gallantly built, and the Inhabitants were rich, and had great Traffique vnto the Land of Negros. Here stood stately Temples and Colledges also, and great store of Conduits, the water whereof was drawne out of the Riuer by Wheeles. The Ayre in [ 30] this place is most temperate and holesome, sauing that in Winter it aboundeth with ouermuch moysture.

Vmmelhefen is a forlorne and base Castle, founded by the Arabians also, fiue and twentie miles * 1.14 from Segelmesse vpon a Desart, directly in the way from Segelmesse to Dara. It is enuironed with blacke wals, and continually garded by the Arabians. All Merchants that passe by, pay one fourth part of a Duckat for euery Camels lode. My selfe trauelling this way vpon a time in the company of fourteene Iewes, and being demanded how many there were of vs, wee said thir∣teene, but after I began particularly to reckon, I found the fourteenth and the fifteenth man a∣mongst vs, whom the Arabians would haue kept Prisoners, had wee not affirmed them to bee Mahumetans: howbeit not crediting our words, they examined them in the Law of Mahu∣met, [ 40] which when they perceiued them indeed to vnderstand, they permitted them to de∣part.

The three Castles of Fighig stand vpon a certaine Desart, maruellously abounding with Dates. The women of this place weaue a kind of cloth in forme of a Carpet, which is so fine, that a * 1.15 man would take it to be Silke, and this Cloth they sell at an excessiue rate at Fez, Telensin, and other places of Barbarie. The Inhabitants being men of an excellent wit, doe part of them vse Traffique to the Land of Negros, and the residue become Students at Fez: and so soone as they haue attayned to the degree of a Doctor, they returne to Numidia, where they are made either Priests or Senators, and proue most of them men of great wealth and reputation. From Segel∣messe, the said Castles are distant almost an hundred and fiftie miles Eastward. [ 50]

This great and large Region of Tegorarin in the Numidian Desart, standing about an hundred * 1.16 and twentie miles Eastward of Tesebit, contayneth fiftie Castles, and aboue an hundred Villa∣ges, and yeeldeth great plentie of Dates. The Inhabitants are rich, and haue ordinarie Traffique to the Land of Negros. Their fields are very apt for Corne, and yet by reason of their extreme drought, they stand in need of continuall watering and dunging. They allow vnto strangers houses to dwell in, requiring no money for rent but onely their dung, which they ke••pe most charily: yea, they take it in ill part if any stranger easeth himselfe without the doores. Flesh is very scarce among them: for their soyle is so dry, that it will scarce nourish any Cattell at all: they keepe a few Goats indeed for their Milkes sake: but the flesh that they ••ate is of Ca∣mels, [ 60] which the Arabians bring vnto their Markets to sell: they mingle their meate with salt Tallow, which is brought into this Region from Fez and Tremizen. There were in times past * 1.17 many rich Iewes in this Region, who by the meanes of a certaine Mahumetan P••••a••her, were at length expelled, and a great part of them slaine by the seditious people; and that in the very same yeare when the Iewes were expelled out of Spaine and Sicily.

The ancient Towne of Techort was built by the Numidians vpon a certaine Hill, by the foot whereof runneth a Riuer, vpon which Riuer standeth a draw-bridge. The wall of this Towne * 1.18 was made of free stone and lime, but that part which is next vnto the Mountayne hath instead of a wall an impregnable Rocke opposite against it: this Towne is distant fiue hundred miles Southward from the Mediterran Sea, and about three hundred miles from Tegorarim. Families it contayneth to the number of fiue and twenty hundred: all the houses are built of Sunne dryed * 1.19 Brickes, except their Temple which is somewhat more stately. Heere dwell great store both of Gentlemen and Artificers: and because they haue great abundance of Dates, and are destitute of Corne, the Merchants of Constantina exchange Corne with them for their Dates. All stran∣gers they fauour exceedingly, and friendly dismisse them without paying of ought. They had [ 10] rather match their Daughters vnto strangers, then to their owne Citizens: and for a Dowry they giue some certaine portion of Land, as it is accustomed in some places of Europe. So great and surpassing is their liberalitie, that they will heape many gifts vpon strangers, albeit they are sure neuer to see them againe.

The Gouernour at this present called Habdulla, is a valiant and liberall yong Prince, and most courteous vnto strangers, whereof I my selfe conuersing with him for certayne dayes, had good experience.

This Region is extremely hot, sandie and destitute both of Water and Corne: which wants are partly supplyed by their abundance of Dates. It contayneth to the number of fiue Townes and many Villages, all which we purpose in order to describe.

