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. ...

THE ISLAND OF GERBES, OR, ZERBY.

THe Island of Gerbes, * 1.1 Ptolomy calld, Meninx, or Lotofagites; Antoninus, Gerba; Mercator, Zetha; Thevet, Glaukon; the Spaniards, Gelves; the Arabians for∣merly, according to Ananie, Gezira; and at present Algelbens, and the now Inhabitants, Gelbens.

Pliny saith it lies two hundred Paces to the West Entrance of the little Syrtes, and so close to the Shore of the Main Land, that it was formerly annexed by a Bridge, which the Inhabitants upon the Report of an intended Invasion, pulled down.

Leo Africanus, * 1.2 and Gramay give it four Miles in Compass; but Pliny inlarges its Length to eight Miles, and its Breadth to six, scituate in two and thirty Degrees Northern Latitude.

Ptolomy places two Cities on this Island, * 1.3 Meninx and Gerra; but Pliny three, namely, Meninx on the side next Africa, Thoar on the other side, and Sibele be∣tween; which (they say) was overthrown in the Year Eleven hundred fifty nine, and the whole Island wasted by the King of Sicily: But at the present there are no Cities, nor any thing else, but some Huts, scatter'd here and there far from one another; onely on the North side there be some Villages under the Protection of the Fort, wherein lies a Garrison of the Turks.

Thevet tells us, there sometime were here Zadaique, Zibida, Camusa, Agimur, Borgi, Rochere, and Kantare; but little remains of them besides the Names.

¶ THe Ground, * 1.4 though plain and even, yet is sandy and barren; so that the Inhabitants, notwithstanding they use great care, with all their industry get onely a small pittance of Barley. But Dates, Figs, Olives, and Grapes grow here without Cultivating.

The Island and the neighboring Shore, * 1.5 produceth also the Lotus, whose Fruit grows to the bigness of a Bean, at first yellow, but often changing Colour be∣fore it be perfectly ripe. This Fruit is of so sweet and pleasant a Taste, that the People from the eating thereof, are call'd Lotofagi, that is, Lotus-Eaters: This Name the Greeks imposed, who for its extraordinary Deliciousness feign∣ed, that Forreigners after the eating of it, forget their Native Countrey; which Homer taking notice of, recites, that some of Ulysses Fellow-Travellers

in their wandring falling in here, inticed by the sweetness of this Fruit, * 1.6 would not return again: His words are these.

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Tost with cold Winds upon the raging Main; The tenth the (b) 1.7 Lotophagian Coasts we gain, Who feed on Flowr's: we din'd and water'd there. When Thirst and Hunger satisfied were, Two then, to make Discovery, I sent Of our prime men, with them a Herald went; Who found the Lotophagi planted there, They pleasant Lotus for them did prepare, Not meaning Harm: now they who Lotus eat Ne'r mind returning to their Native Seat. These, whilst they shreek, acting distracted Pranks, I forc'd aboard, and fasten'd to their Banks. Then shipt I all the rest, lest they should eat Sweet Lotus, and their Native Soyl forget.

Most of the Inhabitants are Merchants, carrying Cloth to Alexandria, * 1.8 and Raisins, not onely thither, but Barter with them to several other places. Their Language the Morisk or antient African.

¶ FOrmerly this Island had a particular Xeque, but now is wholly under the Bashaw of Tripoli, who raiseth from hence a great Revenue. The Em∣peror Charles the Fifth Conquered it at the same time with Tripoli, and put it un∣der the Jurisdiction of the Vice-Roy of Sicily, who kept it not long, being depri∣ved thereof by the Dukes d' Alva, and Medina Coeli.

EZZAB.

EZzab, or rather Azzab, containeth the Countreys of Mecellata, Mesrata, Taurka, and the Mountains Garian and Beniguarid.

This Territory begins at the Westerly end of the Mountains Garian and Beniguarid, and ends at the outermost Borders of the Territory of Mesrata on the East.

Sanutus makes Ezzab to contain Ras Axara, Tessuta, Rasamisar, Lepida, for∣merly Eoa; and Ruscelli, Commenting upon Ptolomy, believes it from the simi∣litude of the Name, Leptis, out of whose Ruines Tripoli rose.

