A REPORT OF THE Kingdom of CONGO, a Region of AFRICA. And of the Countries that border round about the same.  

1. Wherein is also showed that the two Zones, Torrida & Frigida, are not only habitable, but inhabited, and very temperate, contrary to the opinion of the old Philosophers.  
2. That the black colour which is in the skins of the Ethiopians & Negroes etc. proceedeth not from the Sun.  
3. And that the River Nilus springeth not out of the mountains of the Moon, as hath been heretofore believed: Together with the true cause of the rising and increase thereof.  
4. Besides the description of divers plants, Fishes and Beasts, that are found in those Countries.   
Drawn out of the writings and discourses of Odoardo Lopes a Portugal, by Philippo Pigafetta.  
Translated out of Italian by Abraham Hartwell.  
LONDON Printed by john Wolf. 1597.   

To the most Gracious and Reverend Father in God, JOHN by the providence of God, Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, Primate and Metropolitan of all England, and one of the Lords of her majesties most honourable Privy Council.  
MOst Reverend Father, my singular good and gracious Lord: In all humble duty I do offer to your grace this poor and slender present, in auspicium nascentis anni, which I do most heartily pray, may be as happy and prosperous both for your health and quiet government, as (thanks be to God) your latter years have been. It is a description of a certain Region or Kingdom in Africa, called Congo, whose name is as yet scarce known to our quarters of Europe, neither is there any great or solemn mention of it in any books that have been published of that Third part of the old World. And because this treatise doth comprehend not only the nature and disposition of the Moci-Conghi, which are the natural inhabitants and people of Congo, together with all the commodities and traffic of that Country, very fit and pleasant to be read, but also the religion which they professed, and by what means it pleased God to draw them from Paganism to Christianity: I thought good thus to make it known to my countrymen of England, to the end it might be a precedent for such valiant English, as do earnestly thirst and desire to achieve the conquest of rude and barbarous Nations, that they do not attempt those actions for commodity of Gold and Silver, and for other transitory or worldly respects, but that they would first seek the Kingdom of God, & the salvation of many thousand souls, which the common enemy of mankind still detaineth in ignorance: and then all other things shall be put in their mouths abundantly, as may be seen by the Portugal's in this narration. Written it was by one Philippo Pigafetta, an Italian, and a very good Mathematician, from the mouth of one Lopez a Portugal, together with two maps, the one particular of Congo, the other general of all Africa, and especially of the Western Coast, from 34. degrees beyond the equinoctial northwards, down along to the Cape of Good-Hope in the South, and so upwards again on the Eastern Coast by the great Island of Madagascar, otherwise called the Isle of S. Laurence, till you come to the Isle of Socotora, & then to the Red Sea, and from Egypt into the Inland Southwards to the Empire of Presbiter-Iohn. I beseech your grace to accept of this my poor travel, and I will not cease to pray to Almighty God, according to my duty, that he will multiply many good years upon you, under the happy government of our most gracious & sovereign Lady Queen Elizabeth: whereunto the Church of England is bound to say, Amen. From your Grace's house in Lambehith, the first of januarie. 1597.  
Your Grace's most humble Servant at commandment, Abraham Hartwell.   

❧ The Translator to the Reader.  
I Find it true, that Sophocles writeth in his Whip-bearer Ajax, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉: Labour labori laborem adfert, that is to say, Labour doth breed labour upon labour. For after that the translation of the Book, containing the Wars between the Turks and Persians written by john-thomas Minadoi was published, divers of my friends have earnestly moved me to be still doing somewhat, and to help our English Nation, that they might know and understand many things, which are common in other languages, but utterly concealed from this poor Island. I have answered some of these my friends to their good satisfaction, and told them, that the weakness of my body would not suffer me to sit long, that the hours of my leisure were not many, unless I should unduetifully defraud those to whom I am most beholden and bounden, of that duty and attendance which I own unto them: and lastly, that I had no great pleasure to learn or inform myself of the state of other Nations, because I do not as yet sufficiently know the Estate of mine own Country. Whereof (I am verily persuaded) I may justly avouch that which Ulysses protested of his Ithaca: 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Then which poor Country can I never see any sweeter. Among others that made these Motions unto me, 
M. R. Hackluyt.  one there was, who being a curious and a diligent searcher and observer of Foreign adventures and adventurers, as by his good pains appeareth, came unto me to the house of a grave and learned Prelate in Suffolk, 
M. H. Castelton.  where I lay in my return out of Norfolk, and there made the like request unto me, and I the like answer unto him. But it would not satisfy him: for he said it was an answer answerless, and it should not serve my turn. And presently presented me with this Portugal Pilgrim lately come to him out of the Kingdom of Congo, and appareled in an Italian vesture: entreating me very earnestly, that I would take him with me, and make him English: for he could report many pleasant matters that he saw in his pilgrimage, which are indeed uncouth and almost incredible to this part of Europe. When I saw there was no remedy, I yielded, and even (as the Poet saith) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, 
Homer.  I brought him away with me. But within two hours conference, I found him nibbling at two most honourable Gentlemen of England, whom in plain terms he called Pirates: so that I had much ado to hold my hands from renting of him into many more pieces, than his cozen Lopez the Doctor was quartered. Yet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, My second wits stayed me, and advised me, that I should peruse all his Report, before I would proceed to execution: which in deed I did. And, because I saw that in all the rest of his behaviour he contained himself very well and honestly, and that he used this lewd speech, not altogether exanimo, but rather ex vitio gentis, of the now-inueterate hatred, which the Spaniard and Portugal bear against our Nation, I was so bold as to pardon him, and so taught him to speak the English tongue. In which language, if you will vouchsafe to hear him, he will tell you many notable observations of divers countries and people's inhabiting in Africa, whose Names have scarce been mentioned in England. As namely, the Kingdom of Congo, with all the Provinces thereof, the Kingdom of Angola, the Kingdom of Loango, the Kingdom of the Anzichi, the Kingdom of Matama, the Kingdom of Buttua, the Kingdom of Sofala, the Kingdom of Mozambiche, the Kingdom of Quiloa, the Kingdom of Mombaza, the Kingdom of Melinde, with the three great empires of Monomotapa, of Moenemugi, and of Prete-Gianni. He will tell you the several Rites and Customs, the Climates and Temperatures, the Commodities and Traffics, of all these Kingdoms. He will tell you the sundry kinds of cattle, Fishes and Fowls, strange Beasts, and Monstrous Serpents, that are to be found therein: For Africa was always noted to be a fruitful Mother of such fearful and terrible Creatures. He will tell you of great Lakes, that deserve the name of Seas: and huge Mountains of divers sorts, as for example, Mountains scorched with heat, Mountains of Snow proceeding of cold, Mountains of the Sun, Mountains of the Moon, Mountains of Crystal, Mountains of Iron, Mountains of Silver, and Mountains of Gold. And lastly, he will tell you the Original Spring of Nilus, and the true cause of the yearly increase thereof. In any of these points, if his Mouth shall happen to run over (as I hope, much it doth not) you must needs bear with him, for he will challenge the privilege of the English Proverb, A traveler may lie by authority, and the old Greek Agnomination, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, Every Pilgrim is not a Soothsayer.  
But to leave this long Allegory, which indeed is meant of this Book, and to come seriously and briefly to certain faults, that some Readers may peradventure find therein, I will do my best endeavour to satisfy them in such objections as may be made. And first, they will except perhaps against the Method of the Author, because he keepeth no continuate Order in this Report, but leapeth from one Matter to another, without any coherence, like marot's Poem, called Du Coqual' Asne: and so maketh a Hodgepodge of it. But herein Pigafetta is not greatly to be blamed, who gathering this Report out of the tumultuary Papers of Lopez, and from his unpremeditated speeches, uttered by mouth at several times, could not so well reduce it into so exact a form and Method, as curious wits do require. He is rather to be commended, that having so rude and undigested a Chaos to work upon, he could frame so handsome a little world of it as this is. If happily it be further urged, that the Translator should have taken pains to cast him in a new Mould, and to make his members hang proportionably one upon another: I must answer, that I neither do, nor ever did like of that kind of course. I was always of this opinion (and therein I do still dwell) that Authors should be published in the same Order, in the same Terms, & in the same Style which they themselves used. For how know I, what moved them to observe this Order or that Order, and to make choice of one word rather than of another? peradventure the reason of their so doing might prove to be so strong, as I doubt it would not easily be overthrown. 
Style.  And touching Style, some are so scrupulous and so nice, that they cannot abide to have old and ancient Writers to be published in Latin, unless they do imitate one of the Triumuiri of the Latin tongue, Cicero, Caesar or Sallust. If all men should be of that humour, we should be bereaved both of singular Divinity, and antic History, which have been written by men of no great learning, as Monks and Friars, whom (though they were very simple and mean, yet) it pleased God in the times of ignorance, to use as means to preserve unto us those Monuments of Antiquity. And therefore I could wish, that they might be published in their own Style, and (as it were) in Puris Naturalibus, yea though they writ false Latin, as some of them do. On the other side, some of our Critics are so Critical and so audacious, that when they publish any of the foresaid Triumuiri, or any other Classical Author, they will transpose, and omit, and foist into the Text many words and many conceits, whereof the Author never dreamt, as Eustathius and Servius have done upon Homer and Virgil. But if algates some Enthusiasm have come upon our Critics, that hath revealed unto them tanquam ex antro Trophonij, the certainty of the Author's writing and meaning, to be such as they have confidently set down, let me be bold to entreat them, that they would muster their conceits in the Margin (if the Margin will hold them: as I doubt it will not in this Hypercritical world) or else that they would reject them (as some of them have done) to the later end of their publications, under the title of Corrections, Castigations, Emendations, Animadversions, Variae Lectiones, or such like, Vt suo quisque utatur judicio & sensu abundet, That every man may use his own judgement, and abound in his own sense. But Maledicta Glossa quae corrumpit Textum. Cursed be that Gloss that corrupteth the Text. And sorry I am, that some of our later Divines have erred in this point, even in translating the Holy Scripture.  
Another exception may be taken against the Paradoxes that are maintained in this Treatise, As namely, contrary to the opinion of the old world, and of the ancient Philosophers, That the two Zones, Torrida, and Frigida, are both habitable and inhabited. But hereunto if the Author's reasons here alleged do not sufficiently answer, I do refer them, that will not yield therein, to the excellent Treatise of josephus a-Costa, de Natura Novi Orbis, printed this last year, and composed by him in Anno 1584. in which Theological and Philosophical work, he doth at large both by good reasons and also by his own experience prove this his position to be true. And therefore I protest unto you, it was one of the chief Motives, which moved me to translate this Report, to the end it might be more publicly known, that it was not the single fancy of one man, touching the temperature of these two Zones, but also of divers others that by their own travel have tried the certainty thereof: among whom, this Lopez was one, who delivered this Relation in Anno 1588., being four years after the Treatise made by josephus-a-costa. And I do not doubt, but that within few years you shall have it confirmed by many others that are and have been travelers, who have not as yet published their knowledge and trials in this behalf. In the mean time we do great injury to them that have been already so desirous to acquaint us with their labours, and to make us know as much as they know upon their credits and honesties: when in stead of showing ourselves thankful unto them for the same, we scoff and mock at them, and confidently swear that they are liars, and opposite to all ancient Philosophers. But in a word, I will answer herein with an Argument, 
Rhetoric▪ lib. 2.  which Aristotle useth, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. i. Siquidem in usu est hominibus, mentiri id quod credibile: existimare oportet & contrarium, Incredibilia multa hominibus, contingere vera: which for the better understanding I must paraphrase in English: If it be an usual thing among men, that when a thing is reported, which is very credible and like to be true, yet afterwards it falleth out to be a stark lie: Then must we needs think on the contrary, That many Reports or things which are incredible, do in the end fall out to be true. In which case, as Credulity leaneth a little to Foolery, so Incredulity smelleth somewhat of Atheism.  
Another Paradox is, That the heat of the Sun is not the cause of Whiteness or Blackness in the Skins of men. This Position in the Negative he may safely defend against all Philosophers, by virtue of the reasons that he hath vouched in this Report, which in deed do utterly overthrow their Affirmative. But because neither any ancient Writer before this age, nor he himself, hath ever been able to declare the true cause of these colours in human bodies, very honestly and modestly he leaveth it undecided, and referreth it to some secret of Nature, which hitherto hath been known to God alone, and never as yet revealed to man. And therefore I do wish, that some sound Natural Philosopher, such as Fernelius that wrote De abditis rerum causis, or as Levinus Lemnius de Occultis Naturae miraculis, or as Franciscus Valesius de Sacra Philosophia, would enter into the Closet of Contemplation, to find out the true Natural cause thereof. In the mean while I hold still with my Author in the Negative.  
The third Paradox touching the Amazons mentioned in this book, I do not see, why it should be counted a Paradox to believe, that there is such a Nation, considering how many Authors both Greek and Latin, both Historiographers and Cosmographers, both Divine and Profane, have acknowledged that Nation, and the Country wherein it inhabited. But our new Writers say, that a little after King Alexander's death it was utterly overthrown and quite extinguished. What? Vsque ad unam? not one of them left alive? Certainly that depopulation must needs proceed, either from the peculiar visitation of God almighty's own hand, or else it was the strangest slaughter that ever was heard of, that of a whole Nation, being so populous as that was, there should not remain some few, that escaped. But yet suppose that some Hypsiphile, or Penthesilea, or Thalestris, or some such other, did wisely convey herself away, cum Dijs Penatibus, cum Matre, & cum filia, and being guided by some happy Venus, arrived in a far remote Region, and there observed the customs and fashions of their own Native Country: Might not these three, together with some other women that were desirous of Rule and government, and alured by them to be of their Society; might not they (I say) in process of time, (for it is a long time since Alexander died) breed a New Nation of Amazons, although we never heard, in what Climate they remained? Yea it may be for any thing that I know, this latter generation might grow again to be so populous, that they could send forth Colonies from them into other places, and so plant themselves in divers Countries. For I hear that there are of them about Guiana, and here in this Report I read that some of them serve in the wars of the King of Monomotapa. And I hope that in good time, some good Guianian will make good proof to our England, that there are at this day both Amazons, and Headless men. And thus much for the Paradoxes.  
The last exception which may be made against this book, is the discourse of the Conversion of the Kingdom of Congo to Christianity, which is amplified, and set out with such Miracles and Superstitious Vanities, as though it had been plotted of purpose for the glory and advancement of the Pope and his Adherents: Wherein, because it doth concern matter of Religion, I will deal more warily and seriously to satisfy my Reader. True it is that the Inhabitants of Congo were all Pagans and Heathens, until they entertained Traffic with the Portugese's: Among whom, one Massing Priest became a means to confer with a Noble Man of Congo concerning Christianity, who taking liking thereof, as being a Man of good inclination and disposition, was very desirous to be further instructed. The Priest being wise, took opportunity to make way for his countrymen's traffic, and also for planting of the Christian Faith in that Region, It may be in hope to be preferred and advanced in a new established Church, as commonly our traveling Priests use to do, that wanting maintenance, or being upon some occasion discontented at home, do leap over sea into foreign parts, not for the desire which they have to gain Christian Souls, or to preach the Gospel, but to procure to themselves either dignities or wealth. But I do not say that this Priest was such a one: for I neither have reason nor authority so to say. For he sent over into Portugal for some fellows to help him, who being come into Congo, laboured so much, that in time the King and his people consented to become Christians. Then did the Portingall-Priests bestir themselves nimbly in baptizing the King, the Queen, the Lords, and the Commons. They built Churches, they erected Altars, they set up Crosses, and at last brought in a Bishop. And all this was done (I must needs confess) with all pomp and solemnity, after the Romish manner, which in deed is so plausible, as it is able to allure any simple Man or Woman, even with the very sight thereof. Yet will I not deny, but that these Priests had a good intent, and for my part I do believe that they were in bona fide, because they converted a great part of the People, not to Popery, but to Christianity, the true foundation of all Religion. And this Action, which tendeth to the glory of God, and may be a notable example to the World, of doing the like, shall it be concealed and not committed to memory, because it was performed by Popish Priests and Popish means? 
Philip. 1. 1●.  God forbidden. S. Paul maketh mention of divers that preached Christ, Some of envy and strife, and not purely, and Some of love and good will. What then? Yet Christ is preached, whether it be under pretence, or sincerely, and therein do I joy. So these Men are not to be regarded, whether they preached Christ for vainglory, and for maintenance of Popery, or of a sincere mind: but certain it is, that Christ was preached by them, 
Mark. 9  and therein ought we to joy. In Mark and in Luke, S. john saith to Christ, 
Luke. 9  Master, we saw one casting out Devils in thy Name, but we forbade him, because he followeth not with us. Forbidden him not (saith Christ) for he that is not against us, is with us. If we see a Turk, or a jew, or a Papist, upon what pretence soever, seek to draw any to Christ, or to drive the Devil of Ignorance out of any, let him alone, forbidden him not, mislike him not, for in that point he is not against us, nay peradventure he may become one of us. 
Numb. 11.  In the book of Numbers, word was brought to Moses, that Eldad and Medad prophesied in the host. And josua said, My Lord Moses forbidden them. But Moses said, Enviest thou for my sake? Would God that all the Lords people were Prophets. And are we angry, or shall we find fault, that the Portugal Priests being Papists, should be reported to have converted the Realm of Congo to the profession of Christian Religion? Shall we envy them in their well doing? I for my part do earnestly wish with all my heart, that not only Papists and Protestants, but also all Sectaries, and Presbyter-iohns' men would join all together both by word and good example of life to convert the Turks, the jews, the Heathens, the Pagans, and the Infidels that know not God, but live still in darkness, and in the shadow of Death. What a singular commendation would it be unto us, if it might be left in Record, that we were the first converters of such a Nation, and such a people, and first brought them to the knowledge of God, and the true profession of his glorious Gospel?  
Thus I have (gentle Reader) laboured to satisfy such scruples, as may arise in thy mind touching this Treatise: which if it shall breed either profit or delight unto thee, I shall rejoice to myself: If not, I shall be sorry that I have employed my precious time so idly. Farewell in Christ.  
Abraham Hartwell.   

Errata.  
Folio. 5. in the Margin. The commodities of S. Elena. Fol. 14. line 2. put out in. Fol. 15. lin. 11. Card. Fol. 19 lin. 23. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. Fol. 21. in the Margin. Songa. Ibidem lin. 22. language. Fol. 30. lin. 14. Equinoctial. Fol. 31. lin. 25. Goat. Fol. 39 lin. 19 Tissue. Fol. 40. lin. 13. Infulas. Fol. 49. lin. 31. Peacock. Fol. 57 in the Margin. Capo. Fol. 63. lin. 15. Diameter. Ibid. in Margin. Cap. 1. Fol. 67. lin. 6. and for divers. Fol. 114. line 22. put out the comma. Fol. 137. line 11. Natural. Fol. 172. lin. 19 and Fol. 192. lin. 18. Marquis. Fol. 199. lin. vlt. est. Fol. 204. lin. 14. come. Fol. 211. lin. 5. put out the comma. Fol. eod. lin. 31. put out and Fol. 212. lin. 15. Ptolomée. Fol. 216. in the Margin, for head, read heaven.   

In the Table.  
Folio vlt. line 26. to the Red sea.   

A REPORT OF the kingdom of Congo, a Region of Africa.  
Gathered by Philippo Pigafetta, out of the discourses of M. Edward Lopes a Portugal.  

Chap. 1. The journey by sea from Lisbon to the kingdom of Congo.  
IN the year one thousand five hundredth threescore and eighteenth, 
Anno Dom. 1578.  when Don Sebastian king of Portugal, embarked himself for the conquest of the kingdom of Morocco: Edward Lopes borne at Beneventum (a place xxiiii. miles distant from Lisbon, near upon the South shore of the river Tagus) sailed likewise in the month of April towards the haven of Loanda, situate in the kingdom of Congo, in a ship called S. Anthony, belonging to an uncle of his, and charged with diverse merchandises for that kingdom: 
Patache 1. a Brigandine or a Pinnisse.  And it was accompanied with a Patache (which is a small vessel) whereunto the ship did continually yield good guard, & ministered great relief, conducting and guiding the same with lights in the night time, to the end it should not lose the way, which the ship itself did keep. He arrived at the Island of Madera, belonging to the King of Portugal, 
The Island of Madera.  distant from Lisbon about six hundred miles, where he remained xv. days, to furnish himself with fresh victual and wine; which in great abundance groweth in that Island, yea and in mine opinion the best in the world, whereof they carry abroad great store into divers countries, & especially into England. He provided there also sundry other confections & conserves of Sugar, which in that Island are made and wrought both in great quantity, and also of singular excellency. From this Island they departed, leaving all the Canaries belonging to Castille, 
The Canaries.  and took haven at one of the Islands of Capo verde, called S. Anthony, without having any sight thereof before they were come upon it: 
Isle of S. Anthony.  and from thence to another Island called Saint jacopo, 
Isle of S. james  which commandeth all the rest, and hath a Bishop and a Chaplain in it, that rule and govern them: and here they provided themselves again of victuals.  
I do not think it fit in this place to tell you the number of the Canary Islands, which indeed are many: nor to make any mention of the Islands of Capo verde, nor yet to set down the history and discourse of their situations, because I make haste to the kingdom of Congo: and the ship stayed here but only for passage, and especially for that there doth not want good store of Reports and histories, which in particularity do make relation of these countries: Only this I will say, 
The Islands of Capo verde.  that these Islands of Capo verde were established by Ptolomee in the tables of his Geography, to be the beginning of the West, together with the Cape or Promontory which he termeth Cornu ultimum, or the Islands Macarie or Blessed, which we commonly call Fortunate. In these Islands of Capo verde the Portugals do often arrive, and in those countries do traffic with sundry merchandises, as little balls of divers coloured glass, & other such things, wherein those people do greatly delight, and Holland cloth, and caps and knives, and coloured clothes: In exchange whereof they bring back again, slaves, wax, honey, with other kind of food, and cotton-cloth of sundry colours. Moreover, right over against them within the land are the countries & rivers of Guynee, and of Capo verde, and Sterra Leona, that is to say the Mountain Leona, which is a huge great mountain and very famous.  
From the foresaid Island of San jacopo, they directed their foredeck towards Bresil: for so they must do to gain the wind, and taking such harbours as were convenient for the seasons that reign in those places, 
Two ways from S. jacopo to Loanda.  to arrive at the end of their voyage. Two are the ways, whereby they sail from the Isle of San jacopo to Loanda a haven in the kingdom of Congo: 
The first way.  the one is by the coast of Africa, the other by the main Ocean, still enlarging their course with the North wind, which very much ruleth there in those Months, and for the most part is called North, even by the Portugals themselves, & by the Castilians, & by the French, and by all those people of the North sea. And so turning their foreship to the South, and southeast, they hold on forward till they be near the Cape of Good-Hope, leaving behind them the Kingdom of Angola; for by that way they must afterwards return: & then they come to the altitude of between xxvij. and xxix. degrees beyond the equinoctial, quite opposite to our Pole, which South Pole in this writing shall be called the Antarctike, 
The Antarctik is the South Pole.  that is to say, contrary to the Arctike, which is our North Pole, and so the Antarctik is opposite thereunto towards the South.  
In that altitude then of the contrary Pole, the sailors use to meet with certain winds that they call Generali, which do blow there almost all our Summer, and are termed by them North-east, and Northeasts in the plural number, and by us Italians, Li venti dal Graeco, that is to say, the winds between the North-east, and the east in the spring time: which peradventure the Venetians in their proper speech do call Levantiere, that is to say, easterly, & the Greeks' and Latins term them Etesii, that is to say, such winds as every year do ordinarily blow in their certain and accustomed seasons.  
And thus sailing even to xxix degrees of the Antarctik, with the North wind, there falleth out an admirable effect. For divers sailors, perceiving the first General winds when they blow, do strait turn their sails about, and set their foreship directly on the way to Angola, and so very oftentimes they fail and are deceived. But better it is for him that desireth to arrive at his wished haven to go much further, & to expect a lusty wind, and after to return backward: wherein it is to be noted for a most memorable accident, that the winds do blow very strong from the North, even unto xxix. degrees beyond the Equinoctial, and then they meet with other winds, which being more fierce & furious than they are, do drive them back again. And this is usual and seasonable there for six months in the year.  
Now the ship called S. Anthony, holding on his foresaid course, met with the said General winds, & then turned their prow and their sails, by North and by Northwest on the right hand towards the kingdom of Congo. And sailing onwards closely with the half ship, they came in twelve days and twelve nights, to the Island of S. Elena, not looking for the same, nor thinking of it. 
Isle of S. Elena.  This Island was so called, because on the feast day of S. Helen, which falleth upon the third day of May, it was by the Portugals first descried. And as it is very small, so is it (as it were) singular by itself: for being situate in the height of xvi. degrees towards the Antarctike, it containeth in compass nine miles about, & is far distant from the firm land. As you sail by sea, it may be discovered thirty miles of, through certain hills: and it is a great miracle of nature, that in so unmeasurable an Ocean, being all alone and so little as it is, it should arise (as it were) out of a most tempestuous and deep sea, & yet yield a most safe harbour, and most abundant store of relief and victual, for ships that are forwearied, and ready to perish for thirst, which come out of the Indies.  
The woods of it are very thick, and full of Ebon trees, 
The commodities of S. Elena.  whereof the Mariners do build their boats. In the barks of these trees you may see written the names of an infinite number of Sailors, 
Wood.  which passing by that Island, do leave their names cut and carved in the said barks, the letters whereof do grow greater and greater, as the bodies of the trees do wax greater in bigness. The soil (even of itself) bringeth forth very excellent fruits. 
Vine trees  For there groweth the vine, (which was in deed at the first brought thither by the Portugals) and especially in the arbours and walks that are about the little Church, and in the lodgings that are there for such as sail thither. 
Fruits.  You shall see there also huge wild woods, of Oranges, of Citrons, of Lemons and other such Apple trees, that all the year long do carry flowers & fruits both ripe and unripe. And likewise Pomegranates, great and sweet, and of a good indifferent taste, with kernels great and red, and full of pleasant juice, and the stones within them very small: and ripe they are at all seasons of the year, as the Oranges are: and figs very great both in quantity and abundance: which natural gift and property (of being ripe all the year long) Homer noted to be in divers fruits of the Isle of Corfu. 
Odysi. H.   
Over all the country they take Goats, 
Victuals.  and wild Kids, that are very good to eat, and Boars and other four-footed beasts, and Partridges, and wild hens and Pigeons, and other kinds of fowls, both great & small. All which beasts and fowls are so secure and so tame, that they fear not a man, because they do not know in what danger they are to be killed. So that the people which dwell there do take of them daily, and powder them with salt, that is congealed on the banks of the Island in certain caves and holes of the rocks, that are naturally made hollow and eaten by the waves of the sea. And the flesh thereof being thus preserved, they give to the Sailors that arrive at the Island.  
The earth is as it were crommeled like ashes, 
The Soil.  of colour red, very fat and fruitful beyond measure, and so soft, as if ye tread on it with your foot; it will sink like sand, and the very trees will shake with the force of a man. And therefore it needeth no labour or tillage: for when it reigneth, the fruits do presently spring up out of the old seed. It beareth roots of Radish as big as a man's leg, 
Roots and herbs.  and very good to eat. There grow also Coleworts, and Parsley, and lettuce, and Gourds, and Chiche-person, and Faselles, and other kinds of Pulse, naturally: which being ripe do fall into the fruitful ground, and multiply of themselves, and spring again without any tilling. Every ship that cometh thither, bringeth with it some fruit or garden herb, which being planted taketh root presently: and bountiful nature yieldeth a courteous reward and usury, by reserving the fruit thereof for the Sailors when the ship returneth again.  
There are certain little Rivers in this Island, 
Rivers.  that run in diverse parts of it: whose water is good and wholesome, and wherein are sundry safe places for ships to ride in, as if they were havens. But the principal of them is in a place, where they have erected a little Church, wherein are kept the ornaments of the Altar, and the priests vestiments, and other necessaries for Mass. And when ships pass that way, the Religious persons go down unto them to celebrate divine service.  
There is also in the same place a little cottage, wherein for the most part some Portugal's do remain, sometimes three, sometimes two, yea and sometimes but one alone, being left there, either by reason of some infirmity, or for some offence committed, or else even voluntarily, because they do desire by this means to lead the life of an Eremite in that wilderness, and so to do penance for their sins.  
Moreover, 
Fish.  in the same place there is so great abundance of fish, as if the sea were very near unto them: so that you shall not need but only to cast your hooks into the water, and you shall presently draw them out again loaden with fish.  
I once demanded the question, 
Why the Island of S. Elena is not fortified  what reason there was, why the Portugeses did never make any account, nor had any care to fortify this Island, considering it was so fit and necessary for sailors, and founded there (as it were by the providence of God) for the relief of the Portugeses which pass that way, as Granata doth largely discourse upon the Creed, first written by him in Spanish, and since translated by myself into Italian: But answer was made unto me, that there was no need so to do: for that the Island serveth to no purpose for the voyage into the Indies, because there is another way for that passage, and it is also a very hard matter to find it out: but in returning from thence it lieth full in the way, and is very easily descried. So that it would not quite the cost to bestow money & time in maintaining soldiers therein without any profit, seeing none other vessels come thither but only the Portugals. And when I replied, that the English had now twice entered into those seas; 
This slanderous term used here by this Portugal, cannot impeach the credit of these two honourable gentlemen  once under the conduct of Drake, and secondly this year 1588. under another Pirate, being also an English man and more valiant than he, called Candish, who is returned home full of great richesses: It was answered, that yet for all that it could not possibly be brought to pass to fortify the same within a sea being so far off, and seeing that all the provision which should build there, must of necessity be brought out of Europe.  
To be short, 
The Climate.  besides all these natural good gifts above rehearsed, the climate is temperate, the air pure, clean and wholesome, and the winds which blow there are very pleasant. So that sick persons, and such as were half dead with the diseases of the sea, arriving at this Island, have been presently healed, and recovered their former strength, through the benignity of this Country.  
From the Island of S. Helena, 
The Port of Loanda.  they made sail with the same weather, and so within the space of xvij. days came to the haven of Loanda, which is in the province of Congo, the winds being somewhat more calm than they were afore. This is a very sure, and a great haven, so called of an Island of the same name, whereof we shall speak hereafter.  
I told you before, there were two courses of sailing from the Islands of Capo verde to Loanda; the one of them is now declared, which being never used afterwards, was at the first attempted and performed by the same ship wherein Signior Odoardo went, being then guided by Francisco Martinez the king's Pilot, a man very greatly experienced in those seas, and the first that ever conducted vessel by that way: the other is achieved by passing along the coast of the firm land.  
From the Island of San jacomo, 
The second course of sailing to Loanda. The Isle of S. Thomas.  they come to Capo does Palmas, and from thence direct themselves to the Island of San Thomas, which lieth under the Equinoctial, so called because it was discovered upon that day, wherein the feast of that Apostle is used to be celebrated. It is distant from the firm land CLxxx. miles, right against the river called Gaban, which is so termed because it is in shape very like to that kind of vesture that it is called a Gaban or a cloak.  
The haven thereof is foreclosed with an Island that raiseth itself in the channel of the river, 
The Haven of S. Thomas.  whereunto the Portugal's do sail with small barks from S. Thomas Island, carrying thither such things as usually they carry to the coast of Guinea, and from thence carrying back with them ivory, wax & honey, Oil of Palm, and blackmore slaves. near to the Island of S. Thomas towards the the North lieth another Island, called the Isle of the Prince, 
The Isle of the Prince.  distant from the firm land an hundred and five miles, being of the same condition and traffic, that the Isle of S. Thomas is, although in circuit somewhat less. This Island of S. Thomas is in fashion almost round, 
The Isle of S. Thomas. Great traffic.  and in breadth containeth Lx. miles, and in compass Clxxx. Very rich it is and of great traffic, discovered at the first and conquered by the Portugal's, at such time as they began the conquest of the Indies. It hath divers havens, but the principal and chiefest of all, whereinto the vessels arriving there, do withdraw themselves, is in the place, where the City standeth.  
The Island breedeth an infinite deal of Sugar, & almost all kinds of victuals. 
Sugar. Churches. A Castle.  In the City there are some Churches, and a Bishop, with many Clerks and one Chaplain or Priest. There is also a Castle, with a garrison and Artillery in it, which beat upon the haven, being a very great and a safe Port, where many ships may ride. But a very strange and admirable thing it is, that when the Portugals did first come thither, there was no sugar there planted, but they brought it thither from other countries: 
Ginger.  as they did Ginger also, which took root, & grew there in most abundant manner. The soil in deed is moist, and as it were appropriated to foster the Sugar Cane, which without any other watering, multiplieth of itself, and fructifieth infinitely: the reason whereof is, because the dew falleth there like rain and moisteneth the earth.  
There are in this Island above Lxx. houses or presses for making of Sugar, 
70. houses to make sugar in.  and every press hath many cottages about it as though it were a village, & there may be about some three hundred persons that are appointed for that kind of work: They do every year load about forty great ships with sugar. True it is indeed that not long ago the worms (as it were a plague to that land) have devoured the roots of the Canes, and destroyed the fruits of their sugar, in such sort, as now of the forty ships, they do not load above five or six vessels with that merchandise. And thereupon it cometh that sugar is grown so dear in those Countries.  
The Island of S. Thomas holdeth traffic with the people that dwell in the firm land, which do usually resort to the mouths or entries of their Rivers: The first whereof (to begin withal) is named the river of Fernando di Poo, 
The River & Island of Fernando Poo.  that is to say, of Fernando Powder, who did first discover the same, and lieth in five degrees towards our Pole. Right against the mouth of it, riseth an Island of the same name, 
R, Bora. La Rivierae del Campo.  lying thirty and six miles distant from it. The second River is called Bora, that is to say, 
R. di San. Benedetto.  Filth. The third La riviera del Campo: The fourth, di San Benedetto, and the fifth, that of Angra, which in the mouth of it hath an Island called di Corisco, 
R di Angra. The Isle of Corisco.  that is to say Thunder. All these do traffic the same merchandises, which we mentioned before.  
But to return to the voyage of S. Thomas: 
The Cape of Lupo Gonzale.  Departing from thence towards the South, we found the Cape of Lupo Gonzale, which standeth in the altitude of one degree beyond the Equinoctial towards the Pole Antarctike, a hundred & five miles distant from the foresaid Isle. And from thence they sail with land winds, creeping still all along the coast, and every day casting ancre in some safe place, either behind some point, or else in some haven, until they come to the mouth of the greatest River in Congo, called in their tongue Zaire, 
Zaire the greatest River of Congo.  which signifieth in Latin Sapio, (in English I know.) From whence if ye will go through to the haven of Loanda, ye must sail the length of an hundred and fourscore miles.  
These be the two voyages by sea, that be used from the Island of San jacomo, which is one of those Islands, that before we told you were the Islands of Capo verde, & was but a little while ago first begun to be frequented.  
And now it is time to entreat of the kingdom of Congo, and all the conditions thereof.   

