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 GUINALA.

THis Kingdom inhabited by the Beafers, * 1.1 hath its Name from the River Guinala, and borders on the South on the beforemention'd Islands, on the East on the Naluze••, a warlike people, but not such troublesome Neighbors to the King of Guinala, as the Islanders, who (as we said) have dis∣possessed him of six Kingdoms.

The chiefest place of this Countrey, is the Haven of Guinala; * 1.2 and the next the Cross Haven, which the Portuguese possess.

The Countrey by means of the clear and serene Air, is very healthful and pleasant to live in.

The King always appears in great State, and when he goeth abroad, * 1.3 is at∣tended with a strong and numerous Guard of Bowe-men.

He keeps also fifty great and fierce Dogs, which he arms, as it were, in tann'd Skins of Sea-Cows, that are so hard and strong, they can scarcely be cut; each Dog in the day time hath a Keeper, but in the night they are let loose; for there is no other Watch in this City but these Dogs; and such is their fierceness, no body dares stir in the Streets without the hazard of his life; for they will fall upon every one without regard. This Dog-Watch was at first set up against the Thieves, who in the nights used to break open the Houses, and steal the Blacks to sell for Slaves. This King gives a Hat to his Gover∣nors, which is an Ensign of Honour; of whom he has under him seven, which are not onely his Homagers, but his Slaves.

When the King dies, there comes into the Street twelve Men call'd Schiten, * 1.4 cloathed in parti-coloured long Coats made of Feathers, with as many Claro∣men, or Pipers before them, which sound mournfully, yet shrill; there they proclaim his Decease: whereupon every one with a white Cloth thrown over them comes out of their Houses, and do nothing all that day, but walk about the Streets in a mournful posture; his Friends, Relations, and Servants in the mean time assemble to chuse a Successor. * 1.5 Afterwards the Corps is washed, and the Intrals burnt before their Idol, but the Ashes preserved to be Interr'd with the Body; which lies as it were in State for a Moneth: at the ex∣piration whereof, prepared for Burial, the Subjects bring out of all parts of the Kingdom, Balsom, Myrrhe, Ambergreece, Musk, and other Perfumes, to burn and smoke about the Corps, which lastly is carried to the Burying-place by six of the most eminent persons, cloathed in white Silk Coats, followed in the first place with Musick playing mournful Tunes, and after them with a

great many people on foot; some of which cry aloud, other sing Funeral Ele∣gies: last of all the Princes of the Blood ride on Horseback in white Habit. By the Grave are his Women and Servants which in his Lifetime he most affected, together with his Favourites and Horses, which are all put to death and buried with the Royal Corps; which is done to this end, that he may be served by them in the other World, as they believe and are taught. This slaughter is performed in a terrible manner, viz. after the cutting off their Fingers and Toes, they break their Bones by stamping all to pieces, and when it is beat enough, they throw it out in the presence of all the others that are to undergo the same fortune: for the avoiding which cruelty, many Servants, af∣ter they have sufficiently provided for themselves, either leave the King's Ser∣vice in his Life, and fly away, or else they retire and hide themselves in time, when they see he is without hope of recovery.

¶ THe King's Jurisdiction extends over six Kingdoms, * 1.6 besides those wrested from him, as we said before: and for the better and more orderly management of State-Affairs, has a Privy-Council, consisting of many Lords; of which one, who is the second person in the Kingdom, is President.

¶ THey worship, * 1.7 as the Cassanga's, abundnace of Idols, the chief of which they name China, which is to say, God; although a long time since, by the Preaching of some Portugal Jesuits, they are said to have embraced the Ro∣man Religion.

The King himself, with a great number of Nobles, in the Year Sixteen hundred and seven, desired of Emanuel Alvarez a Jesuit, to be Baptized, which he, upon farther examination finding their unstedfastness, deni'd.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Borders of the Kingdom of Guinala.
• * 1.2

  The Haven of Guinala.
• * 1.3

  The King's State.
• * 1.4

  When the King's Death is proclaimed, and by whom.
• * 1.5

  The Funeral.
• * 1.6

  Their Power and Domi∣nion.
• * 1.7

  Their Religion.