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.
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