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.

§. II.

His trading on the Coast, offer to escape, imprisonment, exile; escape, and new [ 50] imprisonment: his sending to Elambo, and Bahia Das Vaccas; Many strange occurrents.

THen I was sent to Longo, which is fifteene Leagues to the North-ward of the Riuer Zaire: and carried all Commodities fit for that Countrey; as long Glasse-beads, and round Blew beads, and Seed beads, and Looking-glasses, Blew and Red course cloth, and Irish Rugs, which were very rich Commodities. Heere wee sold our cloth at a * 1.1 great rate, for we had for one yard of cloth, three Elephants teeth, that weighed one hundred [ 60] and twenty pound: and we bought great store of Palme-cloth, and Elephants tayles. So in little time, we laded our Pinnasse. For this Voyage I was very welcome to the Gouernour; who promised me my liberty, if I would serue him. So I went in his Pinnasse two yeeres and a halfe vpon the Coast.

Then there came a ship of Holland to the Citie, the Merchant of which ship promised to carrie me away. And when they were readie to depart, I went secretly aboord; but I was be∣wrayed * 1.2 by Portugals, which sailed in the ship, and was fetched on shoare by the Sergeants of the Citie, and put in Prison, and lay with great bolts of Iron two moneths, thinking that the Gouernour would haue put me to death: but at last, I was banished for euer, to the Fort of Mas∣sangano, to serue in the Conquest of those Parts. Here I liued a most miserable life for the space of sixe yeeres, without any hope to see the Sea againe.

In this Fort there were Egyptians and Moriscoes, that were banished as my selfe. To one of these Egyptians I brake my mind, and told him, that it were better for vs to venture our liues for our libertie, then to liue in that miserable place. This Egyptian was as willing as my selfe, [ 10] and told me, he would procure ten of his consorts to goe with vs. So we got three Egyptians, and seuen Portugals. That night, we got the best Canoe that we could find, and went downe the Riuer Coanza: and being as farre downe as Mani Cabech, which is a little Lord in the * 1.3 Prouince of Elamba, we went on shoare with our twelue Muskets, Powder, and Shot. Heere we sunke our Canoe, because they should not know where we went on shoare. We made a little fire in the Wood, and scorched Ginie Wheat, which we brought from Massangano to relieue vs, for we had none other food.

Assoone as it was night, wee tooke our iourney all that night, and the next day without any water at all. The second night, we were not able to goe, and were faine to digge and scrape vp rootes of Trees, and sucke them to maintaine life. The third day, wee met with an old Negro, [ 20] which was trauailing to Mani Cabech, we bound his hands behind him, and made him leade * 1.4 vs the way to the Lake of Casansa. And trauiling all the day in this extreme hot Countrie, we came to the Bansa, or Towne of Mani Casansa, which lieth within the Land twelue leagues from the Citie of San Paulo. Here we were forced to aske water: but they would giue vs none. Then we determined to make them flee their houses with our shot: but seeing that we were de∣sperately bent, they called their Lord Mani Casansa, who gaue vs water and faire speeches, de∣siring vs to stay all night, onely to betray vs: but we departed presently, and rested that night in the Lake of Casansa.

The fourth day at night, we came to the Riuer which is toward the North, and passed it * 1.5 with great danger. For there are such abundance of Crocodiles in this Riuer, that no man dare [ 30] come neere the Riuer side, where it is deepe. The fift day at night, wee came to the Riuer Dande, and trauailed so farre to the Eastward, that we were right against the Serras, or Moun∣taines of Manibangono, which is a Lord that warreth against the King of Congo, whither wee intended to goe. Here we passed the Riuer, and rested halfe the night. And being two leagues from the Riuer, we met with Negroes, which asked vs, whither we trauailed. Wee told them, that we were going to Congo. These Negroes said, that we were in the wrong way, and that they were Masicongos, and would carrie vs to Bambe, where the Duke of Bambe lay.

