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.

§. IX.

Principall occurrents in IOHN LEO his ninth Booke of the Historie of Africa.

THe Elephant keepeth in the Woods, and is found in great numbers in the forrests of the [ 40] Land of Negros. They vse to go many in one company, & if they chance to meet with * 1.1 any man, they either shun him, or giue place vnto him. But if the Elephant intendeth to hurt anyman, he casteth him on the ground with his long snout or trunke, and ne∣uer ceaseth trampling vpon him till he be dead. And although it be a mighty and fierce beast, yet are there great store of them caught by the Ethiopian Hunters, in manner following. These Hun∣ters being acquainted with the Woods and Thickets where they keepe, vse to make among the trees a round hedge of strong boughes and rafts, leauing a space open on the one side thereof, and likewise a doore standing vpon the plaine ground which may be lift vp with ropes, where∣with they can easily stoppe the said open place or passage. The Elephant therefore com∣ming to take his rest vnder the shady boughes, entreth the hedge or inclosure, where the [ 50] Hunters by drawing the said rope, and fastening the doore, hauing imprisoned him, de∣scend downe from the trees, and kill him with their Arrowes, to the end they may get his Teeth, and make sale of them. But if the Elephant chanceth to breake through the hedge, he murthereth as many men as he can find. In Ethiopia the higher, and India, they haue other deuices * 1.2 to take the Elephant, which, least I should seeme ouer-tedious, I passe ouer in silence.

The Giraffa so sauage and wild, that it is a very rare matter to see any of them: for they hide themselues among the Desarts and Woods, where no other beasts vse to come; and so soone as one of them espieth a man, it flieth forthwith, though not very swftly. It is headed like a Camell, eared like an Oxe, and footed like a * 1.3: neither are any taken by Hunters, but while they are very young. [ 60]

Camels are gentle and domesticall beasts, and are found in Africa in great numbers, especially in the Desarts of Libya, Numidia, and Barbaria. And these the Arabians esteeme to bee their principall possessions and riches: so that speaking of the wealth of any of their Princes, or Gouernours, he hath (say they) so many thousands Camels, and not so many thousand Duckets.

Moreouer, the Arabians that possesse Camels liue like Lords and Potentates in great liberty, because they can remaine with their Camels in barren Desarts, whither no Kings nor Princes can bring armies to subdue them.

African Camels farre excell them of Asia; for trauelling fortie or fifty dayes together, with∣out * 1.4 any prouender at all, they are vnladen in the euening, and turned loose into the next fields, where they feed vpon Gr••sse, Brambles, and the boughes of trees; which hardnesse the Camels of Asia cannot endure, but when they set foorth any iourney, they must be well pampered and full of flesh. Experience hath taught, that our Camels hauing trauelled laden fifty dayes together without any prouender; haue so wasted; first, the flesh of their bunches; secondly, of their bellies, and lastly, of their hips, that they haue scarce beene able to carry the weight of one [ 10] hundreth pounds. But the Merchants of Asia giue their Camels prouender, halfe of them being laden with wares, and the other halfe with prouender, and so their whole Carouan of Camels goeth foorth and returneth home laden: by which meanes they keepe them in good plight. Of * 1.5 Camels there are three kinds; whereof the first being called Hugiun, are grosse, and of a tall sta∣ture, and most fit to carrie burthens, but ere foure yeeres end they grow vnprofitable: after which time euery Camell but of meane stature will carry a thousand pounds of Italian weight. When any of the said Camels is to bee laden, being beaten vpon his knees and necke with a wand, he kneeleth downe, and when he feeleth his load sufficient, he riseth vp againe. And the Africans vse to geld their Camels which they keepe for the burthen, putting but one male Camell among ten femals. The second kinde of Camels called Becheti, and hauing a double bunch, are fit both to carrie burthens, and to ride vpon: and these are bred onely in Asia. [ 20] The third kind called Raguahill, are Camels of a slender and low stature, which albeit they are * 1.6 vnfit to carry burthens, yet doe they not excell the two other kinds in swiftnesse, that in the space of one day they will trauell one hundred miles, and will so continue ouer the Desarts for eight or ten dayes together with very little prouender: and these doe the principall Arabians of Numidia, and the Moores of Libya vsually ride vpon. When the King of Tombuto is des••rous to send any message of importance vnto the Numidian Merchants with great celeritie, his post or messenger riding vpon one of these Camels, will runne from Tombuto to Darha or Segelmesse, beeing nine hundred miles distant, in the space of eight dayes at the farthest: but such as trauell must be expert in the way through the Desarts, neither will they demand lesse [ 30] then fiue hundred Duckats for euery iourney. The said Camels about the beginning of the spring inclining to their lust and venerie, doe not onely hurt one another, but also will dead∣ly wound such persons as haue done them any iniury in times past, not forgetting light and easie stripes: and whomsoeuer they lay hold on with their teeth, they lift vp on high, and cast him downe againe, trampling vpon him with their feete, and in this madde moode they con∣tinue fortie dayes together. Neither are they so patient of hunger as of thirst; for they will abstaine from drinke, without any inconuenience, for fifteene dayes together: and if their * 1.7 guides water them once in three dayes, they doe them great hurt, for they are not vsually wate∣red but once in fiue or nine dayes, or at an vrgent necessity once in fifteene dayes. Moreouer, the said Camels are of a gentle disposition, and are induced as it were with a kinde of humaine [ 40] reason: for when as betweene Ethiopia and Barbarie they haue a dayes iourney to trauell more then their woont, their masters cannot driue them on, being so tired, with whips, but are faine to sing certaine songs vnto them; wherewith being exceedingly delighted, they performe their iourney with such swiftnesse, that their said masters are scarce able to follow them. At my beeing in Cairo I saw a Camell dance; which arte of dancing how he learned of his master I will heere in few words report. They take a young Camell, and put him for halfe an houre * 1.8 together in a place like a Bath-stoue prepared for the same purpose, the floore whereof is het with fire: then play they without vpon a drumme, whereat the Camell not so much in re∣gard of the noyse, as of the hot pauement which offendeth his feet, and l••fteth vp one legge af∣ter another in manner of a dance, and hauing beene accustomed vnto this exercise for the space of a yeere or ten moneths, th〈…〉〈…〉 then present him vnto the publike view of the people, when [ 50] as hearing the noyse of a drum, and remembring the time when he trode vpon the hot floore, he presently falleth a dancing and leaping: and so, vse being turned into a kind of nature, he per∣petually obserueth the same custome.