¶ GArian, a high and cold Mountain, three Miles in length, * 1.9 and as much in breadth, lieth Northward of Great Atlas, about four Miles from Tripoli; and notwithstanding the sharpness of its Air, is yet well inhabited, containing, by common repute, a hundred and thirty Villages.

Beniguarid, eighteen miles from Tripoli, and a part of the Great Atlas, boasts above an hundred and fifty inhabited Villes.

This Countrey affords little Corn, but abundance of Dates, Olives, and Saffron, held to excell all in these Parts, both for Colour and goodness, and is Transported to Gran-Cayre; where it is sold dearer by a third part then other Saffron.

The Inhabitants of Mount Garian are faint-hearted, and continually molested and Cow'd by the Arabs; but those of Beniguarid are so Warlike, that they not onely preserved their Liberty, but kept both the Kings of Tripoli and the Arabi∣ans also in awe, in regard they were able to bring twenty thousand Men into the Field, many of which were Musquetiers, who were so well Exercised and Disciplined, that more then once they have put the Turks to flight; yet at pre∣sent they own themselves Subjects to the Bashaw of Tripoli, Paying him the same Tribute they did the King of Tripoli, who was supposed to draw from thence yearly eighty thousand Ducats.

MECELLATA.

THis Territory being the great Syrtes, by the Arabians call'd Ceirat el Quibir, lieth about eight miles from Tripoli, by the Sea-Coast. Ptolomy names its chief Town Makomaka, or rather Calummacula. There are still three other po∣pulous Villages, call'd of old Aspis, Sakramasa, and Pyrgos Eufranta; and by the Moderns, Lard, Cedick, and Eufrata. Not far thence, on the Sea-Coast, stands Sibaka, by Ptolomy named Aporisburgh; then the Cape of Sorta, formerly the Point of Hippie; Nain, taken for Ptolomy's Philenes, and by the Roman Historiographers, the Altar of the Philenii, highly reverenced by the Carthaginians, being the Sepul∣chres of the Philenii, two Brothers, who sacrificed their lives for the safeguard of their Countrey.

The Countrey yields exceeding plenty of Dates, Olives, and Oyl. They can bring six thousand Men into the Field: are under a particular Lord, having with their Neighbors the Arabs sometimes Peace, and sometimes War, as they are necessitated. At this day they are Subjects to the Turks, though Gramay maintains they acknowledge neither Turks nor Arabians, yet follow the Mahume∣tan Platform in the way of their Worship.

MESRATA, Or CYRENAICA.

THis Province of Mesrata Marmol calls Cyrenaica, or Pentapolis; and the Mo∣derns, Korene; and the Moors, Ceyret.

Cyrenaica, once part of the Antient Lybia, beginning by the unanimous Consent of all Geographers, at the Philenian Altar beforementioned, and did extend, as Mela and Strabo averre, to the Valley of Katabathmus in Egypt, and to Nylus; by consequence comprehending Marmarica.

At this present Mesrata is distant about nineteen miles from Tripoli, West∣ward

of the Territory of Mesellata, and Eastward of Barka, containing five Ci∣ties; from whence call'd Pentapolis, which carries as much in its signification: Their Names be these; Cyrene, Berenice, by Mela call'd Hesperia, Apollonia, Ptole∣mais, and Arsinoe, or Teuchire.

Cyrene, the Birth-place, as Strabo witnesses, of Callimachus, Eratosthenes, Carnea∣des, and Aristippus; all Antient Philosophers, and Olivarus upon Mela, denomi∣nates it Korene.

Berenice, as the same Olivarus reports, is now vulgarly stil'd Berrich; Apollonia, Bonaudria; Ptolimais, Tolomete; Arsinoe and Teuchire, Trochata. But Marmol retains the old Name Cyrene; and as to the rest, Berenice he names Berbik; Arsinoe or Teuchira, Trokara; Ptolemais, Eptolometa; Apollonia, Bon Andrea; which differ very little from Olivarus.

