Part 5
{MN-1} All the hope he had ever to be delivered from this Thraldom, was Only the love of _Tragabigzanda,_ who surely was ignorant of his bad usage; for although he had often debated the matter with some Christians, that had been there a long time Slaves, they could not find how to make an escape, by any reason or possibility; but God beyond Man's Expectation or Imagination helpeth his Servants, when they least think of help, as it hapned to him. So long he lived in this miserable Estate, as he became a Thresher at a grange in a great Field, more than a League from the _Timor's_ House; the _Bashaw,_ as he oft used to visit his Granges, visited him, and took occasion so to beat, spurn, and revile him, that forgetting all reason, he beat out the _Timor's_ Brains with his Threshing Bat, for they have no Flails; and seeing his Estate could be no worse than it was, clothed himself in his Clothes, hid his Body under the Straw, filled his Knapsack with Corn, shut the doors, mounted his Horse, and ran into the Desart at all adventure; two or three days, thus fearfully wandring he knew not whither, and well it was, he met not any to ask the way; being even as taking leave of this miserable World, {MN-2} God did direct him to the great way or Castragan, as they call it, which doth cross these large Territories, and generally known among them by these marks.
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{MN-1} _How_ Smith _escaped his Captivity._
{MN-2} _Their Guides in those Countries._
In every crossing of this great way is planted a Post, and in it so many bobs with broad ends, as there be ways, and every bob the Figure painted on it, that demonstrateth to what part that way leadeth; as that which pointeth towards the _Crim's_ Country, is marked with a half Moon, if towards the _Georgians_ and _Persia,_ a black Man, full of white spots, if towards _China,_ the Picture of the Sun, if towards _Muscovia,_ the Sign of a Cross, if towards the Habitation of any other Prince, the Figure whereby his Standard is known. To his dying Spirits thus God added some comfort in this melancholy Journey, wherein if he had met any of that vile Generation, they had made him their Slave, or knowing the Figure Engraven in the Iron about his Neck, (as all Slaves have) he had been sent back again to his Master; sixteen days he travelled in this fear and torment, after the Cross, till he arrived at _AEcopolis,_ upon the River _Don,_ a Garrison of the _Muscovites._ The Governour after due Examination of those his hard events, took off his Irons, and so kindly used him, he thought himself new risen from the Dead, and the good Lady _Calamata,_ largely Supplied all his wants.
{MN-1} This is as much as he could learn of those wild Countries, that the Country of _Cambia_ is two days Journey from the Head of the great River _Bruapo,_ which springeth from many places of the Mountains of _Innagachi,_ that joyn themselves together in the Pool _Kerkas_ which they account for the Head, and falleth into the Sea _Dissabacca,_ called by some the Lake _Maeotas,_ which receiveth also the River _Tanais,_ and all the Rivers that fall from the great Countries of the _Circassi,_ the _Cartaches,_ and many from the _Tauricaes, Precopes, Cummani, Cossunka,_ and the _Crim;_ through which Sea he Sailed, and up the River _Bruapo_ to _Nalbrits,_ and thence through the Desarts of _Circassi_ to _AEcopolis,_ as is related; where he stayed with the Governour, till the Convoy went to _Caragnaw;_ then with his Certificate how he found him, and had examined with his friendly Letters, sent him by _Zumalack_ to _Caragnaw,_ whose Governour in like manner so kindly used him, that by this means he went with a safe conduct to _Lesch,_ and _Donko,_ in _Cologoske,_ and thence to _Berniske_, and _Newgrod_ in _Siberia,_ by _Rezechica,_ upon the River _Nieper,_ in the confines of _Lithuania;_ from whence with as much kindness, he was convoyed in like manner by _Coroski, Duberesko, Duzihell, Drohobus,_ and _Ostroge_ in _Volonia; Saslaw,_ and _Lasco_ in _Podolia; Halico_ and _Collonia_ in _Polonia;_ and so to _Hermonstat_ in _Transilvania._ In all this his life, he seldom met with more Respect, Mirth, Content and Entertainment; and not any Governour where he came, but gave him somewhat as a Present, besides his Charges; seeing themselves as subject to the like Calamity. {MN-2} Through those poor continually Foraged Countries, there is no passage, but with the Caravans or Convoys; for they are Countries rather to be pitied than envied; and it is a wonder any should make Wars for them. The Villages are only here and there, a few Houses of streight Firr Trees, laid heads and points above one another, made fast by notches at the ends, more than a Man's heighth, and with broad split Boards, pinned together with woodden Pins, as thatched for coverture. In ten Villages you shall scarce find ten Iron Nails, except it be in some extraordinary Man's House. For their Towns, _AEcopolis, Letch,_ and _Donko,_ have Rampires made of that woodden Walled fashion, double, and betwixt them Earth and Stones, but so latched with cross Timber, they are very strong against any thing but Fire; and about them a deep Ditch, and a Palizado of young Firr Trees; but most of the rest have only a great Ditch cast about them, and the Ditches Earth, is all their Rampire; but round, well environed with Palizadoes. Some have some few small pieces of small Ordnance, and Slings, Calievers, and Muskets, but their generallest Weapons are the _Russe_ Bows and Arrows; you shall find Pavements over Bogs, only of young Firr-Trees, laid cross one over another, for two or three hours Journey, or as the Passage requires, and yet in two days Travel, you shall scarce see six Habitations. Notwithstanding to see how their Lords, Governours, and Captains are civilized, well attired and accoutred with Jewels, Sables, and Horses, and after their manner with curious Furniture, it is wonderful; but they are all Lords or Slaves, which makes them so subject to every Invasion.