The Horses of Barbary differ not in any respect from other Horses: but Horses of the same * 1.9 swiftnesse and agilitie are in the Arabian tongue called throughout all Egypt, Syria, Asia, Ara∣bia Foelix, and Deserta, by the name of Arabian Horses: and the Historiographers affirme, that this kind of wilde Horses ranging vp and downe the Arabian Desarts, and being broken and managed by the Arabians euer since the time of Ismael, haue so exceedingly multiplied and in∣creased, that they haue replenished the most part of Africa: which opinion sauoureth of truth, for euen at this present there are great store of wild Horses found both in the African and Arabian [ 60] Desarts. And I my selfe sawe in the Numidian Desart a wild Colt of a white colour, and ha∣uing a curled maine. The most certaine triali of these Horses is when they can ouertake the beast called Lant, or the Ostrich in a race: which two, if they be able to performe, they are

esteemed worth a thousand Duckats or an hundred Camels. Howbeit, very few of these Horses are brought vp in Barbarie, but the Arabians that inhabite the Desarts, and the people of Lybia bring vp great numbers of them, vsing them not for trauell or warfare, but onely for hunting, neither doe they giue them any other meate but the milke of Camels, and that twise e∣uery day and night, to the end they may keepe them nimble, liuely, and of spare flesh; * 1.10 and in the time of Grasse they suffer them to feede in Pastures, but then they ride not vpon them.

The wilde Horse is one of those beasts that come seldome in sight. The Arabians of the * 1.11 Desarts take the wild Horse and eate him, saying, that the younger the Horse be, the sweeter is his flesh: but he will hardly be taken either with Horses or Dogs. In the waters where this [ 10] beast keepeth, they lay certaine snares, couering them ouer with sand, wherein his foot being caught, he is intangled and slaine.

The beast called Lant or Dant in shape resembleth an Oxe, sauing that he hath smaller legs, and comlier hornes. His haire is white, and his hoofs are as blacke as Iet, and he is so exceeding swift, that no beast can ouertake him, but onely the Barberie Horse, as is beforesaid. He is easlier caught in Summer then in Winter, because that in regard of the extreme fretting heat of the sand his hoofs are then strained and set awry, by which meanes his swiftnesse is abated, like as the swiftnesse of Stagges and Roe-Deere Of the hide of this beast are made Shields and Targets * 1.12 of great defence, which will not be pierced, but onely with the forcible shot of a bullet, but they are sold at an extreme price. [ 20]

The wild Oxe resembleth the tame Oxe, saue that it is lesse in stature, being of a gray or ash∣colour, and of great swiftnesse. It haunteth either the Desarts, or the confines of the Desarts. * 1.13 And the flesh thereof (they say) is very sauoury.

The wilde Asse being found either in the Desarts, or vpon the borders thereof, is of an ash∣colour. In swiftnesse they are surpassed onely by the Barbary Horses, and when they see a man, * 1.14 they bray out aloud, kicking and wincing with their heeles, and standing stone-still, till one approacheth so neare them, that he may touch them with his hand, and then they betake themselues to flight. By the Arabians of the Desarts they are caught with Snares, and other Engins. They goe in companies either when they feede or water themselues. Their flesh is hot and vnsauory, and hath a wilde taste: but being set a cooling two dayes after it is sodden, it be∣commeth [ 30] very sauory and pleasant.