So wee went some three miles East vp into the Land, till wee perceiued that we were the wrong way: for we trauailed by the Sunne, and would goe no farther that way: and turned backe againe to the Westward, they stood before vs with their Bowes, Arrowes and Darts, [ 40] readie to shoot at vs. But we determining to goe through them, discharged sixe Muskets toge∣ther, and killed foure; which did amaze them, and made them to retire. But they followed vs foure or fiue miles, and hurt two of our companie with their Arrowes. The next day, we came into the borders of Bamba, and trauailed all that day. At night, we heard the surge of the Sea. The seuenth day in the morning, we saw the Captain of the Citie come after vs with Horsmen, * 1.6 and great store of Negroes. Hereupon our companie being dismayed, seuen of our faint-hearted Portugals hid themselues in the Thickes. I and the foure Egyptians thought to haue escaped: but they followed vs so fast, that we were faine to goe into a little Wood. Assoone as the Cap∣taine had ouertaken vs, he discharged a volley of shot into the Wood, which made vs lose one another.

Thus being all alone, I bethought my selfe, that if the Negroes did take me in the Woods, [ 50] they would kill me: wherefore, thinking to make a better end among the Portugals and Mul∣latos, * 1.7 I came presently out of the Wood with my Musket readie charged, making none account * 1.8 of my life. But the Captaine, thinking that we had beene all twelue together, called to me, and said, Fellow Souldier, I haue the Gouernours pardon, if you will yeeld your selues, you shall haue no hurt. I hauing my Musket readie, answered the Captaine, that I was an Englishman, and had serued sixe yeeres at Massangono, in great miserie; and came in companie with eleuen Portugals and Egyptians, and here am left all alone; and rather then I will be hanged, I will die amongst you. Then the Captaine came neere vnto me, and said; Deliuer thy Musket to one of the Souldiers, and I protest, as I am a Gentleman, and a Souldier, to saue thy life, for thy reso∣lute [ 60] mind. Whereupon I yeelded vp my Musket and my selfe. * 1.9

Then the Captaine commanded all the Souldiers and Negroes to search the Woods, and to bring them out aliue or dead; which was presently done. Then they carried vs to the Citie of San Paulo: where I, and the three Egyptians lay in Prison three moneths, with Collars of Iron, and great Bolts vpon our legs, and hardly escaped.

At that time the Gouernour sent foure hundred men, that were banished out of Portugall, vp * 1.10 into the Countrey of Elambe. Then I was with Proclamation through the Citie banished for euer to the Warres, and marched with them to Sowonso, which is a Lord, that obeyeth the Duke of Bambe: from thence to Samanibansa, and then to Namba Calamba, which is a great Lord, who did resist vs: but we burned his Towne, and then he obeyed vs, and brought three thou∣sand warlike Negroes to vs. From thence to Sollancango a little Lord, that fought very despe∣rately with vs, but was forced to obey: and then to Combrecaianga, where we remayned two yeares. From this place wee gaue many assaults, and brought many Lords to subiection. Wee were fifteene thousand strong, and marched to the Outeiro, or Mountaine of Ingombe. But first * 1.11 we burned all Ingasia, which was his Countrey, and then we came to the chiefe Towne of In∣gombe, [ 10] which is halfe a dayes iourney to goe vp.

This Lord came vpon vs with more then twentie thousand Bowes, and spoyled many of our men. But with our shot we made a great spoyle among them, whereupon he retyred vp into the Mountaine, and sent one of his Captaines to our Generall; signifying, that the next day hee would obey him. The next day he entred our Campe in great pompe with Drums, Petes, and Pongoes, or Waytes, and was royally receiued: and he gaue great Presents, and greatly inriched the Generall, and them which marched vp. Vpon the toppe of the Mountaine is a great Plaine, where he hath his chiefe Towne; verie fresh, full of Palme-trees, Sugar-canes, Potatos, and other roots, and great store of Oranges and Limons. Here is a Tree that is called Engeriay, that beareth a fruit as big as a Pome-water, and hath a stone in it, present remedie for the Wind * 1.12 Cholicke, which was strange to the Portugals. Here is a Riuer of fresh water, that springeth [ 20] out of the Mountaine, and runneth all along the Towne. Wee were here fiue dayes, and then we marched vp into the Countrey, and burned and spoyled for the space of sixe weekes; and then returned to Engombe againe with great store of slaues, sheepe and Goates, and great store of Margarite stones, which are currant money in that Land. Here we pitched our Campe a league from this pleasant Mountaine, which remayned twelue monethes: but I was shot in my right legge, and many Portugals and Mullatos, were carryed to the Citie to be cured.

