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. ...

SUS.

THE Territory of Sus or Sous, * 1.1 formerly a Kingdom, took name from the River Sus, which bounds on the West as far as the Great Bay of * 1.2 Juments, or de la Yeguas; Northward it reaches to Mount Atlas, where touching on the Side of Hea; on the South lyes the sandy Desart of Biledulgerid; on the East bordering upon Guzula.

In this Territory on the Sea-shore lye three small Cities, all known by one common name, Messe, being indeed rather one City divided into three parts, each separated and surrounded with a Wall. This was heretofore call'd Temest, being seated on the shore of the great Ocean, at the foot of Atlas, or Aidvacal, as they call it.

The River Sus running through the Messe, * 1.3 at a place call'd Guertesen, falleth into the Sea, on whose shore a Temple appears, whose sparrs, rafters and beams are said to be the bones of the Whale which swallowed the Prophet Jonas, who was thrown up again in this place. The learned among them stick not to affirm, That this our Minor Prophet shall appear in this Temple, being so declared by their great Prophet Mahomet; for which Reason they all highly reverence and preserve it with extraordinary care.

Hereabout are many large Whales often begrounded, which the common People fancy happeneth by an occult quality of that Temple, which kills all those Monsters coming that way and endeavouring to swim by it.

Teceut, * 1.4 an antient City, a Mile from Messe, Triangular, and contains four thousand Families. In the middle of it stands a fair Temple, through which runs an Arm of the River Sus.

The Countrey hereabout is full of Hamlets and Villages, but more Souther∣ly is not inhabited, but over-run by the wilde and wandring Arabs.

One Mile from Teceut lyeth Gared, * 1.5 founded by the Cerif Abdala, about the Year Fifteen hundred, on a Plain by a great Spring call'd Ayn Cequie. Here is a sort of excellent * 1.6 Kids-Leather, which in such great quantities is transported

into Europe, that the Custom of it yearly to this City, produceth Thirty thou∣sand Ducats.

The Principal City of all is Tarudant, by the Moors call'd Tourant, * 1.7 twelve Miles East from Teceut, and two Miles South from Atlas, in a pleasant Valley, eighteen or twenty Miles long. This City water'd by the River Agur, was for∣merly the Metropolis of the whole Kingdom, and the Royal Seat and Cham∣ber of the Kings of Sus.

Half a Mile from Tarudant stands Faraixa, built by Mahomet Cherif, * 1.8 before he was King of Morocco.

Tedsi, twelve Miles Eastward of Tarudant, twenty from the Ocean, * 1.9 and seven to the South of great Atlas, was in former times very rich, containing above four thousand Families, but is now by their Civil Wars almost ruined.

Togoast, the greatest City of this Territory, twenty Miles from the Atlantick, * 1.10 eighteen from Atlas, and three from the Sus, contain'd in former times six thou∣sand Houses, which at present are reduced to a far smaller Number. Volatera∣nus says, this was the Birth-place of the antient and famous Doctor St. Augustine.

On the Westerly shore of the River Sus, lyeth Cape Aguar, * 1.11 taken by Ptolomy for the Cape Usagium. This place in former times belong'd to the Portugues, who erected there a very strong Castle, by them call'd Santa Cruce, and by the Moors Darumnie, that is, Christian-House. Afterward the Portugals founded a strong Ci∣ty in the same Place, which they possess'd a long time, but at last were driven out of it by the Cherif, in the Year Fifteen hundred thirty and six.

On a cutting Skirt of Atlas, by the great Ocean, * 1.12 at the Mouth of the River Sus, stands Gantguessen, a very strong place; and more Southerly on the Sea-Coast; these places, Aguilon, Alganzib, Samotinat, with the Capes of Guilon, and Non or Nun, in twenty seven Degrees Northern Latitude.

¶ THe Mountains of Sus are Henquise, * 1.13 reaching from West to East twelve Miles in length, Ilalem or Laalem, Guzula beginning at the end of Hen∣quise, and stretching Eastward to Guzula, South to the Plains of Sus; Ilde the Western, boundary between Guzula and Sus.

All the Inhabitants of Messe maintain themselves by Husbandry, * 1.14 encouraged thereto, for that in April and September the River Sus rises and overflows its Banks, which causes a plentiful Harvest, whereas if it fail in one of the afore∣mention'd Moneths, then generally follows a Scarcity, or dear Year. On the shore by Messe, is found very good Amber in great plenty. All about the City of Teceut, the Grounds abound with Wheat, Barley, and many other sorts of Grain, as also Sugar-canes, besides Dates, Figs and Peaches.

Mount Henquise is cold, and continually cover'd with Snow.

Mount Laalem abounds with Horses, and holds in her bosom a rich Vein of Silver.

From Tarudant is brought Ostridge Feathers and Amber, and so transported into Europe.

The People of Tedsi live orderly, and behave themselves with great Trust and Civility. The like do the Inhabitants of Tagoast, whose Women for the most part are white and Handsom; nevertheless there are Blacks and Tauny-Moors among them.

They of Messe are Husbandmen, but those of Teceut ill natured, proud and pervicacious. Those of Henquise and Ilalem are Valiant and Generous, but maintain old Feuds about their Silver Mines.

Lastly, The Mahumetans themselves living in this Territory, shew great Honor to the Body of St. Augustine, which they report lyeth Buried near the City of Tagoast.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Its Borders.
• * 1.2

  That is, of great Cattel.
• * 1.3

  A strange Temple.
• * 1.4

  Teceut.
• * 1.5

  Gared.
• * 1.6

  Moroquines.
• * 1.7

  Tarudant.
• * 1.8

  Taraixa.
• * 1.9

  Tedsi.
• * 1.10

  Togoast.
• * 1.11

  Cape of Aguar.
• * 1.12

  Gantguessen.
• * 1.13

  The Mountains.
• * 1.14

  The Nature of the ground of the Territory Sus.