All the Oxen vpon the Mountaines of Africa being tame cattell, are of so meane a stature, that in comparison of other Oxen they seeme to be but Heifers of two yeeres old: but the * 1.15 Mountainers vsing them to the plough, say, that they are strong, and will indure much la∣bour.

Adimmain, is a tame beast, beeing shaped like a Ramme, and of the stature of an Asse, and hauing long and dangle eares. The L••byans vse these beasts in stead of Kine, and make of their * 1.16 milke great store of Cheese and Butter. They haue some Wooll, though it bee but short. I my selfe vpon a time beeing merrily disposed, roade a quarter of a mile vpon the backe of one of these beastes. Very many of them there are in the Desarts of Libya, and [ 40] but fewe in other places: and it is a rare matter to see one of them in the Numidian fields.

There is no difference betweene these Rammes of Africa and others, saue onely in their tayles, which are of a great thicknesse, being by so much the grosser, by how much they are more * 1.17 fat, so that some of their tayles weigh ten, and other twenty pounds a peece, and they be∣come fat of their owne naturall inclination: but in Egypt there are diuers that fed them fat with Bran and Barley, vntill their tayles growe so bigge that they cannot remooue themselues from place to place: insomuch that those which take charge of them are faine to bind little carts vnder their tayles, to the end they may haue strength to walke. I my selfe saw at a City in Egypt called Asiot, and standing vpon Nilus, about an hundred and fifty miles [ 50] from Cairo, one of the said Rams tayles that weighed foure-s〈…〉〈…〉e pounds, and others affrmed, that they had seene one of those tayles of an hundred and fifty pounds weight. All the fat there∣fore * 1.18 of this beast consisteth in his tayle; neither is there any of them to be found but onely in Tu∣nis and in Egypt.

The Lion is a most fierce and cruell beast, being hurtfull vnto all other beasts, and excelling them both in strength, courage, and crueltie, neither is he onely a deuourer of beasts, but of men * 1.19 also. In some places one Lyon will boldly encounter two hundred Horsemen. They range with∣out all feare among the flockes and droues of Cattell, and whatsoeuer beast they can lay hold on, they carry it into the next Wood vnto their Whelpes: yea, some Lyons there are (as I haue be∣fore said) that will vanquish and kill fiue or sixe Horsemen in one Company. Howbeit, such [ 60] Lyons as liue vpon the cold mountaynes are not so outragious and cruell: but the hotter the pla∣ces be where they keepe, the more rauenous and bold are they, as namely, vpon the Front••ers of Temesna, and of the Kingdome of Fez, in the Desart of Angad neere Telensin, and betweene the Citie of Bona and Tunis, all which are accounted the most famous and fierce Lyons in all A∣frica.

In the Spring, while they are giuen to Lust and Venery, they haue most fierce and bloudie conflicts one with an other, eight or twelue Lyons following after one Lyonesse. I haue heard many both men and women report, that if a woman chanceth to meet with a Lyon, and shew∣eth him her priuie parts, hee will with crying and roaring, cast his eyes vpon the ground and so depart. Beleeue it they that list. But this I am well assured of, that whatsoeuer a Lyon getteth in his pawes, though it be a Camell, he will carry it away. * 1.20

The Leopard liuing in the Woods of Barbarie, will not for all their great strength and cruel∣tie hurt any man, vnlesse it be very seldome, when as they meete with a man in a narrow pas∣sage, and cannot shunne him, or when they are checked and prouoked vnto fury: for then they will flye vpon a man, laying hold vpon his visage with their talents, and plucking off so much [ 10] flesh as they can catch, insomuch that sometimes they will crush his braines in pieces. They in∣uade not any flockes or droues of tame Cattell, but are at deadly feude with Dogges, whom they will kill and deuoure.

The Mountayners of the Region of Constantina hunt them on Horse-backe, stopping all pas∣sages, where they might escape. The Leopard ranging vp an downe, and finding euery place so beset with Horsemen that he cannot get away, windeth and turneth himselfe on all sides, and so becommeth a fit marke for the Hunters to discharge their Darts and Arrowes vpon. But if the Leopard chanceth to escape, that man that lets him passe, is bound by an vsuall custome to in∣uite the residue of the Hunters vnto a Banquet.

The beast called by the Arabians, Dabuh, and by the Africans, Iesef, in bignesse and shape * 1.21 resembleth a Woolfe, sauing that his legges and feet are like to the legges and feet of a man. It [ 20] is not hurtfull vnto any other beast, but will rake the carkasses of men out of their graues, and will deuoure them, being otherwise an abiect and silly creature. The Hunters being acquainted with his Den, come before it singing and playing vpon a Drum, by which Melodie beeing allured forth, his legs are intrapped in a strong Rope, and so he is drawne out and slaine.

