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 KINGDOM OF GAMBEA, CASSAN, CANTOR, AND BORSALO.

ADjoyning to Zenega on the North is Gambea, * 1.1 a small Kingdom by the River of the same name. On the other side of the River Gambea lies the Jurisdiction of Cassan, Great Cantor, and Borsalo, all heretofore subject to the King of Mandimanza, but now have Princes as absolute as himself, and ac∣knowledging no Superior.

The King of Great Cantor keeps his Residence continually on the Southerly Shore of the River Gambea, * 1.2 having many inferior Dominions under his Obe∣dience.

The King of Borsalo commands on the North-side of the same River to Tan∣takonde. * 1.3

Both these Princes have several populous Towns belonging to them, but, * 1.4 as we said, all without Walls, and scituate on both the Shores of Gambea, which

like the Nyle, overflowing it Banks, much enriches and fertilitates the neigh∣bouring Soyl.

The Sea-Coast hereabouts shooting from the South is very low, and in that regard, unless in very clear weather, hard to be known; but more forward the Land rises high, is full of Trees, and spreads North-East and South-West.

At the Mouth of this River stands the Town Barra; * 1.5 so named, because every Ship that comes thither must give a Bar of Iron, which they call Bar∣ra, to the King of Borsalo.

Above the South-Point stands a Town call'd Nabare, * 1.6 within a Wood.

Three miles higher on the same Point lieth a Town call'd Bintam, inhabited by the Portugals. * 1.7 On the South-side of the River, twenty miles from the Mouth, * 1.8 appears Tankerval; and not far thence a Town call'd Tendeba, twelve miles from which last may be seen Jayre, * 1.9 in a narrow Creek.

Half a mile beyond the Creek, on the South-side, lieth the River and Town call'd Jambay, * 1.10 with another named Mansibaer, on the North.

In the last place you come to Barraconda, above which the Sea floweth not; so that whoever will go higher, must Row against the Stream.

After a tedious and toilsom Journey of ten days you arrive at Tinda; * 1.11 above which stands Joliet; * 1.12 and six days Journey from that a City call'd Munkbaer, to which, without great hazards, there is no coming; from whence in nine days you come to the City Jayr, and so to Silico, an In-land Town, yet a place of great Trade.

Five and fifty miles within the Land stands Borsalo; and eighty five miles, Little Cassan; * 1.13 three miles above which the vast and great City Cassan shews it self, whose side is washed by the Ebbing and Flowing of the Sea, and where the King keeps his Court.

¶ AMong other Rivers that water these Countreys, * 1.14 one of the principal is Gambea, or Gambia, so call'd by the Portuguese; after the example of the Blacks, who call all the Tracts of Land, reaching from the Mouth of it to the Gold-Coast Gambu. Its Mouth is about three miles broad, hath five fathom Wa∣ter, and lies in thirteen Degrees and nineteen Minutes North Latitude, between the Zenega and Rio Grande.

It draws the original from the great River Niger, * 1.15 at the place where it makes a great Lake, and divides in four branches, which are afterwards named Zenega, Gambea, Sante Domingo, and the Great River; all which after several long courses, having visited and refreshed these hot Countreys with their pleasant Streams, at last near Cape Verde, pour forth their Waters into the Great Ocean; but especially Gambea, with so strong a Current, and such abundance of Water, that sixteen miles in the Sea (as they say) that Water may be taken up.

They may row up in this River against the Stream near a hundred miles; but then are stopped with a strong Water-fall, which with an impetuous noise pours down over the Rocks, and by that means becomes unpassable. The Channel is for the most part very broad, especially from the Gold-Coast of Cantor or Reskate, to its Mouth; and by the receiving of many other Streams becomes full of water; and gliding also easier by reason of the breadth, to the great ease of all Vessels that go up against the Stream.

By the Village Tinga, the River is fordable, but none dare venture to wade through it, but the Blacks, for fear of the Crocodiles; however on both its Shores are many Villages, and within its bosome divers small Islands.

Twelve miles upwards of Tondebu, half a mile above the Creek Jayre on the left hand, lies a little Island, betwixt the which and the main Land, the Stream is no broader than a Musquet-shot, shallow, and runs in many Mean∣ders, but higher on the left side is four or five fathom deep.

About two miles about Mansibaer, lies another Island, that so straightens the passage, that without great trouble they cannot go through it.

Not far from Nabare, half way between the Mouth of the River and the Gold place of Cantor or Reskate, lieth Elephant-Island, so call'd, for the great number of Elephants which breed there.