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{MN-1} _The description of_ Cambia, _and his passage to_ Russia.
{MN-2} _His Observations in his Journey to_ Transilvania, _through the midst of_ Europe.
In _Transilvania,_ he found so many good Friends, that but to see, and rejoyce himself (after all those Encounters) in his Native Country, he would ever hardly have left them, though the mirrour of vertue their Prince was absent. Being thus glutted with content, and near drowned with Joy, he parted high _Hungaria_ by _Fileck, Tocka, Cassovia,_ and _Underorowoay,_ by _Ulmicht_ in _Moravia,_ to _Prague_ in _Bohemia;_ at last he found the most gracious Prince _Sigismundus,_ with his Colonel at _Lipswick_ in _Misenland,_ who gave him his Pass, intimating the service he had done, and the Honours he had received, with fifteen hundred Ducats of Gold to repair his Losses: With this he spent some time to visit the fair Cities and Countries of _Dresden_ in _Saxony, Magdeburgh_ and _Brunswick; Cassel_ in _Hessen; Wittenberg, Vilum,_ and _Minekin_ in _Bavaria; Augsburg,_ and her Universities; _Hama, Frankford, Mentz,_ the _Palatinate; Worms, Spires,_ and _Straburg;_ passing _Nancie_ in _Lorain,_ and _France_ by _Paris_ to _Orleans,_ he went down the River of _Loyer,_ to _Angiers,_ and imbarked himself at _Nantz_ in _Britain,_ for _Bilbao_ in _Biskay_ to see _Burgos-Valladolid,_ the admired Monastery of the _Escurial, Madrid, Toledo, Corduba, Cuedyrial, Sivil, Cheries, Cales,_ and St. _Lucas_ in _Spain._
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CHAP. XVIII.
_The Observations of Captain_ Smith; _Mr._ Henry Archer, _and others in_ Barbary.
Being thus satisfied with _Europe_ and _Asia,_ understanding of the Wars in _Barbary,_ he went from _Gibralter_ to _Ceuta_ and _Tangier,_ thence to _Saffee,_ where growing into Acquaintance with a French Man of War, the Captain and some twelve more went to _Morocco,_ to see the ancient Monuments of that large renowned City: It was once the principal City in _Barbary,_ situated in a goodly plain Country, 14 Miles from the great Mount _Atlas,_ and sixty Miles from the _Atlantick_ Sea; but now little remaining, but the King's Palace, which is like a City of it self; and the Christian Church, on whose flat, {MN-1} square Steeple is a great broach of Iron, whereon is placed the three Golden Balls of Africa: The first is near three Ells in Circumference, the next above it somewhat less, the uppermost the least over them, as it were an half Ball, and over all a pretty gilded Pyramid. Against those Golden Balls hath been shot many a shot, their Weight is recorded 700 weight of pure Gold, hollow within, yet no shot did ever hit them, nor could ever any Conspirator attain that Honour as to get them down. They report, the Prince of _Morocco_ betrothed himself to the King's Daughter of _AEthiopia,_ he dying before their Marriage, she caused those three Golden Balls to be set up for his Monument, and vowed Virginity all her Life. {MN-2} The _Alfantica_ is also a place of note, because it is invironed with a great Wall, wherein lie the Goods of all the Merchants securely guarded. The _Inderea_ is also (as it were) a City of it self, where dwell the Jews: The rest for the most part is defaced; but by the many Pinnacles and Towers, with Balls on their tops, hath much appearance of much sumptuousness and curiosity. There have been many famous Universities, which are now but Stables for Fowls, and Beasts, and the Houses in most parts lie tumbled one above another; the Walls of Earth are with the great fresh Floods washed to the ground; nor is there any Village in it, but Tents for Strangers, _Larbes_ and _Moors._ Strange Tales they will tell of a great Garden, wherein were all sorts of Birds, Fishes, Beasts, Fruits, and Fountains, which for Beauty, Art and Pleasure, exceeded any place known in the World, though now nothing but Dung-hills, Pigeon-Houses, Shrubs and Bushes. There are yet many excellent Fountains, adorned with Marble, and many Arches, Pillars, Towers, Ports, and Temples; but most only reliques of lamentable Ruins and sad Desolation.