The Ciuet Cats are naturally wilde, and are found in the Woods of Aethiopia. The Mer∣chants * 1.22 taking their young Whelpes or Kittes, feed them with Milke, Branne, and Flesh, and keepe them in Cages or Grates. But their odoriferous Excrement (which is nought else but * 1.23 their sweat) they gather twice or thrice euery day in manner following: first, they driue them vp and downe the Grate with a Wand, till they sweat, and then they take the said sweat from vnder their flankes, their shoulders, their neckes, and their tayles: which Excrement of sweat is commonly called Ciuet. [ 30]

Of Apes there are diuers and sundry kinds, those which haue tayles, being called in the A∣frican * 1.24 Tongue, Monne, and those which haue none, Babuini. They are found in the Woods of Mauritania, and vpon the Mountaynes of Bugia and Constantina. They liue vpon Grasse and Corne, and goe in great companies to feed in the Corne field, and one of their company which standeth Centinell, or keepeth watch and ward vpon the borders, when hee espyeth the Hus∣bandman comming, he cryeth out and giueth as it were an alarme to his fellowes, who euery one of them flee immediately into the next Woods, and betake themselues to the trees. The shee Apes carrie their Whelpes vpon their shoulders, and will leape with them in that sort from one tree to another. [ 40]

The Sea Horse is commonly found in the Riuers of Niger and Nilus. In shape it resembleth * 1.25 an Horse, and in stature an Asse, but it is altogether destitute of haire. It liueth both in the wa∣ter and vpon the Land, and swimmeth to the shoare in the night season. Barkes and Boates la∣den with Wares and sayling downe the Riuer of Niger, are greatly endangered by this Sea Horse, for often times he ouer-whelmeth and sinketh them.

The Sea Oxe being couered with an exceeding hard skinne is shaped in all respects like vnto * 1.26 the Land Oxe; saue that in bignesse it exceedeth not a Calfe of sixe monethes old. It is found in both the Riuers of Niger and Nilus, and being taken by Fishers, is kept a long time a liue out of the water. I my selfe saw one at Cairo lead vp and downe by the necke in a Chaine, which [ 50] (they say) was taken at the Citie of Asna, standing vpon the banke of Nilus, about foure hun∣dred miles from Cairo.

In the Libyan Desarts are found very many Tortoyses as bigge as a Tunne. And Bicri the * 1.27 Cosmographer in his Booke of the Regions and Iournies of Africa reporteth, that a certaine man being weary of trauelling, ascended to his thinking, vpon an high stone lying in the Desart, to the end he might free himselfe from the danger of Serpents and venemous beasts; who hauing slept soundly thereupon all night, found himselfe in the morning remooued three miles from the place where he first lay downe, and thereby vnderstood that it was not a stone but a Tortoyse whereon he reposed himselfe, which lying still all the day long creepeth for food in the night∣season, but so slowly, that her pace can hardly be perceiued. [ 60]

The Crocodile commonly frequenteth the Riuers of Niger and Nilus, and contayneth in * 1.28 length twelue Cubits and aboue, the tayle thereof being as long as the whole bodie besides, al∣beit, there are but few of so huge a bignesse. It goeth vpon foure feet like a Lizard, neither is it aboue a Cubit and an halfe high. The tayle of this beast is full of knots, and the skinne there∣of