¶ THe Air in this Countrey is continually hot, * 1.16 though with some little variation from the beginning of June till the end of September, in which time it rains every day at Noon; and at Night from the East and South-East, continual Lightnings and Thunder.

But the greatest Rains falls from May till the beginning of August, which causes the Rivers to swell and overflow their Banks, and that proves a very unhealthful time; for the first Rains falling upon the naked people, cause blotches and spots, and on the Clothes of the Whites, it breeds Worms, but after a little time that inconvenience vanishes.

¶ ALl along the Banks of Gambea, and about Cassan, * 1.17 Tobacco grows plenti∣fully, which the Portugals fetch with Sloops both green and dried, without making up in Rolls; Cotton also, with Mille, Rice, Lemons, Oran∣ges, Apples, and Ananasses, but not in such abundance as some have written.

On the Sea-Coast are Trees above seventeen Paces in compass, and not twenty in height; whereas further into the Countrey, they are tall and slender.

¶ BEasts fit for labour and service breeding here, are Camels, * 1.18 small Horses and Asses: But they have besides many Cows and Oxen, as appears by their Hides yearly brought into Europe; as also Goats, Sheep, Deer red and fallow, with divers others, besides the Wilde Beasts found in the Wildernesses, viz. Lyons, Tygers, Baboons, Otters, Elephants, and the like.

This plenty of Cattel makes Provision in those places so cheap, that about Gambea you may buy a Beast of three or four hundred weight for a Bar of Iron, although at Cape de Verde they pay four or five Bars for the like.

¶ THe people heretofore were savage and cruel, but since they have in some sort by the Converse of Christian Merchants, received some notions of Religion, they are become tractable and courteous.

The Kings (as we said) keep a Majestick Port, according to their manner of State, seldom appearing in publick to their Subjects.

They are all great lovers of Brandy, and will drink thereof even to excess: * 1.19 And if any Forreigner, Merchant, or other, desires Audience of the King, he can by no means sooner effect it, than by presenting him with a Bottel of Brandy.

The King of Great Cassan call'd Magro, who spoke the Portugal Tongue, * 1.20 yet could not be won to Christianity, was well skill'd in Necromantick Arts, whereof one Block in a Journal of his Travels gives a particular account: We will onely instance in one or two of his prestigious actions. He commonly wore as many inchanted Chains without trouble, as would have over-loaden a

strong Man. One time, to shew his Art, he caused a strong Wind to blow, but confined it onely to designed limits, so that the next adjoyning places were not sensible of any violent motion. Another time desiring to be resolved of some questioned particular, after his Charms a smoke and flame arose out of the Earth, by which he gathered the answer to his demand.

¶ MOst of the Wealth of the Inhabitants consists in Slaves, * 1.21 though some have Gold; for among them are few Artificers, and those that are, onely Weavers and Smiths, * 1.22 who are ill provided of Tools for their Work, yet make shift therewith. The Smiths make short Swords, and knowing how to harden the Iron, form the Heads of their Assagay's or Lances, Darts or Ar∣rows, and all sorts of Instruments with which they Dig the Earth. Their Bellows are a thick Reed, or hollow piece of Wood, in which is put a Stick wound about with Feathers, which by the moving of the Stick makes the Wind. The Iron which they Forge is brought over out of Europe thi∣ther in Bars, in Pieces of eight or ten Inches long, and are exchanged with great gain in barter for their In-land Commodities. The Weavers make Cloathes of Cotton, which by the Merchants are carried to Serre-Lions, Serbore, and the Gold-Coast, and there barter'd for Ivory, red Wood, and Gold. These Cloathes, because made also about Cape Verde, are call'd Cape de Verde Cloathes; being of three sorts: the best and chiefest, call'd Panossakes, are two Ells and a half long, and an Ell and a half broad, whitened upon the Ground, and with Lists commonly of eight Bands sew'd together: the second Bontans, two Ells long, and an Ell and a half broad, very neatly Strip'd, having six Lifts sew'd together: but the third sort, named Berfoel, are great Cloathes, made with blue Stripes: all which are commonly bought for Iron, that is, one Panossakes for one Bar of Iron, three Bontans for two Bars, and two great Bar∣foel Cloathes for one Bar.

¶ EVery one, * 1.23 be he Spiritual or Temporal, old or young, must Till his own Ground, if he intends to eat, the King onely, and some chief Nobles, and antient decrepid people excepted: for the doing whereof they use no Ploughs, but dig the Earth with a kind of Mattocks in the time of their Rain, because then the Ground is softened.