Chap. 2. Of the temperature of the air of the kingdom of Congo, and whether it be very cold or hot: whether the men be white or black: whether are more or less black they that dwell in the hills, or those that dwell in the plains: Of the winds and the reins, and the snows in those quarters, and of what stature and semblance the men of that Country are.  
THe Kingdom of Congo in the middle part thereof, 
The situation of Congo.  is distant from the Equinoctial towards the Pole Antarctike (just where the City called Congo doth lie) seven degrees and two thirds: so that it standeth under the Region which ancient writers thought to be unhabitable, and called it Zona Torrida, (that is to say, a Cincture or Girdle of the earth, which is burnt by the heat of the Sun) wherein they are altogether deceived. 
The temperature of the kingdom.  For the habitation there is exceeding good, the air beyond all credit temperate, the winter nothing so rough, but is rather like Autumn in this Region of Rome. The people use no furs, nor change of apparel: they come not near the fire: neither is the cold in the tops of the Mountains greater than that which is in the plains: but generally in Winter time the air is more hot than it is in summer, by reason of their continual rains, and especially about two hours before & after Noon, so that it can hardly be endured.  
The men are black, 
The complexion of the people.  & so are the women, and some of them also somewhat inclining to the colour of the wild Olive. Their hair is black & curled, and some also red. The stature of the men is of an indifferent bigness, and excepting their blackness they are very like to the Portugal's. The apples of their eyes are of diverse colours, black and of the colour of the sea. Their lips are not thick, as the Nubians and other Negroes are: and so likewise their countenances are some fat, some lean, and some between both, as in our countries there are, and not as the Negroes of Nubia and Guinea, which are very deformed. 
Small difference between their, days & nights.  Their nights and their days do not greatly differ: for in all the whole year ye shall not discern the difference between them to be more than a quarter of an hour,  
The Winter in this country (to speak at large) beginneth at the same time, 
Their winter & summer.  that our Spring here beginneth, that is to say, when the Sun entereth into the Northern signs, in the month of March. And at the same time that we have our winter, when the Sun entereth into the Southern Signs in the month of September, then beginneth their summer. In their winter it raineth 5. months almost continually, that is to say, in April, May, June, July & August. Of fair days they have but a few, because the rain falleth so greatly, & the drops of it are so big, as it is a wonder to see. These waters do marvelously supple the ground, which is then very dry, by reason of the heat of the Summer past, wherein it never raineth for the space of six months together, and after the ground is full and as it were ingorged with water, then do the rivers swell beyond all credit, and are so replenished with troubled waters, that all the country is surrounded by them.  
The winds which blow in these Moons through all this region, 
The winds in this Country, in winter time.  are the very self same that Cesar calleth by a Greek word Etesijs, that is to say, Ordinary every year: whereby are meant those winds that in the Cearde are noted from the North to the West, and from the North to the North-east. These winds do drive the clouds to the huge and high mountains, whereupon they rush with very great violence, and being there stayed of their own nature, they are afterwards melted into water. So that when it is likely to rain, you shall see the clouds standing (as it were) upon the tops of their highest hills.  
And hence ariseth the increasing and augmentation of the rivers that spring in Aethiopia, 
The cause of the increase of Nilus, and other rivers in Ethiopia.  and especially of Nilus and others, that discharge themselves into the east and west Ocean: And in the kingdom of Congo and Guinea, through which runneth the river Nigir, so called by the ancient writers, and by the new termed Senega, 
The River Nigir or Senega, runneth westward.  you shall see the said river increase at the very self same time that Nilus doth; but in deed carrieth his waters towards the west, directly against the Islands of Capo Verde, 
Nilus runneth northward.  whereas Nilus runneth by the Isle of Meroe in Egypt towards the North, refreshing and watering all those Regions that are full of scorching heats, and wildernesses and deserts. Now for as much as in the regions of Congo and Aethiopia it is always wont to rain every year at a certain set time, the swelling and overflowing of the rivers there, is of no great consideration, nor any strange accident to make account of.  
But in the Countries, 
It never raineth in Egypt but only in Alexandria.  that are far distant and very dry, as in Egypt, where it never raineth (saving only in Alexandria and the territories thereof) it is accounted a marvelous matter, to see every year so great a quantity of thick troubled water come upon them, from places so remote, at a certain set time, without missing: which water doth quicken the ground, and ministereth food both to man and beast. And thereupon the ancients did sacrifice to that river, calling it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, the good God, as Ptolemy noteth in his fourth book. Yea and some of our Christians at this day do hold it for a miracle. So that without these waters they should perish for hunger, because their lives do depend upon this increase of the water, as S. Chrysostome saith.  
Thus these winds called by Cesar Etesijs, and by the Portugals Generali, do blow with us in Summer; but with them in winter, and carry the clouds unto the tops of those huge mountains, which make them to melt into rain. And so it falleth out that by reason of these rains, their winter (as it is aforesaid) is nothing so cold, because the waters do engender a certain kind of warmth in those hot regions. This is then the cause of the increase of Nilus, & other rivers in that Climate, whereof the ancients of old times made so great doubt, and invented so many fables and errors  
But in their summer, which is our winter, there blow other winds that are quite opposite to the former, 
Their winds in summer time.  even in Diametro, and are noted in the Card, from the South to the southeast, which out of all question must needs be cold, because they breath from the contrary Pole Antarctike, and cool all those countries, even for all the world as our winds in Summer do cool our countries. And whereas, there with them, these winds do make the air very fair and clear, so do they never come unto us, but they bring with them great store of rain. And this cometh to pass by a certain natural disposition of the earth which is governed by the Heavens and the Climates thereof, and by the sovereign providence of God, who hath parted the heaven, and the course of the sun and of the other planets in such sort, that every country upon the face of the earth, doth enjoy the virtue of their lights, both in heat, and in cold, and also in all other seasons of the year, by a most singular measure and proportion. And certainly if the breath of these winds did not refresh and cool these countries of Aethiopia & Congo, and other places near about them, it were not possible for them to endure the heat, considering that even in the night time they are constrained to hang two coverings over them to keep away the heat. The same cooling and refreshing by winds, is common also to the inhabitants of the Isle of Candie, & of the Islands in Arcipelago, and of Cyprus, and of Asia the less, and of Soria, and of Egypt, which do live (as it were) with this refreshing of the foresaid winds of the Northwest, and of the West: so that they may well be called as they are in Greek Zephyri quasi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, 
No Snow nor ice in Ethiopia or Congo.  breeders of life.  
Let it be also remembered, that in the mountains of Aethiopia, and of Congo & the regions near adjoining, there falleth no snow, neither is there any at all in the very tops of them, saving only towards the Cape of Good-Hope, and certain other hills, which the Portugals call, Sierra Nevada, that is to say, the Snowy mountains. Neither is there any ice or snow to be found in all the Country of Congo, which would be better esteemed there then gold, to mingle with their drinks: So that the rivers there do not swell and increase by melting of snow, but because the rain doth fall out of the clouds for five whole Moons continually together, that is to lay in April, May, june, july, & August: the first rain sometimes beginning on the xv. day, and sometimes after. And this is the cause why the new waters of Nilus, which are so greatly desired & expected by the inhabitants there, do arrive sooner or later in Egypt.   

Chap. 3. Whether the children which are begotten by Portugals, being of a white skin, and borne in those Countries by the women of Congo, be black or white, or Tawny like a wild olive, whom the Portugals call Mulati.  
ALL the ancient writers have certainly believed, 
The true cause of white & black in the bodies of the inhabitants of these countries.  that the cause of black colour in men is from the heat of the Sun. For by experience it is found, that the nearer we approach to the countries of the South, the browner & blacker are the inhabitants therein. And contrariwise, the farther you go towards the north, the whiter shall you find the men, as the French, & the Dutch, & the English, and others. Notwithstanding it is as certain a thing as may be, that under the Equinoctial, there are people which are borne almost all white, as in the kingdom of Melinde & Mombaza situate under the Equinoctial, & in the Isle of San Thomas which lieth also under the same Climate, and was at the first inhabited by the Portugal's, though afterwards it was disinhabited, and for the space of a hundred years and upwards their children were continually white, yea and every day still become whiter and whiter. And so likewise the children of the Portugeses, which are borne of the women of Congo, do incline somewhat towards white. So that Signior Odoardo was of opinion, that the black colour did not spring from the heat of the Sun, but from the nature of the seed, being induced thereunto by the reasons above mentioned. And surely this his opinion is confirmed by the testimony of Ptolemy, who in his description of the innermost parts of Lybia maketh mention of white Ethiopians which he calleth in his language 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉; that is to say, white Moors, and in another place also of white Elephants, which are in the same country.   

Chap. 4. Of the circuit of the Kingdom of Congo, and of the borders and confines thereof. And first of the Western coast.  
THe Kingdom of Congo is distinguished by four borders: The first, of the West, which is watered with the Ocean sea: the second of the North: the third of the east, & the last which is towards the South.  
And to begin with the border lying upon the sea, the first part of it is in the Bay, 
The western border of Congo. The Bay of cows.  called Seno delle Vacche, & is situate in the height of 13. degrees upon the Antarctik side, and stretcheth all along the coast unto 4. degrees and a half on the North side, near to the Equinoctial; which space containeth 630. miles. This Seno delle vacche is a haven but of a moderate bigness, and yet a good one & able to receive any ship that arriveth. It is called Seno delle vacche, that is to say, the Bay of cows, because thereabouts there are pasturing very many herds of that kind of cattle: The country is plain, & aboundeth with all manner of victuals: and there you shall find some kind of mettles to be publicly sold, especially silver, and it is subject to the King of Angola.  
A little more forward lieth the River Bengleli, 
The River Bengleli.  where a certain Lord, being subject to the King of Angola doth specially command: and about the said River is a great compass of country, much like to the former. And a little further runneth the river Songa, 
The R. Son  so called by the Portugal's: wherein you may sail 25. miles upwards in a country also like to the former. The followeth the river Coanza, which issueth out of a little lake, 
The R. Coanza  fed by a certain river that floweth out of a great lake, being the chief and principal spring or head of Nilus, whereof in the other part of this discourse we shall have occasion to write. Coanza at the mouth of it is two miles broad, and you may sail with small barks upwards against the stream about 100 miles, but hath no haven. And here it is to be noted, that all this Country which we have here described, was wont to be subject to the king of Congo: but a while ago the Governor of that country is become the absolute Lord thereof, and professeth himself to be a friend to the king of Congo, but not his vassal: and yet sometimes he sendeth the King some present, in manner of a tribute.  
Beyond the River Coanza is the haven of Loanda being in ten degrees, made (as it is said) by a certain Island called Loanda, 
The Island of Loanda.  which signifieth in that language, Bald or shaven, because it is a Country without any hills and very low: for indeed it scarce raiseth itself above the sea. This Island was framed of the sand and dirt of the sea, and of the river Coanza, whose waves meeting together, and the filthy matter sinking down there to the bottom, in a continuance of time it grew to be an Island. It may be about 20. miles long, and one mile broad at the most, and in some places but only a bowshoote. But it is a marvelous thing, that in such a sandy ground if you shall dig to the depth of two or three hand-breadths you shall find sweet water, the best in all those Countries. Wherein also there is a very strange effect, that when the Ocean ebbeth, this water becometh somewhat salt, but when it floweth to the top, it is most sweet. A thing that falleth out also in the Island of Cadis in Spain, by the report and testimony of Strabo.  
This Island is the Mine of all the money which the King of Congo spendeth, 
The money of Congo.  and all the people thereabouts. For upon the shores you shall have certain women, that use to dive and duck into the sea, two yards deep and more, and fill their baskets with sand, and afterwards divide the gravel from certain small Shel-fishes that are among it, which are called Lumache: & when these Lumache are severed by themselves, then do they pick out the Males from the Females, which they may easily do, because the Female is more fine than the Male, and greatly esteemed for her colour, which is very neat, bright and pleasant to the sight.  
These Lumache do breed in all the shores of the kingdom of Congo, but the best of all are those of Loanda, 
The Lumache of Loanda.  because they look very fine, and of a very bright colour, some grey or ashecoloured, and some of other colours not so precious. And here you must note that gold and silver and metal is not of any estimation, nor in use of money in these countries, but only these Lumache: so that neither with gold nor silver, in mass or in coin you shall buy any thing there, but with these Lumache you shall buy both gold and silver, or any thing else.  
In this Island there are 7. or 8. Towns, called in that Country language, Libata, the principal whereof is Spirito sancto: 
Spirito Santo.  and therein dwelleth the Governor which is sent from Congo, to minister justice, and to gather the treasure of the moneys of these Lumache. Here are also Goats, and Sheep, and Boars in great numbers, which being tame at the first, do afterwards become wild and live in the woods. Here groweth also a tree called Enzanda, which is a great one and always green, 
The tree Euzanda.  and endued with a singular quality. For from the bows of it that sprout upwards, there hang down certain threads (as it were) which creeping into the earth do take roots, & out from these roots do rise other trees, & so they multiply. And within the outmost bark thereof, there groweth a certain kind of pil like fine linen, which being beaten and cleansed, they spread out in length and in breadth, and therewith they cloth their men and women, that are of the basest sort.  
In this Island they have certain vessels, made of the bodies of palm-trees, 
Their Boates.  joined together and framed after the manner of our boats, with a prow and a stern, wherein they pass from place to place, both with oars and sails. In these boats they use to fish about the rivers, which are indeed exceeding full of fish, and sometime also they will go over to the firm land.  
In that part of this Island, which is towards the main land, in certain low places there grow certain trees (which when the water of the Ocean ebbeth) discover themselves: and at the feet thereof you shall find certain other Shel-fishes cleaving as fast to the trees as may be, 
Shelfishes.  having within them a great fish as big as a man's hand, and very good meat. The people of the country know them very well, and call them Ambiziamatare, that is to say, 
Ambiziamatare.  the Fish of the Rock. The shells of these fishes, they use to burn, and thereof make very good lime to build withal. And being like the cork or bark of the tree which is called Manghi, they dress their Ox hides withal, to make their shoe soles the stronger.  
To be brief this Island bringeth forth neither corn nor wine, 
What kind of money is used in sundry countries.  but there is great store of victual brought thither from all parts thereabouts, to fetch away these Lumache. For as in all other places all things may be had for money of metal, so all things here are had for Lumache. Whereby may be noted, that not only here in this kingdom of Congo, but also in her neighbour Ethiopia and in Africa, and in the kingdoms of China, & certain others of the Indies, they use moneys of other matter then of metal, that is to say, neither gold, nor silver, nor copper, nor any other mixture tempered of these. For in Aethiopia their money is Pepper: and in the kingdom of Tombutto, which is about the River Nigir, otherwise called Senega, their money is Cockles or Shellfish: and among the Azanaghi their moneys are Porcellette: and in the kingdom of Bengala likewise they use Porcellette and metal together. In China they have certain Shelfishes, called also Porcellette, which they use for their money: & in other places Paper stamped with the king's seal, and the barks of the tree called Gelsomora: Whereby it appeareth, that the money which is paid for every thing is not metal, all the world over, as it is in Europe, and in many and sundry other countries of the earth.  
This Island in the straightest part of it, is very near to the firm land, and the people do oftentimes swim over the channel there. In this strait there arise out of the Ocean certain Islettes, 
Certain Islettes.  which show themselves forth from the water when it ebbeth, and are covered again when it floweth. And in those islets you shall see great trees, and most excellent Shelfishes cleaving fast to the bodies of them, such as I told you of before.  
near to this Island towards the outward coast to the sea, 
Great store of Whales  there swim an innumerable sort of Whales, that look black, and fight one with another do kill themselves: which afterwards being by the waves cast up upon the shore, as big as a middling merchants ship; the Negroes go forth with their boats to fetch them, and to take the oil out of them, which being mingled with pitch they use to trim their vessels withal. Upon the ridges or backs of these creatures, there grow many Shelfishes, made like Snails, Cockles and Whelks: whereof Signior Odoardo affirmed, that he had seen great store. He was also of opinion that Amber cometh not from these fishes. For over all the coast of Congo, where there is an infinite number of them, 
Amber cometh not from the Whales.  you shall not find either Ambregriz, or any other Amber, black or white in any place. And yet if it should come from these creatures, there must have been of necessity great store of it found upon these Shores.  
The principal haven of this Island hath his entrance towards the North, 
The haven of Loanda.  and on that side it is half a mile broad, and of a very great depth. Upon the firm land directly over against the Island is a town called villa di San Paulo, 
Villa di San Paulo.  altogether inhabited with Portugal's, and their wives, which they brought with them out of Spain: and yet it is not fortified.  
All this channel is very full of fish, especially of sardina's, 
Store of fish.  and of Anchioves: whereof there is so great store, that in the winter time they will of themselves leap up to land. Other kinds of most excellent fishes there are, as Soles and Sturgeons and barbels, and all manner of dainty fish: and great Crabs, in strange abundance, and all very wholesome: so that the greatest part of the people that dwell about the banks there, do live upon them.  
Into this channel runneth the River called Bengo, 
The R. Bengo.  which is a very great one, & navigable upwards xxv. miles. This River with that other of Coanza, whereof I told you before, do make the Isle of Loanda, because when their waters do meet together, they leave their sand and filth behind them, and so increase the Island. There runneth also into it another great River called Dande, 
The R. Dande  which will receive vessels of an hundred tun: & then another River called Lemba, 
The R. Lembe.  which neither hath Haven, neither do any Ships enter into it. Very near unto this there is also another River called Ozone, 
The R. Ozone.  which issueth out of the same Lake, whence Nilus likewise springeth, and it hath a haven. Next to Ozone, there is another called Loze, 
The R. Loze.  without any haven: and then another great one with a haven called Ambriz, 
The R. Ambriz  which runneth within four leagues near to the Royal City of Congo. 
The L. Lelunda.  Last of all is the River Lelunda, which signifieth a Trowtfish, and watereth the roots of that great hill, whereon the palace of Congo standeth, 
The Oteiro of Congo.  called by the Portugal's the Oteiro. This River Lelunda springeth out of the same Lake, from whence Coanza issueth, and taketh into it by the way another River, that cometh from the great Lake: and when it doth not rain, than you may pass over Lelunda on foot, because it hath so little store of water in it.  
Next unto this is the Zaire, 
The R. Zaire.  a huge River and a large, and in deed the greatest in all the kingdom of Congo. The original of this River cometh out of three Lakes: one is the great Lake from whence Nilus springeth, the second is the little Lake above mentioned, and the third is the second great Lake which Nilus engendereth. And certainly, when you will consider the abundance of water that is in this River, you will say, that there was no need to have any fewer or lesser springs to make so huge a stream as this carrieth. For in the very mouth of it, which is the only entrance into it, the River is 28. miles broad, and when it is in the height of his increase, he runneth fresh water. 40. or 50. miles into the sea, and sometimes 80. so that the passengers do refresh themselves withal, & by the troublesomeness of the water they know the place where they are. It is navigable upwards with great barks about 25. miles, until you come to a certain strait between the rocks, where it falleth with such a horrible noise, that it may be heard almost 8. miles. And this place is called by the Portugal's Cachivera, that is to say a Fall, or a Cataracte, like to the Cataracts of Nilus. Between the mouth of this River, 
Certain Islands.  and the fall thereof, there are divers great Islands well inhabited, with towns and Lords obedient to the king of Congo, which sometimes for the great enmity that is among them do war one against another in certain boats, 
Boates.  hollowed out of a stock of a tree, which is of an unmeasurable bigness, & these boats they call Lungo. The greatest boats that they have, are made of a certain tree called Licondo, 
The tree Licondo.  which is so great, that six men cannot compass it with their arms, and is in length of proportion answerable to the thickness, so that one of them will carry about 200. persons. They row these boats with their oars, which are not tied to any loops, but they hold them at liberty in their hands, and move the water therewith at pleasure. Every man hath his oar and his bow, and when they fight together, they lay down their oar and take their bow. Neither do they use any other Rudders to turn and govern their boats, but only their oars.  
The first of these Islands, 
The Isle of Horses.  which is but a little one, is called the Isle of Horses, because there are bred and brought up in it great store of those creatures that the Greeks' call Hippopotami, that is to say, Water-horses. In a certain village within this Island do the Portugeses dwell, having withdrawn themselves thither for their better security. They have their vessels to transport them over the water to the firm land, upon the south bank of the River, which land is called the haven of Pinda, 
The haven of Pinda.  where many ships do ride that arrive therein.  
In this River there are living diverse kinds of creatures, 
Crocodiles. Water-horses.  and namely mighty great Crocodiles, which the Country people there call Caiman, and Water-horses above named: And another kind of creature, that hath (as it were) two hands, and a tail like a Target, which is called Ambize Angulo, 
Hogge-fish.  that is to say a Hogfish, because it it as fat as a Pork. The flesh of it is very good, and thereof they make lard, and so keep it: neither hath it the savour or taste of a fish, although it be a fish. It never goeth out from the fresh water, but feedeth upon the grass that groweth on the banks, & hath a mouth like the muzzle of an Ox. There are of these fishes, that weigh 500 pounds a piece. The fishermen use to take them in their little boats, by marking the places where they feed, and then with their hooks and forks, striking and wounding them, they draw them dead forth of the water: and when they have cut them in pieces, they carry them to the king: For who soever doth not so, incurreth the penalty of death, and so do they likewise that take the Trout, and the Tench, and another Fish called Cacongo, 
Cacongo, a fish like a Salmon.  which is shaped after the likeness of a Salmon, saving that it is not red: but indeed so far it is, that it quencheth out the fire whiles it is roasted or broiled. Other fishes also there are that are called Fishes Royal, which are carried to the king, upon very severe and rigorous punishments, by open proclamation to be inflicted on such as shall do the contrary, besides other kinds of fishes that are taken in this River, the names whereof we think it superfluous here to recite.  
Beyond this River of Congo, 
La Baia de las Almadias.  there cometh down another River, which the Portugal's call, La Baia delas Almadias, that is to say, the golf of Barks, because there are great store of them, that are made there, by reason of the abundance of woods & trees that grow thereabouts, which are fit for that use, and wherewith all the Countries round about do furnish themselves. At the mouth of this Bay there are three Islands, one great Isle in the middle of the Channel, which maketh a convenient haven for small vessels, and two other less, but none of them inhabited.  
A little higher runneth another stream, 
The R. de las Barreras Vermeglias.  not very great, which is called De las Barreras Rossas, of the red Clay-pits, because it floweth from among certain Rocks of hills, whose earth is died with a red colour: where also there is a very high mountain, called by the Portugeses, Lafoy Sierra Gomplida, that is to say, The long Mountain.  
And yet going up a little further, there are two Golves of the sea in the likeness of a pair of Spectacles, wherein is a good heaven, 
Baya d' Alvaro Gonzales.  called La Baia d' Alvaro Gonzales, that is the golf of Alvaro Gonzales. Beyond all these are certain hills and shores, not worth the remembrance, until you come to the Promontory that is called by the Portugal's Capo de Caterina, which is the border of the kingdom of Congo towards the Equinoctial, 
Capo di Caterina.  and is distant from the Equinoctial line two degrees and a half, which is 150▪ Italian miles.   

Chap. 5. Of the North coast of the Kingdom of Congo, and the confines thereof.  
NOw from Capo de Caterina on the North side beginneth another border or Coast of the kingdom of Congo, 
The Northern border of Congo.  which Eastward stretcheth itself to the place where the River Vuniba joineth with the River Zaire, containing the space of 600. miles and more. Beyond this coast of Congo towards the North, and under the Equinoctial line upon the sea shore, and about 200. miles within land, (comprehending in that reckoning the foresaid golf of Lope Gonzales) the people called the Bramas do inhabit in a Country, 
The Bramas.  that is now called the kingdom of Loango, 
The kingdom of Loango.  and the king thereof Mani-Loango, that is to say, the King of Loango. The Country hath great abundance of Elephants, whose teeth they exchange for iron, whereof they make their arrow heads, their knives, and such other instruments. In this Country also, they weave certain cloth of the leaves of Palm trees, in sundry sorts: as we shall tell you in some other place of this narration.  
The king of Loango is in amity with the King of Congo, 
The people of Loango circumcised.  and the report is, that in times past he was his vassal. The people are circumcised after the manner of the Hebrues, like as also the rest of the nations in those country's use to be. They do traffic together one with another, & sometimes make war against their neighbours, & are altogether of the same nature, whereof the people of Congo are. Their armour are long targets, which cover almost all their bodies, 
Their armour, Empachias▪  made of very hard & thick hides of a certain beast called Empachas, somewhat less than an Ox, with horns like the horns of a Coat: (this Creature is also bred in Germany, and is called a Dante.) The hides thereof are transported out of these countries, and out of the kingdom of Congo into Portugal, and from thence into Flanders, where they are dressed; and then they make ierkens of them as good as breastplates and corselets, which they call jackets of Dante. Their weapons offensive are darts with long and large heads of iron, like Partisans, or like the ancient Roman Pilum or javelin: the staves whereof are of proportionable length to cast, having in the midst of them a certain piece of wood, which they take in their hands, and so with greater force and violence discharge their darts. They carry also certain daggers, which are in shape much like to the heads of their darts.  
Beyond the kingdom of Loango, are the people called Anzigues, 
The country of Anzicos.  of whom we shall deliver unto you a history, which in truth is very strange, and almost incredible for the beastly and cruel custom, that they use in eating man's flesh, yea and that of the nearest kinsfolks they have: This country towards the sea on the West, bordereth upon the people of Ambus: and towards the North, upon other nations of Africa, and the wilderness of Nubia: and towards the East, upon the second great Lake, from whence the River of Congo springeth, in that part which is called Anzicana: and from the kingdom of Congo, it is divided by the River Zaire, wherein there are many Islands (as before is told you) scattered from the lake downwards, & some of them belonging to the dominion of the Anzigues, by which River also they do traffic with the people of Congo.  
In this kingdom of the Anzigues there are many Mines of Copper, 
Sanders.  and great quantity of Sanders both red and grey: the red is called Tavilla, and the grey (which is the better esteemed) is called Chicongo, whereof they make a powder of a very sweet smell, and diverse medicines. They do also mingle it with the oil of Palm tree, and so anointing all their bodies overwithall, they preserve themselves in health. But the Portugal's use it being tempered with Vinegar, which they lay upon their pulses, 
Medicines for the French Pocks.  & so heal the French Pocks, which they call in that language Chitangas.  
Some do affirm, that this grey Sanders is the very Lignum Aquilae, that groweth in India: and Signior Odoardo affirmed, that the Portugeses have proved it for the head ache, 
For the headache.  by laying it on the coals, and taking the smoke of it. The pith and innermost part of the tree is the best, but the utter part is of no estimation.  
They make great store of linen of the Palm tree, both of sundry sorts and colours, and much cloth of silk, whereof we will discourse more hereafter. The people are subject to a king▪ that hath other princes under him: they are very active and warlike: 
Their Bows.  They are ready to take arms, and do fight on foot. Their weapons are different from the weapons of all other people round about them: for their bows are small and short, made of wood, and wrapped about with serpent's skins of divers colours, and so smoothly wrought, that you would think them to be all one with the wood. And this they do, both to make the bow stronger, and also to hold it the faster. Their strings are of little wooden twigs, like reeds, not hollow within, but sound and pliable, and very dainty, such as the Cavalieroes of Portugal do carry in their hands to beat their palfreys withal. They are of an ash colour, and of a Lion tawny, somewhat tending to black. They grow in the Country of the Anzigues, and also in the kingdom of Bengala, 
Their arrows.  through which the river Ganges runneth. Their arrows are short and slender, and of a very hard wood, and they carry them on their bow hand. They are so quick in shooting, that holding xxviij. shafts or more in their bow-hand, they will shoot and discharge them all, before the first arrow light on the ground: yea and sometimes there have been seen divers stout archers, that have killed birds as they fly in the air.  
Other weapons also they make, as Axes and Hatchets, 
Their weapons  which they use and frame after a strange manner. For the handle is shorter by the half than the iron is, and at the lowest end of it there is a pommel▪ for the faster holding of it in the hand, and all covered over with the foresaid skin of a serpent. In the uppermost end of it, is the iron very bright and shining, fastened to the wood with plates of Copper, in the manner of two nails, as long as the handle: it hath two edges, the one cutteth like a hatchet, and maketh a wound after the fashion of a half roundel▪ the other is a hammer. When they fight with their enemies, or defend themselves from their arrows, they are so exercised with a wonderful speed and nimbleness to manage their weapons, that whirling them round about, as it were in a circle, they keep all that compass of the air which is before them, so that when the enemy shooteth, & the arrow beginneth to fall, it lighteth upon the hatchet, being so swiftly and vehemently whirled about, that it breaketh the force of the arrow, and so it is repulsed: Then do they hang the Hatchet upon their shoulder, & begin to shoot themselves. They have also certain short daggers, with sheaths of the serpent's skins, made like knives with a haft unto them, which they use to wear a cross. Their girdles are of divers sorts, but the men of war have their girdles of Elephant's skin, 3. good fingers broad: & because they are at the first 2. fingers thick, & very hard to handle handsomely, by the heat of the fire they bow them round, & so with certain buttons tie them overthwart about them. The men are very active and nimble, 
The nature of the Anzicos▪  and leap up and down the mountains like Goats. Courageous they are and contemn death: men of great simplicity, loyalty and fidelity, and such as the Portugal's do trust more than any other. In so much as Signior Odoardo was wont to say, that if these Anzichi would become christian's, (being of so great fidelity, sincerity, loyalty and simplicity, that they will offer themselves to death, for the glory of the world, and to please their Lords will not stick to give their own flesh to be devoured) then would they with a far better heart and courage endure martyrdom, for the name of our redeemer jesus Christ, and would most honourably maintain our faith and religion, with their good testimony, and example against the Gentiles.  
Moreover, 
Their merchandise.  the said Signior Odoardo did likewise affirm, that there was no conversing with them, because they were a savage and a beastly people, saving only in respect that they come and traffic in Congo, bringing thither with them slaves both of their own nation, & also out of Nubia (whereupon they do border) & linnencloth (whereof we will tell you hereafter.) & Elephants teeth: in exchange of which chaffer they recarry home with them Salt & these Lumache, which they use in steed of their money & coin; and another greater kind of Lamache, which come from the Isle of S. Thomas, and which they use to wear for brooches to make themselves fine & gallant withal. Other merchandises also they carry back with them which are brought out of Portugal, as silks, and linen, and glasses, & such like.  
They use to circumcise themselves: and another foolish custom they have, both men and women, as well of the nobility, 
The Anzichi are circumcised and marked in their faces.  as of the commonalty, even from their childhood to mark their faces with sundry slashes made with a knife, as in due place shall be further showed unto you.  
They keep a shambles of man's flesh as they do in these countries for beef and other victuals. 
A shambles of man's flesh.  For their enemies whom they take in the wars, they eat, and also their slaves, if they can have a good market for them, they sell: or if they cannot, than they deliver them to the butchers to be cut in pieces, and so sold, to be roasted or boiled. And (that which is a marvelous history to report) some of them being weary of their lives, and some of them even for valour of courage, and to show themselves stout and venturous, thinking it to be a great honour unto them, if they run into voluntary death, thereby to show that they have a special contempt of this life, will offer themselves to the butchery, as faithful subjects to their Princes, for whose sakes, that they may seem desirous to do them notable service, they do not only deliver themselves to be devoured by them, but also their slaves, when they are fat and well fed, they do kill and eat them. True it is that many nations there are, that feed upon man's flesh as in the east Indies, and in bresil, and in other places: but that is only the flesh of their adversaries and enemies, 
A strange beastly custom.  but to eat the flesh of their own friends and subjects and kinsfolks, it is without all example in any place of the world, saving only in this nation of the Anzichi.  
The ordinary apparel of these people is thus: 
Their apparel.  The common sort go naked from the girdle upwards, & without any thing upon their heads, having their hair trussed up and curled. The noble men are appareled in silks and other cloth, and wear upon their heads blue and red, and black colours, and hats and hoods of Portugal Velvet, and other kinds of caps usual in that country. And indeed they are all desirous to have their apparel handsome and neat as their ability will suffer them. The women are all covered from top to toe, after the common manner of Africa. The poorer sort of them do gird themselves close from the girdle downwards. The noble women and such as are of wealth, do wear certain mantles, which they cast over their heads, but keep their faces open and at liberty: & shoes they have on their feet, but the poor go barefoot. They go very quick and lightsome: Their stature is comely, and their conditions fair and commendable.  
Their language is altogether different from the language of Congo, 
Their language.  and yet the Anzichi will learn the language of Congo, very soon and easily, because it is the plainer tongue: but the people of Congo do very hardly learn the language of the Anzichi. And when I once demanded what their religion was, it was told me they were Gentiles, and that was all that I could learn of them.   