is so exceeding hard, that no Crosse-bow will enter it. Some prey vpon fishes onely, but o∣thers vpon beasts and men. Which lurking about the bankes of the Riuer, doe craftily lay wait for men and beasts that come the same way, about whom suddenly winding their tayles, they draw them into the water, and there deuoure them. Howbeit, some of them are not so cruell by nature: for if they were, no Inhabitants could liue neere vnto the Riuers of Nilus and Ni∣ger. In eating they mooue the vpper Iaw onely, their neather Iaw being ioyned vnto their brest∣bone. Not many yeeres sithence, passing vp the Riuer of Nilus towards the Citie of Cana, standing in the vpper part of Egypt, foure hundred miles from Cairo, on a certaine night whilest we were in the midst of our Iourney, the Moone being ouer-shadowed with Clouds, the Mari∣ners and Passengers all fast a sleepe, and the Barke vnder sayles, I my selfe studying by Candle∣light [ 10] in my Cabben, was called vpon by a deuout old man in the Barke, who bestowed the same night in watching and prayer, and said vnto me, call (I pray you) some of your company, who may helpe me to draw vp this piece of wood floting vpon the water, which will serue to mor∣row for the dressing of our Dinner. My selfe, Sir (quoth I) will come and helpe you, rather then wake any of our company in the dead of the night. Nay (quoth the old man) I will try whe∣ther I bee able to draw it vp alone or no. And so when the Barke was neere vnto the Wood, as he supposed, holding a Rope in his hand to cast into the water, hee was soddainly intangled with a Crocodiles long tayle, and was in a moment drawne vnder the water. Whereupon, I ma∣king a shoute, all the people in the Barke arose, and str••king sayles we stayed for the space of an houre, diuers in the meane time leaping into the water to seeke the man, but altogether in vaine: [ 20] and therefore all of them affirmed, that he was caught by a Crocodile. As we sayled further, we saw great numbers of Crocodiles vpon the bankes of the Ilands in the midst of Nilus lye beaking them in the Sunne with their Iawes wide open, whereinto certaine little Birds about the big∣nesse of a Thr••••h entring, came flying forth againe presently after. The occasion whereof was told me to be this: The Crocodiles by reason of their continuall deuouring of beasts and fishes, * 1.29 haue certaine pieces of flesh sticking fast betweene their forked teeth, which flesh being putri∣fied, breedeth a kind of Worme wherewith they are cruelly tormented. Wherefore the said Birds flying about, and seeing the Wormes, enter into the Crocodiles Iawes, to satisfie their hunger therewith. But the Crocodile perceiuing himselfe freed from the Wormes of his teeth, offereth to shut his mouth, and to deuoure the little Bird that did him so good a turne, but being [ 30] hindred from his vngratefull attempt by a pricke which groweth vpon the Birds head, hee is constrayned to open his Iawes and to let her depart. The shee Crocodile laying Egges vpon the shoare couereth them with sa••d; and so soone as the young Crocodiles are hatched, they crawle into the Riuer. Those Crocodiles that forsake the Riuer and haunt the Desarts become vene∣mous; but such as continue in Nilus, are destitute of Poyson. Of these beasts I saw aboue three hundred heads placed vpon the wals of Cana, with their Iawes wide open, being of so mon∣strous and incred••ble a bignesse, that they were suff••cient to haue swallowed vp a whole Cow at once, and their teeth were great and sharpe.

In the Caues of Atlas are found many huge and monstrous Dragons, which are heauie, of a * 1.30 slow motion, because the midst of their body is grosse, but their neckes and tayles are slender. [ 40] They are most venemous creatures, insomuch, that whosoeuer is bitten or touched by them, his flesh presently waxeth soft and weake, neither can he by any meanes escape death.

The Hydra being short in proportion of body, and hauing a slender tayle and necke, liueth in * 1.31 the Libyan Desarts. The poyson thereof is most deadly, so that if a man be bitten by this beast, he hath none other remedy, but to cut off the wounded part, before the Poyson disperseth it selfe into the other members.

The Dub liuing also in the Desarts, resembleth in shape a Lizzard, sauing that it is some∣what bigger, and containeth in length a Cubite, and in breadth foure fingers. It drinketh no * 1.32 water at all, and if a man poure any water into the mouth thereof, it presently dieth. It lay∣eth egges in manner of a Tortoyse, and is destitute of poyson. The Arabians take it in the De∣sarts: and I my selfe cut the throat of one which I tooke, but it bled a very little. Being flayed [ 50] and roasted, it tasteth somewhat like a frogge. In swiftnesse it is comparable to a Lizzard, and being hunted, if it chanceth to thrust the head into a hole, it can by no force be drawen out, ex∣cept the hole be digged wider by the hunters. Hauing beene slaine three dayes together, and then being put to the fire, it stirreth it selfe as if it were newly dead.

The Guaral is like vnto the former, sauing that it is somewhat bigger, and hath poyson both * 1.33 in the head and tayle, which two parts being cut off, the Arabians will eate it, notwithstan∣ding it be of a deformed shape and vgly colour, in which respects I loathed alwayes to eate the flesh thereof.

The Camelion being of the shape and bignesse of a Lizzard, is a deformed, crooked and leane [ 60] * 1.34 creature, hauing a long and slender tayle like a Mouse, and being of a slow pace. It is nourished by the Element of Ayre, and the Sun-beames, at the rising whereof it gapeth, and turneth it selfe vp and downe. It changeth the colour according to the varietie of places where it com∣meth, being sometimes blacke and sometimes greene, as I my selfe haue seene it. It is at great * 1.35

enmitie with venemous Serpents, for when it seeth any lie sleeping vnder a tree, it presently * 1.36 climeth vp the same tree, and looking downe vpon the Serpents head, it voydeth out of the mouth, as it were, a long thread of spittle, with a round drop like a Pearle hanging at the end, which drop falling wrong, the Camelion changeth his place, till it may light directly vpon the Serpents head, by the vertue whereof he presently dieth.