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{MN-1} _The three Golden Balls of_ Africa.
{MN-2} _The description of_ Morocco.
{MN} When _Muly Hamet_ Reigned in _Barbary,_ he had three Sons, _Muly Sheck, Muly Sidan,_ and _Muly Bufferres,_ he a most good and noble King, that governed well with Peace and Plenty, till his Empress, more cruel than any Beast in Africa, poisoned him, her own Daughter, _Muly Sheck,_ his eldest Son, born of a Portugal Lady, and his Daughter, to bring _Muly Sidan,_ to the Crown now reigning, which was the cause of all those brawls, and Wars that followed betwixt those Brothers, their Children, and a Saint that started up, but he played the Devil.
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{MN} _A bloody Empress._
{MN-1} King _Muly Hamet_ was not black, as many suppose, but _Molara,_ or tawny, as are the most of his Subjects; every way noble, kind and friendly, very rich and pompous in State and Majesty, though he sitteth not upon a Throne nor Chair of state, but cross Leg'd upon a rich Carpet, as doth the _Turk,_ whose Religion of _Mahomet,_ with an incredible miserable Curiosity they observe. His ordinary Guard is at least 5000, but in Progress, he goeth not with less than 20000 Horse-men, himself as rich in all his Equipage, as any Prince in Christendom, and yet a Contributor to the _Turk._ {MN-2} In all his Kingdom were so few good Artificers, that he entertained from _England,_ Gold-smiths, Plummers, Carvers, and Polishers of Stone, and Watch-makers, so much he delighted in the Reformation of Workmanship, he allowed each of them ten Shillings a day standing Fee, Linen, Woollen, Silks, and what they would for Diet and Apparel, and Custom-free to transport, or import what they would; for there were scarce any of those qualities in his Kingdom, but those, of which there are divers of them, living at this present in _London._ Amongst the rest, one Mr. _Henry Archer,_ a Watch-maker, walking in _Morocco,_ from the _Alfantica_ to the _Juderea,_ the way being very foul, met a great Priest, or a _Sante_ (as they call all great Clergy-men) who would have thrust him into the dirt for the way; but Archer not knowing what he was, gave him a box on the Ear, presently he was apprehended, and condemned to have his Tongue cut out, and his Hand cut off: But no sooner it was known at the King's Court, but 300 of his Guard came, and broke open the Prison, and delivered him although the Fact was next degree to Treason.
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{MN-1} _King_ Muly Hamet _or the Great_ Zeriff _of_ Barbary.
{MN-2} _His great love to English Men._
{MN} Concerning this _Archer,_ there is one thing more worth noting: Not far from Mount _Atlas,_ a great Lioness in the heat of the day, did use to bathe her self, and teach her young Puppies to swim in the River _Cauzef,_ of a good breadth; yet she would carry, which some _Moors_ perceiving, watched there them one after another over the River; opportunity, and when the River was between her and them, stole four of her Whelps, which she perceiving, with all the speed she could passed the River, and coming near them, they let fall a Whelp (and fled with the rest) which she took in her mouth, and so returned to the rest: A Male and a Female of those they gave Mr. _Archer,_ who kept them in the King's Garden, till the Male killed the Female, then he brought it up as a Puppy-dog lying upon his Bed, till it grew so great as a Mastiff, and no dog more tame or gentle to them he knew: But being to return for _England,_ at _Saffee_ he gave him to a Merchant of _Marseillses,_ that presented him to the French King, who sent him to King James, where it was kept in the Tower seven Years: After one Mr. _John Bull,_ then Servant to Mr. _Archer,_ with divers of his Friends, went to see the Lions, not knowing any thing at all of him; yet this rare Beast smelled him before he saw him, whining, groaning, and tumbling, with such an expression of acquaintance, that being informed by the Keepers how he came thither; Mr. _Bull_ so prevailed, the Keeper opened the Grate, and _Bull_ went in: But no Dog could fawn more on his Master, than the Lion on him, licking his Feet, Hands, and Face, skipping and tumbling to and fro, to the wonder of all the beholders; being satisfied with his acquaintance, he made shift to get out of the Grate: But when the Lion saw his Friend gone, no Beast by bellowing, roaring, scratching, and howling, could express more rage and sorrow, nor in four days after would he either eat or drink.