Chap. 6. Of the East coast of the Kingdom of Congo, and the confines thereof.  
THe East Coast of the kingdom of Congo, beginneth (as we have told you) at the meeting of the River Vumba, 
The Eastern border of Congo.  and the River of Zaire; and so with a line drawn towards the South in equal distance from the River Nilus, which lieth on the left hand, it taketh up a great mountain which is very high, & not inhabited in the tops thereof, called the mountain of Crystal, 
The mountain of Crystal.  because there is in it great quantity of Crystal both of the mountain and of the cliff, and of all sorts. And then passing on further includeth the hills that are called Sierras de Sol, 
The mountains of the Sun.  that is to say, the hills of the Sun, because they are exceeding high. And yet it never snoweth upon them, neither do they bear any thing, but are very bare and without any trees at all: On the left hand there arise other hills, called the hills of Sal-Nitrum, 
The mountains of Sal-Nitrum.  because there is in them great store of that Mineral. And so cutting over the river Berbela, that cometh out of the first Lake, there endeth the ancient bound of the kingdom of Congo on the East.  
Thus than the east coast of this kingdom is derived from the meeting of the two foresaid rivers Vumba and Zaire, until you come to the lake Achelunda, and to the Country of Malemba; containing the space of six hundred miles. From this line, which is drawn in the eastern coast of Congo to the river Nilus, and to the two Lakes (whereof mention shallbe made in convenient place) there is the space of 150. miles of ground well inhabited, and good store of hills, which do yield sundry metals, with much linen, and cloth of the Palm tree.  
And seeing we are now come to this point of this discourse, 
The art of making Silks in this Eastern Coast.  it will be very necessary to declare unto you the marvelous art which the people of this country, and other places thereabouts do use in making clothes of sundry sorts, as Velvets shorn and unshorn, cloth of Tinue, Satins, Taffeta, Damasks, Sarcenets and such like, not of any silken stuff, (for they have no knowledge of the Silkworms at all, although some of their apparel be made of silk that is brought thither from our Countries.) But they weave their clothes aforenamed of the leaves of Palm trees, which trees they always keep under and low to the ground, every year cutting them, and watering them, to the end they may grow small and tender against the new spring. Out of these leaves being cleansed & purged after their manner they draw forth their threads, which are all very fine and dainty, and all of one evenness, saving that those which are longest, are best esteemed. For of those they weave their greatest pieces. These stuffs they work of divers fashions, as some with a nap upon them like Velvet on both sides, and other cloth called Damasks, branched with leaves, and such other things; & the Broccati, which are called High and low, and are far more precious than ours are. This kind of cloth no man may wear but the king, and such as it pleaseth him. The greatest pieces are of these Broccati: for they contain in length four and five spans, and in breadth, three and four spans, and are called Incorimbas, by the name of the country where it groweth, which is about the River Vumba. The Velvets are called Enzachas of the same bigness, and the Damasks Insulas, and the Rasi Maricas, and the Zendadi Tangas, & the Ormesini Engombos. Of the lighter sort of these stuffs they have greater pieces which are wrought by the Anzichi, and are six spans long, and five spans broad, wherewith every man may apparel himself according to his ability. Besides that, they are very thick and sound to keep out the water, and yet very light to wear. The Portugal's have lately begun to use them for tents and booths, which do marvelously resist both water and wind.   

Chap. 7. Of the confines of the kingdom of Congo towards the South.  
THis Eastern Coast (as it is before set down) endeth in the mountain called Serras de Plata, 
The Southern Coast.  that is the mountains of silver, 
The mountain of Silver.  and there beginneth the fourth and last border of the kingdom of Congo, towards the South, that is to say, from the foresaid mountain to the Bay of Cows on the West, containing in length the space of four hundred & fifty miles. And this Southern line doth part the kingdom of Angola in the middle, and leaveth on the left hand of it, the foresaid mountains of Silver, and further beyond them towards the South the Kingdom of Matama, which is a great kingdom, very mighty, and absolute of itself, and sometimes in amity, and sometimes at utter enmity with the kingdom of Angola.  
The king of Matama is in religion a Gentile, 
The K. of Matama.  and his kingdom stretcheth towards the South to the river Bravagal, and near to the mountains commonly called the Mountains of the Moon, and towards the east bordereth on the Western banks of the river Bagamidri, and so crosseth over the river Coari.  
This country aboundeth in vaults of Crystal and other metals, and all manner of victual, and good air. And although the people thereof, & their neighbour borderers do traffic together: Yet the King of Matama, and the king of Angola do oftentimes war one against the other, as we told you before: And this river Bagamidri divideth the kingdom of Matapa from the kingdom of Monomata, which is towards the East, and whereof john de Barros doth most largely discourse in the first Chapter of his tenth book.  
Towards the sea coast there are divers Lords, that take upon them the title of kings: but indeed they are of very base and slender estate: Neither are there any ports or havens of any account or name in the rivers there. And now forasmuch as we have oftentimes made mention of the kingdom of Angola, 
The K. of Angola.  this will be a very convenient place for us to entreat thereof: because it hath been heretofore said, that the king of Angola, being in times passed but a Governor or Deputy under the king of Congo, although since that time he is become a good Christian, yet hath he made himself a free and an absolute Prince, and usurped all that quarter to his own jurisdiction, which before he had in regiment and government under another. And so afterwards in time conquered other countries thereabouts, insomuch as he is now grown to be a great Prince, & a rich, and in power little inferior to the king of Congo himself, and therefore either payeth tribute, or refuseth to pay tribute unto him, even at his own good pleasure.  
It came to pass, 
john the second, K. of Portugal, first brought christianity into Congo.  that Don Giovanni the second, being king of Portugal, planted the christian religion in the Kingdom of Congo, and thereupon the king of Congo became a Christian. After which time the Lord of Angola was always in amity, and (as it were) a vassal of the forenamed King of Congo, and the people of both countries did traffic together one with another, and the Lord of Angola did every year send some presents to the king of Congo. And by licence from the King of Congo there was a great trade between the Portugal's and the people of Angola at the haven of Loanda, where they bought slaves and changed them for other merchandises, and so transported all into the Isle of saint Thomas. Whereby it came to pass, that the traffic was here united with the traffic of S. Thomas: so that the ships did use first to arrive at that Island, and then afterward passed over to Loanda. And when this trade began in process of time to increase, they dispatched their ships from Lisbon to Angola of themselves, and sent with them a Governor called Paulo Diaz of Novais, 
Paulo Diaz the first discoverer of this traffic.  to whom this business did (as it were) of right appertain, in regard of the good deserts of his ancestors, who first discovered this traffic. To this Paulo Diaz did Don Sebastiano King of Portugal grant leave and authority to conquer, 
Don Sebastian K. of Portugal.  for the space of xxxiij. leagues upwards along the coast, beginning at the River Coanza towards the South, and within the land also, whatsoever he could get, towards all his charges for him and his heirs. With him there went many other ships that opened and found out a great trade with Angola, which notwithstanding was directed to the foresaid haven of Loanda where the said ships did still discharge themselves. And so by little & little he entered into the firm land, 
Paulo Diaz buildeth a house in Anzelle  & made himself a house in a certain village called Anzelle within a mile near to the river Coanza, because it was the more commodious & nigher to the traffic of Angola.  
When the trade here began thus to increase, and merchandises were freely carried by the Portugese's, & the people of Congo to Cabazo a place belonging to the Lord of Angola, 
The author calleth him Lord, because he was then but a petty king.  and distant from the sea, 150. miles, there to sell and barter them, it pleased his Lordship to give out order, that all the Merchants should be slain, and their goods confiscated, alleging for his defence, that they were come thither as spies, and to take possession of his estate: but in truth it is thought that he did it only to gain all that wealth to himself, considering that it was a people that did not deal in the habit of warriors, but after the manner of Merchants. And this fell out in the same year, that the King Don Sebastiano was discomfited in Barbary.  
When Paulo Diaz understood of this course, he put himself in arms against the King of Angola, 
Paulo Diaz in arms against the K. of Angola.  and with such a troop of Portugeses as he could gather together that were to be found in that country, and with two Galleys and other vessels, which he kept in the river Coanza, he went forward on both sides of the river conquering, and by force subdued many Lords, and made them his friends and subjects. But the king of Angola perceiving that his vassals had yielded to the obedience of Paulo Diaz, and that with all prosperous success he had gained much land upon him, he assembled a great army to go against him, and so utterly to destroy him. 
P. Diaz demandeth secure of the K. of Congo.  Whereupon Paulo Diaz requested the King of Congo that he would secure him with some help to defend himself withal, who presently sent unto him for aid an army of 60 thousand men, under the conduct of his cousin Don Sebastiano Manibamba, and another captain with 120. Portugal soldiers, that were in those countries, and all of his own pay for the achieving of this enterprise. This army was to join with Paulo Diaz, and so altogether to war against the King of Angola: but arriving at the shore, where they were to pass over the river Bengo, within 12. miles of Loanda, & where they should have met with many barks to carry the Camp to the other shore, partly because the said barks had slacked their coming, & partly because much time would have been spent in transporting so many men, the whole army took their way quite over the river, and so going on forwards they met with the people of the King of Angola, that were ready to stop the soldiers of Congo, 
The military order of the people of Congo.  from entering upon their Country.  
The military order of the Mociconghis (for by that term we do call the natural borne people of the kingdom of Congo, as we call the Spaniards those that are naturally borne in Spain) and the military order of the people of Angola, is almost all one: For both of them do usually fight on foot, and divide their army into several troops, fitting themselves according to the situation of the field where they do encamp, & advancing their ensigns and banners in such sort as before is remembered.  
The removes of their army are guided and directed by certain several sounds and noises, that proceed from the Captain General, 
How the soldiers do understand the pleasure of their General.  who goeth into the midst of the Army, and there signifieth what is to be put in execution: that is to say, either that they shall join battle, or else retire, or put on forward, or turn to the right hand, and to the left hand, or to perform any other warlike action. For by these several sounds distinctly delivered from one to another they do all understand the commandements of their Captain, as we here among us do understand the pleasure of our General by the sundry strokes of the Drum, and the captains sounds of the Trumpet. 
Three kinds of instruments used in their wars.   
Three principal sounds they have which they use in war: One which is uttered aloud, by great Rattles fastened in certain wooden cases, hollowed out of a tree, and covered with leather, which they strike with certain little handles of ivory. Another is made by a certain kind of instrument, fashioned like a Pyramid turned upward: for the lower end of it is sharp and endeth as it were in a point, and the upper end waxeth broader & broader like the bottom of a Triangle, in such sort that beneath they are narrow & like an Angle, & above they are large and wide. This instrument is made of certain thin plates of iron, which are hollow and empty within, and very like to a bell turned up side down. They make them ring, by striking them with wooden wands: and oftentimes they do also crack them, to the end that the sound should be more harsh, horrible, and warlike: The third instrument is framed of Elephants teeth, some great, and some small, hollow within, and blown at a certain hole which they make on the side of it, in manner of the Fife, and not aloft like the Pipe. These are tempered by them in such sort that they yield as warlike and harmonious music as the Cornet doth, and so pleasant and jocund a noise, that it moveth and stirreth up their courages, & maketh them not to care for any danger whatsoever. Now of these three several sorts of warlike instruments, there are some bigger and some less. 
The use of these instruments.  For the Captain General carrieth always with him the greater sort, to the end that by them he may give signification to the whole Camp what they shall do. The particular bands and troops of the army have in like manner their smaller sort, and every Captain in his several regiment hath also one of the smallest, which they strike with their hands. Whereupon it falleth out, that when they hear the sound of the general Rattle, or Cornet, or the other third kind of instrument, every part of the army doth presently answer in the same note, signifying thereby that they have well understood the good pleasure of the Captain, and so consequently the under Captains do the like. Neither do they only use these instruments and sounds universally, but also when they are in fight in skirmish, the valiant and courageous soldiers go before the rest, & with this kind of bells, which they strike with their wooden wands, they dance, & encourage their fellows, & by the note do signify unto them in what danger they are, and what weapons they have met withal.  
The military apparel of the better sort, 
The Military apparel of the better sort.  and of the Lords of the Moci-Conghi is this. On their heads they carry a cap, which is garnished with sundry plumes of the feathers of the Ostrich, of the Peacock, of the Cock, and of other kinds of birds, which make them to seem men of greater stature than they are, and terrible to look upon. From the girdle upwards they are all naked, and have hanging about them from their necks, both on the right side and on the left, even as low as to both their flanks, certain chains of iron, with ring's upon them as big as a man's little finger, which they use for a certain military pomp & bravery. From the girdle downwards they have breeches of linen, or sandal, which are covered with cloth, and reach down to their heels, but then they are folded again upwards and tucked under their girdle. Upon their girdle, which (as we told you) is made with exquisite and curious work, they do fasten certain bells, very like to the instruments that are before named, which in moving of themselves and in fight with their enemies, do ring & make a noise, & ad courage unto them, while they are in combat with their adversaries. Upon their legs they have likewise their buskins after the Portugal fashion. 
Their weapons.  Their armour we have already declared, that is to say, bow and arrows, sword, dagger and Target: but yet with this caveat, that whosoever weareth a bow, he weareth also a dagger, but no target: for those two weapons may not be worn together, but sword & target they may lawfully wear both at once.  
The common soldiers go all naked from the girdlestead upwards, 
The Military apparel of the meaner sort.  and have the rest of their bodies armed with bow and arrows and daggers. These are they that do first offer the skirmish, going out before the rest of the army, as it were severally and dispersedly provoking to fight, and receiving the shot from a far of, they turn and wind this way and that way, and do nimbly leap from one side to another, to the end they may avoid the lighting of their enemy's arrows. Besides these there are also certain quick and gallant young men that run out before the rest, which with the ringing of their bells (as afore is said) are as it were comforters of their fellows, and when they have fought so much, that the Captain thinketh them to be even weary, then doth he call them back with the sound of one of those instruments above mentioned: so that perceiving the medley to wax hot, they turn about and retire themselves back again, & others succeed in their places, which course is still observed and kept until such time, as both the armies do indeed join all their main forces together, and so fight it out.  
In the place above described, 
The issue of this battle.  there were sundry encounters on the one side and on the other. And in the first battles the people of Congo remained conquerors: but afterwards, when they had divers times fought together with great loss on both sides, and victuals began now to fail, and consequently men waxed sick and died, the Camp of the king of Congo was dissolved, and every man returned to his own home.  
In this mean while Paulo Diaz, 
P. Diaz at Luiola.  though he could not join his forces with the Army of his friends that came to secure him, yet set himself forwards, and passing over the river stayed at Luiola, because it was a place very strong & fit to resist the King of Angola. The situation of Luiola is this: The two rivers Coanza and Luiola do join together about 105. miles from the sea shore, and a little above the said joining together, these Rivers do seaver themselves for the space of an Harquebus shot, so that they make as it were an Island between them: In which Island at the meeting of the two rivers there riseth a hill, which Paulo Diaz surprised and fortified for his better safety. And whereas in times passed there was never any habitation there, now at this present it is grown to be a pretty country inhabited by the Portugal's.  
From this place thus surprised by Paulo Diaz, and called Luiola, you may sail along the river with certain small vessels, even to the sea, and go by land without any danger for the space of one hundred and five miles. 
The hills of Cabambe.  near thereunto are the hills that are called the hills of Cabambe, producing infinite store of silver: which the said Diaz doth every day by little and little endeavour to conquer. And these hills are the grand quarrel between him and the people of Angola. For knowing that the Portugal's do esteem greatly of these hills, in regard of the silver pits which are there in great abundance, they do use all the force and skill they can to keep the Portugal's from them. They fight also with them in divers other places: for the Portugal's passing over the river Coanza do continually make inroads into the countries that are subject to the king of Angola.  
The weapons of these peoples, are bows six handfuls long, 
The weapons of the people of Angola.  with strings made of the barks of trees: & arrows of wood, less than a man's little finger, and six handfuls long. They have iron heads made like a hook, and feathers of birds in the tops of them: and of these arrows they use to carry to the number of six or seven upon their bow hand, without any quiver at all. Their daggers are fashioned with a haft after the manner of a knife, which they wear at their girdle, on their left side, and hold them aloft in their hands, when they fight with them. 
Their military actions.  By their Military actions and proceedings you may observe their great skill and good order in matter of war. For in divers battles that were between them and the Portugal's, it was plainly seen how they could choose their advantages against their enemies, as by assaulting them in the night time, and in rainy weather, to the end that their harquebuses and guns should not take fire, & also by dividing their forces into many troops, to trouble them the more. The king doth not use to go to the war in his own person, but sendeth his Captains in his steed. The people are also accustomed to fly & run away incontinently, as soon as they see their Captain slain, neither can they be persuaded to stay by any reason or argument, but presently yield up the field. They are all footmen, neither have they any horses at all. And therefore the Captains if they will not go on foot, cause themselves to be carried on the shoulders of their slaves, after one of the three manners, which we will show unto you hereafter. This nation goeth out to war in number almost infinite, and very confusedly: they leave no man at home that is fit to carry a weapon: they make no preparation of victuals necessary for the Camp: but such as perhaps have any, convey it with them upon the shoulders of their servants, and yet they have sundry sorts of creatures that might be managed, and serve their turns to draw and to carry as in the second part of this Treatise shallbe described unto you. And thereupon it falleth out, that when they come into any country with their whole army, all their food is quickly quite consumed, & then having nothing left to feed upon, they dissolve their host even in the greatest necessity of prosecuting their enterprise, and so are enforced by hunger to return into their own countries.  
They are greatly given to Divination by birds: If a bird chance to fly on their left hand, 
They are given to divination by birds.  or cry in such manner, as those which make profession to understand the same, do say that it foreshoweth ill luck and adversity, or that they may go no further forwards, they will presently turn back and repair home: which custom was also in the old time observed by the ancient Romans, and likewise at this day by sundry other Pagans.  
Now if it shall seem strange to any man, 
Why so small a number, as Paulo Diaz, had with him, was able to resist so huge an army of the K. of Angola.  that so few Portugal soldiers as Paulo Diaz retaineth there with him, and others of the Portugal nation, which traffic into the Realm, & relieve him with succours, being in number but three hundred at the most, accounting their slaves, and also the Malcontents, the rebels and fugitives of Angola which daily resort unto him, & amount not in all to the quantity of xv, thousand men, should be able to make so gallant a resistance against that innumerable rabble of Negroes, being subject to the king of Angola, which are gathered there together (as it is said) to the number of a Million of souls. I answer, that great reason may be alleged for the same. For the army of the Negroes is all naked, and utterly destitute of all provision and furniture for armour of defence: And as for their weapons of offence, they consist only but of bows and daggers (as I told you.) But our few Portugal's that are there, are well lapped in certain jackets that are stuffed and basted with bombast, and stitched and quilted very sound, which keep their arms very safe, and their bodies downwards as low as their knees: Their heads also are armed with caps made of the same stuff, which do resist the shot of the arrow and the stroke of the dagger: Besides that, they are girt with long swords, and some horsemen there are among them that carry spears for their weapons. Now you must understand that one man on horseback, is of more worth than a hundred Negroes, because the horsemen do affray them greatly: & especially of those that do discharge guns and pieces of artillery against them, they do stand continually in an extreme bodily fear. So that these few being well armed, and cunningly and artificially ordered, must needs overcome the other, though they be very many in number.  
This kingdom of Angola, 
The Kingdom of Angola very populous.  is full of people beyond all credit: For every man taketh as many wives as he listeth, and so they multiply infinitely: But they do not use so to do in the kingdom of Congo, which liveth after the manner of the Christians. And so Signior Odoardo did affirm and believe, that the kingdom of Angola had a Million of fight men, by reason that every man taking to him as many wives as he would, begot many children, and likewise because every man doth willingly go to the wars in the service of his Prince.  
This kingdom also is very rich in mines of Silver, & most excellent Copper, 
The commodities of Angola.  and for other kinds of metal there is more in this kingdom then in any other country of the world whatsoever. Fruitful it is in all manner of food, and sundry sorts of cattle, and specially for great herds of Kine. True it is, that this people do love Dogs flesh better than any other meat: & for that that purpose they feed and fatten them, and then kill them, and sell them in their open shambles. It is constantly affirmed, 
A Dog sold for 220. duccates.  that a great dog accustomed to the Bull was sold by exchange for xxij. slaves, which after the rate of x. Ducats a poll, were worth in all 220. Duccates: in so high a price and account do they hold that Creature.  
The moneys that are used in Angola, are much different from the Lumache of Congo: 
The money of Angola,  for they of Angola do use beads of glass, such as are made in Venice as big as a Nut, and some of lesser quantity, and of divers and sundry colours and fashions. These do the people of Angola make, not only to use them for money, but also for an ornament of their men and women, to wear about their necks and their arms, and are called in their tongue Anzolos: but when they are threeded upon a string like a pair of Beads, they call them Mizanga.  
The King of Angola is by religion a Gentile, 
The Religion of Angola.  and worshippeth Idols, and so do all the people in his kingdom. It is true, that he hath greatly desired to become a Christian, after the example of the King of Congo. But because there hath not been as yet any possibility to send Priests unto him, that might illuminate and instruct him, he remaineth still in darkness. The foresaid Signior Odoardo told me that in his time the king of Angola sent an Ambassador to the King of Congo, requesting that he would send him some religious persons to inform him in the Christian religion: but the King of Congo had none there that he could spare, & therefore could send him none. At this day, both these kings do traffic together, and are in amity one with another, the king of Angola having now cleared and discharged himself for the injuries & slaughters that were committed upon those of Congo, and upon the Portugal's at Cabazo.  
The language of the people of Angola is all one with the language of the people of Congo, 
The language of the people of Angola.  because (as we told you before) they are both but one kingdom. Only the difference between them is, as commonly it is between two nations that border one upon another, as for example between the Portugal's and the Castilians, or rather between the Venetians and the Calabrians, who pronouncing their words in a divers manner, and uttering them in several sorts, although it be all one speech, yet do they very hardly understand one another.  
We have signified unto you heretofore, that the Bay of cows doth divide the kingdom of Angola in the midst, and hitherto we have treated but of the one half thereof: 
The rest of the Kingdom of Angola described.  Now we will describe unto you the second part of it, which lieth from the said Bay of Cows towards the South. From this Bay then, to the black Cape called Capo Negro, 
Copo Negro. 1. The black Cape.  by the coast of the Ocean they do reckon two hundred & twenty miles of such country and soil as the former is, and possessed by many Lords that are subject to the king of Angola. From Capo Negro there runneth a line towards the East, through the midst of the Mountains, that are called Monti Freddi, 
Monti Freddi 1. the cold mountains.  that is to say, the Cold Mountains: which also in some certain parts of them, that are higher than the rest, towards the Equinoctial are termed by the Portugal's Monti Nevosis, or Snowy Mountains, and so endeth at the roots of other Mountains that are called the Mountains of Crystal. (Out of these Snowy Mountains do spring the waters of the Lake Dumbea Zocche.) 
The mounainest of Crystal.  This foresaid line from the mountain of Crystal draweth onwardly towards the North through the Mountains of Silver, till you come to Malemba, where we told you the kingdom of Congo was divided, and parted the River of Coari in the midst. And this is the Country possessed by the King of Angola, whereof I have no more to say, then is already set down, neither of the qualities of his person, nor of his Court.   

Chap. 8. Of the circuit of the Kingdom of Congo possessed by the King that now is, according to the four borders above described.  
BEginning therefore at the River Coanza, and drawing towards the Equinoctial 375. miles, you shall find the River that they call Las Barreras Vermellias, 
The West containeth 375. miles.  or the Red Pits, which are indeed the ragged ruins of certain rocks worn by the sea, and when they fall down do show themselves to be of a red colour. 
The North 540.  From thence by a direct line upon the North, that which the King possesseth is 450. miles. And then the said line dividing itself towards the South passeth by the hills of Crystal (not those that we told you before did belong to Angola, 
The East 500,  but others that are called by the same name) and so by the mountains of Salnitro, traversing the River Verbela at the roots of the Mountains of Silver it endeth at the Lake Aquelunda, 
The South. 360.  which is the space of 500 miles. The fourth line runneth along the River Coanza, which issueth out of the said Lake & containeth 360. miles. So that the whole Realm now possessed by Don Alvaro the king of Congo is in compass 1685. miles. 
The kingdom of Congo containeth in compass, 1685. miles.  But the breadth thereof beginneth at the mouth of the River Zaire, where the point is, which in the Portugal speech is called Padraon, and so cutting the kingdom of Congo in the middle, and crossing over the mountains of the Sun, and the mountains of Crystal, 
In breadth 600. miles.  there it endeth, containing the space of 6●0. miles, & within 150. miles, near to the River Nilus. Very true it is indeed, that in ancient time the predecessors of this Prince did reign over many other countries thereabouts, which in process of time they have lost: and although they be now in the government of others, 
The title or style of the King of Congo  yet do the Kings of Congo retain still to this day the titles of those regions, as for example, Don Alvaro, king of Congo, and of Abundos, and of Matama, and of Quizama, and of Angola, and of Cacongo, and of the seven kingdoms of Congere Amolaza, and of the Pangelungoes, and Lord of the River Zaire, and of the Anziquos, and Anziquana, and of Loango.   