The Ostrich in shape resembleth a Goose, but that the neck and legges are somewhat longer, * 1.37 so that some of them exceede the length of two cubites. The body of this Bird is large, and the wings thereof are full of great feathers both white and blacke, which wings and feathers being vnfit to flie withall, doe helpe the Ostrich, with the motion of her traine, to runne a swift pace. This Fowle liueth in drie Desarts, and layeth to the number of ten or twelue Egges in the [ 10] Sands, which being about the bignesse of great Bullets, weigh fifteene pounds a piece; but the Ostrich is of so weak of memorie, that she presently forgetteth the place where her Egges were laid. And afterward the same, or some other Ostrich-hen finding the said egs by chance, hatcheth and fostereth them as if they were certainely her owne: the Chickens are no sooner crept out of the shell, but they prowle vp and downe the Desarts for their food: and before their feathers be growne, they are so swift, that a man shall hardly ouertake them. The Ostrich is a silly and deafe creature, feeding vpon any thing which it findeth, be it as hard and vndigestable as yron. The flesh, especially of their legs, is of a slymie and strong taste: and yet the Numidians vse it for food, for they take young Ostriches, and set them vp a fatting. The Ostriches wander vp and downe the Desarts in orderly troopes, so that a farre off a man would take them to be so many Horsemen, which illusion hath often dismaied whole Carouans. [ 20]

Of Eagles there are diuers kinds, according to their naturall properties, the proportion of * 1.38 their bodies, or the diuersitie of their colours: and the greatest kind of Eagles are called in the Arabian Tongue, Nesir. The Africans teach their Eagles to prey vpon Foxes and Wolues; which in their encounter ceaze vpon the heads of the said Beasts with their bills, and vpon the backs with their talents, to auoid the danger of biting. But if the Beast turne his belly vpward, * 1.39 the Eagle will not forsake him, till she hath either peckt out his eyes, or slaine him. Many of our African Writers affirme, that the male Eagle oftentimes ingendring with a shee-Wolfe, beget∣teth a Dragon, hauing the beake and wings of a Bird, a Serpents taile, the feete of a Wolfe, and a skin speckled and partie coloured like the skin of a Serpent; neither can it open the eye-lids, and it liueth in Caues. This Monster, albeit my selfe haue not seene, yet the common report ouer all Africa affirmeth, that there is such an one. [ 30]

The Nesir is the greatest Fowle in all Africa, and exceedeth a Crane in bignesse, though the bil, * 1.40 necke, and legs are somewhat shorter. In flying, this Bird mounteth vp so high into the Aire, that it cannot be discerned: but at the sight of a dead carkasse it will immediately descend. This Bird liueth a long time, and I my selfe haue seene many of them vnfeathered by reason of ex∣treme old age: wherefore hauing cast all their feathers, they returne vnto their nest, as if they were newly hatched, and are there nourished by the younger Birds of the same kind. The Italians call it by the name of a Vulture: but I thinke it to be of another kind. They nestle vpon high Rocks, and vpon the tops of wilde and desart Mountaines, especially vpon mount Atlas: and they are taken by such as are acquainted with those places. [ 40]

The best African Hawkes are white, being taken vpon certaine Mountaines of the Numidian * 1.41 Desarts, and with these Hawkes they pursue the Crane. Of these Hawkes there are diuers kinds, some being vsed to flie at Patridges and Quailes, and others at the Hare.

Parrats there are as big as a Doue of diuers colors, some red, some black, and some ash-coloured, * 1.42 which albeit they cannot so fitly expresse mans speech, yet haue they most sweet & shril voices.

Of Locustes there are sometimes seene such monstrous swarmes in Africa, that in flying * 1.43 they intercept the Sunne-beames like a thicke Cloud. They deuoure trees, leaues, fruites, and all greene things growing out of the earth. At their departure they leaue egges behind them, whereof other young Locusts breede, which in the places where they are left, will eate and con∣sume [ 50] all things euen to the very barke of trees, procuring thereby extreme dearth of Corne, es∣pecially in Mauritania. Howbeit, the Inhabitants of Arabia Desarta, and of Libya, esteeme the comming of these Locusts as a fortunate boading: for, seething or drying them in the Sunne, they bruse them to powder, and so eate them.

The greater part of Africa hath none other Salt but such as is digged out of Quarries and * 1.44 Mines, after the manner of Marble or Free-stone, being of a white, red, and gray colour. Barbarie aboundeth with Salt, and Numidia is indifferently furnished therewith: but the Land of Ne∣gros, and especially the inner part of Ethiopia, is so destitute thereof, that a pound of Salt is there sold for halfe a Duckat. And the people of the said Regions vse not to set Salt vpon their tables; but holding a crum of Salt in their hands, they lick the same at euery morsell of meate which [ 60] they put in their mouthes. In certaine Lakes of Barbarie all the Summer time, there is faire and white salt congealed or kerned, as namely, in diuers places neere vnto the Citie of Fez.

