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.

§ I. [ 30]

What course the ships hold which seeke to goe to the Gold Coast of Guinea. Of Cape Verde, and the course from thence.

SVch ships as passe by the Ilands of Canadai, must thence (if they will haue traf∣fique at Cap•• Verde) hold 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉 South and by East, and South South-east, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 they be vnder fifteene degrees, and 〈◊〉〈◊〉 seeing no Land, they must hold their course East, till they find 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 not South because of stormes, which al∣wayes [ 40] come from the East and 〈…〉〈…〉ing 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Cape Verde, they must hold their course somewhat South and by West, vntill they be a good way from the Land, or at least without it, for that commonly they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 hardly got from the Land, by reason of the stormes, and the wind that comes out of the Sea, which alwayes 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them to the Land, whereby commonly men are nee••er to the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉 they thinke they are. And those that meane also to traffique on the 〈◊〉〈◊〉 of Ma••igette, when they are aboue the Bassis of Rio grande, then they, must seeke to get to the Land, that they may enter into Sierra Leona, and other Riu, is there to make t••••••r pro••••t▪ ••••d ••ll along th•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 other Riuers and Townes, vn∣till they come to Cape 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 then they 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 their course along by the Cape de [ 50] tres punctus. But they 〈…〉〈…〉 not to 〈…〉〈…〉 or the Graine * 1.1 Coast, but on∣ly seeke to goe right 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to the 〈…〉〈…〉 course by the Ilands of Ca∣nari••, * 1.2 and sayle South 〈…〉〈…〉 Cape V••••d••, leauing them commonly on Bagh-boord, or as the wind serueth them, being vnder ten, nine, or eight degrees, then they begin 〈…〉〈…〉 the Land, 〈…〉〈…〉 course South and by East, and by the same course to seeke to g••t 〈◊〉〈◊〉 all B〈…〉〈…〉 and sha•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 without altering their course▪ for they that fall vpon Saint Annes shallow 〈…〉〈…〉, haue much labour and pain before they can get off 〈◊〉〈◊〉 them 〈…〉〈…〉 they 〈◊〉〈◊〉 great deale of time, oftentimes thinking that they 〈…〉〈…〉 from th•• shallo〈…〉〈…〉, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 their: 〈◊〉〈◊〉 is still vpon them, which is because it is no continuall shallow, but ••••ll of deepe pits: for in one place you shall [ 60] haue three f••t••••me deep〈…〉〈…〉 〈◊〉〈◊〉 then againe 〈…〉〈…〉 and then againe, the fireame driues you still to Land so that 〈…〉〈…〉 of the 〈…〉〈…〉 what to do, and are put to much trouble 〈…〉〈…〉 their Voyage 〈…〉〈…〉. Now, sayling further, and comming vnder seuen and 〈…〉〈…〉 specially, when

it is not a time of Trauadoes, which is in Aprill, May, and Iune, whereof men are in great feare. It fell out so with vs, that beeing vnder those highthes, we were twentie dayes driuing in a calme, without winning any great highth, and that which we wonne with the Current, the next day we lost it againe with a contrary wind; so that you must beware of the Land in any hand, specially, those that goe to Brasilia, for they must take heed, not to goe too neere the Land, left the calme taketh them: I once found a ship thereabouts, which thought to sayle to the Bay, de Todos los Sanctos, and thinking that the streame draue him vpon the Coast of West * 1.3 India, fell there vpon the Graine Coast, so that hee was forced to goe backe againe, and beeing not able to fall into his right course, hee was constrayned to leaue it, and in stead of sayling to Brasilia, he was forced to goe to Saint Thomas, so that vnder those highthes, you can doe nothing [ 10] with the wind, but onely by the current, which alwaies runnes East with the bough.