¶ THeir Food is Mille, * 1.24 Shell-Fruit, Milk, and some Flesh. They Bake no Bread, but boyl it as we in these Countreys do Puddings, which they eat hot. Their Drink is Palmito-Wine, and for want of that, Water; but the Priests with their whole Families drink no sort of strong Drink, but only Water.

¶ THe Houses, * 1.25 like those in Zenega, are onely round Huts, with Walls of Reed, Lime, and Earth, covered with Canes, and environ'd with a Pallisado, or Hedge of Canes.

¶ THe Habit of this People, * 1.26 as well Men as Women, is onely a Shirt that reaches down to their Knees, with long wide Sleeves, a pair of Cotton Breeches, and little white Hats, with a Plume of Feathers in the mid∣dle. The Maidens cut and prick their Breasts, Thumbs, Arms, and Necks, with Needles, in fashion of Embroidery, and burn in these marks that they may not wear out; those works being esteemed a great Ornament.

Their Arms are the same as we mention'd before in Zenega: Sanutus says, they are very warlike and stout, which they have often manifested, when in their little Almadyes they adventur'd to board some Portugal Carvils, without re∣gard either to their Canon or other Arms. For though these Blacks have no hopes of Victory, and many of them are slain, yet they regard not their lives, nor ever run away from the Fight.

They work also their Almadyes and Canoos with such dexterity, that they force them forward with incredible nimbleness, and betake themselves upon the approach of Ships which they think will damnifie them, to the mouth of some small River.

The People of Europe drive a great Trade in this River of Gambea, * 1.27 trans∣porting these Merchantable Commodities.

• Iron Bars of one, two, or three foot long.
• Sleasie Linnen.
• Fine Ticking.
• Fine Shirts for men.
• Sleight Gilded Rapiers.
• Salt.
• Hats or Caps.
• French Caps.
• Mountain Christal.
• Beads of several Sorts and Colours.
• Amber.
• Yellow Buckles.
• Linnen Sheets.
• Copper Kettles.
• Copper Basons.
• Cans.
• Combs.
• Paper.
• Tin and Copper Bracelets.
• Enamell'd Bracelets.
• Rings.
• Pendants for the Ears.
• Iron Kettles.
• Chopping-Knives.
• Ordinary Seamens Knives,
• Fish-hooks.
• Trumpets.
• Common & gilded Looking-Glasses.
• Cloves, and such like.

The European Paper is much desired by the Marabouts or Priests.

In Exchange of these Commodities the Merchants receive Hides, Ivory, Gold, and other Merchandises.

The King of Cassan gives liberty and freedom to the English, Portugals, French, and Dutch, to come in his Countrey, and to traffick there.

The Inhabitants themselves in divers places trade one amongst the other.

The people of Cape de Verde, Refrisko, Porto de Ale, and Ivala, come with Sloops to this River Gambta, and buy Hides, Wax, Elephants Teeth, Rice, Gold, Cotton-Clothes, Blacks, and Tobacco, which they barter and exchange, some to Europe, some up higher into the Countrey, to their no small profit and gain.

In the Village Tinga are some Hides and Teeth; so also in Tankerval and Tondeba, together with Rice and Cotton.

In the Village of Mansigaer in the middle of February, is held a Fair, * 1.28 where∣to resort many people out of divers Countreys, with Mats, Hens, Bucks, Cows, Cotton, and Salt; yet does not this Commerce bring thither riches, or many Inhabitants, being wholly possessed by a few poor Portugueses and Mu∣latto's. The principal Merchandises to be had there, are Wax, Hides, Ele∣phants Teeth, and a little Gold brought thither out of the In-land Countrey. Here also is kept every Monday in a plain Field, a petty Market, where every one brings to sell what he is minded to dispose of. And in case they want Money, they exchange all other things for Matts.

In Cassan are two yearly Fairs, whither come a great concourse of People to buy and sell all sorts of Wares, nay Gold it self. The Portugals and Mulata's that scatteringly inhabit by the River side, send their Slaves into the Countrey with Iron and Beads, to buy Hides and Ivory, which they carry on their Heads, and bring to the River.

The Moors of Barbary come in great numbers, with Camels to Trade at Yaye for Gold, whereof that Countrey affords great store, and return home richly laden with it.