Antimonie growing in many places of Africa in the Lead-mines, is separated from the Lead * 1.45 by the helpe of Brimstone. Great plenty of this Minerall is digged out of the bottome of Mount

Atlas, especially where Numidia bordereth vpon the Kingdome of Fez. Brimstone likewise is digged in great abundance out of other places of Africa.

Euphorbium is the Iuyce or Gumme of a certaine Hearbe, growing like the head of a wilde Thistle, betweene the branches whereof grow certaine fruites as big in compasse as a greene cu∣cumber; after which shape or likenesse, it beareth certaine little graines or seedes; and some of * 1.46 the said fruits are an elle long, and some are longer. They grow not out of the branches of the Herbe, but spring out of the firme ground, and out of one flag you shall see sometimes twentie, and sometimes thirtie of them issue forth. The people of the same Region, when the said fruites are once ripe, doe pricke them with their kniues, and out of the holes proceedeth a Liquor, or Iuyce much like vnto milke, which by little and little groweth thick and slimy. And so being [ 10] growne thick, they take it off with their kniues, putting it in Bladders, and drying it. And the Plant or Hearbe it selfe is full of sharpe prickles.

Of Pitch there are two kinds, the one being naturall, and taken out of certaine Stones, which are in Fountaines; the water whereof retained the vnsauorie smell and taste of the same; and * 1.47 the other being artificiall, and proceeding out of the Iuniper or Pine-tree: and this artificiall Pitch I saw made vpon Mount Atlas, in manner following. They make a deepe and round fur∣nace * 1.48 with an hole in the bottome, through which hole the Pitch may fall downe into an hollow place within the ground, being made in forme of a little vessell: and putting into the said fur∣nace the boughes of the foresaid trees broken into small pieces, they close vp the mouth of the [ 20] furnace, and make a fire vnder it, by the heate whereof the Pitch distilleth forth of the wood, through the bottome of the furnace into the foresaid hollow place; and so it is taken vp and put in bladders or bags.

Musa is a fruit growing vpon a small tree, which beareth large and broad leaues of a cubit * 1.49 long, hath a most excellent and delicate taste, and springeth forth about the bignesse of a small Cucumber. The Mahumetan Doctors affirme, that this was the fruit which God forbad our first Parents to eate in Paradise, which when they had eaten they couered their nakednesse with leaues of the same fruit, as being of all other leaues most meete for that purpose. They grow in great abundance at Sela, a Towne of the Kingdome of Fez; but in farre greater plenty in the land of Egypt, and especially at Damiata.

The trees bearing Cassia are of great thicknesse, hauing leaues like vnto the Mulberie tree. [ 30] * 1.50 They beare a broad and white Blossome, and are so laden with fruits, that they are constrained to gather great store before they be ripe, least the tree should breake with ouermuch weight. And this kind of tree groweth onely in Egypt.

The Roote Tauzarghente growing in the Westerne part of Africa vpon the Ocean Sea shore, * 1.51 yeeldeth a fragrant and odoriferous smell. And the Merchants of Mauritania carry the same in∣to the Land of Negros, where the people vse it for a most excellent Perfume, and yet they nei∣ther burne it, nor put any fire at all thereto: for being kept onely in an house, it yeeldeth a na∣turall sent of it selfe. In Mauritania they sell a bunch of these Rootes for halfe a Duckat, which being carried to the Land of Negros, is sold againe for eighty, or one hundred Duckats, and some∣times for more. [ 40]

The Hearbe Addad is bitter, and the Roote it selfe is so venemous, that one drop of the water distilled thereout, will kill a man within the space of an houre, which is commonly knowne * 1.52 euen to the Women of Africa.

The Roote Surnag growing also vpon the Westerne part of Mount Atlas, is said to be very comfortable and preseruatiue vnto the priuie parts of man, and being drunke in an Electuary, to * 1.53 stirre vp venereall lust, &c. Neither must I here omit that, which the Inhabitants of Mount Atlas doe commonly report, that many of those Damosels which keepe Cattell vpon the said Mountaines, haue lost their Virginitie by none other occasion, but by making water vpon the said Roote: vnto whom I would in merriment answere, that I beleeued all which experience had taught, concerning the secret vertue of the same Roote, yea, they affirmed moreouer, that [ 50] some of their Maidens were so infected with this roote, that they were not onely defloured of their Virginitie, but had also their whole bodies puffed vp and swolne.

These are the things memorable and worthy of knowledge, seene and obserued by me Iohn Leo, throughout all Africa, which Country I haue in * 1.54 all places trauelled quite ouer: wherein whatsoeuer I saw worthy the obseruation, I presently committed to writing; and those things which I saw not, I procured to bee at large declared vnto mee by most credible and substantiall persons, which were themselues eye-witnesses of the same: and so hauing gotten a fit oportu∣nitie, I thought good to reduce these my Trauels and Studies into this one Volume.