They that sayle to East India, also shunne this calme as much as possible they may, to get a∣boue the sand, or rife of Brasilia, for otherwise they must whether they will or not, goe to Cape T••xes Gonsalues, and then sayle along vnder the Equinoctiall Line, at least three or foure hun∣dred miles, before they can get againe into their right course, as it happened not long since to some of our ships, which was a great hinderance vnto their Voyage, further hauing past this * 1.4 calme, and towards the Land about Cape de las Palmas, or to some other places, which you know, then you must hold your course along by the Land, but no neerer to the Land then eight and twentie fathomes deepe, till you come to Cape de tres punctus, where the Golden Coast begins, and where the Hollanders traffique with the Negroes.

First, passing the Riuer of Senega, you begin to draw neere to Cape Verde, which is a piece [ 20] of Land easily to be knowne, for the first point sheweth it selfe with two hillockes or houels, and lyeth farre into the Sea, and on both the North and South-side thereof loseth the Land, but Southward from the point, about halfe a mile from the Land, there is an Iland seene, whereon many Fowles breed, and great numbers of Egges are found therein, behind this Iland there ly∣eth a great Rocke, a little separated from the Land. This Iland is very vnfit to rayse shallops on, you may sayle betweene the Land and this Iland, with a ship of three hundred and twentie tuns, but not without great feare, for that there are many Rockes lying vnder the water, but for the best securitie of ship and goods, it is better to sayle on the West side of the Iland to the other Iland, where shallops may be set together, which you may see being right against the first Iland, lying about three miles Southeast from the other: these Ilands are not inhabited, and there is nothing to be had in them but great store of ballast and wood to burne, but for that there is a [ 30] conuenient Valley to make shallops in, therefore those places are much vsed, and are the cause that many ships sayle to them, but on the firme Land there are great store of Negroes inhabi∣ting, which traffique with all Nations.

The Countrey people goe naked, only that they hang a piece of Linnen cloth before their * 1.5 priuie members, but their Gouernours (as Captaines and Gentlemen) are better apparelled then the common sort of people, and are well knowne by their Garments to be such. They go in a long Cotton Garment close about them like a womans smocke, full of blue stripes, like feather bed tikes, on their armes they weare many foure-cornerd leather bagges, all close ioy∣ned together, and the like vpon their legges, but what is within them, I know not, be••••use they [ 40] will not let vs see. About their neckes they weare Beads made of Sea-horse Teeth, and some Corals, or Beades which wee bring them, on their heads they weare Caps of the same stuffe that their clothes are, they are people that are very industrious and carefull to get their liuings, their chiefest Trade is Husbandry, to sowe Rice and Corne: their great riches is in Cowes, which there are very scant and deare, but further into the Countrey there are great store, for that men lade whole ships full of Salt hides at Porta dallia, which they take in exchange or bar∣ter for Iron, which place lyeth but seuen or eight miles from Cape Verde. They make very faire Iron worke, and in that Countrey, there is great store of Iron spent, specially faire long barres, whereof they are as curious as any man in the World can be, those they vse to make Instruments of, wherewith to fish, and to labour vpon the Land, as also to make weapons, as Bowes, Ar∣rowes, [ 50] Aponers; and * 1.6 Assagayen they haue no knowledge of God, those that traffique and are conuersant among strange Countrey people, are ciuiller then the common sort of people, they are very greedie eaters, and no lesse drinkers, and very lecherous, and theeuish, and much addi∣cted to vncleanenesse: one man hath as many wiues as hee is able to keepe and maintaine.

The women also are much addicted to leacherie, specially, with strange Countrey people, of * 1.7 whom they are not iealous, as of their owne Countrey people and Neighbours; their Religion is after the manner of Mahomets law, for circumcision and such like toyes. They are also great Lyers, and not to be credited, the principall Commodities that men traffique for there, are * 1.8 Hides, Amber-greece, Gumme of Arabia, Salt, and other wares of small importance, as Rice, [ 60] Graine, Teeth, and some Ciuet. The Portugals also dwell there, with other Nations, where∣with they may freely traffique, because they are not subiects to the King of Spaine; and besides, that they are not Masters of the Countrey, and haue no command but ouer their slaues. The Negroes are vnder the command of their owne Gouernours, which are called Algaier in their Language, which is a Captain of a Village, for euery Village hath his seuerall Algaier, and when

any ship come to anchor there, then the Captaine comes presently aboard with a Canoe, to aske Anchoridge money, which is commonly three barres of Iron, but of such as know not their cu∣stome, they take as much as they can; their bodies are very blacke, and of a good proportion. When they speake, they put out their neckes, like Turkie Cockes, and speake very fast. They haue a speech by themselues.