¶ THe chiefest Places upon the Coast, beginning from the West, * 1.10 are these; Alcudie, by Ptolomy call'd Autemalan, an old Fort; Cape Sabbia, formerly Promontorium; Drepanum the Salt Pans, known to the Romans by the Name Stationes Maritimae; Zanara, was the Haven Diarchea, or the Birds Island; Camara, or Cambra, according to Mercator, formerly Hercules Tower; Carkora, a Fort, heretofore Diachersis; Teionis or Teiones, once the Cape of Briois; and lastly Ard∣bry, antiently the Coast of Briois. Further up the Coast of Pentapolis, stands Berbick, or Bernich, or indeed Bernice and Hesperides; because some have here placed the Gardens of Hesperides, so fam'd among the Poets.

¶ THe onely River of note is Milet, by Ptolomy call'd Lathon or Lethon, which some have imagin'd to be Lethe, the River of Oblivion.

Having past this River, we come to the Cities Trokara, Tolomata, and Zadra, formerly call'd Ausigda; Longifana or Longifaria, in elder time the Tem∣ple of Aptuch, the Fort of Aras Ausen, by the Italians call'd Cape Carane, and Rax∣alsen, the Point of Fikos: Afterward Bon-Andrea or Apollonia, with its Haven, heretofore Naustathmes; Forceli once Erythron; Favora antiently Chersis, and Dar∣na, or Dardania, of old the Point Zephyrium, to the East of Mesrata, bordering upon Marmarica or Barka. Lastly, to the Inland, Cyrene, Arguide, Quereda, and Napolis.

Cyrenaica formerly was very Rich, but now lies for the most part waste and unhabited, because of the Arabians who continually oppress this Countrey with Robbing and Spoiling.

¶ THe Mesratines are Warlike and Rich, * 1.11 Trading with the Christians for European Wares, which they transport to Negro-Land, and exchange for Blacks to make Slaves, as also for Civet, Musk, and other Commodities, which they afterwards sell to the Turks for great gain.

¶ THey can bring into the Field an Army of ten thousand Men, * 1.12 with which they make Wars continually against their troublesom Neigh∣bours, the Pilfering Arabs; nor could they be brought to pay Tribute tō the King of Tunis; however they are subjected at present to the Great Turk: yet, as Gramay says, their Governours are of their own Countrey, onely they own him their Superior, rendring some small Acknowledgments.

TAURKA.

TAurka is a small Countrey, about thirteen miles in compass; yet abounds with such plenty of Dates and Corn, as sufficiently serves their own occasions, with some to spare for their Neighbours; al∣though their Valleys by their Sandiness are somewhat barren. The people are all Husbandmen, and live in Hutts made of the Branches of Date-trees. They are at present subject to the Turk, against whom, in the Year Fifteen hundred and sixty seven, they made an Insurrection: but after a stout Battel maintain'd four Days, with great slaughter of the Turks, overpower'd by num∣ber, or rather wearied out than Conquered, the Taurkians were necessitated to yield upon Conditions, viz. to lay down Arms and Disband, and Pay three thousand Ducats as a Fine for their Delinquency.

BARKA, Or MARMARICA.

IT seemeth that this Name of Barka is of great Antiquity; for Ptolomy places hereabouts a People call'd Barrceitors: which contradicts not their Resi∣dence in Cyrene, because Strabo and Mela extend that Countrey to Katabath∣mus in Egypt, and to the Nyle, and so by Consequence comprehended Ptolomy's Marmarika, and our Modern Barka: So Strabo sets the Marmarides in Cyrenaica, whereas there is no mention of Marmarika in that place. Marmol saith it is now call'd Barka; but the Arabians name it Sahart Barka, that is, A stormy Wilderness; or Cyrat Barka, The passage of the Storm: and who ever intends to go by Land from Barbary to Egypt, must go through it: It is a great Desart, beginning on the Easterly Borders of Mesrata, and reacheth from the Cape of Arraxaltin, or Raxal∣tin, by Ptolomy denominated the great Chersonesus to the Point Glaukun, on the Borders of Alexandria or Scanderoon; * 1.13 being in length above two hundred sixty eight miles from West to East, and in breadth, from North to South from the Midland-Sea to Numidia, above thirty.