Forasmuch, as men desire to reade later occurrents, and these my Labours are intended not to the profit and pleasure alone; but to the honour also of the English Name and Nation, I haue added this following Discourse of the late Warres in Barbarie: not yet pursuing them to these Times, but contenting my selfe [ 60] with the beginnings, and some yeares proceedings thereof, the English hauing (as you shall see) yea, being no small part therein; Quae regio in terris nostri non plena laboris; The voluntarie English aduentures in the Ciuill vnciuill broiles of Ice-frozen Muscouia, of Sunne-scorched Barbarie, of Turkish and

Persian fights by Sea, the Mogols by Land, the Sweden, Polish, Germane, Bohemian, Belgian, and many-headed-Italian Broyles neerer home; the Easterne and Westerne Indies, the Artike Nor∣therne Circle, and Southermost Africa remote, haue really exceeded the fabulous Deuices of deuising F••blers, in Knight-Aduentures, the Issues and Occupations of idle braines. As for the mann••r of the Seriffian Family, attayning at first to the Barbarian Scepter, and the monstrous Saint-ship and porten∣tuous power of Side Hamet, getting the Kingdome from the Brethren, and of Side Hia which dispos∣sessed him of it and his life, you haue more full Relations in my Pilgrimage, with other Occurrents. Here it is more fit to let you heare others speake then my selfe.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Of the African Beasts diffe∣ring from the European. The manner of taking Ele∣phants in Ethiopia.
• * 1.2

  As by a tame Female draw∣ing him to an inclosed place: and by a tame Male fighting with the wilde one in the Wood, and meane while men with ropes fastning his hinder legs. The Beast cal∣led Giraffa.
• * 1.3

  Here is a word wanting in the ori∣ginall. The Camell.
• * 1.4

  The African Camels are the best.
• * 1.5

  Three kinds of Camels.
• * 1.6

  Camels of a wond••r••ull swi••tnes, o∣therwise called Dromidaries.
• * 1.7

  The Camels great absti∣nence from drinke.
• * 1.8

  How the Ca∣mels o Cairo learne to dance.
• * 1.9

  Barbary or Ara∣bian Horses.
• * 1.10

  Horses fed with Camels milke.
• * 1.11

  The wilde Horse. Wild Horses are vsuall with the Tartars & at the Riuer of Plate (but of ••panish bread. Lant.
• * 1.12

  Targets made of a skin.
• * 1.13

  The wild Oxe.
• * 1.14

  The wild Asse.
• * 1.15

  The Oxen vp∣the Mountains of Africa.
• * 1.16

  The beast cal∣led Adimmain.
• * 1.17

  The African Ramme.
• * 1.18

  Huge tayle.
• * 1.19

  The Lyon.
• * 1.20

  The Leopard.
• * 1.21

  The beast cal∣led Dabuh.
• * 1.22

  The Ciuet Cat
• * 1.23

  The manner of gathering Ci∣uet.
• * 1.24

  The Ape. Monkeyes and Baboones.
• * 1.25

  The Sea Horse
• * 1.26

  The Sea Oxe.
• * 1.27

  The Tor••oyse. Bicri his Booke of the Regi∣on•• of Africa.
• * 1.28

  The Crocodile The craft of the Crocodile in taking both men & beast••.
• * 1.29

  Litle Birds fly∣ing into the Crocodiles mouth to pick wormes from betweene their teeth.
• * 1.30

  The Dragon.
• * 1.31

  The Hydra.
• * 1.32

  The creature called Dub.
• * 1.33

  The Guarall.
• * 1.34

  The Camelion
• * 1.35

  It is obserued to eate Flyes.
• * 1.36

  How the Ca∣melion killeth the Serpent.
• * 1.37

  The Ostrich.
• * 1.38

  Of Fowles, and first of the Eagle.
• * 1.39

  A strange nar∣ration.
• * 1.40

  The Fowle called Nesir.
• * 1.41

  Hawkes.
• * 1.42

  Parats or Poppiniay.
• * 1.43

  The Locusts.
• * 1.44

  Of Minerals and Fruits, Rootes: and first of Mine∣rall Salt. One pound of Salt for halfe a Duckat.
• * 1.45

  The Minerall called Anti∣monie.
• * 1.46

  Of Euphor∣bium.
• * 1.47

  Of Pitch.
• * 1.48

  Pitch made in Mount Atlas.
• * 1.49

  The Fruit cal∣led Mau•• or Musa.
• * 1.50

  Of Cassia.
• * 1.51

  The Roote called Tau∣zarghente.
• * 1.52

  The Roote cal∣led Addad.
• * 1.53

  The Roote cal∣led Surnag.
• * 1.54

  That is, in Barbarie, Nu∣midia, Libya, the Land of Negros, and Egypt.