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{MN} _The strange love of a Lion._
{MN} In _Morocco,_ the King's Lions are altogether in a Court, invironed with a great high Wall; to those they put a young Puppy-dog: The greatest Lion had a sore upon his neck, which this Dog so licked, that he was healed: The Lion defended him from the fury of all the rest, nor durst they eat till the Dog and he had fed; this Dog grew great, and lived amongst them many years after.
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{MN} _Another kind Lion in_ Morocco.
{MN-1} _Fez_ also is a most large and plentiful Country, the chief City is called _Fez,_ divided into two parts; old _Fez_, containing about 80 thousand Households, the other 4000 pleasantly situated upon a River in the heart of _Barbary,_ part upon Hills, part upon Plains, full of people, and all sorts of Merchandize. The great Temple is called _Carucen_, in breadth seventeen Arches, in length 120, born up with 2500 white Marble Pillars: under the chief Arch, where the Tribunal is kept, hangeth a most huge Lamp, compassed with 110 lesser, under the other also hang great Lamps, and about some, are burning fifteen hundred lights, They say, they were all made of the Bells the _Arabians_ brought from _Spain._ It hath three Gates of notable heighth, Priests and Officers so many, that the Circuit of the Church, the Yard, and other Houses, is little less than a Mile and half in compass, there are in this City 200 Schools, 200 Inns, 400 Water-Mills, 600 Water-Conduits, 700 Temples and Oratories; but 50 of them most stately and richly furnished. Their _Alcazer_ or _Burse_ is Walled about, it hath twelve Gates, and fifteen Walks covered with Tents, to keep the Sun from the Merchants, and them that come there. The King's Palace, both for strength and beauty is excellent, and the Citizens have many great Privileges. Those two Countries of _Fez_ and _Morocco,_ are the best part of all _Barbary,_ abounding with People, Cattel, and all good Necessaries for Man's use. For the rest, as the _Larbs,_ or Mountainers, the Kingdoms of _Cocow, Algier, Tripoli, Tunis,_ and _AEgypt;_ there are many large Histories of them in divers Languages, especially that writ by that most excellent Statesman, _John de Leo,_ who afterwards turned Christian. {MN-2} The unknown Countries of _Guine_ and _Binn,_ this six and twenty years have been frequented with a few English Ships only to Trade, especially the River of _Senega,_ by Captain _Brimstead,_ Captain _Brockit,_ Mr. _Crump,_ and divers others. Also the great River of _Gambia,_ by Captain _Johnson,_ who is returned in thither again, in the Year 1626, with Mr. _William Grent,_ and thirteen or fourteen others, to stay in the Country, to discover some way to those rich Mines of _Gago_ or _Tumbatu,_ from whence is supposed the _Moors_ of _Barbary_ have their Gold, and the certainty of those supposed Descriptions and Relations of those interiour parts, which daily the more they are sought into, the more they are corrected: For surely, those interiour Parts of Africa, are little known to either _English, French,_ or _Dutch,_ though they use much the Coast; therefore we will make a little bold with the Observations of the _Portugals._
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{MN-1} _The description of_ Fez.
{MN-2} _A brief description of the most unknown parts of_ Africa.
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CHAP. XIX.
_The strange Discoveries and Observations of the_ Portugals _in_ Africa.
{MN} The _Portugals_ on those Parts have the glory, who first coasting along this Western Shoar of _Africa,_ to find passage to the _East-Indies,_ within this hundred and fifty years, even from the Streights of _Gibraltar,_ about the Cape of _Bone Esperance_ to the _Persian_ Gulf, and thence all along the _African_ Coast to the _Moluccas,_ have subjected many great Kingdoms, erected many Common-wealths, built many great and strong Cities; and where is it they have not been by Trade or Force? No not so much as _Cape de Verd,_ and _Sermleone;_ but most Bays or Rivers, where there is any Trade to be had, especially Gold, or conveniency for Refreshment, but they are scattered; living so amongst those Blacks, by time and cunning, they seem to be naturalized amongst them. As for the Isles of the _Canaries,_ they have fair Towns, many Villages, and many thousands of People rich in Commodities.