Leauing Cape Uerde, to saile to the Golden Coast of Myna, the course is best (if the wind will serue) along by the land, to the place where you will Trafique, and deale with the Negros: * 1.9 from Cape Verde to Rio de Gambra, it is fiue and twenty miles, from Rio Gambra to the Baixos of Rio Grande thirty miles, from thence to Sierra Liona, threescore miles; there is a good place to lie in the Winter time, for in the entrie of the Riuer, you haue fiue fathome deepe at the least, [ 10] and so for the space of fourteene miles going South-east towards the Roade, you haue sixteene, fourteene, twelue, ten, and eight fathome water: from the Riuer of Sierra Liona, to Rio de Gali∣nas, (that is, the Riuer of Hens, because there arne many Hens, and very good cheape, at a Mes∣ken a peece) fourty miles, from Rio de Galinas to Cape de Monte eighteene miles, the land of Cape de Monte reacheth South-east, and by South, it is a low land, but the Cape is high land, like a hill, or like a horse necke, with a falling in: from Cape de Monte, to Cape dos Baixos, fiftie miles; from Cape de Bassis to Cape de das Palmas, fiftie miles. These are the three principallest Capes of all the gold Coast; this Cape lieth vnder foure Degrees, and is the furthest land of all the Coast, which reacheth towards the Equinoctiall line, all the land for the most part lieth South-east, and North-west, low ground, sometimes rising, but no high hils to be seene inward [ 20] to the land; from Cape das Palmas, to Cape dc Apollonia, and so to Cape de tres Punctus sixtie miles, from Cape de Monte, to Cape de Miserade, * 1.10 sixteene miles (this Cape is a high land) from Cape de Miserade to Rio de Ceste, foure and twentie miles, all along hither to you, haue good Anchor ground at twelue fathome, the West point is rising land, like to a hill that riseth and sheweth it selfe within the Countrey, when you are North) from it you are then right a∣gainst Rio de Cestes, before in the mouth of the Riuer, there lieth a small Iland, and the Village where you Traffique, lieth a mile vpwards within the Riuer. From Rio de Cestes to Cape das Baixos fiue miles, this Cape sheweth like a saile, and it is a white Rocke which lieth out into the Sea, being two miles from the Cape you saw, foure and thirty, and fiue and thirty fathome water, good Anchor ground, you may hold your course along by the land at two and thirty, [ 30] three & thirty, and foure & thirty fathome deepe; but go no neere if you desire not to go to the gold Coast, because of stormes, with a wind out of the Sea, as also because of Rockes, and foule ground, that are, and is found to be there, which will rather hurt, then doe you good. From Cape de Bassis to Sanguin three miles, thereis much Graine to be bought, and good Traffique to be made. From Sanguin to Bofoe a mile and a halfe, there also is Traffique; from Bofoe to Ser∣tres two miles, there also you may Traffique, and it is a good place: from Sertres to Botowa two * 1.11 miles, it is also a good place to Traffique in: from Bottowa to Synno, fiue miles. There also is Traffique; from Synno to Sonweroboe three miles, from Sonweroboe to Baddoe two miles, from Baddoe to Crou two miles; from Crou to Wappa foure miles; from Wappa to Granchetre two miles: This the French men call Paris (from Granchetre to Goyaua, foure miles, thither there [ 40] commet•• great store of Graine to sell, and it is a good place to Traffique in with the Negros, from Goyaua to Cape de das Palmas three miles, all this from Cape Uerde to Cape de das Palmas is called the Graine or golden Coast (otherwise Mellegette) wherein the Kingdome * 1.12 of Mellie is contained, which by vs that are the Netherlanders is called the Graine Coast: but by others it is called the Coast of Mellegette: This Kingdome of Mellie hath an other Kingdome vnder it, called Bitonni, which lieth not farre from Rio Cestes.

