A new history of Ethiopia being a full and accurate description of the kingdom of Abessinia, vulgarly, though erroneously called the empire of Prester John : in four books ... : illustrated with copper plates
Ludolf, Hiob, 1624-1704., J. P., Gent.
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CHAP. II. Of the Situation and Bounds of Abessinia.

The Situation above Egypt, and degrees of Latitude. The Error of Jovius, and the vulgar Tables. The true Latitude. The conjectural Latitude. The Bounds toward the North, and toward the East. Toward the South. Toward the West.

IN Africa, above Egypt, beyond(a)Nubia, lies Habas∣sia very near between the Eighteenth and Sixteenth Degree of Northern Latitude; being(b) called by some the Upper Ethiopia. It extends not altogether so far as the Equi∣noctial Line, much less can it be said to cross it. Which notwithstanding, almost all Geographers and Historians have hitherto asserted; whether it were that they did not rightly understand the Sayings and Writings of others; or whether deceived by the Credit of Paulus Jovius, who writes that the Kingdom of Sceva, (Sewa or Scheva) beholds the An∣artick Pole elevated in two and twenty degrees; whereas it is in no place to be seen where Shewa lies. Which mistake as seems most probable, he too unwarily drew, not from the Abessines, utterly ignorant of those things, but from a certain Ancient Geographical Map of Africa; the Author of which has so far extended Habessinia, that he has joyned it to another Region known only to himself; fearing to seem ignorant of what lay between by leaving a space. As if it were a shame to be ignorant of that which flies the piercing examination of human wit, and can be no otherwise disco∣vered but by experiment.

But the Jesuits, mores kilful in Spherical Discipline, by the Assistance of the Astrolabe, were the first who taught us that same true Latitude, from the North to the South, already mention'd. But they were not able to make it out: Yet so far as could be rendred most probable and certain, by con∣jecture, and the length of Journeys, the Portugals do reckon this Kingdom, where it is broadest, to contain a a Hundred and Forty of their Leagues. But the longest Page  11 Journey directly Westward, is to be accounted from the Red Sea to the farthest Limits of Dembea. For most sure it is, that the Bounds of this Empire do from the East and West, as it were Conically lessen; besides that the Gallans have torn several of its Members from it.

Toward the North it has adjoyning to it, the Kingdom of Fund, otherwise Sennar, by the Portugals called Fungi; a part of Ancient Nubia. Toward the East it was formerly bounded by the Red Sea: But now the Port of Arkiko, with the adjacent Island of Matzua being taken, all that Coast obeys the Turk, who are Masters of that Sea. A Sea that affords but little convenience for Harbors, full of Shelves and Quick-sands, and besides that, the Islands which belong to it are Untill'd, ill Inhabited, and labouring under such a scarcity of Water in the midd'st of the Sea, that they neither afford Accommodation nor Security to Strangers, for which reason they are but little visited. The Mouth of the Streight is very narrow, and of so ill a fame for frequent Shipwracks, that the Arabians call it Bab-elmendeb, the(c) Port of Af∣fliction. To those that enter into it, the Kingdom of Dan∣cale appears upon the left hand. The Prince of this Terri∣tory is a Friend to the Abessines, and Commands the Port of Baylur, where the Patriarch sent from Rome, first Landed, and travelled thence into Abessinia. More within the Streight lies the King of Adela, a Mahumetan; a Profest Enemy, and in the last Century, the Scourge of the Habessines. Next follow in their Order the Kingdoms of Dawaro, Bali, Fata∣gar, Wed, Bizamo, Cambata, with several other Provinces, either possessed or wasted by the Barbarous Nation of the Gallans. From thence the Countries winding about the Eighth Degree toward the South, Alaba and Jendero, by the Portugals called Gingiro, Kingdoms of the Gentiles, terminate Habessinia; till you come to Enarea, the last Kingdom, seated between the Eighth and Ninth Degree of Latitude, toward the Northwest. Lastly the River Maleg, and Nilus it self, rolling along through several vast Desarts, close up the Western Limits. Nor are there any other Nations wor∣thy to be mentioned thereabout, till you come to the North,Page  12 and the Kingdom of Sennar, already nam'd, unless the wan∣dring Ethiopians, which the Ancients called Numades and Trog∣lodytes; and the Abessines Shankala.