Chap. 9 The six Provinces of the kingdom of Congo, and first of the Province of Bamba.  
THis kingdom is divided into six Provinces, that is to say, Bamba, Songo, Sundi, Pango, Batta & Pemba. The Province of Bamba, (which is the greatest and the richest) is governed by Don Sebastian Mani Bamba, 
The first province is Bamba, and the description of it. Sebastian chief Governor of Bamba, and those that rule under him.  cousin to the King Don Alvaro last deceased, and it is situated upon the sea coast, from the river Ambrize, until you come to the river Coanza towards the South. This Don Sebastian hath under his dominion many Princes and Lords, and the names of the greatest of them are these, Don Antonio Mani-Bamba, who is Lieutenant and brother to Don Sebastian, and Mani-Lemba another, and Mani-Dandi, & Mani-Bengo, and Mani-Loanda, who is governor of the Island of Loanda, and Mani-Corimba, and Mani-Coanza, and Mani-Cazzanzi. All these do govern all the sea coast but within land, for that part which belongeth to Angola, there are another people called the Ambundos, who dwelling on the borders of Angola are subject to the said Mani-Bamba, and they are these, Angazi, Chinghengo, Motollo, Chabonda, and many others of base condition.  
Note, that this word Mani signifieth a Prince or a Lord, 
Mani what it signifieth.  and the rest of the word is the name of the country and Lordship, where the Lord ruleth. As for example, Mani-Bamba signifieth the Lord of the country of Bamba, & Mani-Corimba the Lord of the country of Corimba, 
The Confines of Bamba,  which is a part of Bamba, and so likewise of the rest. This Province of Bamba confineth with Angola, 
The country of Quizama.  on the South, & upon the East of it towards the Lake Achelunda lieth the country of Quizama, which is governed like a common wealth, and is divided among a number of Lords, who in deed living at their own liberty, do neither obey the King of Congo, nor the King of Angola. And to be short, these Lords of Quizama, after they had a long time quarreled with Paulo Diaz, yet at last they became his subjects, because they would avoid the yoke of the King of Angola, and by their good aid and assistance doth Paulo Diaz greatly help himself against the said King of Angola.  
Now the aforesaid Country of Bamba, 
Bamba the principal Province of all Congo.  (as we have told you) is the principal Province of all the Realm of Congo, and in deed the very key, and the buckler and the sword, and the defence thereof, and (as it were) the frontier which opposeth itself against all their enemies. For it resisteth all the revoltes and rebellions of those quarters, and hath very valorous people in it, that are always ready for to fight, so that they do continually keep their adversaries of Angola in great awe: and if it happen at any time that their king stand in need, they are always at his command to annoy the other countries whensoever. When need requireth, 
Bamba yieldeth for a need 400000 men of war  he may have in Camp four hundred thousand men of war, and yet that number is but only the sixth part of the whole kingdom, though indeed it be the better part and the stronger. The principal City of this Province lieth in the plain which is between the river Loze and Ambrize, 
Panza the principal City of Bamba.  and is called Panza (which is a common name for every town.) There dwelleth the Lord of the Province, and it is distant from the sea a hundred miles. In this Signory also do the hills begin, 
Mines of Silver and other metals.  where the mines of Silver and other Metals are found, and so stretch out towards the kingdom of Angola. It is very rich: for upon the coast of the sea there, they have great store of the Lumache, which are used for moneys over all the kingdom of Congo: Besides, there is also a greater traffic & Market for slaves, that are brought out of Angola, then in any place else. For there are yearly bought by the Portugal's above five thousand head of Negroes, which afterwards they convey away with them, and so sell them into divers parts of the world.  
The people of this Province are in arms the most valiant of all the Kingdom of Congo. 
Valiant, mighty & strong men in Bamba.  They go armed like the slavonians, with long and large swords, that are brought them out of Portugal. There are among them very mighty men, that will cleave a slave in the midst at one blow, and cut of the head of a Bull at one stroke with one of those sword. And (that which is more, and will peradventure seem incredible) one of these valiant men did bear upon his arm a certain vessel of wine, which was the fourth part of a Butt, and might weigh about 325. pound, until it was clean emptied. Moreover, they do carry bow and arrows, whereat they are very quick and nimble, and withal their long Targets made of the Daunts skin, whereof we told you before, when we made mention of the Anzichi.  
The Creatures that are found in this Province, are first the Elephants, 
Certain creatures in Bamba Province. Elephants.  which do breed over all the kingdom of Congo, but principally in the country of Bamba, because it aboundeth in Woods, in pastures and in waters, more than any of the rest, by reason of the many rivers that run through it. And therefore the country is (as it were) appropriated to nourish and breed such a kind of beast, as is indeed of an unreasonable bigness. 
An elephants foot 4. span broad.  For Signior Odoardo told me, that he had oftentimes taken the measure of an elephants foot in the dust, 
You may find hereby what the bigness of the whole Elephant was▪ if you will use the Art of Proportion, as Pythagoras did by the foot of Hercules, Aul. Gelltus lib. 1. Cap. 10.  & one of them was in plain Diameter four spans broad. Whereby if you frame the whole circle of the foot, accordingly you may by proportion find out the bigness of the whole body of the beast. This foot they call Malo-Manzao that is to say, the Foot of an Elephant. And if in Portugal, in Italy, & in Germany, there have been seen in our times, any of these creatures that were far lesser in respect of the aforesaid hugeness, you must understand that they were but young, and brought into those countries in their tender age, of purpose to make them tame. 
The Elephant liveth 150. years.  But in these quarters they say that the Elephants do live an hundred and fifty years, and that until the middle of their age they continue still in growing. 
An Elephant's tooth of 200. weight.  And to confirm this truth he added, that he had seen and weighed diverse of their teeth (which are not of home, as some think) and their weight amounted to 200. pounds a piece after the rate of xii. ounces to every pound. In the language of Congo the Elephant's tooth is called Mene-Manzao, that is to say, The tooth of an Elephant: and their young ones are called Moana-Manzao, that is, a young Elephant. Their ears are greater than the greatest Targets that the Turks use to wear, in length six spans, in shape like an Eglantine, & towards their shoulders they grow to be narrower & sharper. With their ears, & with their trunk, and with their tail, they beat away the flies that trouble them: yea and some have left it in writing, that where they cannot reach with their trunk, with their ears, or with their tail, they will gather their skin together, and so nip the poor flies to death between the wrinkles.  
They have in their tail certain hairs or bristles as big as rushes or broom-sprigs, 
Certain hairs in the Elephant's tail, very precious.  of a shining black colour. The older they be, the fairer and stronger they be, and of great price among them. For the people of that country do greatly esteem them because the noble men and women of the kingdom of Angola, and of the Ambundi their neighbours do use to adorn and bedeck their necks withal, & therefore do love them, for that they are indeed very fair and rare, and grow upon so goodly a beast. They are very strong, and like a twined cord, so that if a man shall strive to break them asunder with both his hands, he shall not be able with all his force and strength to crack them, but rather spoil his hands with them. And for the cause lately rehearsed, many there are, which waiting for the Elephants, when they ascend some steep and narrow way, do come behind them, and with very sharp knives cut of their tails: the poor beast being not able in those straits to turn back to revenge itself, not with his trunk to reach his enemy. And this they do, only to have those hairs, which they sell for two or three slaves a piece. Other light & courageous persons there are, that trusting much to their swiftness in running, do he in a wait, and set upon the poor beasts behind, whiles they are in feeding, and at one blow attempt to cut off their tails, & so endeavour to save themselves by running away in a round. For the greatness of the beast is such, as outright it is very swift, because it maketh very large strides though in deed but slow, and in the plain is far quicker than any lusty horse: but in turning round it looseth much time, and so the huntsman escapeth in safety. And therefore many have been surprised and slain by the Elephants, that have sought to escape from them by running away outright.  
Our Ancestors, 
An error of ancient writers.  being not well informed in these matters have left in writing, that the Elephants could not lie down upon the ground, but that they used to lean themselves against a tree: which being before weakened or sawed in sunder by the hunters, both the Elephants and the tree fell down to the earth, and so were taken. But Signior Odoardo affirmed upon his credit, that they lay down upon the ground, that they kneeled upon their knees, and that they would with both their forefeet leap upon the trees to feed on the leaves, & stoop down to drink of the waters, that were in their caves, and that they had their joints as other creatures have, saving that in some parts they do somewhat differ from others: as for example, from the hooves of their forefeet, up to their shoulders, you shall not perceive that they have any more than two joints. In their feeding: they use to shake and root up the great trees with the force of their shoulders, 
The manner of the Elephants feeding.  and strength of their whole backs▪ But the smaller trees they take between both their teeth, and so bow them and pluck them down, that they may feed upon the leaves of them: insomuch as sometimes they break one of their teeth with so doing. And this is the cause why you shall find divers of them in the fields that have lost their teeth. They chaw their meat with their short teeth, which are not seen as their two long tusks are: and they carry it to their mouth by their long Snout, or Trunk, which is to them in steed of an arm & a hand. The tip of their Trunk is fashioned & divided into little slits, and (as it were) fingers, wherewith they will take up very small things, as Nuts, and Straws, and Berries, & so reach them to their mouth, as I Philippo Pigafetta have seen myself at Lisbon.  
The Females of these creatures do bear their brood in their womb for the space of two years and no more: 
The Shee-Elephant.  And forasmuch as the young Elephant cannot so quickly be brought up, (for it groweth very slowly) the milk is kept from it, and so it waxeth apt to feed of itself. And therefore Mother Nature hath provided that the Elephants are not great with young, but from seven years to seven years.  
Their skin is hard beyond all credit. 
The Elephant's skin.  For being four fingers thick, it cannot be pierced, no not with the shot of an Harquebus. And Signior Odoardo reported, that with a little Gun, which is called a Petreraa, one of them was stricken, without any wound making, but indeed he was grievously bruised, so that he ran away from that place all in a rage, the space of three days journey and there died, after he had slain certain slaves that he met by the way. 
The manner of taking the Elephants.   
The people of that Country have not the skill to tame these beasts. Whereby they might reap great commodity and profit, for carrying their stuff from place to place for diverse other good uses. But yet they take them; by digging certain deep trenches in the places, where they use to pasture; which trenches are very narrow at the bottom, and broad above, to the end the beast may not help himself, & leap out when he is fallen into them. These trenches they cover with Sods of earth, and grass, and leaves, because the beast should not see their train, but passing over them remain there entrenched. Whereupon the Gentleman beforenamed told me, that he had seen with his own eyes a very strange and admirable thing in Coanza, 
A strange effect of Nature.  namely, that a young Elephant following his dam fell down by chance into one of these pits, and after that she could not with all her skill and strength draw him out of it, she buried him therein, and covered him with earth, with branches, and with bows, insomuch as she filled the pit up to the top, to the end that the hunters should not enjoy her calf, choosing rather to kill it herself, then to leave it to the mercy of the cruel huntsmen. This loving and kind mother, not fearing the people (that stood round about her, & shouted against her, & threatened her with sundryweapons, & uttered strange clamours and noises to affray her, & cast many fires at her) but assuring herself in her own strong and valiant nature, did labour and toil from morning till night, that she might draw her calf out of the pit: and when she found that it was not possible for her to achieve what she desired, than she covered it in manner as we have told you.  
The Elephant is a very gentle beast, and trusteth greatly in his natural strength. He feareth nothing, nor hurteth any man that doth not trouble him: 
The nature of the Elephant.  and haunteth near to men's houses without doing any harm at all. If he espy men that go in his walk, he will not meddle with them, unless they seek to molest him: saving that sometimes peradventure he will gently with his snout hoist them upwards into the air, whom he meeteth withal in his way; and that is all the hurt he will do unto them. These Elephants do greatly delight in waters: and if a man be desirous to see them, his best way is to lie somewhere nigh to the Rivers, and Lakes, where they use to haunt about noon tide, to drink, to refresh themselves, and to bathe their bodies in the water: for there they will stand up to their bellies, and all the rest of their body, that is above the water, they will wash all over with the water that they snuff up into their snout for that purpose. And because there are so many fords & pastures (as is said) in the kingdom of Congo, therefore is there very great store of these creatures in that country. For Signior Odoardo affirmed, that in the way between Cazanze, & Loanda, in a little grassy valley he had seen about a hundred of them in a company, old and young that followed their dams: and these were the first young ones that ever he saw till that day. And herewithal you must understand, that they use to go together in herds, as Kine, and camels, and other such like gentle Creatures do, and not alone like Lions and other such wild beasts. Now the reason why this country aboundeth so in ivory, is easy to be yielded. For so many Elephants being bred in that Region, they made no account of that commodity in times past: but only after that the Portugal's began to traffic with those countries, it grew in estimation: and so having gathered together in so many ages an infinite quantity thereof, which they found in their fields, they have sold them till this day at a very good pennyworth.  
It is not known, 
Rhinoceros.  whether there be in that country any other beast that is so big as an Elephant is, nor whether there breed therein any Rhinoceros, which is a Creatures as big indeed as the Elephant, and in India is called a Bada. But yet there are brought into the countries of the Anzichi some of their horns that grow upon their noses, that are both of great value & estimation, & also used for the help of divers diseases. So that it is very credible and likely, that there are some of them to be found in those quarters.  
There are also to be found in this country certain other four-footed beasts, 
The Dantes  somewhat less than Oxen, of colour red, with horns like Goats horns, which are very smooth and glistering, and inclining to black: whereof they make divers pretty knacks, as they do likewise of the Buffs horns. They have their heads and their hairs, like the heads and hairs of Oxen: and their skins are of great estimation: & therefore they are carried into Portugal, and from thence into Germany, to be dressed, and then they are called Dantes. The king of Congo is very desirous to have some men that had skill to cleanse them and dress them, and to make them fit for use, to the end he might employ them for Armour of defence. And yet those nations do already use them for shields and Targets: and do find that they will resist the blow of a weapon, and especially the shot of an Arrow. They kill them with Harquebuses and with arrows. But if they do espy the huntsman, they will set upon him, and being by nature very fierce, and courageous, they will so knock him and thump him with their feet and their Muzzle (because they cannot do him any harm with their horns) that they will leave him either half dead or stark dead. There is also an infinite number of wild Buffs, 
Wild Buffs, Wild Asses.  that go wandering about the deserts in the kingdoms of the Anzichi, and wild Asses likewise, which the Greeks' call Onagri.  
There are beside these, other beasts called Empalanga, 
Empalanga.  which are in bigness and shape like Oxen, saving that they hold their neck and head aloft, and have their horns broad and crooked, three handbreadthes long, divided into knots, and sharp at the ends, whereof they might make very fair Cornets to sound withal: and although they live in the forests, yet are they not noisome nor harmful. The skins of their necks are used for shoe-soles, and their flesh for meat. They might likewise be brought to draw the plough, and do good service in any other labour, and tilling of the ground. Moreover they feed great herds of Kine, and tame Oxen, 
Other fruitful cattle.  tame Hogs and wild Boars, flocks of Sheep and Goats. Signior Odoardo affirmed, that the Goats and the Sheep do bring forth two, and three, & four lambs or kids at a time, and two when they have fewest, and never one alone at any time. And because their pasture is so fat, they do all suck, and milk their own dams, which he proved himself to be true in his own house, where he had very great store of that cattle.  
There are Wolves also which love the oil of Palms beyond all measure, 
Wolves.  and have a great sent: a property that Virgile attributeth to Dogs, Odora Canum vis, The smelling sent of Dogs. They will smell this oil a far off, and steal it in the night time out of their houses of straw, and sometimes from those that carry it by the way, whiles the poor souls do rest themselves and sleep. The oil (as shall be told you) is made of the Palm tree: it is thick and hard like Butter. And it is a marvel to see, how these Wolves do take a bottle that is full of this liquor between their teeth, & so cast it on their shoulders and run away withal, as our Wolves here do with a Sheep. There are very great store of Foxes, 
Foxes.  that steal Hens as our Foxes do. And further in this country of Bamba, there is an innumerable quantity of hunting game, 
Hunting game.  as Stags, Falo-deer, Roebucks, and Gazelles, whereof he affirmed that he had seen exceeding great herds, as also of Coneys and Hares, because there were no hunters to kill them.  
In the Region of Pemba there are many wild Civet-cattes, 
In Pembae, Civet Cats,  which the Portugese's call Algazia, and some of these the people of that country had made tame, that they might enjoy their Civet, in the smell whereof they do greatly delight. But this was before the Portugeses did traffic with those Countries. And in Manibatta there are caught many Sables, 
In Batta, Sables.  with very white hairs and exceeding fine, called Incire: but no man may wear these skins, unless the Prince permit him so to do: for it is held in great estimation, and every Sable is worth a slave. Towards the Anzichi they catch Marterns also, 
In Anziguâ martens.  wherewith they apparel themselves, as in due place we will note unto you.  
Apes, 
In Sogno, 〈◊〉 and Monkeys.  Monkeys, and such other kind of beasts, small and great of all sorts there are many in the Region of Sogno, that lieth upon the River Zaire. Some of them are very pleasant and gamesome, and make good pastime, and are used by the Lords there for their recreation and to show them sport. For although they be unreasonable Creatures, yet will they notably counterfeit the countenances, the fashions, & the actions of men. In every one of these Regions abovenamed, there are some of the aforesaid Creatures, in some places more, and in some places fewer.  
Of Adders, and Snakes in these countries there breedeth a certain kind, 
Adders and Snakes of a huge scantling  that in respect of our countries is very strange, and of an excessive greatness. For you shall find some that are xxv. span long, and five span broad: and the belly and the mouth so large, that they can swallow and receive into their belly a whole Stag, or any other creature of that bigness. And it is called that is to say a great Water-Adder. 
The Author doth not set down the name.  It will go forth of the water up to the land to pray for his victuals, and then return into the rivers again, and so it liveth in both the Elements. It will get itself up upon the bows & branches of trees, and there watch the cattle that feed thereabouts, which when they are come near unto it, presently it will fall upon them, and wind itself in many twines about them, and clap his tail on their hinder parts, and so it straineth them and biteth so many holes in them, that at last it killeth them. And then it draweth them into some wood or other solitary place, where it devoureth them at pleasure, skin, horns, hoofs and all. Now it falleth out, that when it is thus full, and (as it were) great with so monstrous a meal, it becometh almost drunk & very sleepy, so that any child may kill it. And in this sort will it remain full & satisfied for the space of 5. or 6. days together, & then return again to prey. These Adders do change their skins in their ordinary seasons, yea and sometimes after they have eaten so monstrously, and the said sloughs, when they are found, are gathered up and reserved for a show of so unmeasurable a Creature. These Adders are also greatly esteemed by the Pagan Negroes, for they do use to roast them, and eat them for meat, & make more account of them then they do of Hens, or any such delicate flesh. They find great store of them when they have occasion to burn their thick woods: for there they shall have them lying on the ground, roasted with the fire.  
Besides these there are Vipers also, 
Vipers.  well known unto that people. Which Vipers are so venomous, that such as are bitten by them do die within the space of xxiiii. hours: But the Negroes are acquainted with certain herbs that will heal their wounds.  
There are also certain other Creatures, 
Another strange creature.  which being as big as Rams, have wings like Dragons, with long tails and long chaps, and diverse rows of teeth, & feed upon raw flesh. Their colour is blue and green, their skin bepaynted like scales, and two feet they have but no more. The Pagan Negroes, do use to worship them as Gods, and at this day you may see divers of them that are kept for a marvel. And because they are very rare, the Chief Lords there do curiously preserve them, and suffer the people to worship them, which tendeth greatly to their profit, by reason of the gifts and oblations which the people offer unto them.  
There are there also to be found Chameleons, 
Chameleons.  which have four feet, and breed upon the rocks, and live of the wind and the air, of the bigness and likeness of an Eft, with a sharp head, and a tail like a saw. They are for the most part of the colour of the sky, but somewhat more dusky and greenish, and if you stand to look a while upon them, you shall see them change themselves into divers colours. They dwell much upon high rocks and trees, to the end they may take air, wherewith they are nourished.  
Other serpents there are that are venomous, that carry upon the tip of their tail a certain little roundel like a bell, 
A strange Serpent.  which ringeth as they go, so as it may be heard. It may be it was there set by nature, of purpose, that people should beware of them, and it is found by experience that these bells and the heads of the serpents are very good remedies against an ague, and against the trembling of the heart. These kinds and sorts of land-creatures are to be found in these regions, besides others also that are commonly to be had in other countries.  
It resteth now, that we speak somewhat touching Birds, 
The Ostrich.  and first of all of the Ostrich, because it is bigger than all the rest. These ostriches are found in those parts of Sundi and of Batta, that are towards the Muzambi. The young ostriches do spring out of their eggs, being warmed and disclosed by the eye & heat of the Sun. Their feathers are used in steed of Ensigns and Banners in war, 
Peacocks.  mingled with some plumes of the Peacock, and are fashioned in the likeness of a shadow against the Sun. And forasmuch as I am fallen into the speech of Peacocks, I must tell you by the way, that in the parts, of Angola, there are Peacocks brought up privately in a certain wood that is compassed about with walls: and the king will not suffer any other body to keep those birds but only himself, because they are for the Royal Ensigns, as I told you before. And it is read in ancient histories of Alexander the Great, that he did also privilege this Bird, at such time as he first saw it in Europe.  
There are also Indie-Cockes and Hens, and Geese, and Ducks of all sorts both wild and tame: 
Fowls of divers sorts.  Partridges so many as children take them with gins. Other birds they have likewise, as Pheasants, which they call Gallignoles, Pigeons, 
Birds of prey.  Turtles, and of these small birds called Becca fichi an infinite number. Birds of prey, as Eagles-royal, Falcons, Gerfaulcons and Spar-hawks, and others, great store, which notwithstanding the people never use to hawk withal. Birds of the sea, as Pelicans (for so the Portugal's do call them) white and great, 
Birds of the sea.  which swim under the water, and have their throats so wide, that they will swallow a whole fish at once. This bird hath so good a stomach, and naturally so hot, that it easily digesteth the fish that it swalloweth whole, and the skin of it is so hot, that the people of that country do use to wear them, and to warm their cold stomachs withal, and therefore make great reckoning of them.  
There are many white Herons and Grey Bitterns, 
Other kinds of foul.  that feed in the washes there, and are called Royal Birds. Other Fowls there are of the likeness of a Crane, with a red bill and red feet, as big as Storks, and their feathers for the most part red and white, and some dark grey. Goodly birds they are to look too, and the people of the country do call them flemings, because they do much resemble them, and are good meat to eat.  
They have Parrots of grey colour, 
Parrots. Birds of music.  great and very talkative: & others of green colour, but they are little ones & not so talkative: They have likewise certain small little birds, which they call Birds of Music, and yet greater than the Canary Birds, of feather & bill red: some green, with their feet & bill only black: some all white: some grey or done: some all black, and this kind is more sweet in their notes then all the rest aforenamed: for you would think that they talked in their singing. Others there are of divers colours: but they do all sing in sundry sorts, so that the chief Lords of those countries, from ancient times to this day, have continually kept them in cages, and greatly esteemed them for their song.   

Chap. 10. Of the Province of Sogno, which is the Country of the River Zaire, and Loango.  
THis Country is bounded with the River Ambrize, 
The second Province Sogno, and the description thereof.  towards the North in seven degrees and a half, and so traversing the River Lelunda, and the River Zaire it endeth at the Rocks called Barreuras Vermellias, that is to say, the Red pits, which are in the borders of the Kingdom of Loango. In the midst of this Province there is a certain Territory, 
Sogno the chief town of this Province.  called by the same name Sogno, where the Governor of the Country dwelleth. The chief Lords that rule this Province are called Mani-Sogno, that is Princes of Sogno, and are commonly of the blood Royal. The Prince that governeth there at this day is called Don Diego Mani-Sogno. He hath under his dominion many other petty Lords, 
Don Diego chief Governor of Sogno, & those that rule under him.  & other provinces, that in old time were free and lived by themselves, as the people of Mombalas, situate somewhat near to the City of Congo, which are now subject to this government. And on the other side of the River Zaire towards the North is the Province of Palmar, that is to say of Palms, because there is great store of Palm trees growing therein. Other Lords there are, that border upon the King of Loango, who was sometime subject to the King of Congo, but in process of time he became a free Lord, and now professeth himself to be in amity with the king of Congo, but not to be this vassal. The people that are under these Lords in those borders, are called the Bramas: and they reach within land, 
The Bramas.  under the Equinoctial line towards the East to the bounds of Anzicana, all along the Mountains which divide them from the Anzichi upon the North. They are called by the people of Loango, Congreamolal, because they were subject to Congo.  
In this Country of Loango there are many Elephants and great store of ivory which they do willingly exchange for a little iron, 
The commodities of Sogno  so that for the nail of a ship (be it never so small) they will give a whole elephants tooth. The reason thereof is either because there groweth no iron in that place, or else they have not the skill to get it out of the mines where it groweth: But all the iron they can get they employ for heading of their arrows, and their other weapons, as we told you, when we spoke of the Bramas.  
They make great store of cloth of the Palm trees, 
The manner of the life of the inhabitants.  whereof we made mention before: but these are lesser and yet very fine. They have great abundance of Kine and of other cattle before named. They are in Religion Pagans: their apparel after the fashion of the people of Congo: They maintain war with their bordering neighbours, which are the Anzichi and the inhabitants of Anzicana, & when they enterprise war against the Anzichi, than they crave aid of the people of Congo, and so they remain half in freedom, and half in danger of others. They worship what they list, and hold the Sun for the greatest God, as though it were a man, and the Moon next, as though it were a woman. Otherwise every man chooseth to himself his own idol, and worshippeth it after his own pleasure. These people would easily embrace the Christian Religion: For many of them, that dwell upon the borders of Congo have been converted to Christendom: and the rest, for want of Priests and of such as should instruct them in true religion, do remain still in their blindness.   

Chap. 11. Of the third Province called Sundi.  
THis Province of Sundi is the nearest of all to the City of Congo, called Citta di San-Saluatore, 
The third province Sundi, & the description thereof:  the City of Saint saviours, and beginneth about 40. miles distant from it, and quite out of the territory thereof, and reacheth to the river Zaire, and so over the same to the other side where the Caduta or Fall is, which we mentioned before: and then holdeth on upwards on both sides towards the North, bordering upon Anzicana and the Anzichi. Towards the South it goeth along the said river Zaire, until you come to the meeting of it with the River Bancare, and all along the banks thereof, even to the roots of the mountain of Crystal. 
The chief town of Sundi.  In the bounds of the Province of Pango, it hath her principal Territory, where the Governor lieth, who hath his name from the Province of Sundi, and is seated about a days journey near to the Fall of the River, towards the South.  
This Province is the chiefest of all the rest, 
This province of Sundi is always governed by the heir apparent of the K. of Congo.  and (as it were) the Patrimony of all the kingdom of Congo: and therefore it is always governed by the kings eldest Son, and by those Princes that are to succeed him. As it fell out in the time of their first Christian King, that was called Don john: whose eldest son, that was Governor here succeeded him, and was called Don Alfonso. And ever sithence, the Kings of Congo have successively continued this custom, to consign this Government to those Princes which are to succeed in the kingdom: As did the king that now is called Don Alvaro, who was in this Government before Don Alvaro the King his father died, 
In all the kingdom of Congo, no man hath any thing of his own whereof he may dispose, or 〈…〉  and was called Mani-Sundi.  
And here by the way you must note, that in all the Kingdom of Congo there is not any person, that possesseth any proper goods of his own, whereof he may dispose, and leave to his heirs: but all is the Kings, & he distributeth all offices, all goods, and all lands, to whomsoever it pleaseth him. Yea and to this law, even the Kings own sons are subject. So that if any man do not pay his tribute yearly (as he ought) the King taketh away his Government from him, and giveth it to another. As it happened to the king that now liveth, who at the time that Signior Odoardo was at the Court, being of his own nature very liberal, and bountiful beyond measure, and one that bestowed much upon his servants, could not discharge those impositions that the king had laid on him. Whereupon he was by the king deprived of his revenues, of his government, and of his royal favour, that is to say in that language, he was Tombocado, as we will declare more at full in the second part of this discourse.  
Many Lords there are that are subject to the Governor or Sundi. The people do traffic with their neighbour Countries, 
The manner of the life of Sundi inhabitants  felling and bartering divers things. As for example, fault, & clothes of sundry colours, brought from the Indies, and from Portugal, and Luma●●●●● to serve for their coin. And for these commodities they do exchange cloth of Palm trees, and ivory, and the skins of Sables and martens, and certain girdles wrought of the leaves of Palm trees, which are greatly esteemed in those parts.  
There groweth in these country's great store of Crystal, and divers kinds of metal: but Iron they love above all the rest, saying that the other metals are to no use: for with Iron they can make knives, and weapons, and hatchers, and such like instruments, that are necessary and profitable for the use of man's nature.   

Chap. 12. Of the fourth Province called Pango.  
THe Province of Pango in ancient time was a free kingdom, 
The fourth province Pango, and the description thereof.  that was governed of itself, & bordereth on the North upon Sundi, on the South upon Batta, on the West upon the County of Congo, and on the East, upon the mountains of the Sun. The principal Territory, 
Pango the chief town of this Province.  where the governors dwelling is, hath the same name that the Province hath, viz. Pango. It standeth upon the Western side of the River Barbela, and in old time was called Pangue-lungos, and in time afterwards the word was corrupted and changed into Pango. Through the midst of this Province runneth the river Berbela, which fetcheth his original from the great Lake (whence the river Nilus also taketh his beginning) and from another lesser Lake called Achelunda, and so dischargeth itself into Zaire. And although this be the least Country of all the rest, yet doth it yield no less tribute than the rest.  
This Province was conquered after the Country of Sundi, and made subject to the Princes of Congo: and is now all one with it, both in speech and manners, neither is there any difference at all between them. 
Don Francisco chief Governor of Pango  The present Governor thereof is called Don Francisco Mani-Pango, and is descended from the most ancient nobility of all the Lords of Congo: and in all consultations touching the State he is sent for, because he is now an old man, and of great wisdom. For he hath remained in the government of this region for the space of fifty years, and no man ever complained of him, neither did the king at any time take his government from him.  
The traffic of this Province is like the traffic of Sundi.   

Chap. 13. Of the fift Province called Batta.  
THe bounds of this Province are towards the North, 
The fift Province Batta & the description thereof.  the Country of Pango: on the East it taketh quite over the River Barbela, and reacheth to the Mountains of the Sun, and to the foot of the Mountains of Sal-Nitre. And on the South from the said Mountains, by a line passing through the meeting of the rivers Barbela and Cacinga, to the mountain Brusciato, that is to say Scorched.  
Within these bounds is Batta contained, 
Batta the chief town of all Batta.  and the Principal City, where the Prince dwelleth, is likewise called Batta. In ancient time it was called Aghirimba, but afterwards the word was corrupted, and it is now called Batta. It was in old time a very strong and a great Kingdom, & voluntarily of itself, without any war it joined itself with the kingdom of Congo, peradventure because there was some dissension among their Lords: 
The pre-eminence of the Governor of Batta.  and therefore it hath more pre-eminence than the rest of the Provinces of the kingdom of Congo, in privileges and liberties. For the Government of Batta is always assigned to one, that is of the blood of the Kings of that country at their choice and pleasure, having no more respect to one then to another, so that he be of the stock and blood Royal, neither to the eldest son nor to the second. Neither yet goeth this Government by inheritance, but the king of Congo (as is told you before) doth dispose it at his own pleasure to whom he thinketh best, to the end they should not usurp it by way of succession, or by rebellion. He dwelleth nearer the king than any other Governor or Lord of the kingdom of Congo, & is the second person therein, neither may any man gainsay his arguments & reasons, as they may any of the rest, for it is so decreed among them. Now if the line of the king of Congo should chance to fail, so that there were none of that blood to succeed, 
Don Pedro chief Governor of Batta.  the succession shall fall upon the governor of Batta. He that now governeth there, is called Don Pedro Mani-Batta.  
Sometimes he eateth at the kings own table, but yet in a base seat than the kings seat is, and that also not sitting, but standing, which is not granted to any other Lord of Congo, no nor to the sons of the king himself. His Court and his train is little less than the Court & train of the king of Congo. For he hath trumpets and Drums and other instruments going before him, as becometh a Prince, and by the Portugal's he is commonly called the Prince of Batta, because (as it is said) if the succession should fail in the blood of the kings of Congo, the empire of the whole kingdom must light upon some one of this stock.  
He doth hold continual wars with the Pagans that border upon him: and he is able to gather together about 70. or 80. thousand fight men. And because he doth still maintain war with the people that are next him, 
The K. of Congo will not suffer any natural borne subject in Congo, to have an Harquebus.  he hath liberty granted unto him to entertain Arcubusiers, that shall be of his own natural subjects. For the king of Congo will not suffer any other Governor of any other Provinces, nor any of their children, to have any Arcubusiers, that are borne within their Country, but only the Portugal's. Signior Odoardo demanding once of the King, why he did not give leave to his other Governors to retain shot about them: the King answered, that if peradventure they should rebel against him with a thousand, or two thousand Arcubusiers, he should not have any possibility to make them resistance.  
And forasmuch as we have told you, 
The reason why the K. of Congo permitteth Mani-Batta to have Arcubusiers in his Province.  that the King hath granted licence, only to the prince of Batta, to entertain Arcubusiers in his own country, it is fit you should understand, that he doth it upon very necessary occasion. For towards the East of Batta, beyond the mountains of the Sun, and of Sal-Nitre, upon the banks of the East and West of the river Nilus, & in the borders of the Empire of Mohenhe-Muge there liveth a nation, 
The Giac●●●▪  which by the people of Congo, are called Giaquas, but in their own language they are called Agag: Very fierce they are and warlike, much given to fight and pillage, and make continual inroads into the Countries near adjoining, and sometimes among the rest into the Province of Batta. So that this Country must needs be in continual Arms, and stand upon good guard, and maintain Arcubusiers to defend themselves from them.  
The Prince of Batta hath many Lords under him: and the natural people of this Province are called Monsobos, 
The conditions of the people of Batta.  and their language is well understood by the inhabitants of Congo. They are far more rude and rustical than the Moci-Conghi, and the slaves that are brought from thence, do prove more obstinate and stubborn, than those that come from other Countries.  
Their traffic is the same, that the traffic of the other countries are, 
Their traffic.  whereof we have last entreated. And the profit which the king receiveth from Batta, amounteth to double as much, as he receiveth out of any two of the other Provinces before mentioned.   

Chap. 14. Of the sixth and last Province called Pemba.  
THe Province of Pemba is seated in the heart and middle of the Kingdom of Congo, 
The sixth Province Pemba, and the situation thereof.  compassed and comprised within the bounds before described, whose governor is called Don Antonio Mani-Pemba, 
Don Antonio chief Governor of Pemba.  second son to King Don Alvaro, that dead is, and brother to the king that reigneth at this present. And forasmuch as his father did love him dearly, he assigned unto him this Government, because he knew not what better thing to give him, saving the Realm itself: which in deed he would willingly have bestowed on him, for that he was more like unto him in quality & nature then his eldest son was. But it would not be by reason of the law of the Kingdom, which would not have yielded thereunto.  
This country is the very Centre and midst of all the state of Congo, and the original of all the ancient Kings, and the Territory where they were borne, and the chief and principal seat of all the other Provinces and Principalities. And therefore the chief and royal City of all that Empire is assigned to this Province, 
The chief City of all Congo is situate in this province of Pemba,  whereof we will hereafter deliver you a full information. The Governor of Pemba dwelleth in a Territory of the same name, situate at the foot of the Scorched Mountain, along the River Loze, which riseth out of the Lake, and runneth through the Region of Bamba into the sea.  
The Courtiers, and Lords, and servitors belonging to the king of Congo, 
The Courtiers &c. dwell for the most part in Pemba.  have their goods and possessions, and revenues in this Province, because it is nearest to the Court, & very convenient for the conveying of their victuals, and their other stuff unto the Court. Some of these Lords, in that part specially, that bordereth upon the aforesaid Province of Bamba, have much a do to keep fight and defend themselves from the people of Quizama, because they are nearest unto them. For this people (as we told you) did rebel against the king of Congo, and revolted from him, and do profess that they will be at liberty, and governed of themselves.  
And here will we end the first book, 
Conclusion of this book.  which consisteth of the description of the kingdom of Congo in general, and of his borders, and in particular of all the six Provinces thereof. Now it remaineth that we proceed forward to the second book: 
The contents of the second book.  Wherein we will treat of the situation of the City of Congo, and of the Territory thereunto belonging, of the first christening of the king, of his manners, of his Court and of other conditions appertaining to the politic and military Government of these people. And afterward we will describe unto you the kingdoms near adjoining, and all the regions thereabouts towards the South, even till you come to the Cape of Good Hope, and the rivers and countries of the Ocean that is right against India: and within land the kingdoms of Presbyter john, touching also by the way the spring and original of Nilus, and the causes of his wonderful increase, which sundry fools do account to be a Miracle.    

THE SECOND BOOK.  

