The Depth Of Water Is Eight Or Nine Fathom With An Ouze Bottom.
The Proper Entrance Into This Port Is
On the north-east by the middle of
the channel, between the island and the main; because from the point
Which runneth to the E.N.E. a shoal projects towards the land, and the
continental point of the bay hath another projecting towards the point
of the island, both of which make it necessary for ships to avoid the
land and to keep the mid-channel, which is very narrow and runs N.E. and
S.W. Very near this island of Massua, towards the south and the
south-west, there are two other islands, that nearest the main land
being the larger, and that more out to sea being smaller and very round.
These three islands form a triangle, being all very flat and barren,
having no wells or springs; but in Massua are many cisterns for the use
of the inhabitants. There are many shoals interspersed among these
islands, but there is a channel through among them, through which
gallies and rowing vessels may pass at full sea. This island of Massua,
with all the coast from Cape Guardafu to Swakem, was only a short
time before under the dominion of Prester John; but within these few
years the king or sheikh of Dallac hath usurped it, and resides there
the greater part of the year, because of the trade which he carries on
with the Abyssinians, from whom he procures great quantities of gold and
ivory. In the months of May and June, in consequence of excessive calm
weather, the air of this island is exceedingly intemperate and
unhealthy; at which season the sheikh and the other inhabitants go all
to Dallac, leaving Massua entirely empty. All the coast of the bay of
Massua on the main-land is extremely mountainous, till you come to a
place called Arkiko[278] by the sea-side, where there are many wells
of water, where the coast is more clear and open, with many fields and
plains. Arkiko is about a league from Massua to the south, and through
all these mountains and fields there are many wild beasts, as elephants,
tygers, wolves, wild boars, stags, and elks, besides others not known to
us; whence Massua was called Ptolomaida of the wild beasts, which is
farther confirmed, as the latitude of Massua is the same as that
assigned to Ptolomaida[279].
[Footnote 278: Arkiko, Arkoko, or Erkoko, by some erroneously called
Erocco, and by De L'Isle, Arcua. In the edition of this journal by
Purchas it is called Arquito. - Ast.]
[Footnote 279: These are no proofs that Massua is on the spot formerly
occupied by Ptolomaida; for the whole coast of Abyssinia is full of wild
beasts, and since Ptolomy fixed the latitude solely by computed
distances, it is next to impossible that these should exactly agree with
real observations. - Ast.]
SECTION IV.
Digression respecting the History, Customs, and State of Abyssinia.
Presbyter or Prester John, otherwise called Prete Jani, who is the
king or emperor of the Abyssinians, is lord of all the land called
anciently Ethiopia sub Egypto[280], or Lower Ethiopia; which is one of
the most extensive dominions we know of in the world. This empire begins
at Cape Guardafu, called anciently Aromata, whence running along the
Red Sea, with desert and not very crooked coasts, it reaches to the
boundaries of the rich city of Swakem. On the north side it borders on
the warlike people of the Nubys, Nuba, or Nubians, who intervene
between Abyssinia and the Theabaid or Upper Egypt. From thence it
reaches a great way inland to the kingdom of Manicongo, including part
of Lybia Inferior, and other interior parts of Africa towards the
west; whence turning behind the springs and lakes of the Nile through
burning and unknown regions, it endeth in the south upon the Barbarian
Gulf, now known to the Portuguese who navigate that gulf, as the coasts
of Melinda and Magadoxa. The Nile is still known by its ancient
name, being called Nil by the Abyssinians, Egyptians, Arabians, and
Indians. The springs and lakes of this river are on the confines which
separate the land of the Abyssinians from the Cafres that inhabit the
continent behind Melinda and Mozambique, as I was informed by some great
lords and other persons of Abyssinia, whence it appears that the
ancients had little knowledge respecting the origin of this river.
Inquiring from these people, if it were true that this river did sink in
many places into the earth, and came out again at the distance of many
days journey, I was assured there was no such thing, but that during its
whole course it was seen on the surface, having great breadth and depth,
notwithstanding of what we read in the fifth book of the Natural
History of Pliny. I made many inquiries respecting the causes of
increase and overflowings of this river, which has been so much disputed
by all the ancient philosophers, and received the most satisfactory
solution of this question never before determined. Thus almost
jestingly, and by means of very simple questions, I came to learn that
which the greatest philosophers of antiquity were ignorant of.
[Footnote 280: That is Ethiopia below Egypt, or more properly to the
south of Egypt. The expression below seems ridiculous, as Abyssinia
or Ethiopia containing the sources of the Nile must be higher than
Egypt at its mouth. But among Greek and Roman geographers, above and
below meant respectively to the north and to the south. - E.]
The principal lords of Abyssinia informed me, that in their country the
winter began in May, and lasted all June and July and part of August, in
which latter month the weather becomes mild and pleasant. In June and
July it is a great wonder if the sun ever make his appearance; and in
these two months so great and continual are the rains that the fields
and low grounds are entirely overflown, so that the people cannot go
from one place to another.
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