Their soyle in Pescara, yeeldeth nought but Dates. They haue beene gouerned by diuers * 1.20 [ 20] Princes; for they were a while subiect vnto the Kings of Tuuis, and that to the death of King Hutmen, after whom succeeded a Mahumetan Priest: neyther could the Kings of Tunis euer since that time recouer the Dominion of Pescara. Here are great abundance of Scorpions, and * 1.21 it is present death to bee stung by them: wherefore all the Townesmen in a manner depart into the Countrey in Summer time, where they remayne till the moneth of Nouember.

Not farre from Deusen are diuers Monuments of Antiquitie like vnto Sepulchres, wherein * 1.22 are found sundry pieces of Siluer Coyne, adorned with certayne Letters and Hieroglyphicall Figures, the interpretation whereof I could neuer find out.

The ancient Towne of Caphsa built also by the Romanes, had for certayne yeeres a Gouernour * 1.23 of their owne: but afterward being sacked by one Hucba a Captaine of Hutmen Califa, the [ 30] wals thereof were razed to the ground; but the Castle as yet remayneth, and is of great force; for the wall thereof being fiue and twentie Cubits high, and fiue Cubits thicke, is made of ex∣cellent stones, like vnto the stones of Vespasians Amphitheatre at Rome. Afterward the Towne wals were re-edified, and were destroyed againe by Mansor, who hauing slaine the Gouernour of the Towne and all the Inhabitants, appointed a new Gouernour ouer the same place. Now this Towne is very populous, all the houses thereof, except the Temple and a few other buil∣dings, being very deformed and base, and the streets are paued with blacke stones, like vnto the streets of Naples and Florence. The poore Inhabitants are continually oppressed with the ex∣actions of the King of Tunis. In the middest of the Towne are certaine square, large, and deepe Fountaines walled round about, the water whereof is hot and vnfit to be drunke, vnlesse [ 40] it be set an houre or two a cooling. The Ayre of this place is very vnholesome, insomuch that the greatest part of the Inhabitants are continually sicke of Feuers. People they are of a rude and illiberall disposition, and vnkind vnto strangers: wherefore they are had in great contempt by all other Africans. Not farre from this Towne are fields abounding with Dates, Oliues, and Pome-citrons: and the Dates and Oliues there are the best in all the whole Prouince: heere is likewise most excellent Oyle. The Inhabitants make themselues Shooes of Buckes Lea∣ther.

Hauing hitherto described all the Regions of Numidia, let vs now proceed vnto the descrip∣tion of Libya; which is diuided into fiue parts, as we signified in the beginning of this our Dis∣course. We will therefore beginne at the dry and forlorne Desart of Zanhaga, which borde∣reth [ 50] Westward vpon the Ocean Sea, and extendeth Eastward to the Salt-pits of Tegaza, Northward it abutteth vpon Sus, Haccha, and Dara, Regions of Numidia; and Southward it stretcheth to the Land of Negros, adioyning it selfe vnto the Kingdomes of Gualata and Tom∣buto. Water is here to be found scarce in an hundred miles trauell, beeing salt and vnsauourie, * 1.24 and drawne out of deepe Wels, especially in the way from Segelmesse to Tombuto. Heere are great store of wilde beasts and creeping things, whereof wee will make mention in place con∣uenient. In this Region there is a barren Desart called Azaoad, wherein neyther water nor any Habitations are to be found in the space of an hundred miles; beginning from the Well of Azaoad, to the Well of Araoan, which is distant from Tombuto about one hundred and fiftie [ 60] miles. Here both for lacke of water and extremitie of heate, great numbers of men and beast daily perish. * 1.25

Not farre from Agadez, there is found great store of Manna, which the Inhabitants gather in certaine little Vessels, carrying it while it is new vnto the Market of Agadez: and this

Manna beeing mingled with water they esteeme very daintie and precious Drinke. They put it also into their Pottage, and beeing so taken, it hath a maruellous force of refrigerating or cooling, which is the cause that here are so few Diseases; albeit, the Ayre of Tombuto and Aga∣dez be most vnholsome and corrupt. This Desart stretcheth from North to South almost three hundred miles.

The residue of the Libyan Desart, that is to say, from Augela to the Riuer of Nilus is inhabi∣ted * 1.26 by certayne Arabians and Africans, commonly called Leuata: and this is the extreme Ea∣sterly part of the Desarts of Libya.

This Region bordering vpon the Ocean Sea, contayneth many Villages and Hamlets, and is * 1.27 inhabited with most beggerly people. It standeth betweene Numidia and Libya, but somewhat [ 10] neerer vnto Libya. Here groweth neyther Barley nor any other Corne. Some Dates heere are, but very vnsauourie. The Inhabitants are continually molested by the Arabians inuasions: and some of them traffique in the Kingdome of Gualata.