Chap. 1. Of the situation of the Royal City of the Kingdom of Congo.  
ALthough the chief and Royal City of the Kingdom of Congo be after a sort comprehended within the Province of Pemba, 
The Territory of the chiefest City in all Congo containeth in compass 20. miles about.  yet notwithstanding forasmuch as the government thereof, and the territory thereunto belonging, which may in compass amount to the space of twenty miles about, doth depend wholly of the king of Congo himself, we will place it in a several regiment, and entreat of it by itself.  
This city is called San Saluatore, 
The chief City called San-Saluadore.  or Saint saviours, and in times passed in that country language it was called Banza, which generally signifieth the Court, where the king or the Governor doth ordinarily sojourn. 
The situation of the City.  It is seated about 150. miles from the sea, upon a great and a high Mountain, being almost all of a rock, but yet having a vain of iron in it, whereof they have great use in their housing. This mountain hath in the top of it a great plain, 
The mountain whereupon it standeth.  very well manured and furnished with houses and villages, containing in circuit about ten miles, where there doth dwell and live the number of a hundred thousand persons.  
The soil is fruitful, 
The soil, the air, the waters and the cattle.  and the air fresh, wholesome and pure: there are great store of springs, of indifferent good water to drink, and at certain times do not harm any man: and of all sorts of cattle great abundance. The top of the mountain is severed and distinguished from all the rest of the hill which is about it, and therefore the Portugal's do call it The Otheiro, 
The Otheiro.  that is to say, a View, or a Watch Tower, or a Singular height, from whence you may take a sight of all the Champaign round about. Only towards the East, and towards the River, it is very steep and rocky.  
For two causes did the first Princes of this Kingdom place this habitation in the foresaid Height of this Mountain. 
The reason why they built in this place.  First, because it lieth in the very midst and (as it were) in the Centre of all the Realm, from whence he may presently send aid to any part of his Kingdom that may stand in need of relief: & secondly because it is situated in a Territory that is by Nature mounted aloft, having a very good air, and of great safety: for it cannot be forced. By the chief common high way, that goeth up to the City, and looketh towards the Sea, being distant from thence 150. Miles (as hath been told you) which way is very large and competent, though it go somewhat about encompass, you shall ascend (five Miles from the bottom to the top of the Mountain. 
Five miles from the bottom of the hill to the top.  At the foot thereof on the East side there runneth a River, whereunto the women do descend by the space of a miles walk to wash their clothes. 
A river at the hill foot  In diverse other parts thereof there are sundry valleys planted & manured: neither do they suffer any part of the country thereabouts to be left untilled or unused, because it is the country where the Court remaineth.  
The City is seated in a corner or angle of the hill towards the Southeast, 
The particucular situation of the City.  which Don Alfonso the first christian king did compass about with walls, and gave unto the Portugal's a several place for themselves, 
A several place for the Portugal's.  shut up likewise within walls. Then did he also enclose his own palace and the Kings howsen with another wall, and in the midst between these two enclosures left a great space of ground where the principal Church was built, 
The principal Church and market place.  with a fair market place before it. The doors and gates aswell of the lodgings of the Lords, as of the Portugal's inhabitations, do open on the side of the said Church. For in the uppermost end of the market place do divers great Lords of the Court dwell, and behind the Church doth the market place run into a narrow street, where there is also a gate, and beyond that gate many houses towards the East. Without these walls, (which do enclose the kings houses, and the City of the Portugal's) there are a number of other buildings, erected by divers Lords, every man making his several choice of the place which he thinketh most fit & convenient for his dwelling near unto the Court. So that the greatness of this City cannot well be determined or limited. Beyond these walls also, that thus do compass this City; there is a great champaign plain, full of villages, and sundry palaces, where every Lord possesseth (as it were) a whole Town within himself. The circuit of the Portugal's city containeth about a mile: and the king's houses as much. The walls are very thick: the gates are not shut in the night time, neither is there any watch or ward kept therein.  
And although that plain doth lie very high & aloft, 
Good store of water.  yet is there great abundance of waters in it, so that there is no want thereof. But the Court and the Portugal's City do all drink of a certain fountain, that springeth continually, towards the North, and lieth down the hill, as far as a Gun will shoot: And from hence they do fetch all their water, and bring it to the City in vessels of wood, of earth and of leather, upon the backs of their slaves.  
All this plain is very fruitful, 
The plain very fruitful. Several sorts of grain.  and well manured: It hath meadows full of grass, and trees that are always green. It beareth sundry sorts of grain, but the principal and best of all is called Luco, 
Luco.  which is very like to Mustardseed, but that it is somewhat bigger. When it is grinded with Hand-querns (for so they use to do) it yieldeth a very white meal, whereof they make bread, that is both white, and also of a very good savour, and wholesome withal: neither doth it give place to our wheat in any sort, saving that they do not celebrate the Sacrament with it. Of these grains there now is great store over all the Kingdom of Congo: but it is not long since that this seed was brought thither from that part of the river Nilus, where it falleth into the second Lake. 
White Milles called the Mazza of Congo.  There is also a white kind of Millet, called the Mazza of Congo, that is to say, the Corn of Congo: and another grain which they call Maiz, 
Maiz.  but they make no account of it, for they give it to their hogs: neither do they greatly esteem of Rice. The foresaid Maiz they commonly term by the name of Mazza-Manputo, that is to say, the Portugal's Corn: for they call a Portugal Manputo.  
There are moreover diverse and sundry sorts of trees, 
divers kinds of trees bearing fruit.  that bear very great store of fruits, insomuch as the greatest part of the people do feed upon the fruits of the Country, as Citrons, Lemons, and specially Oranges, very full of liquor, which are neither sweet nor sour, & are ordinarily eaten without any annoyance or harm at all. And to show the fruitfulness of this country, the said Signior Odoardo reported, that he had seen from a kernel of the fruit of a Pome-Citrone, which was left within the rind thereof, there sprung up within the space of four days a pretty tall sprig. Other fruits there are, which they call Banana, 
Banana  and we verily think to be the Muses of Egypt and Soria, saving that in those countries they grow to be as big as trees, but here they cut them yearly, to the end they may bear the better, The fruit is very sweet in smell, and of good nourishment. In these plains there grow likewise sundry kinds of palm-trees: 
divers kinds of palm-trees  one that beareth Dates, and another that beareth the Indian Nuts, called Coccos, because they have within them a certain shell, that is like to an Ape: and thereupon they use in Spain to show their children a Coccola when they would make them afraid. Another Palm tree there groweth also very like to the former, but of a more strange and singular property: For it yieldeth Oil, 
The oil of Palm.  Wine, Vinegar, Fruit, and Bread. The Oil is made of the Shalt of the fruit, and is of the colour and substance of butter, saving that it is somewhat greenish. They use it, as other people do use Oil and butter, and it will burn like oil. They anoint their bodies withal, and besides it is very good to eat. They press it out of the fruit, as oil is pressed out of the Olives, and then they boil it, and so preserve it. The bread is made of the stone of the fruit itself, 
The bread of Palm  which is like to an Almond, but somewhat harder: and within the same is there a certain kernel or pith, which is good to eat: very wholesome and of good nourishment. 
The fruit of the Palm.  The whole fruit, together with the utter shalt is green, and they use to eat it both raw and roasted. The Wine is drawn from the top of the tree, 
The wine and Vinegar of Palm.  by making a hole therein, from whence there distilleth a liquor like milk, which at the first is sweet, but afterwards sour, and in process of time becometh very Vinegar, to serve for salads. This wine they drink cold, and it moveth to urine very much: so that in those countries, there is not a man that is troubled with gravel or stone in the bladder. It will make them drunk, that drink too much of it: but in deed it is of a very good nutriment.  
Wherein you must note that they do not build thus rustically and shepherd-like for want of stuff to build withal. 
Great store of stone to build with all.  For in the mountains of the Realm of Congo, there are a number of places, that yield most exquisite fine stone of divers kinds: From whence you may dig out whole pillars, and principals, & Bases, and other pieces as big as you list, if ye be disposed to build. Insomuch as it hath been confidently affirmed, that there are to be found among them many masses and lumps of stone, which are of such thickness and hugeness, that you may cut out a whole Church, even of one whole piece, yea and of the same kind of stone, whereof the Obelisco is made, that is erected before Portadel Popolo in Rome. Besides this, there are whole Mountains of Porphyry, of jasper, and of white Marble, and of other sundry colours, which here in Rome are called Marbles of Numidia, of Africa, and of Aethiopia: certain pillars, whereof you may see in the Chapel of Pope Gregory. Other Stone there is, that is speckled with grains or strikes, but among all the rest, that kind is most admirable, which hath in it fair jacinthes, that are good jewels. For the streaks being dispersed like veins over all the body of their Mother-Stone, if you shall divide them and pluck them out as you would pick the kernels out of a Pomegranate, they will fall into grains and little pieces of perfect jacinth: But if you please to make pillars, or Obelisks, or other such like Memorials, of the whole Mass, you shall see them shine and sparkle, full of most fair and goodly jewels. There are also other kinds of rare stones, which make a show of metal in them, as of Copper, and of sundry other colours, that are very fresh, and bright, and smooth, whereof you may make Images, or any other work of singular beauty. And therefore it is not the scarcity of matter or stuff, that is the cause of this their simple building, seeing that their mountains have such plenty of the foresaid stone, yea and perhaps more store of other kinds, then is to be found in any other place of the whole world, 
Lime & timber, and cattle to carry and draw. Want of workmen to build.  besides lime, and trees for beams, and cattle both for carriage and drawing in the cart, and all other manner of provision, that is requisite for building. True it is in deed, that they want Masons, & Cutters, and plasterer, and Carpenters, and other such artificers: for when the Churches, and the walls, and the other fabrics in those countries were built, the workmen were brought thither out of Portugal.  
There are also tamarinds, 
Stuffe for building ships & housing.  and Cassia, and Ceders in such multitudes growing all along the River of Congo, besides other trees of an unmeasurable length and thickness, that an infinite number of ships and houses may be builded of them. Their gardens do bear all manner of herbs and fruits, 
Herbs and fruits.  as Pompions, Melons, Cucumbers, Coleworts, and such like, besides other sorts that do not agree with our Climates of Europe.   

Chap. 2. Of the Original beginning of Christendom in the Kingdom of Congo, and how the Portugal's obtained this traffic.  
THe K. of Portugal Don Giovanni the second, 
The first traffic of the Portugal's into Congo.  being desirous to discover the East Indies, sent forth divers ships by the coast of Africa to search out this Navigation, who having found the Islands of Capo Verde, and the Isle of Saint Thomas, and running all along that coast, did light upon the River Zaire, whereof we have made mention before, and there they had good traffic, and tried the people to be very courteous and kind. Afterwards he sent fourth (for the same purpose) certain other vessels, to entertain this traffic with Congo, who finding the trade there to be so free and profitable, and the people so friendly, left certain Portugal's behind them, to learn the language, 
Mani Sogno the K. uncle entertaineth the Portugeses.  and to traffic with them: among whom one was a masspriest. These Portugal's conversing familiarly with the Lord of Sogno, who was uncle to the King, and a man well strooken in years, dwelling at that time in the Port of Praza (which is in the mouth of Zaire) were very well entertained and esteemed by the Prince, and reverenced as though they had been earthly Gods, and descended down from heaven into those Countries. But the Portugal's told them that they were men as themselves were, and professors of Christianity. And when they perceived in how great estimation the people held them, the foresaid Priest & others began to reason with the Prince touching the Christian religion, and to show unto them the errors of the Pagan superstition, 
Mani-Sogno converted & become a Christian.  and by little and little to teach them the faith which we profess, insomuch as that which the Portugal's spoke unto them, greatly pleased the Prince, and so he became converted.  
With this confidence and good spirit, the prince of Sogno went to the Court, to inform the King of the true doctrine of the Christian Portugal's, and to encourage him that he would embrace the Christian Religion which was so manifest, and also so wholesome for his soul's health. Hereupon the king commanded to call the Priest to Court, to the end he might himself treat with him personally, 
The King of Congo promiseth to become a Christian.  and understand the truth of that which the Lord of Sogno had declared unto him. Whereof when he was fully informed, he converted and promised that he would become a Christian.  
And now the Portugal ships departed from Congo, and returned into Portugal: and by them did the King of Congo writ to the King of Portugal, Don Giovanni the second, with earnest request, that he would send him some Priests, with all other orders and ceremonies to make him a Christian. The Priest also that remained behind, had written at large touching this business, and gave the King full information of all that had happened, 
The K. of Portugal sendeth Priests to the K. of Congo to instruct him.  agreeable to his good pleasure. And so the King took order for sundry religious persons, to be sent unto him accordingly, with all ornaments for the Church and other service, as Crosses and Images: so that he was thoroughly furnished with all things that were necessary and needful for such an action.  
In the mean while the Prince of Sogno ceased not day and night to discourse with the Portugal priest, 
Mani-Sogno promoteth the Christian Religion.  whom he kept in his own house, and at his own table, aswell that he might learn the Christian faith himself, as also instruct the people therein: so that he began to favour christianity with all his power. And forasmuch as the Christian Religion had now taken root and begun to bud in those Countries, and for that both the people, & also the king himself did continue in their earnest desire to purge themselves from that abominable superstition, he did instantly deal with the Priest, that he would proceed in the sowing & dispersing of the Christian doctrine, as much as he could. And in this good affection did they wait for the Portugal ships, that should bring them all provision for baptism; and other things thereunto appertaining.  
At the last the ships of Portugal arrived with the expected provisions (which was in the year of our salvation 1491) and landed in the port which is in the mouth of the River Zaire. 
The ships return from Portugal. 1491. Mani-Sogno & his train entertaineth the Portugeses.  The Prince of Sogno with all show of familiar joy, accompanied with all his gentlemen ran down to meet them, and entertained the Portugal's in most courteous manner, and so conducted them to their lodgings. The next day following according to the direction of the Priest that remained behind, 
Mani-Sogno buildeth a Church.  the Prince caused a kind of Church to be builded, with the bodies and branches of certain trees, which he in his own person, with the help of his servants, most devoutly had felled in the wood. And when it was covered, they erected therein three Altars, in the worship and reverence of the most holy Trinity, 
Mani Sogno & his son baptised.  and there was baptized himself and his young son, himself by the name of our Saviour, Emanuel, and his child by the name of Anthony, because that saint is the Protector of the City of Lisbon.  
Now if any man here demand of me, what names the people of these Countries had, 
What names the people of Congo had before they were christened.  before they received Christianity: of a truth it will seem incredible that I must answer them, that is to say, that the men and women had no proper names agreeable to reasonable Creatures, but the common names of plants, of Stones, of Birds and of Beasts. But the Princes & Lords had their denominations from the places and states which they governed. As for example the foresaid Prince, which was the first Christian in Congo, was called Mani-Sogno, that is to say, the Prince of Sogno, & when he was christened, was called Emanuel, but at this day they have all in general such Christian names as they have learned of the Portugal's.  
After a Mass was celebrated and song, 
A sermon containing the sum of Christian Religion.  one of the Priests that came from Portugal went up, and made a brief Sermon in the Portugal language, declaring the sum of the new Religion, & faith of the Gospel which they had received. This sermon, the Priest that was left behind, having now learned the Congo speech, did more at large expound to the Lords that were in the Church: for the church could not possibly hold the innumerable multitude of the people that were there gathered together, 
Mani Sogno rehearseth the Sermon to his people.  at the conversion of their Prince: who afterwards came abroad unto them, and rehearsed the whole sermon, with great love and charity, moving and exhorting them to embrace likewise the true belief of the Christian doctrine.  
When this was done, all the Portugeses put themselves on their way towards the Court, 
The Portugeses go to the Court to baptize the king.  to baptize the King, who with a most fervent longing attended the same. And the Governor of Sogno took order that many of his Lords should wait upon them with Music, and singing, and other signs of wonderful rejoicing, besides divers slaves which he gave them to carry their stuff, commanding also the people, that they should prepare all manner of victua; to be ready in the streets for them. So great was the number of people, that ran and met together to behold them, as the whole champaign seemed to be in a manner covered with them, and they all did in great-kindness entertain and welcome the Portugal Christians, with singing and sounding of trumpets, and Cymbals, and other instruments of that Country. And it is an admirable thing to tell you, that all the streets and high ways, that reach from the Sea, to the City of Saint saviours, being one hundred and fifty miles, were all cleansed and swept, and abundantly furnished with all manner of victual and other necessaries for the Portugeses. In deed they do use in those countries, when the king or the principal Lords go abroad, to cleanse their ways and make them handsome: and therefore much the rather upon this special occasion, when the Portugeses, whom they reverenced as though they had been some of the old Heroes, did purchase for their King the jewel of Religion, and salvation of his soul, and generally for every one of them the clear knowledge of God, and of eternal life.  
Three days journey from the place whence they departed, 
The Courtiers of Congo meet the Portugeses.  they descried the kings Courtiers, that came to meet them, to present them with fresh victuals, and to do them honour: and so from place to place they encountered other Lords, that for the same purpose were sent by the King to receive the Christians, who were the messengers and bringers of so great a joy. When they were come within three miles near to the City, all the Court came to entertain and welcome the Portugal's, with all manner of pomp and joyfulness, and with music and singing; as in those countries is used upon their solemnest feast-days. And so great was the multitude of people, which abounded in the streets, that there was neither tree, nor hillock, higher than the rest, but it was loaden with those that were run forth and assembled to view these strangers, which brought unto them this new law of their salvation. The King himself attended them at the gate of his palace, 
The king himself recceyveth them:  in a Throne of estate erected upon a high scaffold, where he did publicly receive them, in such manner and sort as the ancient kings of that Realm accustomed to do, when any Ambassadors came unto him, or when his tributes were paid him, or when any other such Royal ceremonies were performed.  
And first of all, the Ambassador declared the Embassage of the King of Portugal, 
The Portugal Ambassador declareth his Embassage.  which was expounded and interpreted by the foresaid Priest, that was the principal author of the conversion of those people. After the embassage was thus delivered, 
The K. rejoiceth at the Embassage.  the King raised himself out of his seat, and standing upright upon his feet, did both with his countenance and speech show most evident signs of the great joy, that he had conceived for the coming of the Christians, and so sat down again. 
The people rejoice at it.  And incontinently all the people with shouting, and sounding their trumpets, & singing, and other manifest arguments of rejoicing, did approve the kings words, and showed their exceeding good liking of this Embassage. And further in token of obedience, they did three times prostrate themselves upon the ground, and cast up their feet, according to the use of those kingdoms, thereby allowing and commending the action of their king, and most affectionately accepting of the Gospel, which was brought unto them from the Lord God by the hands of those religious persons.  
Then the king took view of all the presents that were sent him by the King of Portugal, 
The K. vieweth the Presents sent unto him by the K. of Portugal.  and the Vestiments of the Priests, and the Ornaments of the Altar, and the Crosses, and the Tables, wherein were depainted the Images of Saints, and the Streamers, and the Banners, and all the rest, and with incredible attention, caused the meaning of every one of them to be declared unto him, one by one. And so withdrew himself, and lodged the Ambassador in a palace made ready of purpose for him, and all the rest were placed in other houses of several Lords, where they were furnished with all plenty and ease.  
The day following the King caused all the Portugal's to be assembled together in private: 
Consultation among the Portugeses for the Christening of the K. & for the building of a Church.  where they devised of the course that was to be taken for the christening of the king, and for effecting the full conversion of the people to the christian faith. And after sundry discourses, it was resolved and concluded, that first of all a Church should be builded, to the end that the christening, and other ceremonies thereunto belonging, might be celebrated therein with the more solemnity: and in the mean while the king and the Court should be taught and instructed in the Christian Religion. The king presently commanded, that with all speed provision should be made of all manner of stuff necessary for this building, as Timber, Stone, Lime and Brick, according to the direction and appointment of the Workmasters and Masons, which for that purpose were brought out of Portugal. 
An insurrection raised by the Devil, to hinder the progress of Christian Religion.   
But the Devil who never ceaseth to cross all good and holy proceedings, raised new dissensions, and conspiracies, and lets against this promoting of the Christian Faith, which in deed began to overthrow, and destroy the power that he had long held in that Realm, and in steed thereof to plant the most healthful tree of the Cross, and the worship of the Gospel. And this he did by procuring a rebellion among certain people of the Anzichi, and of Anzicana, which dwell upon both the banks of the River Zaire, from the foresaid falls upwards, to the great Lake, and are subject and belonging to the King of Congo. Now this monstrous River being! restrained and kept back by these falls, doth swell there mightily, and spreadeth itself abroad in a very large and deep channel. In the breadth whereof there are many Islands, some small and some great, so that in some of them, there may be maintained about thirty thousand persons. In these Islands and in other places adjoining to the rivers thereabouts, did the people make an insurrection, and renounced their obedience to the king, and slew the Governors that he had sent thither to rule.  
And all this was done by the Devil, of purpose to interrupt the propagation of Christianity, which was now begun, and to hinder it by the means of this rebellion. But the King, by the inspiration of God, provided a good remedy for this mischief, and sent thither his eldest son, 
Mani-Sundi goeth against the rebels.  called Mani-Sundi, within whose Province that country lieth. And yet afterwards the trouble and tumult fell out to be so great & dangerous, that the king must needs go himself in person to pacify these broils: howbeit he resolved to be baptized before his going, and so was enforced to forbear the building of the Church of Stone, and with all speed in steed thereof to erect one of timber, which Church he in his own person with the advice of the Portugal's, 
The K. buildeth in haste a Church of timber.  did accomplish in such manner and sort as it ought to be, and therein did receive the Sacrament of holy Baptism, and was named Don Giovanni, and his wife Donna Eleonora, 
The K. & Q. of Congo Christened.  after the names of the king and Queen of Portugal, and the Church itself entitled and dedicated to S. Saviour. 
The Church of S. Saviour's.   
But here it is to be noted, that all these stirs and rebellion of the people aforesaid, arose by the cunning sleight & instigation of the Devil, & not of the poor souls themselves, that dwell in those Islands of the Great Lake: 
The Latin history of the Indies doth report amiss of this rebellion.  (as it is written in the first book of the histories of the Indies lately set forth in latin). For the Lake is distant from the confines of the City of Congo, about two hundred miles, neither had the inhabitants thereabouts any knowledge of Congo, but only by hearsay in those days, and very little they have of it as yet, at this day. And besides that, the book is faulty in the name of that people that rebelled: for it calleth them Mundiqueti, whereas in deed the Portugal's do rightly call them Anziqueti.  
The same day, wherein the king was baptized, divers other Lords following his example were baptized likewise, 
divers Lords baptized.  having first learned certain principles of the Christian Faith. 
The K. goeth in person against the rebels, and discomfiteth them.  And when all this was done, the king went in person to disperse the turbulent attempts of his adversaries, against whom he found the Prince his son, and the Lord of Batta already fight with a formal Army. But at the arrival of the king, the enemies yielded, and submitted themselves to the obedience which before they performed: and so he returned in triumph to the City of Congo, and the Prince his son with him, who presently was desirous to become a Christian, and was christened by the name of the first Prince of Portugal, 
Mani-Sundi christened and many other with him.  called Alfonso: and with him also were christened many gentlemen and Cavalieroes, and other of his servants, that came with him out of his Province.  
But see the Devil once again, the utter enemy of Christian Religion, how he prosecuted his former intent to hinder Christianity among these people. For when he perceived that he prevailed nothing by these wars, he incensed the mind of the King's second Son, that he would not agree to receive the new Keligion which his Father, 
Mani-Pango resisteth the Gospel.  his Mother, his Brother so many other Lords had embraced, sowing his Cockle & Darnel not only in him, but also in many other Lords that favoured him, who being addicted rather to the sensuality of the flesh, than the purity of the mind, resisted the Gospel, which began now to be preached, especially in that Commandment, wherein it is forbidden that a man should have any more wives but one. A matter that among them was more hard and difficult to be received, than any other Commandment whatsoever, because they were used to take as many wives as they would. And thus the two brethren being divided between themselves, either of them did stiffly maintain his several opinion. The eldest brother Don Alfonso, did with great fervency, defend Christianity, & burned all the Idols that were within his Province. The second brother (called Mani-Pango, because he was Governor of the Country of Pango) did resist it mightily, and had gotten the greatest part of the principal Lords of Pango to be on his side. For there were divers of the new christened Lords, whose Ladies seeing themselves separated, and forlorn of their Husband-lords by force of the Christian Law, did take it as a great injury and scorn done unto them, and blasphemed and cursed this new Religion beyond all measure. These Lords united themselves together with others, 
Mani-Pango and his complices accuse Mani-Sundi to his father.  and began to plot treachery against Don Alfonso, hoping that if they could rid him out of the world, the Christian Faith would utterly cease of itself. And therefore Mani-Pango and his complices gave intelligence to his Father, that the Prince Don Alfonso favoured the Christian faction, only to the end that under the colour of his countenance and favour they might raise an insurrection and rebellion against him, and so drive him out of his kingdom.  
The king gave credit to their informations, 
The K. depriveth Mani-Sundi of his government,  and deprived his son of the Government wherein he was placed: But the providence of God which reserved him for a greater matter, did relieve him by the good mediation and counsel of his friends, who entreated the King his Father, that he would not be moved to anger, before he had examined the answers & reasons of the Prince his son. Wherein the King was especially persuaded by Mani-Sogno, who (as we told you) was before christened, 
Mani-Sogno maketh intercession for his brother.  and called Don Emanuel, and by good hap was in Court at that present. This man (being the ancientest Courtier and Lord of that time, singularly well beloved of the king and all his people) did with sound reasons and dexterity of wit, procure the king to revoke the sentence that was given against the Prince Don Alfonso, so that the King being afterwards thoroughly informed both of the honest mind and actions of his son, perceived that the accusations plotted against him, were false and malicious, 
Mani-Sundi restored.  and thereupon restored him again to his former government, with a special charge, that he should not proceed with such rigour against the Gentiles, for the propagation & exaltation of the christian Religion. But he being full of fervent charity, and godly spirit, ceased not (for all that) to advance the faith of the Gospel, and to put the commandments of God in execution.   

Chap. 3. Don john, the first Christian King being dead, Don Alfonso his son succeeded. Of his wars against his Brother. Of certain miracles that were wrought, and of the Conversion of those people.  
NOw together with the death of the king, 
The funeral of K. john, celebrated by K. Alfonso.  there was also published the succession to the Crown of Don Alfonso, being then present, who in his own person did accompany the corpse of his dead Father to the burial, withal the Lords of the Court, and all the Christian Portugal's, which was solemnized after the manner of Christendom, with service and prayers for the dead, and all this with such funeral pomp, as was never seen before among those people. But they which heretofore were adversaries to this new King, doubting of their own safety if they should remain in the Court, united themselves with Mani-Pango, who was now departed into the Province of his own Government, 
Mani-Pango rebelleth against his brother.  and while his father lived, was wholly employed in fight against the Mozombi, and certain other people that had rebelled against him. When he heard of the death of his Father, and understood that his brother was already placed in the Seat Royal, he took truce with his enemies, and gathering together a great army began to go in arms against his Brother, and lead with him almost all the whole Realm, which in deed favoured him, to the number of two hundred thousand men. King Alfonso awaited his coming at the Royal City, with a very small number, saving that he was directed, advised and assisted by the good ancient Lord Mani-Sogno, who uniting himself unto him in the strength and virtue of the holy Christian Faith, 
The kings power both slender and timorous.  and making a list of all those armed friends, that he had to defend him against so great an enemy, found by computation that they did not amount to the number of ten thousand, among which there were but about one hundred Christians, natural of that Country, besides some few Portugal's, which by chance arrived there at that time.  
All these people were indeed too few for such an encounter, and therefore not very resolute to abide any attempt, but became very doubtful and timorous, by reason of the great power, that Mani-Pango brought with him. But the king trusting confidently in his strong faith, and in the Celestial aid and assistance: comforted and strengthened his soldiers by all the means he could, and so did the good old Lord his uncle, who ceased not, both night and day, with words and deeds to encourage that small number, which they had, to expect and endure the assaults of their adversaries, with all manhood and courage, assuring them, that God would be their help and secure. Thus while they attended the procedings of their enemies, Mani-Pango and his forces set forwards to the besieging of the City, with so great a noise of warlike instruments, and cries, and shoutings, and terrible threatenings, that the poor few, which were in the City, aswell Christians as others, fainted in their hearts, and failed in their courage, and came and presented themselves before the king, saying, that he had not power enough to resist so powerful an enemy, and therefore they thought it better for him to grow to some concord and composition, and to abandon the new Religion, which he had lately begun to profess, to the end he might not fall into the hands of his cruel adversaries. 
The king to his soldiers.  But the king being resolute, and full of religious constancy, reproved their cowardice, and called them dastards, and base people, and willed them, if they had any mind or desire to forsake him, & go to the enemy, that they should so do: As for himself and those few that would follow him, he did not doubt but assuredly trust, though not with the possibility or strength of man, yet with the favour of God, to vanquish and overcome that innumerable multitude. And therefore he would not request them either to join with him, or to put their lives in hazard against his adversaries for his sake, but only they might rest themselves and expect the issue that should follow thereon.  
But they for all this speech became never a whit the more courageous, 
The kings Soldiers depart from him.  but rather waxed more timorous, & were utterly determined to forsake the king, and to save themselves. Now they were scarce out of the City, and on their way homewards, when by great good fortune, they met with the good old Lord Mani-Sogno, who with some few of his followers had been abroad to survey the enemy's Camp, 
Mani-Sogno meeteth with them.  and to make provision for such things as were necessary in such an action: To him they declared all that they had before declared to the King, That they thought it to be a point of express madness, to put their lives and goods in danger with so few people against an infinite multitude, and that without all doubt it were a safer way to compound with the enemy, and so save themselves. The good Lord with great piety and Christian valour answered them, that they should not so quickly fall into despair; but (as the king had told them before) they should look upon jesus Christ the Saviour of the world, whose faith and religion they had so lately and with so great zeal gained and purchased: who also most assuredly and undoubtedly would secure and defend those that were his. And so entreated them, that they would not like rash headed people change their minds from that holy doctrine, which they had with such fervency of late received, adding moreover, that they had not to fight with a strange nation, nor with a people that came from far Countries, but with their own kinsmen and countrymen, so that they might always have opportunity (if need so require) to yield themselves, and in all friendship and kindness to be embraced. Behold I pray you (saith Mani-Sogno) mine age now arrived to a hundred years, and yet I bear arms for the zeal and defence of the Religion that I have entered, and for the homage and honour that I own to my king. And you that are in the flower of your years, do you show yourselves to be so base and fearful, and unfaithful to your own natural king? If algates you be not minded to fight yourselves, yet encourage your vassals and subjects, and do not dismay them. Let us expect the first encounter of the enemy, and thereupon we shall not want fit occasion to take some other course and provide for our safety.  
With these comfortable words, 
The Fugitives return and ask the King forgiveness.  the Lords recovered their spirits that were quailed, and returned back with him to seek the king, who was in the Church at his prayers, beseeching God to send him help and secure. They waited for him until he came forth, and then kneeled down upon their knees before him, requesting pardon for their fault and want of duty, which they had showed unto him being their Prince, in that they would have forsaken him when he was in this extreme danger, and promising that they would put on a new and constant courage for the defence of him, and of the law and religion which they had received, and that they would fight for the same even until death. 
The K. giveth thanks to God.  But the king who perceived well that this comfort and help came from God himself, first gave him hearty thanks secretly from the bottom of his heart, and vowed that he would sacrifice himself for the maintenance of his faith and Gospel. And then with a cheerful countenance he said. I do believe (Lord) that thy greatness is infinite, and that thou canst do all things, and canst make of little much, and of much little, whensoever it pleaseth thee. Neither do I any thing doubt, but that thou wilt yield aid to this my weakness, and assist the same with thine invincible force, so that through thy gracious favour, with these few and weak persons I shall become the conqueror not only of this army, but also of a far greater, if it should come against me. And I promise thee (O my God) besides that which I have already spoken, that I will all the days of my life promote and exalt thy true faith, thy holy name, and thy most wholesome doctrine. 
The King erecteth a Cross of a great length.  In testimony and memory of which his confession, he did presently cause a Cross to be planted, & erected in the midst of the market place right against the Church, which his father had builded: This Cross was of a wonderful length, for it was fourscore span long, and the Cross-bar in proportion answerable thereunto. Now the eternal God, who knew the faith from whence this vow of the good king did proceed, vouchsafed to comfort him with a celestial vision, which was a very clear and admirable light. At the shining whereof, 
A vision appeared to him  he cast himself upon his knees, and wept, and lifted up his hands and eyes to heaven, but spoke not a word, for that he was overcome with tears, and sighs, and wholly ravished in spirit. But that which he himself saw, was seen of no body else, neither would he ever publish the same to any man. All those that were in his company did even as he did, and for a while lost the sight of their eyes: and by reason of that miraculous light remained in a trance. 
The Arms of the King of Congo.  At the last every man lifted up his eyes, and perceived that there were imprinted on him five sword, very bright and clear, which for the space almost of an hour continued unmovable (as it were) in a circle, but all they could neither understand nor expound what was the meaning thereof. The five sword the King took for his arms, as is to be seen in his Signet Royal, which hath been used ever since that time, yea even by the King that now liveth and reigneth. The Cross also, that was thus planted by vow, is to be seen in the same place, wherein it was erected, at the front of the Church, which Church was called Saint Crosses, of the Cross there planted, and of the miracle that there appeared. This Cross the last King, that dead is, Don Alvaro father to the King that now is, renewed and made another of the same bigness that the first was of, in remembrance of such a miracle. For the old Cross was in time decayed and consumed, and quite fallen down.  
The aforesaid vision did greatly confirm the minds of the Citizens, which before were quailed, and did wonderfully appall and fully terrify the enemies, when they understood the news thereof. 
The proud message of Mani-Pango to the King.  Notwithstanding Mani-Pango sent unto the King, & signified unto him and to all the rest that were with him, that if they did not incontinently yield themselves, and deliver the City unto him, and create and swear him for their King, and withal abandon and relinquish their new Christian Religion, he would put them all to the edge of the sword: but if they would so do, he would freely pardon them. Hereunto the Lords that stood on the kings part answered, 
The kings answer.  that they were most ready to die in defence of their Prince, and of the Christian Faith. But in particular the King sent him this message, that he nothing feared his terrible threats, but rather as his kind brother was very sorry, even from his heart, to see that he walked in darkness, and strayed out of the way of light: that the kingdom did by law belong unto him, and was not fraudulently usurped by him: And that the Religion, which he had received, was assuredly delivered him from God, who no doubt would protect and maintain him therein: And withal besought him, that he would estrange himself from his false belief and worshipping of the Devil, wherein he had been nourished and brought up, and that he would be baptised, for so he should become the child of God, and merit the Glory Celestial. 
The King rewardeth his followers.  Then the King sent to fetch his jewels and other rich ornaments of household, which he had at home, and the better to encourage these Lords, that took his part, he most graciously distributed them amongst them all: wherewith they remained very greatly satisfied, and bound themselves to prosecute his enterprise and to follow his ensign with a most ardent courage.  
This being done, the very same night, the one half almost of the base people that were in arms, 
Certain timorous fugitives run to the Camp of Mani-Pango.  being surprised with a very great fear did secretly fly into the Camp of Pango, and having thus revolted, gave Mani-Pango to understand, that the King and all the rest of his retinue were utterly dismayed and discouraged, that every man was devising with himself how he might escape, & that they had none other mean to save themselves but only by taking the lane that leadeth down to the River, which (as we have told you) was distant from the City about the space of a mile. At the end of which lane, 
A stratagem of Mani-Pango.  between the River and the hill, there was a little Moor about two foot deep on the right hand, and on the left hand were the mountains, and the garrisons of Pango, that had besieged & beset the hill, so that there was none other issue for them to escape, but only by passing over the Moor, which was in length as far as the shot of an Harquebus could reach, and as much in breadth, and then to come to the River. Mani-Pango believing all this, that they had related unto him, sent presently to stop that passage, with planting sharp stakes in the bottom of the Moor, which were covered with water, to the end that if his enemies should fly in the dark of the night because they would not be seen, they should be all staked and taken therein. All that night he with all his army remained in great joy, and awaited the fresh morning, that he might give the assault upon the City, bethinking himself in the mean while, what course might be most easy and convenient for him to attempt the same.  
But Don Alfonso on the other side, having confessed himself, 
Mani-Pango assaulteth the City.  and consulted with all the most faithful and loyal friends that he had, expected his enemy, who assuring himself of the victory, and having now granted all the citizens goods, and all the states and governements of the kingdom, to his great Lords about him, very early in the morning with a furious violence gave assault to the City, on that side which is towards the North, where the great and wide plain restraining itself into a narrow strait, entereth (as it were) into a round circle, naturally compassed about with certain hills, and then maketh a large way, as broad as a man may shoot with a Gun, until you come to the site or place where the City standeth, which is a little plain of two mile's compass, wherein (as it hath been told you) the City and the Church, and the lords houses and the king's court are situate. In this place did Don Alfonso, with those few that he had with him, settle himself against the Pagans, 
Mani-Pango discomfited without any fight.  and against his Enemy Brother, who before he could confront the King, was utterly discomfited, dispersed and put to flight. Whereupon the king perceiving that he was overthrown and driven to run away, was wonderfully amazed, not knowing himself how this matter came to pass, seeing that he had not joined battle, nor fought with his enemies, and therefore must needs think, that it so fell out by some hidden and secret means to him unknown. Notwithstanding the day following Mani-Pango returned to the assault in the same place, 
Mani-Pango the second time discomfited in like manner.  but he was in the same manner once again discomfited and constrained to fly: whereby he knew assuredly that this his loss and overthrow was not occasioned by the valour of his enemies, but only by some miracle. So that the people of the City mocking and scorning those Idolaters, and taking stomach unto them, for these two victories thus happened, began now to make no reckoning of them, and would with all violence have run upon them. To whom their adversaries made this answer, Tush you are not the men that have thus vanquished us, but it was a certain fair Lady all in white, which with her admirable brightness had blindeded us, and a Knight riding upon a white palfrey, that had a red Cross upon his breast: and he it was that fought against us, and turned us to flight. Which when the King understood, he sent to tell his brother, that of those two, the one was a Virgin, the Mother of Christ, whose faith he had embraced: and the other was S. james, who both were sent from God to secure and relieve him, and that if he also would become a Christian, they would likewise show great grace and favour unto him. 
Mani-Pango assaulteth the Cittieon both sides at once.  But Mani-Pango would not accept of this message, but all the night following did put himself in a readiness to besiege the City upon both sides at once, the one with one part of his Army at the strait above mentioned, and the other with another part of his people, himself in his own person compassing about by the lane that ascendeth from the river, and so in a place utterly unprovided of either watch or ward, he thought to attempt the victory. Those that were above at the strait did first join battle, and were quite discomfited and overthrown: and Pango himself, hoping to have thrust forward on the other side, while his enemies were wholly occupied in defending themselves at the strait, found himself greatly deceived: for his people were already put to flight by those of the City▪ who perceiving the great noise, that Pango and his troops made in ascending the hill on the other side, ran with all speed to meet with that danger, and driving him and all his people back again, put them in disarray, and then so vexed and molested them with such a fury of darts and other weapons, which they threw among them, that Pango being overcome with fear and danger ran away, 
The stratagem of Mani-Pango turneth to his own destruction.  and fell into the snares and nets which he himself had laid for the Christians. For lighting among the foresaid stakes, he was with one of them thrust into the body, and so being surprised with an evil death, he finished his life, as it were in a rage. For you must understand that the sharp ends of the said stakes were envenomed with a certain poison, 
The death of Mani-Pango.  which taking hold of the blood, and entering somewhat into the flesh, would kill without all cure or remedy.  
By this victory and death of his brother did the king remain in security and liberty, wiihout all contradiction, and then thinking with himself, that his people and subjects were in a great doubt and quandary, and durst not for fear present themselves before him, by reason of the error that they had committed against him, like a good Prince he sent to signify unto them, that he would pardon their former faults, and receive them into his grace and favour. Whereupon they came and yielded themselves unto him with all obedience, 
The Rebels yield to the king's mercy.  all saving the Captain General, whose name was Mani-Bunda. For he feared greatly to appear before the king, for very shame of his disloyalty and villainy: but yet at the last he obtained his pardon, with a certain penance enjoined him, that he should go and serve in the building of the Church: whereupon he became afterwards so humble and devout a Christian: that when the King would have eased him of that travel, he would not by any means give over his labour, until such time as all the Church was wholly built and finished.  
The Kingdom being thus pacified, and all things well established, the king Don Alfonso took order, that they should presently go in hand with the fabric of the principal Church, 
The building of the Church called Saint Crosses.  called S. Crosses, which was so named of the Cross that was there planted (as we told you before) and also because upon the feast day of the Holy Cross the first stone was laid in the foundation thereof. Moreover he commanded that the men should bring stones, and the women should fetch sand from the River, for the furthering of this work. The king would needs be the first Porter himself, and upon his own shoulders brought the first basket of stones, which he cast into the foundation, and the Queen her basket of sand likewise, thereby giving an example to the Lords and the Ladies of the Court to do the like, and to encourage and hearten the people in so holy an action. And so this fabric being furthered by so good workmasters and workmen, in a very short time was fully finished, and therein were celebrated Masses, and other divine service, with great solemnity, besides a number of Lords and others that were there baptized and christened: so that the multitude of such as came to be partakers of the Holy Baptism abounded so greatly, that there were not Priests enough to execute that office.  
After this the king dispatched away the Portugal Ambassador, 
K. Alfonso dispatcheth the Portugal Ambassador, & mother of his own into Portugal▪  who till this time had remained at the Court, by reason of these troubles: and with him he sent also another Ambassador of his own, called Don Roderigo, and diverse others that were of kin both to himself and to his Ambassador, to the end that they should learn both the doctrine of the Christians in Portugal, and also their language, and further declare unto the King all these accidents that had happened.  
Moreover he caused the Lords of all his provinces to be assembled together in a place appointed for that purpose, 
The K. commandeth all Idols to be brought in, & all other things that are contrary to Christian Religion.  and there publicly signified unto them, that whosoever had any Idols, or any thing else that was contrary to the Christian Religion, he should bring them forth and deliver them over to the lieutenants of the Country: Otherwise whosoever did not so, should be burned themselves without remission or pardon. Which commandment was incontinently put in execution. And a wonderful thing it is to be noted, that within less than one month, all the Idols, and Witcheries and Characters, which they worshipped and accounted for Gods, were sent and brought unto the Court. And certainly the number of these toys was infinite: for every man adored and reverenced the thing that best liked him, without any order, or measure, or reason at all, so that there was among them a huge multitude of devils, in sundry strange and terrible shapes. Many there were, that carried a devotion to Dragons with wings, which they nourished and fed in their own private houses, giving unto them for their food the best and most costly viands that they had. Others kept Serpents of horrible figures: Some worshipped the greatest Goats, they could get, some Tigers, and other most monstrous Creatures, yea the more uncouth & deformed the beasts were, the more they were honoured. Some held in veneration certain unclean fowls and nightbirds, as Backs, Owls and Screech-owls, and such like. To be brief, they did choose for their Gods divers Snakes, and Adders, and Beasts, and Birds, and Herbs, and Trees, and sundry Characters of wood and of stone, & the figures of all these things above rehearsed, aswell painted in colours, as graven in wood and in stone, and in such other stuff. Neither did they only content themselves with worshipping the said creatures when they were quick and alive, but also the very skins of them when they were dead, being stuffed with straw.  
The act of this their adoration was performed in divers sorts, 
Their devout worshipping of Idols.  all wholly addressed and directed to express their humility, as by kneeling on their knees, by casting themselves groveling upon the earth, by defiling their faces with dust, by making their prayers unto their Idols in words and in actions, and by offering unto them the best part of the substance which they had in their possession. 
Witches  They had moreover their Witches, which made the foolish people to believe, that their Idols could speak: and so deceived them: and if any man being in sickness or infirmity would recommend himself unto them, and afterwards that man recovered his health, the Witches would persuade him that the Idol had been angry with him, but now was appeased and had healed him. And this is in part that which was used among the Moci-Conghi concerning their Religion, before they had received the Water of Holy Baptism, and the knowledge of the living God.  
Now the King having gathered together all these abominable Images, 
The K. burned all the Idols.  and put them into divers houses within the City, and commanded, that to the same place, where a little before he had fought and vanquished his brother's Army, every man should bring a burden of wood, which grew to be a great heap, & when they had cast into it all the said Idols, & pictures, and whatsoever else the people afore that time held for a God, he caused fire to be set unto them, and so utterly consumed them. When he had thus done, he assembled all his people together, and in steed of their Idols which before they had in reverence, he gave them Crucifixes and Images of Saints, which the Portugal's had brought with them, and enjoined every Lord, that every one in the City of his own Government and Regiment should build a Church, 
The king commandeth every Lord to build a Church in the City of his own government.  and set up Crosses, as he had already showed unto them by his own example. And then he told them and the rest of his people, that he had dispatched an Ambassador into Portugal to fetch Priests, that should teach them Religion, and administer the most holy and wholesome Sacraments to every one of them, and bring with them divers Images of Christ, of the Virgin Mother, and of other Saints to distribute among them. In the mean while he willed them to be of good comfort, and to remain constant in the faith. But they had so lively imprinted the same in their hearts, that they never more remembered their former belief in false and lying Idols.  
He ordained moreover, that there should be three Churches builded. 
The K. buildeth 3. Churches One to Saint Saviour.  One in reverence of our Saviour, to give him thanks for the victory which he had granted unto him, wherein the Kings of Congo do lie buried, and whereof the City Royal took the name, (for as it was told you before, it is called S. saviours.) The second Church was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, 
The second to our Lady of Help.  the Mother of God, called Our Lady of Help, in memory of the succour which he had against his enemies: And the third was consecrated to S. james: 
The third to S. james▪  in honour and remembrance of the miracle, which that Saint had wrought by sighting in the favour of the Christians, & showing himself on horseback in the heat of the battle.  
Not long after this, 
The ships return from Portugal with Friars, & Priests.  the ships arrived from Portugal, with many men that were skifull in the holy scriptures, and divers religious Friars of the orders of S. Francis, and of Saint Dominike, and of Saint Austin, with sundry other Priests, who with great charity and fervency of spirit, sowed and dispersed the Catholic Faith over all the Country: which was presently embraced by all the people of the kingdom, who held the said Priests in so high reverence, that they worshipped them like saints, by kneeling unto them, and kissing their hands, and receiving their blessing, as often as they met them in the streets. These Priests being arrived into their several Provinces, did instruct the people in the faith of Christ, and taking unto them certain of the naturals of the Country, they taught them the true heavenly doctrine, whereby they might the better declare the same to their own Countrymen in their own proper language. So that in process of time the Catholic Faith was rooted over all those Countries in such sort, as it persevereth and continueth there even till this day, although it hath endured some small hindrance, as in convenient place we shall show unto you.   

