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 Castle of the Myne, or St. George.

THe Castle of the Myne, * 1.1 generally so call'd because of the adjacent Gold-Mines; but by the Portugals, St. George; to whose Protection they dedica∣ted the same: It stands upon the Borders of Fetu, near the Sea-shore, in a small Nook or Creek of the Salt River Benja, two miles from Little Commendo.

This Castle was judg'd an antient Building, * 1.2 from several marks of Antiqui∣ty about it; as first by a decay'd Battery, which the Dutch repaired some years ago, retaining the Name of The French Battery, because it seems to have been built by the French; who, as the Inhabitants say, before the coming of the Por∣tugals, harbour'd there. The Dutch, when they won it, found the Numerical Figures of the Year Thirteen hundred, but were not able to make any thing of the two following Characters. In a small place within also may be seen a Writing Carved in Stone between two old Pillars, but so impair'd and worn out by the Weather, that it is not legible: The next is the Magazine, which seems first to have been built in the Year Fourteen hundred eighty four, in the Reign of John the Second, King of Portugal, as appears by Figures of the Year upon the Gate, standing yet so clear and plain, as if made but a few years before. * 1.3 The Building consists of hard Stone in double rows, between which the vacancies fill'd with Earth, scituate for the most part upon a high Rock; against which on one side the Sea beats, so that it is difficult to be as∣saulted; on the other side inclosed with four strong Bulwarks, two on the Sea-Coast, which are the strongest, and other two on the Land-side. The Walls are but low towards the Sea, because the Flankers built about it are very high; but to the Landward the Walls are lofty and strong for defence. It is in the narrowest part fourteen Rods broad, and two and thirty Rods long, besides the Out-works reaching from the River to the Banks of the Sea.

The Dutch took it from the Portuguese in the Year Sixteen hundred thirty seven; at which time it had towards the Sea two Batteries, each strengthen'd with six good Pieces of Ordnance, whereas towards the Land, opposite to the Mountain St. Jago: where the greatest strength was required they had but one Battery, with six Mortar-Pieces; and toward the North-East but two small Pieces upon an old Barracado'd Gate.

Over against the Castle on the West, * 1.4 beyond the River, lieth the Mountain St. Jago, so call'd from a little Chappel, formerly erected there; upon which the Dutch made a Redoubt of Earth immediately after the taking it, to hinder the approaching and coming up of an Enemy to the Mountain. This new Sconce holds four and twenty Rods square, and twelve Foot in heighth, en∣compassed with a Stone Wall.

Beyond Mount St. Jago lieth another of the like heighth, from whence onely St. Jago can receive damage, the rest lying at greater distance, and much lower.

Over against St. Jago, in the place where, in the time of the Portugals, stood two Lodges, is now raised a Battery, Planted with great Guns, the better to defend the Fort against St. Jago's Hill.

On this Quarter the Castle was very weak while the Portugals held it, be∣ing without Breast-works, and scarce Fenced with a Mud-Wall: onely there

stood a Battery with six Mortar-Pieces, and two small Pieces upon an old Gate, as we mention'd before: But on the Sea-quarter they made it strongest, and Planted their chiefest and best Guns: for they were of opinion, that no Cannon could be got up the Mountain St. Jago, and therefore took so little care thereof, that they had suffer'd the Mountain to be over-grown with Bushes, supposing that the Trees alone would be a sufficient hinderance to any Enemy; but they found themselves greatly mistaken therein; though indeed otherwise this Fort, by the strong Walls, and great heighth, hath sufficient Defence.

In this Castle rises a fair Fountain of Water, * 1.5 and in the French-Battery ano∣ther; in both which may be kept Provision of Water for two hundred men for six moneths. Besides those Fountains there is a Trench over against the Town Myne, by the Inhabitants call'd Dana, cut out of the Rocks, being enough to contain a thousand Pipes or more, whereinto all the waste water falling from the two beforemention'd places, and from the Souldiers Courts of Guard, ga∣thereth together.