The most eminent Places are the Cape of Raxaltin, * 1.14 mention'd but just be∣fore; the Haven Trabucho, formerly of Batrachus. Farther to the In-land lieth first Augele; then Lako, formerly Antipirgus; Cape Lako, or the Point Kalyonium; Mosolomar Port, but since the Haven Salone, although before of Panorme: This brings you to the great Katabathmus, by Ruscelius named Carto, a great Valley reaching to Egypt: Opposite to this, but more deep into the Countrey, was the Oracle and Temple of Jupiter Hammon, four hundred thousand Paces from Cyrene, say both Pliny and Solinus, in the midst of a Sandy Desart, three miles in length. Gramay by mistake sets it in the Desart of Lybia; and Leo Africanus in Numidia, between Jasliten and Teorreque; but where-ever it stood, they call it now in Arabick, Hesachbir, that is, A Heap of Stone. Afterwards followeth the Haven formerly call'd Selin, now Soudan, having but a narrow Entrance, but

spacious and convenient within. Next appears Laguixi, formerly Trifachi, of late time Raxa, taken for the Paresonium of Ptolomy and Strabo; although Mercator rejects that opinion, and maintains Paresonium to have been Alberton. Farther to the In-land stands the chief City Barka, from whence the Coun∣trey taketh its Name.

All the whole Countrey is almost nothing but a barren Wilderness, * 1.15 that hath neither Water for refreshment or use, or Soyl fit for Tillage, which makes them live very poorly. A few Dates they have indeed, but of little con∣sequence to supply so great a Tract of Land: Some Sheep and Camels they are Masters of, but make little Profit of them, the scarcity of Pasturage and Fodder making them so Lean, that they are unfit for use or service. Nay, such is the unhappy necessity of the People, that Parents often send their Children over to Sicily, to become Servants, and undertake all sorts of Drudgery onely for their sustenance.

The Arabians that possess Barka are ill-favour'd, and crooked of Body and Conditions, driven by want continually to Rob; so that no Carravan dare pass along the Sea-Coast opposite to the Desart, but take their way sixty miles about to the In-land.

When these Arabians go to steal in Biledulgerid, * 1.16 and ransack Pilgrims and Travellers, they give them hot Milk to drink, then lift them up by their Legs with their Heads down, so that of necessity all must break forth that is in their Body; which Excrements these Villainous Thieves search, in hope therein to find some Ducats, supposing Travellers coming that way, out of fear have swallowed their Money. But the places on the Sea-Coast are better ordered, * 1.17 being subject to the Turks, and under the immediate Command of the Bashaw of Tripoli, who usually sends to Barka, the principal City, a Kadiz to administer Justice.

All the People are Mahumetans, excepting the wild Arabs in the Desarts, * 1.18 who live by Rapine and Villany, without any sence of Religion, Honesty or Goodness.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Names.
• * 1.2

  Bigness.
• * 1.3

  Places.
• * 1.4

  The Soyl.
• * 1.5

  Lotus-Tree.
• * 1.6

  Homer.
• (b) 1.7

  The Anci∣ents agree not on the Seat of these Lotophagi. Ar∣temidor•• says, that they inhabi∣ted the Desarts of Africa, South of Mauritania, from the Atlan∣tick Ocean even to Cyrene. O∣thers say that it is the Island Me∣ninx, which lies before the lesser Syrtis, which is here denoted: because there is abundance of those Lotus-trees in that Island, which bear a ve∣ry pleasant fruit; and an Altar of Ʋlysses's still re∣maining.
• * 1.8

  Leo, 6. d. Sanut. 5. b.
• * 1.9

  The Mountain Garian.
• * 1.10

  Strength.
• * 1.11

  Riches.
• * 1.12

  Places.
• * 1.13

  Bigness.
• * 1.14

  Places.
• * 1.15

  Their Soyl.
• * 1.16

  The Arabian's Robbery.
• * 1.17

  Their Government.
• * 1.18

  Their Religion.