Chap. 4. The death of the King Don Alfonso, and the succession of Don Piedro. How the Island of Saint Thomas was first inhabited, and of the Bishop that was sent thither. Other great accidents that happened by occasion of Religion. The death of two Kings by the conspiracy of the Portugal's & the Lords of Congo. How the kings lineage was quite extinguished. The banishment of the Portugal's.  
WHile these matters were thus in working for the service of God, & that Christianity was now begun and increased with so happy success, 
King Alfonso dieth.  it pleased God to call away to himself the King Don Alfonso, who at the time of his death yielded great signs, which beautified and exalted his former life, For he died in great faith, declaring that his hour was now come, and discoursed of the Christian Religion with so great confidence and charity, as it evidently appeared that the Cross and Passion, & the true belief in our Saviour jesus Christ was imprinted in the root of his heart. 
Don Piedro succeed him.  To Don Piedro, his son & successor he did especially & principally recommend the Christian doctrine, which in deed following the example of his father, he did maintain and uphold accordingly.  
In his time, there began to sail into these quarters a great number of vessels, 
The Isle of S. Thomas beginneth to be inhabited.  and the Island of S. Thomas was inhabited with Portugal's, by the kings commandment. For before those days it was all waste and desert within land, and inhabited only upon the shore by a few sailors that came from the countries adjoining. But when this Island in process of time was well peopled with Portugal's, 
The King of Portugal sendeth one to be Bishop of the Isle of S. Thomas, and of Congo.  and other nations that came thither by licence of the King, and became to be of great traffic, and was tilled and sowed, the king sent thither a Bishop, to govern the Christians that were in that Island, and those also that were in Congo: which the said Bishop did accomplish presently upon his arrival, and afterwards in Congo, where he took possession of his Pastoral charge. When he was come into the kingdom of Congo, it was a thing incredible to see, 
The entertainment of the Bishop in Congo.  with how great joy he was entertained by the King and all his people. For from the sea side even unto the City, being the space of a hundred and fifty miles, he caused the streets to be made smooth and trim, and to be covered all over with Mats, commanding the people, that for a certain space severally appointed unto them, they should prepare the ways in such sort, that the Bishop should not set his foot upon any part of the ground which was not adorned. But it was a far greater wonder, to behold all the country thereabouts, and all the trees, and all the places that were higher than the rest, swarming with men and women that ran forth to see the Bishop, as a man that was holy and sent from God, offering unto him, some of them lambs, some kids, some chickens, some Partridges, some venison, and some fish, and other kinds of victuals in such abundance, that he knew not what to do withal, but left it behind him; whereby he might well know the great zeal and obedience of these new Christians. And above all other things it is to be noted for a memorable matter, that the Bishop going on his way, there met him an innumerable multitude of men, & women, and girls, and boys, and persons of fourscore years of age, and above, that crossed him in the streets, and with singular tokens of true belief required the water of Holy Baptism at his hands: neither would they suffer him to pass until he had given it them: so that to satisfy their desires, he was greatly stayed in his voyage, and was feign to carry water with him in certain vessels, and salt, and other provision necessary for that action.  
But I will leave to report unto you all the welcome and entertainment, that was made unto him in every place where he came, and the lively joy that generally and particularly was showed for the coming of this Bishop. And now I will tell you, that he arrived at the City of Saint saviours, where he was met by the Priests, and by the king, and by all the Court, and so in procession entered into the Church, & after due thanks given to God, he was conducted to his lodging that was assigned unto him by the king. 
The Bishop foundeth the Cathedral Church of S. Crosses.  And then presently he began to reform & reduce to good order, the Church itself, and the Friars, and Priests that dwell therein: ordaining the said Church to be the Cathedral Church of Saint Crosses, which at that time had belonging unto it twenty and eight Cannons, with their Chaplains, and a Master of the Chapel, with Singers, and Organs, and Bells, and all other furniture meet to execute divine service. But this Bishop, who laboured in the Lord's Vineyard, sometimes in Congo, and sometimes in the Isle of Saint Thomas, going and coming continually by ship, the space of twenty days, and still leaving behind him his Vicars in the place where he himself was absent, 
The Bishop dieth.  at the last died, & was buried in the Island of S. Thomas.  
After this Bishop succeeded another Bishop in Congo, being a Negro, and descended of the blood Royal, who before had been sent by King Alfonso first into Portugal, and afterwards to Rome, where he learned the Latin tongue, and the Christian Religion, but being returned into Portugal, and landed out of his ship, 
The second B. dieth.  to go and enter upon his Bishopric of S. saviours, he died by the way: whereupon the kingdom remained without a Pastor for the space of divers years. Don Piedro also the King aforesaid died likewise without children, 
The K. Don Piedro dieth. Don Francisco succeed & dieth.  and there succeeded him his brother, called Don Francisco, who in like manner lasted but a while: and then was created the fift King, named Don Diego, 
Don Diego the fift King.  who was next of all the race Royal: A man of haughty courage, and magnifical, and witty, of a very good disposition, wise in counsel, and above all other qualities, a maintainer of Christian Faith: and in brief so great a warrior he was, that in few years he conquered all the countries adjoining. He loved the Portugeses very much, so that he forsook the usual garments of his own natural country, & attired himself after the Portugal fashion. He was very sumptuous aswell in his apparel, 
The K. Diego very sumptuous.  as also in the ornaments and furniture of his palace: he was beside very courteous and liberal, and would bestow largely both upon his own subjects and also upon the Portugal's. With great cost would he provide and buy such stuff as pleased him, and would often say, that Rare things should not be in the hands of any but only of Kings. He used to wear one suit of apparel but once or twice and then he would give it away to his followers. Whereupon the Portugal's perceiving that he did so greatly esteem cloth of gold and Arras, & such other costly household stuff, they brought great store thereof out of Portugal, so that at that time, Arras-hanging, and cloth of gold, and of silk, and such like Lordly furniture began to be of great estimation in that kingdom.  
In the time of this King, there was a third Bishop of Saint Thomas, and Congo, by nation a Portugal, who with the usual ceremonies was entertained both by the way, 
The third B. of S. Thomas, & of Congo.  and also in the Court at Saint saviours. And now the Devil, the common enemy of Christian Religion, being much grieved with the happy success and promoting of the Catholic Faith, began to sow his Darnell of division between the Friars and Priests, 
Dissension between the Friars and Priests, & the new Bishop.  and their new Bishop: which sprung up and arose from the long liberty, wherein they had now lived so many years without a Pastor, so that every man esteemed himself not only to be as good as the Bishop, but also to be a far better man than he was: and therefore would yield no obedience to their Prelate, in such sort that there was raised among them so great a discord & dissension, as it wrought a grievous scandal and wicked example among the people. But the king like a good Catholic, and a faithful, did always maintain the Bishop's part, and to cut of these troubles and stirs he sent some of these Priests to prison into Portugal, and others into the Isle of Saint Thomas, and some others went away with all their substance of their own accord: and by these means, the doctrine of these ministers, in steed of increasing, did greatly diminish through their own default,  
Neither was our common adversaries herewithal contented, but would needs proceed further by setting discord between Kings and subjects. 
After the death of K. Diego, three Princes at once challenge the Kingdom, and all three slain.  For after the death of this King, there started up three Princes at once to challenge the succession. The first was the kings son, whom few of them favoured, because they desired to have another, so that he was slain incontinently. The two other that remained were of the blood Royal: One of them was created King by his favourites and followers, with the good liking of the greater part of the people, but utterly against the minds of the Portugal's and certain of the Lords, who aimed and endeavoured to set up the other. Insomuch as the foresaid Lords, together with the Portugal's, went into the Church to kill the King elected: making this reckoning with themselves, that if they slew him, the other must of necessity be made King. But at that very self same time, those of the contrary faction had slain the King that was already made by the Portugal's, persuading themselves assuredly, that he being dead there would be no difficulty for them to obtain the state for their King, because there was none other least, that by law could challenge the Sceptre Royal. And thus in an hour and in two several places were these two Kings murdered at once.  
In these conspiracies and slaughters, when the people saw, 
The Portugal's slain & dispersed.  that there were no lawful persons left to enjoy the Royal Crown, they laid all the blame upon the Portugeses, who were the causers of all these mischiefs: and thereupon they turned themselves against them, and slew as many of them as they could find: Only they spared the Priests, and would not touch them, nor any other that dwelled in other places.  
Seeing therefore (as before is said) that there was none of the blood Royal left to be placed in the Government, 
Don Henrico created king.  they made choice of one Don Henrico, Brother to Don Diego the King deceased. And this Henrico, going to war against the Anzichi, left behind him in his steed for Governor, under the title of King, one Don Alvaro, a young man of twenty and five years of age, son to his wife by another husband. 
K. Henrico dieth, & Don Alvaro succeed: and so the stock of of the ancient Kings of Congo ceased.  But Don-Henrico died shortly after the war was ended, and thereupon the said Don Alvaro was with the common consent of them all, elected King of Congo, and generally obeyed of every man. And thus failed the Royal Stock of the ancient Kings of Congo, in the person of Don Henrico.  
But Don Alvaro was a man of good judgement and governenent, and of a mild disposition, so that he did presently appease all these tumults in his kingdom, & caused all the Portugeses that by the last wars were dispersed over all the countries thereabouts, 
K. Alvaro restoreth the Portugeses.  to be gathered together, aswell religious persons as lay men, & by their means he was much better confirmed in the Catholic Faith then he was before. Moreover he used them very courteously, and cleared them of all faults that were laid to their charge, declaring unto them by gentle discourses that they had not been the occasion of the former troubles, as every man would confess and acknowledge: and to that effect he determined with himself to write a large information touching all these accidents to the King of Portugal, and to the Bishop of S. Thomas, which he did accordingly, and dispatched certain Messengers unto them with his letters. When the Bishop of S. Thomas understood these news, he was very glad thereof, 
The B. of S. Thomas returneth into Congo.  and whereas before he durst not adventure to go into the Kingdom of Congo in the heat of all those troubles, he did now presently take ship, and sailed thither, where he employed himself wholly with all his authority to pacify the former dissensions, and to set down order for all such matters as concerned the worship of God, and the office of his Priests. And a while after he had so done, he returned to his habitation in the Isle of Saint Thomas, 
The B. of S. Thomas dieth.  where by means of sickness he finished his days. And this was the third time, that those parts remained without a Bishop.  
Now it came to pass, 
K. Alvaro liveth licentiously.  that for want of Bishops, the King and the Lords, and the people likewise, began to wax cold in the Christian Religion, every man addicting himself licentiously to the liberty of the flesh, and especially the King, who was induced thereunto by divers young men of his own age, that did familiarly converse with him. 
Francisco Bulla Matare an ill companion & counsellor to the King.  Among whom there was one principal man, that was both a Lord, and his kinsman, called Don Francisco Bullamatare, that is to say, Catch-stone. This man, because he was a great Lord, and wholly estranged from all instructions of Christianity, walked inordinately after his own pleasure, and did not stick to defend openly, That it was a very vain thing to keep but one wife, and therefore it were better to return to their former ancient custom. And so by his means did the Devil open a gate to the overthrow and destruction of the Church of Christ in that kingdom, which until that time with so great pain and travail had been there established. But afterwards the man did so wander and stray out of the way of truth, that he fell from one sin to another, and in the end quite relinquished and abandoned all true Religion. 
Bullamatare dieth.  Yet at the last the said Francisco died, and was solemnly buried like a noble Lord, in the Churcb of Saint Crosses: although he was notoriously suspected and spotted for his false Religion. But it fell out (and a marvelous case it is, to confirm the righteous in their good belief, & to terrify the wicked) that in the night time certain Spirits of the Devil uncovered a part of the roof of S. Crosses Church, where he was interred, and with a great and horrible noise, which was heard all over the City, they drew him out of his Tomb, and carried him away. And in the morning the Church doors were found shut, the roof broken, and the grave without the body of the man. By this extraordinary sign the King was at the first advertised of the great fault that he had committed, and so were the rest also that followed him in his course: but notwithstanding, because there was no Bishop in that kingdom to give him good counsel, and the King but a young man and unmarried, although he remained somewhat sound in the Christian Faith, yet he continued still in the licentiousness of the flesh, until such time as God had chastised him with another severe discipline, as you shall hereafter understand.   

Chap. 5. The incursions of the people called Giachas in the kingdom of Congo. Their conditions and weapons. And the taking of the Royal City.  
FOr not long after, 
What people the Giachas are: Their conditions, & weapons.  there came to rob and spoil the Kingdom of Congo, certain nations, that live after the manner of the Arabians, and of the ancient Nomades, and are called Giachas. Their habitation or dwelling is about the first Lake of the River Nilus, in a province of the Empire of Moenemugi. A cruel people they are and a murderous, of a great stature, and horrible countenance, fed with man's flesh, fierce in battle, and valorous in courage. Their weapons are Pavises or targets, Darts and Daggers: otherwise they go all naked: In their fashions and daily course of living they are very savage and wild: They have no King to govern them, and they lead their life in the forest under cabins and cottages like shepherds.  
This people went wandering up and down, destroying, and putting to fire and sword, and robbing and spoiling all the countries that they passed through, till they came to the Realm of Congo, 
The Giachas spoil the province of Batta  which they entered on that side where the Province of Batta lieth. Those that first came forth to make resistance against them, they overthrew, and then addressed themselves towards the City of Congo, 
The Giachas come to the Royal City of Congo.  where the King remained at that time in great perplexity, for this victory that his enemies had gotten in the Country of Batta: yet some comfort he took to himself, and went out against his adversaries with such soldiers as he had, & in the same place, where in times past Mani-Pango fought with the King Don Alfonso, he joined battle with them. In which encounter the King being half discomfited, retired into the City, wherein when he perceived that he could not remain in good safety, being utterly forsaken of the grace of God by reason of his sins, and not having that confidence in him, that Don Alfonso had, he thought good to leave it for a pray to his adversaries, and to betake himself io an Island within the River Zaire, called Isola del Cavallo, that is to say, 
K. Alvaro flieth into the Isle of Horses.  the Isle of Horse, where he continued with certain Portugal Priests, and other principal Lords of his Kingdom. 
The Giachas surprise the City, and rule over all the kingdom.  And thus were the Giachis become Lords and masters of the City Royal, and of the whole Realm. For the natural inhabitants fled away, and saved themselves in the mountains, & desert places: but the enemies burned and wasted, City, and Churches, & all, and spared no man's life, so that having divided themselves into several armies, they ruled and governed sometimes in one Province, and sometimes in another over all the kingdom.  
With this persecution did God generally afflict and chastise all the inhabitants of the said Kingdom of Congo, the King himself, the Lords, the people, the Portugal's, and their Clergy, every one in their degree, and calling. As for the poor people, they went wandering like vagabonds over all the Country, 
The King & those that followed him, plagued with an extreme famine.  and perished for hunger and want of necessaries: And for the King with those that followed him, and had saved themselves in the Island, they also because the Isle was very little, and the multitude great, were oppressed with so terrible a scarcity of victuals, that the most part of them died by famine and pestilence. For this dearth so increased, and meat arose to so excessive a rate, that for a very small pittance (God wots) they were feign to give the price of a slave, whom they were wont to sell for ten Crowns at the least. So that the Father was of necessity constrained to sell his own son, and the brother, his brother, and so every man to provide his victuals by all manner of wickedness. The persons that were sold for the satisfying of other men's hunger, were bought by the Portugal Merchants, that came from S. Thomas with their ships laden with victuals. Those that sold them, said they were slaves, and those that were sold, justified and confirmed the same, because they were desirous to be rid of their greedy torment. 
Many of the blood Royal sold for slaves to the Portugal's.  And by this occasion there was no small quantity of slaves, that were borne in Congo, sold upon this necessity, and sent to the Isle of S. Thomas, & to Portugal, among whom there were some of the blood Royal, and some others, principal Lords.  
By this affliction, the King did manifestly learn & know, that all these great miseries and adversities abounded for his misdeeds: and although he was not much punished with hunger, 
King Alvaro falleth into a Dropsy.  because he was a King, yet he did not escape the cruel infirmity of the Dropsy, that made his legs to swell exceedingly, which disease was engendered partly by the air, and very ill diet, and partly by the moistness of the Island, and so it accompanied him even until his death. But in the mean while, being stricken to the heart with these misfortunes and calamities, he converted and turned to God, requiring pardon for his offences, and doing penance for his sins: and then was counseled and advised by the Portugal's that he should send to request succours of the King of Portugal, 
K. Alvaro sendeth to the K. of Portugal for succour.  by certain Ambassadors, that might recount unto him all the mischiefs which had lighted upon him. This Embassage was accordingly performed, at the same time that the K. Don Sebastiano began his reign, 
Don Sebastian the King of Portugal sendeth secure unto him.  who with great speed and kindness sent him succours by a Captain, called Francisco di Govea, a man well exercised in divers wars, both in India, and also in Africa, who lead with him six hundred Soldiers, and many Gentlemen Adventurers, that did accompany him.   