This Trench without doubt, cost the Portugals a very tedious and heavy labour.

By this water drawn from hence, the Inhabitants are furnish'd; as also the King of Fetu with his Army, when in War, supply'd, and now accommodates the Dutch with marvellous plenty.

The conveniencies for Merchandise, Provision of Food, necessary Ammu∣nition for Wars, and other Commodities, are in great abundance within this Fort; for that the Ships coming out of the Countrey, readily unload, and go back again; there being a Key for Landing or Shipping of all sorts of Com∣modities at a Water-Gate made for that purpose.

The Dutch suffer'd great prejudice so long as the Portugal's possess'd this Fort, because they endeavour'd by all means to hinder their Trade with the Blacks; whereupon they consulted, and design'd to get it from them, yet always were frustrated in their attempts, till the year Sixteen hundred thirty and seven; at which time the Castle was in a mean condition, by reason of great disagree∣ment among the Portugal's: Then the General of Guinea and Angola being ac∣quainted by the Kaboseroe's or Chief people of the Myne, that the time was to undertake somewhat about it. This Intelligence he communicated by Let∣ter to the Commissioners of the West-India Company, who provided nine Ships well Man'd, Arm'd, and Victual'd, which in the Year Sixteen hun∣dred thirty seven, the Five and twentieth of July, under Collonel Hans Koin, went forth from Farnambuck to the African Coast, and soon arriv'd there in safety; whereof he sent notice to General Yperen, who resided in the Town Moure two miles lower, by Letter, to this effect: That he was there, by Command of Grave Maurice, and the Council, furnish'd with Souldiers to undertake the Enter∣prise. He desir'd therefore to know where was a fit place to Land upon the Ene∣mies Quarters, and to advise with him in what manner the Enterprise might be pru∣dently accomplish'd: That he would endeavour to win the Blacks with all possible Perswasions, great Promises, and Rewards, to assist the Company; and withal, would watch the English, who lay upon the Road, and labour to prevent all other Impe∣diments; That they must keep all secret, that the Enterprise might not be disappointed: and in the interim, he would be upon the Road before Albine, or Assine, to expect an Answer.

While thus Koyn ply'd upon the Coast, the Negroes come with eigh∣teen

Canoo's to his Fleet, and ask for Netherlandish Merchandise, to barter for Elephants-Teeth: But when 'twas answer'd they had no Wares, the Blacks be∣gan greatly to doubt; but the Dutch to assure them friendship, according to the custom of the Countrey, let some drops of Sea-water fall into their eyes, where∣with for the present satisfi'd, they departed. At length the Fleet appearing before Albine and Assine, the Blacks came again with their Canoo's to Trade, but our men put them off with delays for three or four days; whereupon the Blacks said, that these of Fetisson had understood by their Guardian God, that seven big∣ger Ships were at hand, at whose coming their Wares would fall in Price. Koin, who little regarded that, and had somewhat else in his mind, wrote Letters again almost of the same Contents, whereto for answer he receiv'd Orders to remove with his Fleet before Commendo, which was speedily perform'd; and imme∣diately inquiry made for the fittest place to Land; to this purpose they sent out a Scout, who returning, brought intelligence that there was no Landing between the Myne and Cape de Kors, but onely a Musquet-shot from the Myne, where the Salt-River at low Water was not knee deep, that the Mountain of St. Jago might be easily attempted with small Shot, and that the Line was un∣fit to be long defended: That the fresh River which lay about half a mile from the Myne had excellent Water, and that the way from Cape de Kors to the Myne, was very fit to March on in good order with the Souldiers.