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{MN}_How the_ Portugals _coasted to the_ East Indies.
{MN} _Ordoardo Lopez,_ a noble _Portuguse, Anno Dom._ 1578, imbarking himself for _Congo_ to Trade, where he found such Entertainment, finding the King much oppressed with Enemies, he found means to bring in the _Portugals_ to assist him, whereby he planted there Christian Religion, and spent most of his life to bring those Countries to the Crown of _Portugal,_ which he describeth in this manner.
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{MN} _Or_ Edward.
{MN} The Kingdom of _Congo_ is about 600 Miles Diameter any way, the chief City called St. _Savadore,_ seated upon an exceeding high Mountain, 150 Miles from the Sea, very fertile, and Inhabited with more than 100000 Persons, where is an excellent Prospect over all the plain Countries about it, well watered, lying (as it were) in the Center of this Kingdom, over all which the _Portugals_ now command, though but an handful in comparison of _Negroes._ They have Flesh and Fruits very plentiful of divers sorts.
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{MN} _The Kingdom of_ Congo.
{MN} This Kingdom is divided into five Provinces, viz. _Bamba, Sundi, Pango, Batta_ and _Pembo;_ but _Bamba_ is the Principal, and can afford 400000 Men of War. Elephants are bred over all those Provinces, and of wonderful greatness; though some report, they cannot kneel, nor lie down, they can do both, and have their Joynts as other Creatures for use: With their Fore-feet they will leap upon Trees to pull down the Boughs, and are of that strength, they will shake a great _Cocao_ Tree for the Nuts, and pull down a good Tree with their Tusks, to get the Leaves to eat, as well as Sedge and long Grass, _Cocao_ Nuts and Berries, &c. which with their Trunk they put in their Mouth, and chew it with their smaller Teeth; in most of those Provinces, are many rich Mines, but the _Negroes_ opposed the _Portugueses_ for working in them.
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{MN} _Wild Elephants._
{MN} The Kingdom of _Angola_ is wonderful populous, and rich in Mines of Silver, Copper, and most other Metals; fruitfull in all manner of Food, and sundry sorts of Cattel, but Dogs Flesh they love better than any other Meat; they use few Clothes, and no Armour; Bows, Arrows, and Clubs are their Weapons. But the _Portugueses_ are well armed against those Engines, and do buy yearly of those Blacks more than five thousand Slaves, and many are People exceeding well proportioned.
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{MN} _The Kingdom of_ Angola.
{MN-1} The _Anchios_ are a most valiant Nation, but most strange to all about them. Their Arms are Bows; short and small, wrapped about with Serpents Skins, of divers Colours, but so smooth, you would think them all one with the Wood, and it makes them very strong; their Strings little twigs, but exceeding tough and flexible; their Arrows short, which they shoot with an incredible quickness. They have short Axes of Brass and Copper for Swords; wonderful, loyal and faithful, and exceeding simple, yet so active, they skip amongst the Rocks like Goats. {MN-2} They trade with them of _Nubea,_ and _Congo,_ for _Lamach,_ which is a small kind of Shell-fish, of an excellent azure, colour, Male and Female, but the Female they hold most pure; they value them at divers prices, because they are of divers sorts, and those they use for Coin, to buy and sell, as we do Gold and Silver; nor will they have any other Money in all those Countries, for which they give Elephants Teeth; and Slaves for Salt, Silk, Linen Cloth, Glass-beads, and such like _Portugal_ Commodities.
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{MN-1} _The Kingdom of_ Anchios.
{MN-2} _A strange Memr'y._
{MN} They circumcise themselves, and mark their Faces with sundry slashes from their Infancy. They keep a shambles of Man's Flesh, as if it were Beef, or other Victuals; for when they cannot have a good Market for their Slaves; or their Enemies they take, they kill, and sell them in this manner; some are so resolute, in shewing how much they scorn death, they will offer themselves and Slaves, to this Butchery to their Prince and Friends; and though there be many Nations will eat their Enemies, in _America_ and _Asia,_ yet none but those are known to be so mad, as to eat their Slaves and Friends also.
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{MN} _A shambles of Men's Flesh._
Religions and Idols they have as many, as Nations and Humours; but the Devil hath the greatest part of their Devotions, whom all those Blacks do say, is white; for there are no Saints but Blacks.