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VOHITSBANG.
THe Territory of Vohitsbang reacheth from the River Manatengha, in three and twenty Degrees and a half, to the River Mananghare, and Bor∣ders upon Anradsahock, and Fangaterre, containing within it a Lordship call'd Manacaronha, lying at the River Mambondrou.
This Countrey boasts several Rivers; as, first, Manatengha, * 1.1 which with four Mouthes, viz. Vinangadsimo, Manamaza, Sagandacan, and Vinangavarats, pours it self into the Sea: D' Aviboule; by the French call'd St. Giles, four French Miles from Manatengha: D' Andraghinta, two Miles higher: Sandrivinangha, a Mile fur∣ther, issuing out of the Mountain of Viboullo: Monambondrou, three or four Miles from thence: Massianash, fifteen French Miles from Aviboulle, where they find a good Bay for Barques, by the French call'd Ance de Borgne, that is, The crooked Bay. Four Miles more Northerly lies Mananghare, which hath seven Mouthes, but all stopp'd up with great Rocky Cliffs. It cometh out of Ito∣mampo, lying towards the West; but augmented by three other fair Rivers, Janghainou, Itamampou, and Mangharak; all which, uniting with this, lose their Names.
This Coast, from the River Manhafia to Sandravinangha, stands inviron'd with the high Mountains of Viboulle, full of Woods, Dates, and Honey, and afford∣ing some Gold: And indeed the whole Tract, though very Mountainous, yet produces abundance of Honey, Oxen, Sugar-canes, Ignames, Rice, and other Provisions for Food, besides many Iron Mines.
The Inhabitants are all Black of Colour, * 1.2 with bushy curl'd Hair upon their Heads; living in a perpetuated Contention, upon ancient Feuds, or old Quarrels, * 1.3 intayl'd both to Memory and Revenge from the Parents to the Chil∣dren. They are so great Thieves, that sometimes they will take away the Chil∣dren and Slaves of their Neighbors, and nearest Kindred in Blood, to carry and sell them in far distant Places.
They have an innate Enmity to the Zafferamini, as believing, That by their Skill in Writing certain Characters, they can bewitch, bring Sicknesses upon, and at last kill them. At the Mouthes of Manatengha live none but Om∣pizees, or poor Fisher-men.
They make their Clothes for the most part of peelings of Trees, * 1.4 which they call Fautastranou, and Avo; or else they buy Cotton Clothes in Carnossi or Ampatre.
Their Arms are Wooden Shields, cover'd with an Oxes Hide, * 1.5 and an heavy Assagay, or Lance.
They have as many Governors, as Townships; * 1.6 but none of them have any Religion: yet they eat no Swines Flesh by Custom, and are Circumcis'd.