After much courting, at length, and opening to them their whole design, they gat the Youths of Commendo with Gifts, and promises to furnish them with Water and other Provision; whereupon on the Four and twentieth of August, they went off to Cape de Kors, * 1.6 and there Landed with great Canoo's; and on the Twenty fifth day being Tuesday, drew in good order to the Myne, being about eight hundred Land-Souldiers, and Five hundred Mariners, drawn up in three Companies. Coming about Noon to the fresh River, the Souldiers rested and refresh'd themselves, some Scouts were sent for discovery, who brought intelligence, that they discern'd about a thousand Blacks lye at the hanging of a Hill; who having discover'd, pursu'd them with a great cry; upon this were sent out four Musquetteers, who venturing too far were lost, and their heads by the Blacks, according to the manner of the Countrey cut off, and carried in triumph. But a greater force falling in, soon put them to flight, and possess'd the Hill whence the other were driven.

On Wednesday the six and twentieth, those of Commendo drew our Mariners to the Town of Myne, which they assaulted, and took all their Cattel.

The Commander in Chief bending his whole thoughts to take the Castle, caus'd in this interval two Passages to be made, by cutting up the Bushes on the Mountain St. Jago; the one leading towards the Shore, by which to bring the Ammunition for the Souldiers; and the other upon the top of the Moun∣tain near the Fort. On Thursday were brought two Pieces of Ordnance with a Mortar-Piece to Mount St. Jago, with which they made eight or ten Shot, besides as many Granadoes, but they fell short; whereas by the shooting of the Enemy from the Castle, two Centinels were kill'd. Then the Negroes of Commendo approached towards the Town of Myne; but driven back by the Enemies great Shot, * 1.7 quickly retreated: Hereupon the Commander sent a Drummer to summon the besieg'd to surrender; to which the Governor re∣turn'd, That it was not in his power to consent, without conferring with the Commanders of the Army, and the Citizens, and requir'd three days time; but that was deni'd, granting onely to the next day; however nothing was

then done; for the Governor of the Fort, the day being spent, held the Gates shut, and would not admit the Drummer: Then the Forces from Mount St. Jago making a fierce Attacque, though with little Success; and battering with their Cannon, a Messenger came forth, requiring the Letter sent before by the Drummer; but that was deni'd: Whereupon after a short Consultation, Messengers were sent to treat of an Agreement; during which Treaty, the Blacks of Commendo were requir'd to lay down Arms, and to use no force to the Husbandmen of the Myne.

The Articles offer'd by the Garrison, were refus'd; * 1.8 but those accepted that the Beleaguerers propos'd; being to this effect: They shall all with their Wives and Children, without reproach or abuse, go forth safe with Life and Limb. Every one shall take their Apparel; but no Money either Gold or Silver. The Victor shall retain all the Merchandise, and Slaves, except twelve, which the owners may keep. All the Church-Ornaments and Utensils, except of Gold and Silver, they shall take away with them. The Portugals, Mulattoes, and all their Housholds provided with necessary Sustenance, shall be carried to the Island St. Thome. The Governor of the Fort, and Souldiers, shall forthwith depart out of the Fort, and leave all the Ammunition for War, and the rest of the Merchandise to the Victor. The Souldiers shall depart without Co∣lours or Sword, and neither have lighted Match nor Bullets. Thus was this renowned Castle won and lost in four days. * 1.9 The Booty of Ammunition and Arms found therein, were thirty Iron Pieces of Ordnance, nine thousand weight of Spice, eight hundred great Iron Balls, ten Fats of small Bullets, and three hundred Stone Bullets, six and thirty Spanish Swords, besides Bowes, Ar∣rows, and other Utensils of War. As soon as the Garrison was drawn out, and come over to the Island St. Thomas, the Dutch took possession with an hun∣dred and forty Men. A former attempt had been made against this Castle, but succeeded unluckily; the manner this:

The Dutch Admiral with his Fleet, on the six and twentieth of August, * 1.10 One thousand six hundred twenty five, came into Serre-Lions to refresh his Men, being most of them sick of the Bloody-Flux; where he found three other Ships, who had lay'n there two Moneths, undergoing great Misery, Sickness, and other Calamities. The People of both the Parties being refreshed and cured, determined to win the Castle of Myne, being about fifteen Ships and Ketches, with which they set forth the five and twentieth of September from Serre-Lions, and were the ninth of October upon the Grain-Coast, between Rio St. Paulo, and Rio Junk, in five Degrees and an half North Latitude, where they sent a Ketch to the General for the Netherlands West-India Company at Moure, to acquaint him with their coming, and that they intended to come with their Fleet before Kommony, and to Land there.

