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THis Countrey Modern Geographers place at the Sea-Coast, and make it spread from the River Quansa, to Cabo Negro, in the heighth of six∣teen Degrees; though others will have it go farther than Rio Longo, in eleven Degrees and four Minutes South Latitude. The Places, Rivers, Bays,
and Villages, lying at the Sea-Coast within that compass, may be these:
About three miles from the South Point of Quansa, lieth Maysotte-Bay; before which a small Rock hides it self. Three miles and a half forward you arrive at Cabo Ledo; And five from thence appears Cabo de tres Puntas. * 1.1 And two miles yet Southerly Cabo Falso; And five beyond that, another.
Six miles and a half from Cabo St. Bras, lieth Hens-Bay, * 1.2 so call'd from the abundance of Hens thereabouts; and between both, Benguella Viella, that is Old Benguela, a Champaign and very fruitful Countrey.
The Hen-Bay contains about a mile and a half in breadth, holding ten or twelve Fathom Water, with muddy Ground. On the South-side stands a great Village on a Hill, where large Cows, Sheep, Hens, and Elephants-Teeth may be had; yet they have no fresh Water.
Three miles and a half from this Bay lieth Rio Longo, * 1.3 otherwise call'd Rio Moreno, in eleven Degrees and four Minutes South Latitude, so shallow at the Mouth, that a small Boat cannot go in or out without difficulty.
In former times the Portuguese attempted to enlarge the Entrance into this River; but by reason of its shoalness, the strong Water-falls, and great num∣bers of Rocks, they found it not feasible.
Five miles from Rio Longo appears a great Village, nam'd Manikikongo; upon the Ascent a high Mountain, where the Portuguese once had a Store-house, and bought Cows, Hogs, and Elephants-Teeth, for Linnen and East-India pressed Clothes. The Inhabitants here are very earnest for Musquets and Powder.
Eleven miles from Manikikongo runs the Salt River Katon-belle, dividing it self in two or three Branches, being free from all Winds, and hath fifteen and six∣teen Foot Water, so that the great Ships may come before it.
About the North Point of Katon-belle lieth the Good Bay, * 1.4 so call'd by reason of its ground of Anchoring.
The Countreys upon the Sea-Coast are fruitful and low, but the In-lands high, and overgrown with Woods.
A mile and a half from Katon-belle you discover a fresh River, that falls in∣to the Sea but in the times of Rain.
The Bay of Benguella, having good Ground for Ships to ride at an Anchor, reaches from one Point to the other, a mile and a half in breadth. On the North-side stands the Foot of Benguelle, built four-square, with Pallizado's and Trenches, and surrounded with Houses, which stand in the shadow of Bananos, Orange, Lemon, Granate-Trees, and Bakovens. Behind this Fort is a Pit with fresh Water.
Here lie seven Villages, that pay to those of Bengala the tenth part of all they have for Tribute.
The first, Melonde; the second, Peringe; both about a League from the Fort, * 1.5 and a mile one from another; the other five are, Maniken, Somba, Maninomma, Ma∣nikimsomba, Pikem, and Manikilonde; of all which Manikisomba is the biggest, and can bring three thousand Men into the Field.
Here formerly lived some Portuguese, which afterwards out of fear of the Blacks fled to Massingan, but were most of them kill'd in the way.
On the West Point of the Bay of Benguelle, is a flat Mountain call'd in Por∣tuguese Sombriero, from its shape, representing afar off a three-corner'd Cap; and by it an excellent Bay, having at the South-east-side a sandy Shore, with a pleasant Valley and a few Trees, but no Water fit to drink.
Four miles from thence they have a Salt-Pan, which produces of gray Salt, (like French Salt) as much as the adjacent Countreys can spend.
In Bengala is a great Beast, * 1.6 call'd Abada, as big as a lusty Horse, having two Horns, one sticking out in his Forehead, and another behind in his Neck: that in the Forehead is crooked, but smooth, rises sloaping before, and very sharp, but at the Root as thick as an ordinary Man's Leg, being many times one, two, three, or four Foot long; but that in the Neck shorter and flatter, of colour black, or a sad gray, but being fil'd appears white, the Head not so long as the Head of a well-shaped Horse, but shorter and flatter, with a Skin Hair'd like a Cow, and a Tail like an Ox, but short; a Mayn like a Horse, but not so long, and cloven Feet like a Deers, but bigger.
Before this Beast hath attained the full growth, the Horn stands right forward in the midst of the Forehead, but afterwards grows crooked like the Elephant's-Teeth. When he drinks he puts his Horn first in the Water, for prevention (as they say) against Poyson.
The Horn they report to be an excellent Medicine against Poyson, * 1.7 as hath oftentimes been proved; but they find more efficacy in one than another, oc∣casioned by the timely and untimely killing of the Creature. The trial of their goodness the Portuguese make in this manner: They set up the Horn with the sharp end downwards on a Floor, and hang over it a Sword with the Point downwards, so as the Point of the one may touch the end of the other: If the Horn be good, and in its due season, or age, then the Sword turns round of it self, but moves not over untimely and bad Horns.
The Bones of this Beast ground small, and with Water made into Pap, they prescribe as a Cure against inward Pains and Distempers, being applied outwardly Plaister-wise.
Cabo Ledo.
Hen-Bay.
Rio Lengo.
Good Bay.
Under Benguelle are seven Villages.
The Beast Abada.
The Horn is good a∣gainst Poyson.