The manner of dealing between these People and the before-mentioned Arabians, * 1.29 in exchange of their Goods, is this: They of Barbary go to an appoint∣ed place, where they lay their Wares in several heaps, distinct one from the other; which done, they go away and return not for a whole day: in the mean times the Natives come, and lay over against every heap as much Gold as they value the Parcels at, then go away, leaving on the place both their own Gold and the Merchants Goods; who upon his return finding that he hath his value in Gold, takes it away and leaves his Merchandise; but if he expects more, he divides his heaps, and lets them so remain; which the People seeing, lay more Gold, or if they think not fit to give more, they take that away which they laid there first: thus in three times the Bargain is driven and ended. The reason why the People will not be seen, is the loathsomness of their Bodies; for their lower Parts, through the excessive scorching of the Sun, are always raw and sore, in such manner, that if it were not for sprinkling them with Salt, they would rot; and that is the cause why they so much desire Salt.

¶ TInda yields great abundance of Hides, but the trouble, and almost im∣possibility of coming up the River with great Vessels, very much hinder Trade; besides Iron bears not so good a Rate there as in other places, because the Inhabitants say, they have Ore thereabouts, of which they can make it: But Salt is a most desirable Commodity, not onely there, but in∣deed over all the Countrey. At the first discovery of these Places they carried thither a bad and blackish Salt, which went off well enough; but since the People have gained skill and knowledge so to distinguish, that they will not deal for it, but onely for the whitest; in exchange whereof they give Slaves, Hides, Elephants Teeth, Cotton, Cotton-Yarn, Cotton-Cloathes, and Gold.

In the City Joliet, lying beyond Tinda, there is, as the Blacks relate, abun∣dance of Gold; and the like at a Place call'd Munkbar: whither also the Arabi∣ans and Moors of Barbary come, with Camels laden with Salt, and all sorts of Merchandises, which they barter onely for Gold. But the Inhabitants of the City Sillico buy Salt of the Portuguese for Blacks.

¶ THe Marabouts, * 1.30 or Priests, which for the most part reside in Silligo, dispence with the seriousness of their Profession to Trade for Gold, not onely to Borsalo, but higher up the River; yet as a cloak to their covetous∣ness, they live retired, and separate themselves from the rest of the People: It's true, they have a kind of dark Notions concerning the Old Testament, and can darkly Discourse of Adam and Eve, of the Deluge, of Moses, and many other like things, yet are in all things absolute Mahumetans. They own God, whom they call Alla, and according to the Alcaron, admit neither Idols nor Images; they use Circumcision and their Friday Sabbaths, but not so strictly as to for∣bear

their ordinary business and employments. Besides themselves none can, or may learn to Write or Read, and that ignorance nuzzles them up even to the neglect of all acts of Devotion whatsoever.

These Santons, as other Mahumetans, make mention sometimes of Christ, whom they call Nabe, and say he was a great Prophet, who wrought many Miracles, and had a Mother named Mary; but particularly deny him to be the Son of God, objecting that God is invisible, incomprehensible, and a Spirit, which cannot Beget, neither needs a Son to be with him.

When any of them die, he is buried with all his Gold; and he is reputed the happiest who is buried with the greatest quantity: so that notwith∣standing all their pretensions to zeal both living and dying, Gold is their onely Deity.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Kingdom of Gam∣bea.
• * 1.2

  The King of Canter.
• * 1.3

  The King of Borsalo.
• * 1.4

  Several Towns lying on Gambea.
• * 1.5

  Barra.
• * 1.6

  Nabare.
• * 1.7

  Bintam.
• * 1.8

  Tankerval. Tendeba.
• * 1.9

  Jayre.
• * 1.10

  Jambay. Mansibaer. Barraconda.
• * 1.11

  Tinda.
• * 1.12

  Joliet. Munkbaer.
• * 1.13

  Small Cassan. Groat Cassan.
• * 1.14

  The River Gambea.
• * 1.15

  Its Original.
• * 1.16

  The Air.
• * 1.17

  Vegetables or Plants.
• * 1.18

  The Beasts.
• * 1.19

  Their propensity to Brandy.
• * 1.20

  The King of Cassan a great Sorcerer.
• * 1.21

  Their Riches.
• * 1.22

  Artificers
• * 1.23

  Their Tillage.
• * 1.24

  Their Food.
• * 1.25

  Their Houses.
• * 1.26

  Cloathes. Sanutu••.
• * 1.27

  Their Marchandise.
• * 1.28

  A Market or Fair in Man∣sigaer.
• * 1.29

  How the Trade is driven by the People of Taye.
• * 1.30

  Their Faith, Religion, and Worship.