Africa being an accurate description of the regions of Ægypt, Barbary, Lybia, and Billedulgerid, the land of Negroes, Guinee, Æthiopia and the Abyssines : with all the adjacent islands, either in the Mediterranean, Atlantick, Southern or Oriental Sea, belonging thereunto : with the several denominations fo their coasts, harbors, creeks, rivers, lakes, cities, towns, castles, and villages, their customs, modes and manners, languages, religions and inexhaustible treasure : with their governments and policy, variety of trade and barter : and also of their wonderful plants, beasts, birds and serpents : collected and translated from most authentick authors and augmented with later observations : illustrated with notes and adorn'd with peculiar maps and proper sculptures / by John Ogilby, Esq. ...

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Title
Africa being an accurate description of the regions of Ægypt, Barbary, Lybia, and Billedulgerid, the land of Negroes, Guinee, Æthiopia and the Abyssines : with all the adjacent islands, either in the Mediterranean, Atlantick, Southern or Oriental Sea, belonging thereunto : with the several denominations fo their coasts, harbors, creeks, rivers, lakes, cities, towns, castles, and villages, their customs, modes and manners, languages, religions and inexhaustible treasure : with their governments and policy, variety of trade and barter : and also of their wonderful plants, beasts, birds and serpents : collected and translated from most authentick authors and augmented with later observations : illustrated with notes and adorn'd with peculiar maps and proper sculptures / by John Ogilby, Esq. ...
Author
Ogilby, John, 1600-1676.
Publication
London :: Printed by Tho. Johnson for the author ...,
1670.
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"Africa being an accurate description of the regions of Ægypt, Barbary, Lybia, and Billedulgerid, the land of Negroes, Guinee, Æthiopia and the Abyssines : with all the adjacent islands, either in the Mediterranean, Atlantick, Southern or Oriental Sea, belonging thereunto : with the several denominations fo their coasts, harbors, creeks, rivers, lakes, cities, towns, castles, and villages, their customs, modes and manners, languages, religions and inexhaustible treasure : with their governments and policy, variety of trade and barter : and also of their wonderful plants, beasts, birds and serpents : collected and translated from most authentick authors and augmented with later observations : illustrated with notes and adorn'd with peculiar maps and proper sculptures / by John Ogilby, Esq. ..." In the digital collection Early English Books Online 2. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A70735.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed June 23, 2025.

Pages

Page 193

TEMESNE, or TEMECENE.

THis Jurisdiction, the most Westerly part of the Kingdom of Fez, * 1.1 hath for bound on the East, the River Buragrag; on the West, the River Ommira∣bih; on the North, the Great Ocean; and on the South, Atlas. The length, from East to West, is accounted Seventeen Miles, and the breadth Thirty.

This was formerly so flourishing a Countrey, that it contained Forty, or, * 1.2 as Gramay says, a Hundred and twenty great Cities, Three hundred good Towns, and exceeding many Villages, some whereof as good as Walled Ci∣ties; most of which are so totally ruined in their Civil Wars, that scarce any remainders of them can be found.

The most eminent Places now in being, toward the Sea, are Cape Cocor, * 1.3 a few Miles Northward of the River Ommirabih, Escossor, Cabo del Camelo, that is, Camels Cape, and the City Anasfe, or Anfa, built by the Romans on the Coast of the Atlantike, Twenty Miles North from Atlas, Eighteen Westward from Azamor, and about Nineteen from Rabat: here is a strong Fort, built by the Arabians, who keep in i a great Garrison.

This City triumphed formerly in stately Mosques, magnificent Palaces, Shops and Warehouses of rich Merchandise: of all which at present nothing remains but decayed heaps of Rubbish. This desolation was thrown upon it by the Portuguese in so fatal an hour, that it hath never been repaired.

Almansora, or Mansora, was built by Almansor, King of Morocco, * 1.4 by the River Guir, in a delightful Plain, Two small Miles from the Ocean, and about Twenty from Rabat, now thinly inhabited by the Arabians.

Sala, or Sella, a Place distinct from the beforementioned Salee, * 1.5 built by the Romans on the River Buragrag, Two little Miles from the Atlantike, and One from Rabat. King Mansor erected here a stately Mosque and Princely Palace, with a Marble Portico and Chappel adjoyning, artificially beautified with all manner of Carved Work, wherein he had ordered his Body to be laid after his Death: which accordingly was performed, and a Marble Stone, whereon was Engraven an Epitaph, laid at his Head, and another at his Feet, and ever since all his Successours have been there Interred.