Being come on the twentieth of the same Moneth before Kommony, * 1.11 they understood that the General was gone to Akra, the uttermost place of the Gold-Coast, and not expected back again for three or four days. This delay the Admiral and his Council of War thought would give too fair opportunity to the Enemy, and therefore resolved to Land the Soldiers: but this resolution was deferr'd by advice of those of the Fort of Nassau, till the coming of the General, because of his great Interest with the Kings of Fetu, Sabou, and Kom∣mony, in whose Favour much did consist. But immediately after his arrival, which was on the four and twentieth, it was concluded the next day to go on with the Design. Four Ships therefore were order'd to lie close before

the Castle of the Myne, to amuse the Enemy by continual Shooting for three days, * 1.12 till the other Soldiers might in the mean time draw up without inter∣ruption. The five and twentieth they Land in Terra Pekine about twelve hun∣dred Soldiers and Mariners, with an hundred and fifteen Blacks brought from Maure with the General; who about Noon came within a mile of the Castle of Myne, and from thence, after two hours rest, drew within shot of it; where they were saluted presently with some great Guns, but without hurt: and so sate down before the Castle behind a Hill, with resolution that night to En∣trench and make their Approaches. In the mean time, while the General went to the pitch of the Hill to view the Castle, the Soldiers being tir'd with heat and thirst, ran from their Arms, and gat themselves to rest, without suspicion of any Enemy; * 1.13 but as soon as the Commanders were come upon the top of the Mountain, they were unawares fall'n upon by about two hundred Blacks, who, like mad furious Men, fell in and made great slaughter and destruction amongst them; which bred such a terrour and consternation amongst them, that they threw away their Arms, and leaping into the Water were drown'd. There remained slain, * 1.14 together with those that were drown'd, three hundred seventy three Soldiers, sixty six Mariners, and most of the superior and infe∣rior Officers; * 1.15 the General himself wounded, came to extream distress, and carried out of the Fight, the rest fled to Kommany; whither also the Ships steer∣ed their course: and by this means was that Design utterly overthrown. But now we return to the remainder of the precedent success.

Presently after the taking of this Castle, the Victors sent a Canoo with Let∣ters to the Portugal Governor of Atzin, thereby requiring him to surrender that Place: But he well knowing they could not come up to him in that season of the year, answer'd, That he would keep the Fort for the King, and expect our Forces. Then by advice of the whole Council of War, the Redoubt upon St. Jago was repair'd, as also a Battery that was fall'n, adjoining to the Works of the Castle; from whence they may scowre the Shore of the River, and relieve the Sea-Battery.

On the West-side of the Castle stands a pretty large Town, * 1.16 close built, by the Portugals call'd Del Myn; but by the Blacks, Dana, or Dang; extending far in length, but lieth so low, that at a Spring-Tide the Sea in some places runs through the Streets: And on the other side runs the Salt-River Benja; which not onely hinders the passage out of the Town, but makes the adjacent Coun∣trey very Moorish. This River formerly was ten or eleven Foot deep at low Water, but now so shallow, that it is not passable for Ketches, which draw four Foot Water.

This Town is naturally very strong, being (as we said) shut up between the River and the Sea, so that the Enemy hath no other approach, than at the end of Kommany, where the Portugals, as a Security from the Blacks, had rais'd a Stone-wall from the Sea to the River, and made a Battery.

About half a mile from St. * 1.17 Jago, floweth the River Utri, but full of Cliffs, and altogether unpassable, yet affords this Commodity, that not onely the Blacks from the Town daily fetch thence their Water, but also the Ships; there being within two miles no Springs to be found.