Chap. 6. The King of Portugal sendeth aid, and an Ambassador to the King of Congo. The knowledge of the metal mines, which abound in Congo, is denied the King of Portugal. At the same time the King of Congo dispatcheth Ambassadors to the King of Spain, to request Priests of him, & what befell unto them. He sendeth divers proofs of the Metals. The vow of Odoardo Lopes.  
THis Captain Francisco di Govea, 
Francisco di Govea restoreth the King, and driveth the Giachas out of Congo.  carried with him a commandment from his King, that the Island of Saint Thomas should provide him ships, and victuals, and whatsoever else was requisite for this enterprise. And with this provision he arrived at the last in the Isle of Horse, where the King of Congo was resident. In whose company the Portugal's departing from thence, & gathering together all the men of war in that Country, with all speed possible, put themselves onwardly against their adversaries, and fought with them sundry times in plain battle, so that at the end of one year and a half, they restored the King into his former estate. Which victory they achieved in deed by the noise and force of their Harquebuses (for the Giachis are exceedingly afraid of that weapon) rather then by the valour and strength of their soldiers. And so they were in spite of their teeth driven out of the Realm of Congo, & but few of them there were that returned home again to see their friends. 
Francisco di Govea, after four years returneth into Portugal with letters for more Priests.  But the Portugal Captain stayed there for the space of four years to settle the King in his Kingdom, and then returned into Portugal with letters of request to his King, that he would send over some more Priests to uphold and maintain the Christian Religion. Howbeit a number of Portugal's, that came by ship with him, remained behind him in these Countries, and are at this day become very rich and wealthy men. And the King being thus established in his former degree, and the Kingdom all in quiet and peace, became a very good Christian, and married the Lady Catarina, 
The K. becometh a good Christian, & marrieth.  who is yet alive: by whom he had four daughters, and by certain Maidservants which he kept, two sons and one daughter. And because in those regions the women do not succeed: there remained as heir of his kingdom his elder son, called also Don Alvaro, who liveth at this day.  
During the time, 
The K. of Portugal sendeth to make search in Congo for metal Mines.  that the foresaid Captain stayed in Congo, the King of Portugal Don Sebastiano understanding, that there were in that Kingdom divers Caves and Mines of Silver, of Gold, & other Metals, sent thither two persons that were cunning and skilful in that Art, (for therein they had served the Castilians in the West) to make search for them, and to draw some profit thereof. But the King of Congo was by a certain Portugal, 
Francisco Barbuto dissuadeth the King from making the search, & avoideth it by policy.  called Francisco Barbuto, that was his Confessor and great familiar, persuaded to the contrary, that he should not in any case suffer those Mines to be discovered: signifying unto him, that thereby peradventure the free enjoying and possession of his Kingdom might by little and little be taken quite from him, and therefore advised him that he would cause these skilful Masters to be led and guided by some other ways, where he knew there were no Metal-mines to be found, which he did accordingly. But assuredly, it grew afterwards to a great mischief, that the King would not suffer this Art of digging and melting of metals, 
The inconvenience of not suffering the metal mine's to be digged & melted.  so greatly esteemed over all Europe, to be exercised in Congo. For thereupon began the great trade and traffic in that Country to cease, and the Portugal Merchants did not greatly care for venturing thither, or dwelling there any more: and so consequently very few Priests resorted among them. So that aswell upon these occasions, as also for other such causes afore rehearsed, the Christian Religion waxed so cold in Congo, that it wanted very little of being utterly extinguished. But the King Don Alvaro (as it hath been told you) after all these mighty afflictions laid upon him by the hand of God, for the punishment of the sins which he had committed against Religion, had acknowledged his error, and became a good Christian, cherishing the Portugeses, whom he called his Sons, 
The K. sendeth new Ambassadors into Portugal for more priests  and doing them all the pleasure he could. Especially and above all things he ceased not, still to send new Ambassadors into Portugal, with earnest request that he might have more Priests, and such as were skilful in the holy Scriptures to maintain the Catholic Faith, which was now almost utterly forgotten in that Realm, only for want of religious persons, that should teach the people and administer the Sacraments, and not for any fault of their good wills: for they were marvelously well inclined and affected to the Holy Faith.  
After that the aforesaid Captain was arrived in Portugal, 
The Portugal K. delayeth to send more Priests.  and had presented the requests of the King of Congo to his King, (who was also but a young man) he had none other answer from him but words and promises, that he would have a care of the matter that was demanded: but in the mean while he provided neither Priests, nor Divines to be sent for Congo. Whereupon the King of Congo dispatched again another principal Ambassador, being his kinsman, called Don Sebastiano Aluarez, 
The King of Congo sendeth Don Sebastiano Aluarez to entreat for Priests, & to redeem certain of his nobility that were in Saint Thomas Isle, & in Portugal.  together with a Portugal, to bear him company and entreat for more Priests, and withal to redeem certain slaves borne in Congo, that were in the Isle of S. Thomas and in Portugal, and were sold upon mere necessity, as we have told you before. Some of them would needs remain still in voluntary servitude, and many were ransomed and brought home into their Country. By whose good labour and means, and especially by the painful industry of such as were Lords, & borne of noble blood, (for some there were of that dignity among them,) the King of Congo restored the Christian Religion, which was almost lost: and some of them he used for counsellors, and Officers of the Realm, as men that were well practised and experienced in the world, by reason of this their long captivity. To this Ambassador, the King gave a gracious answer, and told him that he should be satisfied according to his request: 
Don Sebastiano was feign to return into Congo without any Priests.  But yet for all that, he was feign to return home again into Congo, without any Priests or Religious persons to go with him.  
Three years after, 
Antonio de gli Oua sent by the Portugal King to be Bishop of S. Thomas, and Congo.  the King Don Sebastiano dispatched a certain Bishop (called Don Antonio de gli Oua, being a Castilian borne) principally to the Island of S. Thomas: but withal he gave him also a commission to visit the kingdom of Congo: who being arrived at S. Thomas, fell at jar with the Captain there, and so sailed into Congo, where he was also persecuted by the said Captain and his friends that he had there: 
He is persecuted by the Captain of S. Thomas  For they informed the King, that he was an ambitious man, of a haughty spirit, and very obstinate, & thereby did utterly discredit him with the King and all his Court: Whereupon being induced thereunto by these accusations, 
He is honourably received by the K. of Congo.  the King forbade him at the first to enter within his Realm, but afterwards he received him with great honour, and sent his son to entertain him, and to accompany him to the City. There he stayed about eight months, and then departed again, somewhat before the King of Portugal passed into Africa, and left behind him in Congo, two Friars, and four Priests. 
Don Sebastian K. of Portugal overthrown in Africa, & Don Henrico the Cardinal succeed.  The Bishop being thus gone, & the King overthrown in Africa, there was exalted to the Crown of Portugal, Don Henrico the Cardinal, to whom the King of Congo did write, with great instance, and earnest request; that he would send him some religious persons, and Preachers: but he could obtain nothing at his hands, because the Cardinal lived but a short time in that Government.  
After Don Henrico succeeded Philip King of Castille, 
Philip K. of Spain succeed the Cardinal▪ K. Philip sendeth Sebastiano di Costa to Congo to signify his arrival to the Crown of Portugal.  who sent advertisements to the Captain of Saint Thomas, that he was invested in the Crown of Portugal, and letters also to the King of Congo, to the same effect. Whereupon the Captain did presently dispatch one Sebastiano di Costa, that with the title of Ambassador, should carry these news and letters unto the said King. When these letters were presented, and all complements performed, 
The King of Congo offereth K. Philip of Spain the discovery of the metal mines in Congo, with request for Priests.  the king of Congo returned him again to the Court to king Philip, with answer of his letters, and therein proffered to discover unto him the metal mines, which heretofore had been concealed from all the other kings his predecessors, and withal sent him divers trials of them: Beseeching him especially with all affectionate entreaty, that (as soon as possibly he could) he would furnish him with some store of Priests: declaring also unto him the miserable state and condition, whereinto his people were fallen, 
Costa dieth by the way, and his message known by letters that were found.  by reason of the troubles that had happened about the Christian Religion. But Costa died by the way, the vessel wherein he sailed being cast away upon the shore of Portugal, and every man drowned that was in it: and the naughty news were known by the contents of the Letters, that were found in a little chest, which was driven on land by the waves of the sea: & by a brief note of such Commissions, as he had in charge to deliver to the king. 
The King of Congo sendeth Odoardo Lopez to the King of Spain, & to the Pope with letters of credence, and instructions.  When the king of Congo heard of this accident, he did not cease, but still continued and persevered in his godly purpose, & would not suffer Christianity to be utterly extinguished in his Kingdom, as it was very likely to be. And therefore he determined yet once again to send a new Ambassador of his own to the King of Spain. But forasmuch as there arose some difficulties and differences among some Lords of the Court, that desired this honour, the king because he would not displease any of them, by preferring one of them before another, made choice of one Odoardo Lopez a Portugal borne, from whose mouth Pigafetta took this present report, and put it in writing. This man had dwelled now a good time in those Regions, and was well experienced in the affairs of the world, and being by good chance at that time in the Court, he was thus employed with the good favour and countenance of the king: who delivered unto him in writing very ample instructions, for all matters whereof he was to treat, as well with his Catholic Majesty in Spain, as also with his Holiness at Rome: together with very earnest letters of credence, and authority, and commodity to them both, and safe conducts, and exemptions in all liberties, both within and without, besides his effectual recommendations of him to all other Christian Princes, with all such other privileges and declarations, that might show how dearly the king esteemed his person, as to an Ambassador in such causes appertaineth.  
The sum of his Embassage was this: 
The Embassage of Odoardo Lopez to the K. of Spain  That he should present his Letters to the King Don Philip, and at large discourse unto him the state, wherein the kingdom of Congo stood touching matter of Religion, by the reason of the former wars, and scarcity of Priests, and thereupon request his Majesty to provide him a competent number of Confessors, and Preachers, that might be sufficient to maintain the Gospel in those remote Countries, being but lately converted to Christianity. Moreover that he should show unto him the sundry trials of Metals, which he had made, and many other matters, which were worthy to be known: and withal that he should proffer unto him in his name, free & liberal traffic of them, which heretofore was ever denied to his Predecessors. 
His Embassage to the Pope.  Touching the Pope, That he should likewise on his behalf kiss his feet, deliver unto him his letters, and recount the miserable trouble and detriment that his people had suffered for the Christian Faith. That he should recommend those poor souls to his Holiness, & beseech him as the Universal Father of all Christians, to have compassion upon so many faithful persons, who because they had no Priests to deliver the holy Faith unto them, and to administer the wholesome Sacraments, were by little and little falling into everlasting perdition. And being thus dispatched, he departed from the Court, and went about certain services for the King, wherein he spent about eight Months: So that in january, being then Summer time in Congo, he embarked himself in a vessel of a hundred Tun burden, which was bound with her lading for Lisbon.  
Now as he sailed, he came to the sea of the Islands of Cape Verde, 
Odoardo Lopez at the Islands of Cape Verde.  where the vessel being somewhat old, began to take in much water, at a leak that was open in the foreship. So that the wind blowing very lustily and strongly before, and the Sailors being not able either to reach the Islands aforesaid, or to gain the firm land of Africa, much less (though they would never so fain) to follow on their voyage, by sailing on with the half ship, and to strain the vessel that leaked so much, the Pilot thought it better to turn his course, and taking the wind in the poop, to go & save themselves in the Islands of Nova Hispania. And so after terrible storms, and extreme dangers of drowning, and of perishing with hunger for want of all kind of meat, 
The Isle of Cubagoa.  they arrived with much ado at a little Island, called Cubagoa, and situate over against the Isle of Saint Margarete, 
The Isle of S. Margarete.  where they fish for Pearls. From thence, when they had in some haste amended their ship, and somewhat refreshed themselves, they sailed with a short cut to the firm land, and took haven in a port called Cumana, or (as it is called by another name) The new kingdom of Granado in the West Indies. 
Cumana or the new kingdom of Granada in the West Indies The ship sunk in the haven.  This battered and weather-beaten vessel was no sooner arrived in this safe harbour, but it sunk presently to the bottom, but the persons that were in her were all saved, although afterwards they fell sick to the death by reason of the great grief, which they had endured in hunger, in thirst, and in want of all other sustenance, and chief by the horrible storms of that tempestuous Ocean.  
While the foresaid Ambassador endeavoured in this place to recover his former health, 
Odoardo Lopez stayeth in Cumana a year and a half.  the company of ships which is called La Flotta, that is to say, the Fleet, and useth every year to sail from the coast for Castille, departed from thence, so that he was constrained to stay for a new Navy, and so consumed a whole year and a half without doing any good. In this mean time the King of Congo, having never received any tidings of this his Ambassador Odoardo, but accounting him for dead, and not knowing that he was driven by tempest into the West Indies, continued still constant in his former purpose, to procure some remedy for Christianity in his kingdom. 
The King of Congo sendeth Don Piedro Antonio, and Gaspar Diaz a Portugal, with the same Embassage which he sent by Lopez.  And therefore he sent another Ambassador, with the self same commandments, called Don Piedro Antonio the second person in all his Realm, and with him one Gasparo Diaz, a Portugal borne, a principal man and very rich, and an ancient inhabitant in that Country, to the end that he should accompany the said Don Piedro, and suffer him to want nothing, and in any case join his good help to procure, that the request, which he hoped to obtain of the king of Spain, might be fully effected: with a further express commandment, that if they did meet with the said Signior Odoardo, they should deal in their business with his advise & counsel. 
Don Piedro taken by the English, and by misfortune drowned, and his son with him.  But an infortunate end had this Ambassador, for he was taken at sea by Englishmen, and his ship also, which being drawn towards England, when it was near unto the Coast, by great misfortune it ran athwart the shore, one there Don Piedro Antonio & his son were both drowned: but the Portugal and some few others with him escaped, 
Gaspar Diaz escaped and arrived in Spain: but returned into Congo without doing any thing at all.  and arrived in Spain, at such time as the said Odoardo was come to the Court, & had entered upon the charge of his Embassage. And therefore this Gasparo wrote to Odoardo, that he was minded to return home into Congo, and not to go to the Court at all: whether it were for the death of the Cardinal, or for any other respect, I cannot tell, but home he returned in deed, as he said he would.  
In the time that our Signior Odoardo remained in the West India, which is situate under the same sky, and under the same climate, and of the same temperature of air, that Congo is subject unto: he noted that the colour of the skins of the inhabitants in both countries was far different: 
The blackness of a man's skin, is not caused by the heat of the sun.  For in Congo, they are generally and for the most part black, and in India almost white, that is to say, of a middle colour, between white and black, which the Spaniards call Mulato, Browne, or Dark-tawny. Whereby he would signify, that it is not caused by the Sun, as it hath been recorded of long time, but that it cometh of nature itself, who worketh it by some secret reason, which never yet to this day, either by ancient Philosopher, or new writer, hath been fully set down or understood.  
When he had recovered his health, 
Odoardo Lopez saileth to San Domingo.  he sailed to the port of the City of San Domingo in the Island of Hispaniola, that there at the first passage he might take some ship that went towards Castilia: and by good chance he found a Portugal vessel, among the rest of the Navy, which was minded to join with the Fleet of ships, that passed from the firm land to Castilia, and so to go in good company and better safety. 
Lopez in a Portugal ship cometh with the fleet to Terzera, to S. Lucar, to Siuile, & so into Portugal.  All these ships being thus united together, they arrived by the help of a very good wind, at Terzera, which is one of the Islands called Azores, that is to say, the Spar-hawks. and from thence to San Lucar di Barameda, which is a haven in the mouth of the River Guadalchibir, and so to Siuile: from whence he took his journey into Portugal to see his friends, and to furnish himself with all things necessary for his business, 
Lopez goeth to the Spanish Court in Madrill.  and at the last he road to the Court, which was at that time in Madrill. There he was courteously entertained by his Catholic Majesty, to whom he propounded the contents of his Commissions. But divers great accidents there happened, & many difficulties that crossed him, and altogether hindered the course of those affairs, which he had to accomplish in the name of the King of Congo. For first he heard the dolorous news of the kings death, 
Alvaro's King of Congo dieth  that sent him on this message: and then the King Don Philip was wholly busied about the conquest of England, 
K. Philip busied about the conquest of England.  so that this business went nothing forwards, but was delayed from time to time: neither did he see any means of dispatch, but rather he was given to understand, that for that time they could not intend to hearken unto him.  
Now the foresaid Odoardo, being afflicted with so many adversities, 
Odoardo Lopez changeth his kind of profession.  began to call to mind the innumerable perils that he had passed, and the deadly infirmity wherewith he was plagued, after that long, & horrible navigation. He saw that he was sometimes cast down, and sometimes exalted: and knew that in this world there was none other rest or quiet, but in God Almighty. He was greatly oppressed with heart grief, which he did daily and continually endure, because he could not relieve the necessities wherewith the people of Congo were vexed and troubled, and manifestly perceived, that those poor souls incurred the extreme danger of falling into the utter darkness of hell. He considered the great expenses, that every day must be defrayed at the Court for the maintenance of himself and his family. Lastly, he was wholly deprived of all hope, that he should ever be able to bring that matter to effect, which the king of Congo had imposed upon him. And therefore he made choice of another course, that was not only profitable for him, but also most wholesome for his soul. For the good Angel had touched his heart, and caused him with a manly courage to abandon the Sword, and to take the Cross upon him: and thereupon he renounced the world with all the deceitful pomp and glory thereof; and in Madrill appareled himself in a grey course habit, 
Lopez goeth to Rome▪ where he was kindly entertained by the Pope.  and so went to Rome, to declare to Sixtus Quintus the Pope the tenor and Commission of his Embassage, because he would not altogether neglect the good intent and meaning of the King, that had sent him, although he were now descended into a better life. He was kindly welcomed and received by his Holiness, to whom he discoursed the miserable estate, wherein the Christian people of the Realm of Congo did stand, for want of the worship and service of God, and also the small number of Priests, that were there to instruct them in the doctrine of the Gospel, and to deliver unto them the Sacraments of the Church, especially the multitude in that country being (as it were) innumerable, that every day resorted together, to be baptized, instructed, confessed and communicated. Moreover he made a vow and resolved in his mind, 
The vow of Odoardo Lopez to erect a Seminary, & an Hospital in Congo.  that with such store of wealth, as God had blessed him withal in Congo (which was not very small) he would build a house, wherein for the service of God, there should dwell certain learned men, and sundry Priests, to instruct the youth of those Countries in all good languages, and in the arts liberal, and in the doctrine of the Gospel, and in the mysteries of our salvation. Out of which house, as it were out of a holy School, there might come forth from time to time, many learned men and well studied in the law of God, that should be able in their own natural Country tongue, to awaken and raise again the Faith of Christ, which was now asleep, and dried up in those Regions: and thereby in process of time there would spring up many fruits of blessing, & vigilant souls in the Christian Faith. Hereunto he meant also to add an Hospital, that might be a recourse and harbour for God's poor, which coming and sailing out of strange Countries should have relief and entertainment in that Hostelry, and there be cured and restored of their infirmities and necessities. With this purpose therefore he went to Rome, to obtain of his holiness a licence to erect this Seminary and Hospital, and to beseech him also that he would grant him jubilees, Indulgences, and other Dispensations, that for such Christian and wholesome works are requisite, especially to the use & benefit of those Countries, which are so remote from Christendom. He presented himself to the Pope, & delivered unto him his letters of credence, and then declared unto him at large the tenor of his Commissions, 
The Pope remitteth the whole matter to the K. of Spain.  wherein he had a gracious audience. But when the Pope did understand that the kingdom of Congo belonged to the king of Spain, he remitted that matter wholly unto him.   

Chap. 7. Of the Court of the King of Congo. Of the apparel of that people before they became Christians and after. Of the kings table, and manner of his Court.  
Hitherto we have manifestly discovered the beginning of Christian Religion in Congo, 
The ancient apparel of the King of Congo and his Courtiers.  & consequently the strange accidents that happened therein. And now it is time to discourse & lay open the manners and fashions of that Court, & other customs and conditions appertaining to that Realm. In ancient time this King and his Courtiers were appareled with certain cloth made of the Palm-tree, (as we have told you before) wherewith they covered themselves from the girdlestead downwards, and girded the same straight unto them with certain girdles made of the same stuff, very fair and well wrought. They used also to hang before them, like an apron, certain delicate and dainty skins, of little Tigers, of Civet-cattes, of Sableds, of martens, and of such like creatures for an ornament: and for a more glorious pomp and show, they did wear upon their shoulders a certain cape like a Hood. Upon their bare skin they had a certain round garment like a Rotchet, which they call Incutto, reaching down to their knees, made after the manner of a net, but the stuff of it was very fine cloth of the said Palm-tree, & at the skirts there hung a number of thread-tassels, that made a very gallant show. These Rotchets were turned up again, & tucked upon their right shoulder, that they might be the more at liberty on that hand. Upon that shoulder also they had the tail of a Zebra, fastened with a handle, which they used for a kind of bravery, according to the most ancient custom of those parts. On their heads they wore caps of yellow and red colour, square above and very little, so that they scarcely covered the tops of their heads, and worn rather for a pomp and a vanity, then to keep them either from the air or from the Sun. The most part of them went unshodde: but the King and some of the great Lords did wear certain shoes of the old fashion, such as are to be seen in the ancient Images of the Romans, and these were made also of the wood of the Palm-tree. 
The ancient apparel of the maaner sort.  The poorer sort and the common people were appareled from their middle downwards, after the same manner, but the cloth was courser: and the rest of their body all naked. The women used three kinds of traverses, or (as it were) aprons: beneath their girdlestead. One was very long and reached to their heels: the second shorter than that, and the third shorter than both the other, with fringes about them, and every one of these three was fastened about their middle, and open before. From their breasts downwards, they had another garment, like a kind of doublet or jacket, that reached but to their girdle: and over their shoulders a certain cloak. All these several garments were made of the same cloth of the Palm-tree. They were accustomed to go with their faces uncovered, and a little cap on the head, like a man's cap. The meaner sort of women were appareled after the same manner, but their cloth was courser: Their Maidservants and the basest kind of women were likewise attired from the girdle downward, and all the rest of the body naked.  
But after that this kingdom had received the Christian Faith, 
Their new kind of apparel.  the great Lords of the Court began to apparel themselves after the manner of the Portugal's, in wearing cloaks, Spanish Capes, and Tabards or wide jackets of Scarlet, and cloth of Silk, every man according to his wealth and ability. Upon their heads they had hats, or caps, and upon their feet Moils or Pantofles, of Velvet and of Leather, and buskins after the Portugal fashion, and long Rapiers by their sides. The common people, that are not able to make their apparel after that manner do keep their old custom. The women also go after the Portugal fashion, saving that they wear no cloaks, but upon their heads they have certain veils, and upon their veils black velvet caps, garnished with jewels, and chains of gold about their their necks. But the poorer sort keep the old fashion: for only the Ladies of the Court do bedeck themselves in such manner as we have told you.  
After the King himself was converted to the Christian Religion, 
The Court of Congo now imitateth the Court of Portugal.  he conformed his Court in a certain sort after the manner of the King of Portugal. And first for his service at the table when he dineth or suppeth openly in public, there is a Throne of Estate erected with three steps, covered all over with Indian tapistry, and thereupon is placed a Table, with a chair of Crimzen Velvet, adorned with bosses and nails of Gold. He always feedeth alone by himself, neither doth any man ever sit at his table, but the Princes stand about him with their heads covered. He hath a Cupboard of Plate of Gold and Silver, and one that taketh assay of his meat and drink. He maintaineth a guard of the Anzichi, and of other nations, that keep about his palace, furnished with such weapons as are above mentioned: and when it pleaseth him to go abroad, they sound their great instruments, which may▪ be heard about five or six miles, and so signify that the King is going forth. All his Lords do accompany him, and likewise the Portugal's, in whom he reposeth a singular trust: but very seldom it is that he goeth out of his palace.  
Twice in a week he giveth audience publicly, yet no man speaketh unto him but his Lords. 
The custom; and laws of Congo.  And because there are none, that have any goods or lands of their own, but all belongeth to the Crown, there are but few suits or quarrels among them, saving peradventure about some words. They use no writing at all in the Congo tongue. In cases criminal they proceed but slenderly, for they do very hardly and seldom condemn any man to death. If there be any riot or enormity committed against the Portugeses by the Moci-Conghi, (for so are the inhabitants of the Realm of Congo called in their own language,) they are judged by the laws of Portugal. And if any mischief be found in any of them, the king confineth the malefactor into some desert Island: for he thinketh it to be a greater punishment to banish him in this sort, to the end he may do penance for his sins, then at one blow to execute him. And if it so happen that those which are thus chastised, do live ten or twelve years, the King useth to pardon them, if they be of any consideration at all, and doth employ them in the service of the State, as persons that have been tamed and well schooled, and accustomed to suffer any hardness. In Civil disagreements there is an order, that if a Portugal have any suit against a Moci-Congo, he goeth to the judge of Congo: but if a Moci-Congo do implead a Portugal, he citeth him before the Consul or judge of the Portugal's: for the King hath granted unto them one of their own nation to be judge in that country. In their bargains between them and the Portugal's, they use no writings nor other instruments of bills or bonds, but dispatch their business only by word and witness.  
They keep no histories of their ancient Kings nor any memorial of the ages past, because they cannot write. They measure their times generally by the Moons. They know not the hours of the day nor of the night: but they use to say, In the time of such a man such a thing happened. They reckon the distances of countries not by miles or by any such measure, but by the journeys and travel of men, that go from one place to another, either loaden or unloaden.  
Touching their assembling together at feasts, 
Their manner of assemblies.  or other meetings of joy, as for example, when they are married, 
Their instruments of Music.  they sing Verses and Ballads of Love, and play upon certain Lutes that are made after a strange fashion. For in the hollow part and in the neck they are somewhat like unto our Lutes, but for the flat side, (where we use to carve a Rose, or a Rundell to let the sound go inward) that is made not of wood, but of a skin, as thin as a bladder, and the strings are made of hairs, which they draw out of the elephants tail, and are very strong and bright: and of certain threads made of the wood of Palm-tree, which from the bottom of the instrument do reach and ascend to the top of the handle, and are tied every one of them to his several ring. For towards the neck or handle of this Lute, there are certain rings placed some higher and some lower, whereat there hang divers plates of Iron and Silver, which are very thin, and in bigness different one from another, according to the proportion of the instrument. These rings do make a sound of sundry tunes, according to the striking of the strings. For the strings when they are stricken, do cause the rings to shake, and then do the plates that hang at them, help them to utter a certain mingled and confused noise. Those that play upon this Instrument, do tune the strings in good proportion, and strike them with their fingers, like a Harp, but without any quill very cunningly: so that they make thereby (I cannot tell whether I should call it a melody or no, but) such a sound as pleaseth and delighteth their senses well enough. Besides all this (which is a thing very admirable) by this instrument they do utter they conceits of their minds, and do understand one another so plainly, that every thing almost which may be explained with the tongue, they can declare with their hand in touching and striking this instrument. To the sound thereof they do dance in good measure with their feet, and follow the just time of that music with clapping the palms of their hands one against the other. They have also in the Court, Flutes and Pipes, which they sound very artificially, and according to the sound they dance and move their feet, as it were in a Moresco, with great gravity and sobriety. The common people do use little Rattles, and Pipes, & other instruments, that make a more harsh and rude sound, than the Court-instruments do.  
In this kingdom, 
Their Physic.  when any are sick, they take nothing but natural physic, as Herbs, and Trees, and the barks of Trees, and Oils, and Waters and Stones, such as Mother Nature hath taught them. The Ague is the most common disease that reigneth among them: and plagueth them in Winter by reason of the continual rain, that bringeth heat and moisture with it more than in Summer, and besides that the sickness which here we call the French disease, & Chitangas in the Congo tongue, is not there so dangerous and so hard to be cured, as it is in our Countries.  
They heal the Ague with the powder of a wood, 
Their medicine for an Ague.  called Sandale, or Saunders, whereof there is both red and grey, which is the wood of Aguila. This powder being mingled with the oil of the Palm-tree, and having anointed the body of the sick person two or three times withal from the head to the foot, 
Their medicine for the headache, & other griefs of the body, is letting of blood.  the party recovereth. When their head acheth, they let blood in the temples, with certain little boxing horns: first by cutting the skin a little, and then applying the Cornets thereunto, which with a suck of the mouth, will be filled with blood: and this manner of letting blood is used also in Egypt. And so in any other part of a man's body, where there is any grief, 
Their medicine for the French pocks.  they draw blood in this fashion and heal it. Likewise they cure the infirmity called Chitangas, with the same unction of Saunders: whereof there are two sorts, one red (as we told you) and that is called Tavila: the other grey, and is called Chicongo: and this is best esteemed, for they will not stick to give or sell a slave for a piece of it. 
Their Purgations.  They purge themselves with certain barks of trees, made into powder, and taken in some drink: and they will work mightily and strongly. When they take these purgations, they make no great account for going abroad into the air. 
Curing of wounds.  Their wounds also they commonly cure with the juice of certain herbs, and with the herbs themselves. And the said Signior Odoardo hath affirmed unto me, that he saw a slave, which was stabbed through with seven mortal wounds of an Arrow, and was recovered whole and sound, only with the juice of certain herbs, well known unto them by experience. So that this people is not encumbered with a number of Physicians, for Surgery, for Drugs, for Syrups, for Electuaries, for Plasters, and such like Medicines, but simply do heal and cure themselves with such natural plants as grow in their own Country. Whereof they have no great need neither: for living (as they do) under a temperate climate, and not ingorging themselves with much variety of meats to please their appetites, nor surcharging their stomachs with wine, they are not greatly troubled with those diseases, that commonly are engendered of meats and drinks that remain undigested.   

Chap. 8. Of the Countries, that are beyond the Kingdom of Congo towards the Cape of Good-Hope: and of the River Nilus.  
NOw that we have seen the Kingdom of Congo, and the conditions both of the Country and people that dwell therein, and also of the nations thereunto adjoining, it remaineth that we discourse a little further, and that with all brevity, of the rest of Africa, towards the Cape of Good-Hope, all along the Ocean, whereby they use to sail into India even as far as the red sea: and then we will return back again into the Inland, and treat of the River Nilus, and of Preti-Gianni, and of all his kingdoms: to the end, that so far, as our matter will bear, we may make a perfect relation of those Regions, which hitherto have not so well and so rightly been conceived of every man. Beyond the Kingdom of Congo, we have signified unto you, that there are other countries belonging to the King of Angola, and beyond that towards the Cape of Good-Hope, 
The kingdom of Matama.  a King called Matama, who ruleth over divers Provinces, which are called Quimbebe. This Realm (as we told you) from the first Lake and the confines of Angola, containeth all the rest of the country Southwards, till you come to the River of Bravagul, 
R. Bravagul▪ R. Magnice. The mountains of the Moon.  which springeth out of the mountains of the Moon, and joineth with the River Magnice, and that springeth out of the foresaid first Lake: These mountains are divided by the Tropic of Capricorn, towards the Pole Antarctike, and beyond this tropic lieth all the Country and borders of the Cape of Good-Hope, which are not ruled and governed by any one King, but by divers and sundry several Princes. In the midst between that Cape and the tropic, are the said Mountains of the Moon, so famous and so greatly renowned among the ancient writers, who do assign them to be the original head and spring of the River Nilus: which is very false and untrue, as the situation of the country doth plainly show, and as we a little hereafter will discover unto you. This Country is full of high and rough mountains: it is very could, and not habitable: It is frequented and haunted with a few persons that live after the manner of the Arabians, under little cabins in the open fields, and appareled with the skins of certain beasts. It is a savage and a rustical nation, without all faith and credit, neither will they suffer any strangers among them. Their furniture is Bows and Arrows. They feed upon such fruits, as the land breedeth, and also upon the flesh of beasts.  
Among these Mountains of the Moon, there is a Lake called Gale: 
The Lake Gale.  a very little one it is, and lieth somewhat towards the West. Out of this Lake there issueth a River called Camissa, 
Camissa 1. The sweet River.  and by the Portugal's named The sweet River, which at the point of the Cape of Good-Hope voideth itself into the sea, in that very place that is termed The False Cape. 
The False Cape.  For the ships of the Indies sailing that way, do first discover another greater Cape, which is called The Cape of the Needles, and then afterwards this lesser Cape: 
The Cape of the Needles.  Whereupon they call it The False Cape, because it is hid and covered with the true and great Cape. Between these two Capes or Promontories, there is the distance of an hundred miles, containing the largeness and breadth of this famous Cape: which being divided into two points, as it were into two horns, it maketh a Gulf, where sometimes the Portugal ships do take fresh water, in the River that they call the Sweet River.  
The inhabitants of this coast, which dwell between these two points, 
Another note, That the colour of black in men's skins doth not proceed from the heat of the Sun.  are of colour black, although the Pole Antarctike in that place be in the elevation of thirty and five degrees, which is a very strange thing: yea the rude people that live among the most cold mountains of the Moon are black also. This I writ of purpose, to advise and move the Philosophers and such as search the effects of nature, that they would fall into their deep contemplation and speculation, & thereupon teach us, whether this black colour be occasioned by the Sun, or by any other secret and unknown cause: Which question I for this time do mean to leave undecided.  
Now forasmuch as this Promontory of Good-Hope, is the greatest Cape of all, 
The Cape of Good-Hope very dangerous.  and stretcheth out into the Sea farther than any other in the whole universal world, and is very dangerous to pass (as all Promontories are:) and for that also the sea is there most terrible, and from the land there blow most horrible winds, which cause that Ocean to be exceedingly tempestuous and stormy, so that many Portugal ships of admirable burdens, have been cast away therein: and lastly, because the ancient Historiographers did never know it, no not so much as by hearsay, and it is not long ago since the King of Portugal's Fleets did first discover the same: It shall not be impertinent, but rather a matter of great convenience in this place to decipher the measure thereof, & to make so manifest a declaration of it, as may serve also to understand, how great the navigation is from Portugal into India, by compassing the Coast of the Cape of Good-Hope only, almost the space of six thousand miles, as a little hereafter it shall be showed unto you,  
For from the River of Ferdinando Poo, where the said Cape beginneth to jut-out into the sea, 
This is a Point of the Cape of Good-Hope.  as far as to the Point, which we call the Point of Needles, there is contained upon the shore more than two thousand and 200. miles from the North, to the South, and on the contrary side, from the said Point to the Cape of Guarda-Fuy, right over against the Island of Socotora, they reckon more than three thousand and three hundred miles by the coast from the South to the North. So that from Lisbon, compassing about the shores of Africa, and all the Cape of Good-Hope, unto the kingdom of Goa, there are more than fifteen thousand miles. And from thence afterwards to Malaca, and to China, and so forwards, there remaineth so long a journey, that never yet in any time hitherto hath there been so great and so dangerous a navigation undertaken and performed, as this of the Portugal's, neither with great vessels nor with small. 
Why it is called the Cape of Good-Hope.  It is called the Cape of Good-Hope, because all such as sail that way, aswell in going forth, as in returning home, do especially & principally aim at this mark, that they may pass and get beyond this Promontory; which when they have done, they account themselves to be out of all danger, and as it were to have performed their journey. And upon this their general desire, they gave it the name of the Cape of Good-Hope.  
Now to return to our purpose, and to talk further of the Coast of Africa, beyond the Cape or Point of the Needles, there are many competent harbours and havens, 
Seno Formoso. Seno del Lago.  the principal whereof is Seno Formoso, The fair Bay: and Seno del Lago, The Bay of the Lake: For there the sea maketh a certain Gulf, wherein are sundry Islands and Ports: and somewhat beyond there runneth into the sea the River of S. Christopher, 
River of Saint Christopher.  and at the mouth thereof there lie three pretty islets. A little further forwards, the Coast runneth all along by a Country, 
Terra do Nadal.  which the Portugal's call Terra do Natal, the Land of the Nativity, because it was first discovered at Christmas: 
Capo della Pescheria.  and so reacheth to the Cape called Della Pescheria. Between which Cape and the River Magnice, 
R. Magnice. The Kingdom of Buttua.  within the Land is the Kingdom of Buttua. whose Territories are from the roots or bottom of the mountains of the Moon, until you come to the river Magnice towards the North, 
The Kingdom of Monomotapa R. Bravagul.  where the country of Monomotapa standeth, and westwards from the River Bravagul towards the sea all along the banks of the River Magnice. 
Store of Gold Mines.  In this kingdom there are many mines of Gold, and a people that is of the same qualities and conditions, that the people of Monomotapa is, as hereafter shall be showed unto you. And so going along the shores of the Ocean, you come to the River Magnice, which lieth in the very entrance of the Kingdom of Sofala, and the Empire of Monomotapa.   