On the same Shore you may see Rotima, the Cape of Sale, or Sala, * 1.6 and some small Islands, the greatest of which is supposed to be the Pena of the Ancients.

Rabat, a great City, thought to be the Oppium of Ptolomy, and Key of Barbary, scituate upon a great Rock, to the East of the River Buragrag, which there falls into the Ocean, hath for its defence a strong Castle, and for Ornament many Mosques, Palaces, Shops, and Bathes; without on the South-side standeth a high Tower, discernable far off at Sea, and consequently a good Mark for Sailers. Half a Mile from hence lies the ruinous City Menkale.

¶ INland Places are, Nuchaile, a small demolished City: Adendum, * 1.7 formerly called Ekath, Four Miles from Mount Atlas, and Seven from Nuchaile: Tegeget, or Tegegilt, near the River Ommirabib, in the Way from Tedle to Fez: * 1.8 Hain el Chelu, a small, but populous City upon a Plain: Maderauvan, * 1.9 or Ma∣daravan, formerly Dorath, seated on the River Buragraph, Six Miles from Atlas:

Page 194

Thagia, * 1.10 or Dagia, is a small City, forty Miles from Fez: heretofore a Place of great note, for the Sepulchres of divers Holy Men, who miraculously re∣strained, or drove away the Lyons: for which kindness the Inhabitants of Fez, and other Places, go Thirty yearly in Pilgrimage, with much seeming Devotion.

Zarfa, * 1.11 a meer heap of Ruines, yet affording shelter to some Countrey people.

¶ THe Soyl of this Province is every where Flat, * 1.12 and Fertile, by reason of the River wherewith it is Watered, yielding great store of Corn, espe∣cially in the Plains of Anfe: which, as also Mansora, Rabat, and Zarfa abound with Fruits, especially Oar, by the Inhabitants call'd Rabih, in Shape like a Cherry, but having the Taste of * 1.13 Jujubes: they bear also excellent Melons, which growing ripe in April before those of Fez, and carried thither, find a quick Market: and so their Grapes. But Thagia, by reason of the coldness of the Air, is so Barren, that it affords neither Corn nor Fruits, yet sends forth great store of Honey, which yields to the Inhabitants a profitable Return. Goats are here very numerous; so also very fierce Lyons, and Leopards, whose daily ranging strikes great terrour into the people. The Pastures of Tegeget feed all sorts of Cattel. Adendum and Mader Auran, from their own Veins, furnish them with Iron.

¶ THe Citizens of Anfe go neatly Clad, * 1.14 and drive a great Trade with the English and Portuguese: but that that proved most to their prejudice, were their Pyracies, especially those committed upon the people of Cadiz, which not onely took away the kindness of Commerce, but turned their Tra∣ding Friends to Enemies. Those of Thagia were Dull, Clownish, and Ill-natured.

Temesne was formerly so mighty and populous, * 1.15 that it sent into the Field again Joseph-Aben-Tefzin, the first Builder of Morocco, an Army of Fifty thou∣sand Men, to drive him out of the Countrey; but upon the approach of the King's Forces, such a Panick fear consternated their minds, that they fled, not making the least resistance, to Fez, King Joseph pursuing them at their heels in∣to their Countrey, which he laid waste, burning and destroying all before him. The King of Fez also fearing the Conquerour, not onely refused to give protection to those that were by flight come thither, but fell upon them with equal fury, making the like slaughter: which violent prosecution raging against them so fiercely for ten whole Moneths, the Countrey was in a manner utterly depopulated, and Temesne a harbour for wild beasts. After a Hundred and fifty years, King Mansor finding it then unpeopled, gave it to some Arabi∣ans, who inhabited there near Fifty years; but them, together with Marcer, were expelled by the Kings of the Family of Lunfun. And since that, the Peo∣ple of Zanete and Haore, by the Marin Princes were Seated here, viz. about the Year Fifteen hundred, and therein have so well thriven, that the King of Fez is jealous of them, having a watchful Eye over their Actions, yet holding a Peace with them, and unwilling to stir up any animosities, as knowing they are able to bring into the Field Threescore thousand Men, and have under their Command Two hundred Forts and Castles.

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[illustration]
La RACHE.

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Page 195

Notes

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