In the Region of Tegaza, is great store of Salt digged, being whither then any Marble. This * 1.28 Salt is taken out of certaine Caues or Pits, at the entrance whereof stand their Cortages that worke in the Salt Mines. And these Workmen are all strangers, who sell the Salt which they digge vnto certaine Merchants, that carrie the same vpon Camels to the Kingdome of Tombu∣to, where there would otherwise be extreme scarcitie of Salt. Neyther haue the said Diggers of Salt any victuals but such as the Merchants bring vnto them: for they are distant from all in∣habited places, almost twentie dayes Iourney, insomuch, that oftentimes they perish for lacke of food, when as the Merchants come not in due time vnto them: Moreouer, the South-east wind [ 20] doth so often blind them, that they cannot liue here without great perill. I my selfe continued three dayes amongst them, all which time I was constrayned to drinke Salt water drawne out of certaine Wels not farre from the Salt Pits.

Berdoea, a Region situate in the midst of the Libyan Desart, and standing almost fiue hundred miles from Nilus, contayneth three Castles and fiue or sixe Villages, abounding with most ex∣cellent * 1.29 Dates. And the said three Castles were discouered eighteene yeeres agoe, by one Ha∣mar, in manner following: the Carauan of Merchants wandring out of the direct way, had a certaine blind man in their company which was acquainted with all those Regions: this blind Guide riding foremost vpon his Camell, commanded some Sand to be giuen him at euery miles [ 30] end, by the smell whereof hee declared the situation of the place: but when they were come within fortie miles of this Region, the blind man smelling of the Sand, affirmed, that they were not farre from some places inhabited, which some beleeued not, for they knew that they were distant from Egypt foure hundred and eightie miles, so that they tooke themselues to bee nee∣rer vnto Augela. Howbeit, within three dayes they found the said three Castles, the Inhabitants whereof wondering at the approach of strangers, and being greatly astonied, presently shut all their Gates, and would giue the Merchants no water to quench their extreme thirst. But the Merchants by mayne force entred, and hauing gotten water sufficient, betooke themselues againe to their Iourney.

Alguechet also being a Region of the Lybian Desart, is from Egypt an hundred and twentie * 1.30 miles distant. Here are three Castles and many Villages abounding with Dates. The Inhabi∣tants [ 40] are blacke, vile, and couetous people, and yet exceeding rich: for they dwell in the mid∣way betweene Egypt and Gaoga. They haue a Gouernour of their owne, notwithstanding they pay Tribute vnto the next Arabians.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Arabians of Barca most cruell and bloody theeues.
• * 1.2

  Tesset.
• * 1.3

  Plowing with a Horse and a Camell. The village of Guaden.
• * 1.4

  The beast cal∣led Elamth.
• * 1.5

  The Prouince of Dara.
• * 1.6

  Dara Riuer.
• * 1.7

  The quality thereof.
• * 1.8

  The strange propertie of the Palme or Date tree.
• * 1.9

  Bread daintie.
• * 1.10

  Indico.
• * 1.11

  Goats fed with Dates. The fl••sh of the Ostrich. The Prouin∣ces of Segel∣messe, Cheneg, Matgara, &c. are omitted. The Territory of Segelmesse.
• * 1.12

  Infinite num∣bers of Scor∣pions.
• * 1.13

  The Towne or Citie of Segel∣messe.
• * 1.14

  The Castle of Ummelhefen.
• * 1.15

  The Castles of Fighig.
• * 1.16

  The Region of Tegorarin.
• * 1.17

  Iewes expelled.
• * 1.18

  The Towne of Techort.
• * 1.19

  Hospitalitie and loue to strangers.
• * 1.20

  The Towne of Pescara.
• * 1.21

  Deadly Scor∣pions.
• * 1.22

  Deusen.
• * 1.23

  The Towne of Caphsa.
• * 1.24

  Water scarce.
• * 1.25

  Heate and d••ought. Great store of Manna.
• * 1.26

  Leuata, Berdoa, and others are omitted.
• * 1.27

  The Region of Nun.
• * 1.28

  The Region of Tegaza. Salt Mines. Tombuto.
• * 1.29

  The Region Berdeoa. A whole Cara∣uan conducted by a blind Guide who lead them by scent onely; as at this present the Carauans of Maroco are conducted o∣uer the Libyan Desarts to Tom∣buto.
• * 1.30

  The Region of Alguechet.