Chap. 9 Of the Kingdom of Sofala.  
THis Kingdom beginneth at the River Magnice, which springeth out of the first Lake of Nilus, 
The original of the River Magnice.  and conveyeth itself into the sea in the midst of the Bay, between the point Pescheria and the Cape called Capo delle Correnti, situate in twenty and three degrees & a half of the Pole Antarctik under the tropic of Capricorn. With this River near unto the sea, 
Three Rivers run into Magnice.  there join three other notable rivers, the principal whereof is by the Portugal's called Saint Christopher's, because upon the day of that Saints feast it was first discovered, 
1. R. Nagoa.  but by the inhabitants it is named Nagoa. 
2. R. Margues.  The second took the name of one Lorenzo Margues, that first found it. These two Rivers do spring originally from the mountains of the Moon, so greatly renowned among the ancient writers, but by the people of the country they are called Toroa: out of which Mountains they did think that famous Nilus took also his beginning: but they were utterly deceived. For (as we have already told you) the first Lake ariseth not out of those Mountains, 
Nilus ariseth not out of the Mountains of the Moon.  but lieth a great way distant from it: and between it and them is there a very great and a huge low plain. Besides that, the streams that flow from the said mountains do run towards the East, and bestow their waters upon other great Rivers, so that it is not possible for them to pass into the foresaid Lake, much less into Nilus, considering especially that the River Magnice springeth out of that first Lake, and by a far different course from the course of Nilus, runneth towards the East, and so joineth itself with the two Rivers aforesaid. 
3. R. Arroe.  The third is called Arroe, and ariseth on another side out of the Mountains of the Gold-Mines of Monomotapa: and in some places of this River there are found some small pieces of Gold among the sand. These three Rivers enter into the great Magnice near unto the sea, and all four together do make there a great water, in a very large channel, and so dischargeth itself into the Ocean. From the mouth of this river all along the sea coast, 
The R. of Cuama.  stretcheth the kingdom of Sofala unto the River Cuama, which is so called of a certain castle or fortress that carrieth the same name, and is possessed by Mahometans and Pagans: but the Portugal's call it, The mouths of Cuama: because at the entry into the sea, this river divideth itself into seven mouths, where there are five special Islands, besides diverse others that lie up the river, all very full and well peopled with Pagans. This Cuama cometh out of the same Lake, and from the same springs from whence Nilus floweth. And thus the Kingdom of Sofala is comprised within the said two Rivers, Magnice and Cuama upon the sea coast. 
The kingdom of Sofala.  It is but a small Kingdom, and hath but few houses or towns in it: The chief and principal head whereof, is an Island that lieth in the river called Sofala, which giveth the name to all the whole Country. It is inhabited by Mahometans, and the King himself is of the same sect, and yieldeth obedience to the Crown of Portugal, because he will not be subject to the Empire of Monomotapa. And thereupon the Portugal's there do keep a Fort in the mouth of the river Cuama, and do trade in those Countries for Gold, and ivory, and Amber, which is found upon that Coast, 
The commodities of Sofala Gold, ivory and Amber.  and good store of slaves, and in steed thereof they leave behind them Cotton-Cloth, and Silks that are brought from Cambaia, and is the common apparel of those people. 
The Inhabitants of Sofala  The Mahometans that at this present do inhabit those Countries are not naturally borne there, but before the Portugeses came into those quarters, they trafficked thither in small barks from the Coast of Arabia Foelix. And when the Portugal's had conquered that Realm, the Mahometans stayed there still, and now they are become neither utter Pagans, nor holding of the sect of Mahomet.  
From the shores and Coast, that lieth between the two foresaid rivers of Magnice and Cuama, 
The Empire of Monomotapa full of Gold-Mines.  within the land spreadeth the Empire of Monomotapa, where there is very great store of Mines of Gold, which is carried from thence into all the regions thereabouts, and into Sofala, and into the other parts of Africa. And some there be that will say, that salomon's Gold, 
salomon's Gold.  which he had for the Temple of jerusalem, was brought by sea out of these Countries. A thing in truth not very unlikely: For in the Countries of Monomotapa, there do remain to this day many ancient buildings of great work and singular Architecture, of Stone, of Lime, and of Timber, the like whereof are not to be seen in all the Provinces adjoining.  
The Empire of Monomotapa is very great, and for people infinite. 
The people of Monomotapa.  They are Gentiles and Pagans, of colour black, very courageous in war, of a middle stature, and swift of foot. There are many Kings, that are vassals and subjects to Monomotapa, who do oftentimes rebel and make war against him. Their weapons are bows and arrows, and light darts. This Emperor maintaineth many Armies in several Provinces, 
The K. of Monomotapa maintaineth many Armies.  divided into Legions, according to the use and custom of the Romans. For being so great a Lord as he is, he must of necessity be in continual war, for the maintenance of his estate. And among all the rest of his soldiers, the most valorous in name are his Legions of women, whom he esteemeth very highly, and accounteth them as the very sinews and strength of his military forces. These women do burn their left paps with fire, 
Lefthanded Amazons.  because they should be no hindrance unto them in their shooting, after the use and manner of the ancient Amazons, that are so greatly celebrated by the Historiographers of former profane memories. For their weapons they practise bows and arrows: They are very quick and swift, lively and courageous, very cunning in shooting, but especially and above all venturous and constant in fight. In their battles they use a warlike kind of craft and subtlety: For they have a custom to make a show that they would fly and run away, as though they were vanquished and discomfited, but they will divers times turn themselves back, and vex their enemies mightily with the shot of their arrows. And when they see their adversaries so greedy of the victory, that they begin to disperse and scatter themselves, then will they suddenly turn again upon them, and with great courage and fierceness make a cruel slaughter of them. So that partly with their swiftness, and partly with their deceitful wiles and other cunning shifts of war, they are greatly feared in all those parts. They do enjoy by the kings good favour certain Countries where they dwell alone by themselves: and sometimes they choose certain men at their own pleasure, with whom they do keep company for generations sake: So that if they do bring forth Male-childrens, they send them home to their father's houses: but if they be female, they reserve them to themselves, and breed them in the exercise of warfare.  
The Empire of this Monomotapa lieth (as it were) in an Island, 
The situation of the Empire of Monomotapa.  which is made by the Sea-coast, by the River Magnice, by a piece of the Lake from whence Magnice floweth, and by the River Cuama. It bordereth towards the South upon the Lords of the Cape of Good-Hope before mentioned, and Northward upon the Empire of Moenemugi, as by and by shall be showed unto you.  
But now returning to our former purpose, that is to say, 
The kingdom of Angoscia.  to run forwards upon the sea-coast, after you have passed over some part of the River Cuama, there is a certain little Kingdom upon the sea called Angoscia, which taketh the name of certain Islands there so called and lie directly against it. It is inhabited with the like people, both Mahometans and Gentiles, as the Kingdom of Sofala is. Merchants they are, and in small vessels do traffic along that coast, with the same wares and commodities, wherewith the people of Sofala do trade.  
A little beyond, 
The kingdom of Mozambique.  suddenly starteth up in sight the Kingdom of Mozambique, situate in fourteen degrees and a half towards the South, and taketh his name of three Islands, 
R. Meghincate  that lie in the mouth of the River Meghincate, where there is a great haven and a safe, and able to receive all manner of ships. The Realm is but small, and yet aboundeth in all kind of victuals. It is the common landing place for all vessels that sail from Portugal, and from India into that Country. In one of these Isles, which is the chief and principal, called Mozambique, and giveth name to all the rest, as also to the whole kingdom, 
The Island of Mozambique.  and the haven aforesaid, wherein there is erected a Fortress, guarded with a garrison of Portugal's, whereupon all the other Fortresses that are on that Coast do depend, and from whence they fetch all their provision: all the Armadas and Fleets that sail from Portugal to the Indies, if they cannot finish and perform their voyage, will go and winter (I say) in this Island of Mozambique: and those that travel out of India to Europe, are constrained of necessity to touch at Mozambique, to furnish themselves with victuals. This Island, when the Portugal's discovered India, was the first place, where they learned the language of the Indians, & provided themselves of Pilots to direct them in their course. 
The inhabitants of Mozambique.  The people of this kingdom are Gentiles: Rustical and rude they be & of colour black. They go all naked. They are valiant and strong Archers, and cunning Fishers with all kind of hooks.  
As you go on forwards upon the foresaid coasts, there is another Island called Quiloa, 
The kingdom of Quiloa.  in quantity not great, but in excellency singular: For it is situate in a very cool and fresh air: It is replenished with trees that are always green, and affordeth all variety of victuals. It lieth at the mouth of the River Coavo, which springeth out of the same Lake from whence Nilus floweth, and so runneth about sixty miles in length, till it cometh near to the sea, and there it hath a mighty stream, and in the very mouth of it maketh a great Island, which is peopled with Mahometans and Idolaters, and a little beyond that towards the Coast on the West you may see the said Island of Quiloa. This Island is inhabited with Mahometans also, 
The Island of Quiloa, & the inhabitants thereof.  which are of colour something whitish. They are well appareled, & trimly adorned with cloth of silk and Cotton: Their women do use ornaments of Gold, and jewels about their hands and their necks, and have good store of household stuff made of silver. They are not altogether so black as the men are: and in their limbs they are very well proportioned. Their houses are made of Stone, and Lime, & Timber, very well wrought and of good architecture, with gardens and orchards full of herbs and sundry fruits. Of this Island the whole Kingdom took the name, which upon the Coast extendeth itself from Capo Delgado, (the Cape Delicate, that bordereth Mozambique & Quiloa,) & is situate in nine degrees towards the South, & from thence it runneth out unto the aforesaid River of Coavo. In old time the Kingdom of Quiloa was the chiefest of all the Principalities there adjoining, and stood near to the sea: but when the Portugal's arrived in those countries, the King trusted so much to himself, that he thought he was able with his own forces not only to defend himself against them, but also to drive them from those places which they had already surprised. 
The King of Quiloa overthrown by the Portugeses, and driven out of the Island.  Howbeit the matter fell out quite contrary. For when it came to weapons, he was utterly overthrown and discomfited by the Portugeses, and so fled away. But they took and possessed the Island, and enriched themselves with the great spoils and booties that they found therein. They erected there also a Fortress, which was afterward pulled down by the commandment of the King of Portugal, because he thought it not necessary, considering that there were others sufficient enough for that Coast.  
And here we may not leave behind us the Isle of S. Laurence, 
The commendation of the Isle of S. Laurence.  so called by the Portugal's, because they did first discover it upon that Martyr's feast day. It is so great, 
Historia della China. Part. 3. Cap. ultimo. La grand ' Isola di S. Lorenzo lunga 275. leghe & larga 90. id est,  that it containeth in length almost a thousand miles, and standeth right over against the coast which we have described, beginning directly at the mouths of the River Magnice, which are in twenty and six degrees of the South, and so going forwards to the North, it endeth right against the mouths of Cuama in the kingdom of Quiloa. 
The great Island of S. Laurence is in length 275. leagues, and in breadth 90. leagues. The last Chapter of the history of the Kingdom of China, printed in Macao, the first Latin book that ever was printed in China maketh mention of this Island by the name of Madagascar, in these words Madagascar trecentas fere leucas comprehendit, id ist, Madagascar containeth almost 300. leagues.  Between this Island and the firm land there is (as it were) a channel, which at the entry Westward is three hundred and forty miles broad, in the midst where it is narrowest over against the Island of Mozambiche an hundred and seventy miles, and for the rest it enlargeth itself very much towards India, and containeth many Isles within it. The ships that go from Spain into India, or return from India to Spain, do always for the most part pass and sail in and through this channel, if by time or weather they be not forced to the contrary. And surely this Island deserveth to be inhabited with a better people, because it is furnished with singular commodities. For it hath many safe & sure havens. It is watered with sundry Rivers that cause the earth to bring forth fruits of divers kinds, as Pulse, and Rice, and other grain, Oranges, Lemons, Citrons, and such like fruit. Flesh of all sorts, as Hens etc. and venison, as wild Boar and Deer, and such like, & all this of a very good taste and relish, 
The inhabitants of the Isle of Saint Laurence.  because the soil is very fat: their fish also is exceeding good. The inhabitants are Pagans, with some of the sect of Mahomet among them. They are of the colour which the Spaniards call Mulato, 
Their weapons  between black and white. Very warlike they are & given to their weapons, which are bows and arrows, and darts of very light wood, strengthened with Iron, whereof they make the heads of their darts, which are crooked like hooks: and these they will cast and throw most slightly and cunningly. They use also Targets and jacks that are made of certain beastsskins, wherewith they save themselves in fight from the blows of their enemies. This Island is divided among several Princes, that are at enmity one with another: for they are in continual wars, and persecute one another with Arms. There are divers mines of Gold, of Silver, of Copper, of Iron, and of other Metals, The savage people do not use to sail out of the Island, but only from one side to the other they go coasting along the shores, with certain barks that are made but of one stock of a tree, which they hollow for that purpose. The most part of them do not willingly entertain strangers, neither will they consent that they should traffic or converse with them. Notwithstanding in certain ports, the Portugal's do use to trade with the Islanders for Amber, 
Sundry Islands in the channel  Wax, Silver, Copper, Rise, and such other things, but they never come upon the land. In the channel before mentioned there are divers Islands, some greater, and some less, inhabited with Mahometans. The chief of them is the Isle of Saint Christopher, and then of Santo Spirito: & another called Magliaglie, and so the rest, as the Isles of Comoro, 
The kingdom of Mombaza rich in Gold & Silver, and Pearl.  Anzoame, Maiotto, and some other.  
But let us return to the sea side, and prosecute the Coast of the kingdom of Quiloa where we left. Next unto it, is the kingdom of Mombaza, in the height of three degrees and a half towards the South, which taketh the name from an Island inhabited with Mahometans, which is also called Mombaza, where there is a fair City, with houses that have many Sollars, furnished with pictures both graven and painted. The king thereof is a Mahometan, 
The city of Mombaza spoiled as Quiloa was.  who taking upon him to resist the Portugal's, received the same success that happened to the king of Quiloa, so that the city was ransacked & spoiled by his enemies, who found therein good store of Gold, and Silver, and Pearl, and Cloth of Cotton, and of Silk, and of Gold, and such other commodities. This kingdom lieth between the borders of Quiloa, and Melinde, and is inhabited with Pagans and Mahometans, and yieldeth obedience to the Empire of Mohenemugi.  
A little beyond, 
The kingdom of Melinde.  is the Kingdom of Melinde, which being likewise but a little one, extendeth itself upon the sea coast as far as the River Chimanchi, and lieth in the height of two degrees and a half: and up the stream of that river it reacheth to the Lake Calais, the space of an hundred miles within land. near unto the sea along the banks of this river, there is a great deal of Country inhabited by Pagans and Mahometans, 
The tail of a sheep in Melinde weigheth commonly 25. or 30. pound.  of colour almost white. Their houses are built after our fashion. But there is one particularity to be admired, that their Muttons or Sheep are twice as great as the Sheep of our country: for they divide them into five quarters, 
Leo Aser affirmeth that he hath seen tails of Egyptian Sheep, that weighed 50. l. a piece, and sometimes 120. l. a piece.  (if a man may so call them) & reckon the tail for one, which commonly weigheth some twenty and five, or thirty pound. The women are white and sumptuously dressed after the Arabian fashion, with cloth of Silk. About their necks and hands, and arms, and feet, they use to wear jewels of Gold, and Silver: When they go abroad out of their houses, 
The women & inhabitants of Melinde.  they cover themselves with Taffeta, so that they are not known but when they list themselves. In this Country there is a very good haven, which is a landing place for the vessels that sail through those seas. Generally, the people are very kind, true and trusty, and converse with strangers. They have always entertained and welcomed the Portugeses, and have reposed great confidence in them, neither have they ever offered them any wrong in any respect.  
In the sea between these two Capes of Mombaza, 
Three Isles 1. Monsie. 2. Zanzibar▪ 3. Pemba.  and Melinde there are three Isles: The first is called Monsie, the second Zanzibar, and the third Pemba, all inhabited only with Mahometans, that are of colour white. These Isles abound in all things as the others do, whereof we made mention before. These people are somewhat inclined to arms: but they are in deed more addicted to dress & manure their ground: For there groweth much Sugar, which in small barks they carry away to sell into the firm land with other fruits of that Country.  
Besides these three realms last described, Quiloa, Melinde, and Mombaza, within the Land is the great Empire of Moenemugi, towards the West. It bordereth upon the South, 
The Empire of Mohenemugi.  with the kingdom of Mozambique, and with the Empire of Monomotapa to the river Coavo, upon the West with the river Nilus, between the two Lakes; and upon the North it joineth with the Empire of Prete Gianni. Towards the sea, this Emperor standeth in good terms of peace with the foresaid kings of Quiloa, Melinde, and Mombaza, by reason of their traffic together, and the better to secure the intercourse and trade by sea: by means whereof they have brought unto them much cloth of Cotton, and cloth of Silk from divers Countries, and other merchandises that are well esteemed in these parts: and particularly certain little balls, that are made in the kingdom of Cambaia, of a kind of Bitumen or clammy Clay, like unto glass, but that it is (as it were) of a red colour, which they use to wear about their necks, like a pair of beads in steed of necklaces. It serveth them also in steed of Money, for of Gold they make none account. Likewise with the silks that are brought unto them, they do apparel themselves from the girdle downwards. In exchange and barter of all these commodities, they give Gold, Silver, Copper and ivory.  
But on the other side towards Monomotapa, there are continual wars, yea and sometimes so bloody, that it is hardly discerned who hath gotten the victory. For in that border there meet together two of the greatest and most warlike powers and forces that are in all those regions: that is to say, on the party of Monomotapa there came forth into the field the Amazons, of whom we told you before, and on the party of Mohenemugi are the Giacchi, (as the Moci-Conghi do call them) but in their own tongue they are called Agagi, 
The Giaechas, or Agagi.  who did sometime so greatly afflict the kingdom of Congo, as you may remember. Neither are these people less courageous or strong than the Amazons, but are of a black complexion, and presumptuous countenances. They do use to mark themselves above the lip upon their cheeks with certain lines which they make with Iron instruments and with fire. Moreover, they have a custom to turn their eye lids backwardly: so that their skin being all black, and in that blackness showing the white of their eyes, and those marks in their faces, it is a strange thing to behold them. For it is in deed a very dreadful & devilish sight. They are of body great, but deformed and live like beasts in the field, and feed upon man's flesh. In fight they show themselves exceedingly courageous, and do utter most horrible shouting and crying, of purpose to daunt and affray their enemies. Their weapons are Darts, and Pavises of Leather that cover all their whole body, and so defend themselves therewith. Sometimes they will encamp together, and stick their Pavises in the ground, which are unto them in steed of a trench: Sometimes they will go forwards in the battle, and shroud themselves under them, and yet annoy their adversaries with the shot of their darts. And thus by warlike policy they do ordinarily plague their enemies, by endeavouring with all subtlety to make them spend their shot in vain upon their Targets: and when they see that they have made an end of shooting, then do they renew the battle a fresh, and driving them to flight, make a cruel slaughter of them without all mercy. And this is the manner which they use against their enemies, 
The amazons▪  and the Amazons. But the Amazons on the other side, which are very well acquainted herewithal, do fight against them with other military stratagems (as we have above declared) and do overcome the forces of their adversaries with their swiftness and great skill in matters of war. For they do assure themselves, that if they be taken they shallbe devoured: and therefore with doubled courage they fight for life, that they might overcome, and in any case save their lives from that fierce and cruel nation. And in this sort do they maintain continual war, always with great mortality on both sides. These agag's dwell at the beginning of the River Nilus, (where it runneth Northwards out of the Lake,) upon both the banks of the River, till it come to a certain limit, wherein they are bounded, and then Westwards all over the banks of the said Nilus, even to the second Lake, & to the borders of the empire of Prete-Gianni. Touching these agag's, I thought it convenient in this place to add all this, which before I had omitted. Between the confines of this Moenemugi, and Prete-Gianni, there are sundry other petty Lords, and people that are of a white colour, and yield obedience sometimes to one of these two Princes, and sometimes to the other. They are men of a far greater stature than all the rest of the people in those Countries.   

Chap. 10. The rest of the Coast of the Ocean to the red Sea. Of the Empire of Prete Gianni, and the Confines thereof. Of the famous River Nilus, and the original spring thereof.  
ANd now to return to our former treatise of the coast, beyond the Realm of Melinde, towards the Cape of Guarda-Fuy, there are many places inhabited with Mahometans, all along the sea side, of colour being white. Upon this shore there are divers good havens, 
Many good havens.  where the ships of sundry countries do traffic with the foresaid merchandises. The first of these places is called Patee, the second Brava, the third Magadoxo, the fourth Affion, 
The Cape of Guarda Fuy.  and the last is the famous Promontory and Cape of Guarda-Fuy: which because it is very great, and jutteth out a good way into the sea, is well known to all sailors that come from India, and from Ormuz, & from Arabia Foelix. It is the place and harbour where the Portugal's are wont to attend, and yearly with their navies to watch for the vessels of the Mahometans, that being laden with precious merchandises, do sail into those parts without their licence, they being the Lords of the traffic and trade for spicery and all other commodities that are brought from India. So that every year the Portugal Fleet doth take great prizes of merchants ships in that place, as the English and the French do at Cape Saint Vincent.  
After you have compassed about the foresaid Cape of Guarda-Fuy, 
divers Ports on the sea coast towards the Red Sea.  toward the red sea, you shall come to other Towns and havens of the Mahometans. The first of them is called Methe, and another beyond that called Barbora. And this is the furthest place, wherein you shall find any people with white skins: for here the men begin to be all black. Then there is Ceila, & Dalaca, and Malaca, and Carachin: and all this Coast is called in that Country language Baragiam. The people that inhabit therein are all black, valiant in arms, and appareled from the girdle downwards with cloth of Cotton: but those that are of the best account among them do wear upon their shoulders certain cloaks with hoods, called Bernussi, such as the old Romans used, and were termed Saga Romana. It aboundeth in Gold, and in ivory, and in Metals, & in victuals of all sorts.  
Then follow the mouths or entrances into the red Gulf, 
The Red Sea.  otherwise called the Red Sea, well known to every man. In number they are two, caused by an Island that lieth between them, and is called Babelmandel. The one of them towards the West is fifteen miles broad, 
The two entrances into the red sea.  and hath a deep channel, and through this do all the great ships enter: the other is a little one, and containeth in breadth but five miles, and yet is full of shallows and shelves of sand, and some Rocks: so that the whole mouth is but thirty miles in all. The one Cape on the side of Africa is called Rosbel, and the other towards Arabia Foelix, is Ara. From this place all the Western Coast of the said Gulf runneth up to Suez, 
The length of the red sea, 1200, miles.  which is the farthest town thereof Northwards, and is distant from these mouths twelve hundred miles. All this Gulf, both on the one side and on the other near to the banks, is much pestered with Islettes and shelves that are very shallow, and affordeth free and safe navigation but only in the midst. For the sea following the motion & stream of the Ocean, with great swiftness doth keep the channel and the bottom in the middle, very clean and neat, by casting up the filth and sand upon the banks on both sides.  
And now forasmuch as we are to speak of the Empire of Prete Gianni, 
The Empire of Prete Gianni.  who is the greatest and the richest Prince in all Africa, let us tell you in brief, that his State and Government at this day reacheth from the two mouths of the red sea, unto the Island of Syene, which is under the tropic of Cancer, excepting the Coasts of the said sea. For about fifty years ago he lost them by negligence, and suffered the Turk to take them from him. So that the Confines of his estate are these, viz. towards the north-east, and the East, the greater part of the Red Sea: towards the North, Egypt: towards the West, the Deserts of Nubia, and towards the South the country of Mohenemugi: & so in a gross and general account, the Empire of this Christian King may happily be in compass some four thousand miles. The principal City, where he most remaineth and keepeth his Court, 
Bel-Malechi his chief City.  is called Bel-Malechi. He ruleth over many Provinces that have their several Kings. 
He is very rich.  His estate is very rich, and aboundeth in Gold, in Silver, in precious stones, and in all sorts of metals. His people are of divers colours, as white, black, and a middle colour between both: they are of a very good stature, and have good countenances. His Courtiers and Lords are appareled with cloth of Silk, and adorned with Gold and sundry jewels. There is among them a law for apparel, 
A law for apparel.  according to the several degrees of men. For certain persons there are, for whom it is not lawful to wear any other garment, but such as are made of dressed skins.  
These people are in a manner Christians. 
His people are Christians.  For they do observe certain ceremonies of the Law of the Hebrews. 
A great solemnity upon the feast of the Assumption of our Lady.  Upon the Feast day of our Lady in August, all the Kings and principal Lords assemble themselves together in the City aforesaid, to celebrate that feast, every man bringing with him his tribute that he oweth to the King, and the people coming from all parts in pilgrimage to perform this their devotion. They have a very solemn procession, and out of the Church, from whence they walk, they carry with them an Image of the Blessed Virgin the Mother of God, which is as big as any common person, and all of Gold. This Image hath for the eyes two very rich and great Rubies, all the rest of the body is garnished & adorned with jewels and curious works: and it is carried upon a frame made of Gold, of a wonderful and admirable workmanship. In this procession also, there cometh abroad in public show Prete Gianni, himself, either upon a Chariot of Gold, or else upon an Elephant, all garnished and trimmed with jewels, and such rare and precious things, and covered all over with cloth of Gold. The multitude of people that runneth to see this Image, is so great, that many are stifled in the press and die thereupon.  
This King is called by a corrupt term Prete jani, 
The right name of Prete Gianni.  for the right name is Bel-Gian. Now Bel signifieth that which is chiefest, perfectest, and excellentest in anything, and Gian is a Prince, or a Lord, and is applied to every man that hath a Government and jurisdiction, and therefore Belgian is as much to say, as The Chiefest Prince: and being so joined together in one word, it appertaineth to the King alone, and to no man else. He beareth also the surname of David, as the Emperors of Rome do use the name of Caesar's.  
Now it remaineth that we do discourse of the river Nilus, 
The River Nilus.  which doth not spring in the Country of Bel-Gian, much less out of the mountains of the Moon, nor (as Ptolemy writeth) out of the two Lakes, 
Ptolemie disproved.  which he setteth down in Parallel, from the East to the West, with a distance of about four hundred and fifty miles between them. For in the altitude of the same Pole, wherein the said Author placeth those two Lakes, lieth also the kingdom of Congo and of Angola towards the West, and and on the other side Eastward is the Empire of Monomotapa, and the Kingdom of Sofala, with a distance from sea to sea of twelve hundred miles. Now within all this space, as Signior Odoardo affirmed unto me, there is but one only Lake to be found, which lieth in the confines of Angola and Monomotapa, and containeth in Diameter an hundred ninety and five miles. Of the Western side of this Lake, the people of Angola do give sufficient information, and of the other side Eastward, those of Sofala and Monomotapa. So that there is a full and perfect knowledge of this one Lake, but of any other thereabouts, there is no mention at all made: And therefore it may well be concluded, that there are none other to be found in that altitude of degrees, True it is in deed, that there are two Lakes, but they are situate in places quite contrary to that which Ptolemie writeth. For he (as it hath been told you) placeth his Parallels from West to East: but these are situate from the South to the North, as it were in a direct line, with the distance of about four thousand miles between them. Some that dwell in those countries do hold an opinion, 
Nilus doth not hide himself under the ground, and then arise again, as some say.  that Nilus after it is issued out of the first Lake, hideth itself under the ground, and afterwards riseth again: but others do deny that it is so. Signior Odoardo did justify it to me, that the true history and certainty of this matter, is that Nilus doth not hide itself under the ground, but that it runneth through monstrous and desert valleys without any settled channel, and where no people inhabiteth, 
The true spring of Nilus is out of the first Lake▪  and so (they say) it sinketh into the bottom of the earth.  
From this first Lake in deed doth Nilus' spring, which lieth in twelve degrees towards the Pole Antarctike, & is compassed about like a vault, with exceeding high mountains, the greatest whereof are called Cafates upon the East, 
The second Lake.  and the hills of Sal-Nitrum, and the hills of Silver on another side, and lastly with divers other Mountains on the third part. This River Nilus runneth for the space of 400. miles directly towards the North, and then entereth into another very great Lake which the inhabitants do call a Sea. It is much bigger than the first, for it containeth in breadth two hundred and twenty miles, and lieth under the line Equinoctial. Of this second Lake the Anzichi, who are near neighbours to Congo, do give very certain and perfect information, for they traffic into those parts. 
The people that dwelleth about the second Lake.  And they report that in this Lake there is a people, that saileth in great ships, and can write, and useth number, and weight and measure, which they have not in the parts of Congo; that they build their houses with stone and lime, and that for their fashions and qualities they may be compared with the Portugal's. Whereupon it may be well gathered, that the Empire of Prete-Gianni cannot be far from thence.  
From this second Lake the river Nilus runneth forwards to the Island of Meroe, 
The Island of Meroe.  for the space of seven hundred miles, and receiveth into it sundry other rivers. 
The R. Coluez.  The principal of them all is the river Coluez, so called, because it issueth out of a Lake of the same name, and situate in the borders of Melinde. After that Nilus is come to Meroe, it divideth itself into two branches, and so compasseth about a good high Territory, which is called Meroe▪ Upon the right hand whereof towards the East, there runneth a River named Abagni, 
The R. Abagni.  that springeth out of the Lake Bracina, and crosseth over the Empire of Prete Gianni till you come to the said Island: and on the other side Westward there are divers other Rivers, 
The R. Saraboe.  among which Saraboe is one. When Nilus hath thus received these rivers into it, & hath compassed the Island with both his arms, he waxeth greater than he was before, and meeteth again in one channel, and by Aethiopia (which is called Aethiopia above Egypt) runneth to the Falls (as they call them) which lie in a very low valley, that is very narrow and strait, and shutteth the river within a very little channel, 
The Isle of Syene.  so that it falleth from aloft downwards with a most horrible noise, near to the Isle of Syene. And from thence watering all Egypt, it disgorgeth his streams into the Mediterranean sea, 
The two branches of Nilus falling into the Mediterranean sea.  (which lieth directly over against the Island of Cyprus) by two of his principal branches, the one called at this day, the Mouth of Damiata on the East, and the other, the Mouth of Rossetto on the West.  
And forasmuch as we are now come to the very end of this discourse concerning Nilus, it will be very convenient, 
The cause of the increase of Nilus.  that we touch in brief the occasion of his increase. As we have told you before, the principal cause of the increase of Nilus, is the great quantity of waters, that rain from heaven at such time as the spring beginneth here in these countries, but there with them in winter, which may be (to speak generally) about the beginning of April. This water falleth not, as the water falleth in these Regions of Europe, but it falleth most abundantly, and cometh down not in small drops like our rain, but is powered down (as it were with pails and buckets.) So that because it falleth with so great violence and in so great a quantity, the earth cannot suck it up, nor drink it in: for the ground being ragged, and somewhat bending downward, the water scoureth away with an exceeding fury, and running into the rivers causeth them to swell and to rise in a marvelous manner, and so overflow the country: You must herewithal consider especially, that they have these continual rains for the space of five whole Moons together, that is to say in April, May, june, july, and August, but principally in May, june and july: for then are the waters in their greatest pride. And hereupon it cometh to pass, that the Country being full of mountains and very high hills (as hath been told you) and consequently replenished with divers brooks, and rillets, and Lakes, they all joining and meeting together in the channels of the greater Rivers, do make them so great and so large, that they contain and carry more water, than all the Rivers of the universal world: and the Lakes grow to such an excessive compass and wideness, that it is a wonder: as may be seen in the discourse touching the Cape of Good-Hope, and all these kingdoms of Congo, and the Countries there adjoining, where there are Lakes of so extraordinary a bigness, that in the languages of those Regions, they are not called Lakes, but Seas.  
And thus you see how the River Nilus, in the times and seasons before mentioned, 
The several courses of sundry great Rivers.  on the one side doth run most furiously from those Countries, into the North to water Egypt, and the River Zaire, and the River Nigir on the other side Westward and Eastward: and towards the South, other huge and monstrous Rivers, which at certain determined and limited times do never fail to increase as Nilus doth. And this is the effect of them, which is ordinarily seen every year, especially in Cairo, and over all Egypt, where Nilus beginneth to rise about the end of june, and continueth his rising till the twentieth of September, as I have seen myself. But the occasion and cause of this increase hath been until this present time very secret and obscure: 
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. 1. The River that falleth from head. Hom. Odis. 4.  and although the ancient writers, beginning even at Homer, have after a sort and in general terms left in writing, that Nilus doth increase by rain, yet have they not so distinctly and plainly discoursed thereof, as Signior Odoardo hath done, and testified the same by his own view and knowledge. For some there were, that have assigned the cause of this overflowing, to be the rain that cometh from the Mountains of the Moon: Others have attributed it to the snows that are melted in those Mountains, & yet Nilus doth not swell or rise any thing near to the Mountains of the Moon, but a great way from them towards the North: and besides that the season of winter doth rather breed Snow, then yield any heat to melt it.  
And now that I have with good diligence inquired of Signior Odoardo these matters above written, 
The conclusion of this book.  upon such points as I had before plotted to myself, and he also propounding the rest unto me of his own mere motion, like a man of high conceit (as in truth he is) and satisfying me with such answers, as are set down in this discourse: yet I do assure myself, that every man will not rest fully contented and satisfied herewith, especially such as are curious, and practised in matters of the world, and skilful in the Sciences. The Geographer would peradventure desire to understand more, and the Physician, and the master of Minerals, and the Historiographer, and the Merchant, and the Mariner, and the Preacher, and some others that are different from these in respect of their profession. But Signior Odoardo hath promised with as much speed as possible he may to return to Rome from Congo, whether he sailed, presently after he had finished this treatise, which was in May 1589. with very ample informations and further instructions, for the supplying of that which here wanteth touching Nilus, and his original, and such other matter. In the mean time, that little which is contained in these few leaves, is not very little. But yet if perhaps there be any thing found therein, that may be either profitable, or strange, or delightful, or fit to pass away the time, and to drive away Melancholy, let it be wholly ascribed to the right noble and Reverend Father, my Lord Antony Migliore, Bishop of San Marco, and Commendador of Santo Spirito, who was the author of this work to be published for the common benefit.  
FINIS.    


A TABLE OF THE CHAPTERS Contained in the first Book of The Report of the Kingdom of Congo.  
THe journey by Sea from Lisbon to the Kingdom of Congo. Chap. I. fol. 1.  
Of the temperature of the air of the kingdom of Congo, and whether it be very cold or hot: whether the men be white or black: Whether are more or less black, they that dwell in the hills, or those that dwell in the plains: Of the winds and the rains, and the snows in those quarters, and of what stature and semblance the men of that Country are. Chapter II. fol. 13.  
Whether the children which are begotten by Portugal's being of a white skin, and borne in those Countries by the women of Congo, be black or white, or tawny like a wild Olive, whom the Portugal's call Mulati. Chap. III. fol 18.  
Of the circuit of the kingdom of Congo, and of the borders and confines thereof. And first of the Western Coast. Chap. FOUR fol. 20.  
Of the North coast of the Kingdom of Congo, and the confines thereof. Chap. V fol. 30.  
Of the East coast of the Kingdom of Congo, and the Confines thereof. Chap. VI fol. 38  
Of the Confines of the Kingdom of Congo towards the South. Chap. VII. fol. 43.  
Of the circuit of the Kingdom of Congo possessed by the King that now is, according to the four borders above described. Chap. VIII fol. 58.  
The six Provinces of the Kingdom of Congo, and first of the Province of Bamba. Chap. IX. fol. 60.  
Of the Province of Sogno, which is the Country of the River Zaire, and Loango. Chap. X. fol. 94.  
Of the third Province ealed Sundi, Chap. XI. fol. 96.  
Of the fourth Province called Pango. Chap. XII. fol. 99  
Of the fifth Province called Batta. Chap. XIII. fol. 100  
Of the sixth and last Province called Pemba. Chap. XIIII. fol. 104   

A Table of the Chapters contained in the second Book.  
OF the situation of the Royal City of the Kingdom of Congo. Chap. 1. fol. 107  
Of the Original beginning of Christendom in the Kingdom of Congo, and how the Portugal's obtained this traffic. Chap. II. fol. 118.  
Don john, the first Christian King being dead, Don Alfonso his son succeeded. Of his wars against his brother. Of certain miracles that were wrought, and of the conversion of those people. Chap. III. fol. 133.  
The death of King Don Alfonso, and the succession of Don Piedro. How the Island of S. Thomas was first inhabited, & of the Bishop that was sent thither. Other great accidents that happened by occasion of Religion. The death of two Kings by the conspiracy of the Portugal's, and the Lords of Congo. How the King's lineage was quite extinguished. The banishment of the Portugeses. Chap. FOUR fol. 150.  
The incursions of the people called Giachas, in the Kingdom of Congo. Their conditions and weapons. And the taking of the Royal City. Chap. V fol. 159.  
The King of Portugal sendeth aid, and an Ambassador to the King of Congo. The knowledge of the metal Mines, which abound in Congo is denied the King of Portugal. At the same time the King of Congo dispatcheth Ambassadors to the King of Spain, to request Priests of him, and what befell unto them. He sendeth divers proofs of the metals. The vow of Odoardo Lopes. Chap. VI fol. 163  
Of the Court of the King of Congo. Of the apparel of that people before they became Christians and after. Of the kings Table, and manner of his Court. Chap. VII. fol. 177  
Of the Countries that are beyond the Kingdom of Congo towards the Cape of Good-Hope▪ and of the River Nilus. Chap. VIII. fol. 186  
Of the Kingdom of Sofala. Chap. 19 fol. 192  
The rest of the Coast of the Ocean the red sea. Of the Empire of Prete Gianni, and the Confines thereof. Of the famous River Nilus, and the original spring thereof. Chap. X. fol. 215.   
FINIS.