The Countrey hereabout yields little Fruit; * 1.18 therefore most of their Food is Mille to make Bread of; Safoe or Wine of Palms, Sugar, Ananae's, Injame's, Pota∣toe's, Wine of Bordean, are brought to them from Fetu, Abrembe, Commendo, A∣kane, and exchang'd in Barter for half Gold, half Fish.

This Town with the neighbouring Land, the Portugals boasted for the plea∣santness and most fertile place on the whole Coast, and as an effectual proof thereof, would often bestow upon other Traders some gifts of Apples, Coco-Nuts, and such like things, which they (though without reason) thought grew there: but now the contrary is most evident, for Moure, Kormantine, and other Towns in that Tract, in pleasantness, Plants, and Provisions, far exceed it. 'Tis true however, this Town goes beyond the rest for number of Inhabitants, being able in time of War to raise two thousand men fit for service. They are a mixture of Black's and Mulattoe's, which last being Portuguez Christians, amount to the number of two hundred, or thereabouts.

The whole maintain themselves with Fishing, * 1.19 going out to Sea with four or five hundred Canoo's, and in every Canoo two or three persons; they sell the Fish to them of Fetu, Abrembo, and Commendo for Mille, Wine of Palm, Sugar, and the like; as is before-mention'd.

The Jurisdiction of Myne was divided between the Kings of Guaffo and Fetu: but this burthen the Portugal's remov'd, so that it seems a kind of Corporation under the subjection of the Castle, and hath several superior Officers of their own; and in that state and condition they are at this day.

The constitution of which Government they have thus modell'd, * 1.20 every Quarter or Precinct, the whole Town being divided into three, is rul'd by a peculiar Braffo or Captain, and Kaboseroe's or Officers; but they all assemble upon any emergency, in the house of the chiefest Captain, where they first ex∣hibit all complaints, and from thence remit them to the Commander in Chief of the Castle for redress, from whose sentence there is yet an appeal to the Ge∣neral, who concludes the whole matter, and all parties rest satisfi'd with his Determination; and by this means they live quietly and peaceably.

But if any difference arise between them and the Commender's or Fetuan's, for the more speedy decision thereof, the whole Commonalty taking the injury done to a particular person as to themselves, immediately complain to the General, with request, that the Rights and Priviledges of the Members pre∣judic'd may be ratifi'd, and to that end, that he would promise with power to obtain remedy. In such occasions the Portugal's always readily interpos'd, and accompany'd them to War against the adverse party; whereby at length they came to be of great repute for Valor among their Neighbours.

They are all (as hath been said) expert Fishers, being not onely their chief employment, but of such esteem, that they are priz'd beyond all Artificers.

Of what they catch, they pay to the Castle the fifth Fish for Custom. Some few get a living by Polishing of Coral which is brought thither.

Their Religion hath some tincture of Christianity, * 1.21 which they learnt from the Portuguese, with whom they Inter-marry'd; from which mixture have pro∣ceeded several Mulattoe's there resident.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Castle of the Myne. Gold-Mines lying near.
• * 1.2

  Its Antiquity.
• * 1.3

  Its Form.
• * 1.4

  The Mountain St. Jago.
• * 1.5

  Fountains of Water.
• * 1.6

  They land at Cape de Kors.
• * 1.7

  The Castle Summon'd.
• * 1.8

  Articles of Agreement.
• * 1.9

  The Booty.
• * 1.10

  The fruitless attempt up∣on the Castle of Myne.
• * 1.11

  The coming to Kommany.
• * 1.12

  They Land at Terra Pe∣kine.
• * 1.13

  Were fallen upon by the Enemy.
• * 1.14

  The number of the slain.
• * 1.15

  The General wounded.
• * 1.16

  The Town Myna at the Myne.
• * 1.17

  The River Ʋtri.
• * 1.18

  The constitution of the Countrey.
• * 1.19

  Their Employment.
• * 1.20

  The Government of the Town the Myne.
• * 1.21

  The Religion and worship.