Then the Gouernour sent a Frigat to the South-ward with sixtie Souldiers, my selfe beeing * 1.13 one of the company, and all kind of Commodities. We turned vp to the South-ward till wee [ 30] came into twelue degrees. Here we found a faire sandie Bay. The people of this place brought vs Cowes and Sheepe, Wheate and Beanes; but we stayed not there, but came to Bahia das Vac∣cas, that is, the Bay of Cowes, which the Portugals call, Bahia de Torre, because it hath a rocke like a Towre. Here wee roade on the North-side of the Rocke in a sandie Bay; and bought great store of Cowes, and Sheepe bigger then our English Sheepe, and very fine Copper. Also * 1.14 we bought a kind of sweet wood, called Cacongo, which the Portugals esteeme much, and great store of Wheate and Beanes. And hauing laded our Barke wee sent her home: but fiftie of vs stayed on shoare, and made a little Fort with rafters of wood, because the people of this place are treacherous, and not to to bee trusted. So in seuenteene dayes wee had fiue hundred head of [ 40] Cattell: and within tenne dayes the Gouernour sent three shippes and so wee departed to the Citie.

In this Bay may any ship ride without danger, for it is a smooth Coast. Here may any shippe * 1.15 that commeth out of the East Indies refresh themselues. For the Portugals Carracks now of late come along that Coast, to the Citie to water and refresh themselues. These people are called, Endallanbondos, and haue no gouernment among themselues: and therefore they are verie treche∣rous, and those that trade with these people must stand vpon their owne guard. They are very simple and of no courage, for thirtie or fortie men may goe boldly vp into the Countrey, and fetch downe whole Heards of Cattell. We bought the Cattell for blue glasse-beads of an inch long, which are called, Mopindes; and payd fifteene beads for one Cow.

This Prouince is called, Dombe, and it hath a ridge of high Serras, or Mountaines, that * 1.16 [ 50] stretch from the Serras, or Mountaines of Cambambe, wherein are Mines; and lye along that Coast South and by West. Here is great store of fine Copper, if they would worke in their Mines: but they take no more, then they weare for a brauerie. The men of this place weare skinnes about their middles, and beads about their neckes. They carrie Darts of Iron, and Bow and Arrowes in their hands. They are beastly in their liuing, for they haue men in womens * 1.17 apparell, whom they keepe among their wiues.

Their women weare a Ring of Copper about their neckes, which weigheth fifteene pound * 1.18 at the least, about their armes little Rings of Copper, that reach to their elbowes, about their middles a cloth of the Insandie Tree, which is neither spunne nor wouen, on their legs Rings of Copper, that reach to the calues of their legs. [ 60]

Notes

• * 1.1

  Blew and Red course wool••n cloth, and Irish Rugs, rich Commodities.
• * 1.2

  A ship of Hol∣land on that Coast Imprison∣ment. Massangano Fort, Sixe yeeres miserie.
• * 1.3

  He fleeth from Massangano. The Riuer Coanza. Elamba.
• * 1.4

  Mani Cabech. Lake of Ca∣sansa. The Towne of Mani Casansa, is twelue leagues from the Citie of San Paulo.
• * 1.5

  The Riuer Bengo. Abundance of dangerous Crocodiles. The Riuer Dande. Manibangono.
• * 1.6

  Bamba.
• * 1.7

  A. B. left alone.
• * 1.8

  His resolution.
• * 1.9

  He yeeldeth. They were ta∣ken prisoners, and sent again to the Citie of San Paulo.
• * 1.10

  Foure hun∣dred banished Portugals employed in the Warres. Sowonso. Namba Calamba Sollancango Combricaianga.
• * 1.11

  Ingasia. Ingombe.
• * 1.12

  A fruit good for the Collick
• * 1.13

  Sending to Ba∣hia das Uaccas, or Bahia de Torre.
• * 1.14

  Store of Cowes, great Sheepe, and fine Copper. Cacongo a sweet wood.
• * 1.15

  A good Bay and fit refre∣shing from the East Indies. Endallanbondos. Carrel bought for blue glasse beads of an inchlong.
• * 1.16

  Dombe. Mines of fine Copper.
• * 1.17

  Men effemi∣nate.
• * 1.18

  The attyre of their women.