The Kingdome of Mellie is rich of Corne, Graine, Rice, Co••ten, and Flesh, and some Ele∣phants, where by they sell many of their teeth vnto strangers. The inhabitants are mischieuous and cruell, (yet better in one place then in another) alwayes seeking to spoile and intrap strangers, that come thither, and cruelly to murther them; but some Countri-men are better welcome vnto them then others, and those are Frenchmen, because of their long Traffique [ 50] into those Countreys. The Portugalls come very little thither, one Countrey men are better entertained in one place then in another, & that by reason they haue sometimes swaggred there abouts, and for that cause the Negros seeke to be reuenged. The greatest Traffique here is Graine, Teeth, and some Rice; other Wares that are there to be had cannot be bartered for in any great quantity, as gold and Teeth, for there is little to be had, but other necessaries for sustenance of man, are there reasonably to be had, and wine of Palme, which they draw out of the trees, is there very delicate, exceeding sweet, and as excellent as any can be found in those Coasts. The Inhabitants are subiects to their Captain, whom they call Taba, and are very submis∣siue and ready to obey his commandement. The Kings or Captaines of their Villages, are very [ 60] graue, and rule with great seueritie, holding their subiects in great subiection. Their Language differereth in the one place from the other: but most of them speake a little French, by reason, that they are vsed to deale much with the French men, and so get some part of their speech, as they on the gold Coast also doe, who likewise speake a little Portugall, by reason also that the Portugalls in times past vsed to Traffique much there. They are very expert in husbandry, as to

some Graine, wherewith they haue a great Traffique, they are also very cunning, and fine work∣men to make many fine things; specially, very faire Canoes or small Scutes, wherewith they also rowe into Sea, which they cut out of a whole tree (like to a Venetian Goudel) which are very swift to goe; the men haue as many wiues as they can maintaine, but they keepe them very short, and looke neere vnto them. They are likewise very Iealous of their wiues: for if they perceiue that any of their wiues haue plaid false with them, they will seeke great reuenge a∣gainst the partie that hath done them the wrong, and will make warre vpon him, and for that cause, raise all their Countrey, so that the women are not here so common, as on the golden Coast of Mina, and else where. Passing further from Cape das Palmas, you find many Riuers, where you may barter for great store of Teeth, to Cape de Tres Punctas, and for that cause it is [ 10] called the tooth Coast.

Passing Cape de Apolonia, (which lieth betweene Cape las Palmas, and Cape de Tres Punstas) fiue miles further: there lieth a small Castle, but not strong, which is held by the Portugalls, the Village is called Achombeue, and the Castle Ariem, there many Negros dwell, but come sel∣dome aboord our ships that lie there at Anchor, which the Portugalls forbid them to doe. Thus you haue read the Description of the Graine or gold Coast, as also the Tooth Coast, and now you shall read of the Coast of Mina. * 1.13 And first of the Iron people in this golden Coast.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Graine Coast, is Ma∣nigette, so cal∣led of a kind of Grape. Baixas de S. 〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.2

  Sierra Leona. & ••as Palmas.
• * 1.3

  All Saints Bay▪
• * 1.4

  See what hap∣pened to the Dragon and Hector in Cap∣taine Keelings Voyage. Lib. 3. Description of Cape Verde.
• * 1.5

  The people & their apparell.
• * 1.6

  Kind of Darts made Iauelin∣fashion at both ends.
• * 1.7

  Their women.
• * 1.8

  Commodities.
• * 1.9

  The course from Cape Verde. Miles are to be vnderstood Dutch, or as the Latin hath leagues lea•••• seu mil▪ gallica.
• * 1.10

  Nesurade R. C••••••••es.
• * 1.11

  Note.
• * 1.12

  Melli.
• * 1.13

  See Cap. 8.