Chapter XXI: Front Matter (21)

In the month of _October_ an embassador of _Ethiopia_ came to _Cairo_, with several presents for the Grand Signior, and among others an ass that had a most delicate skin, if it was natural, for I will not vouch for that, since I did not examine it. This ass had a black list down the back, and the rest of it’s body was all begirt with white and tawny streaks, a finger broad a piece; the head of it was extraordinary long, striped and partly colour’d as the rest of the body; it’s ears like a buffle’s, were very wide at the end, and black, yellow, and white; it’s legs streaked just like the body, not long ways, but round the leg, in fashion of a garter, down to the foot, and all in so good proportion and simetry, that no lynx could be more exactly spotted, nor any skin of a tyger so pretty, this may be the _Zembra_. The embassador had two more such asses, which dy’d by the way, but he brought their skin with him, to be presented to the Grand Signior, with the live one. He had also several little black slaves of _Nubia_, and other countries, confining on _Ethiopia_, _Civet_, and other costly things for his present. These little blacks serve to look after the women in the Seraglio, after that they are gelded. The embassador was an old man, and had the end of his nose, part of the upper and under lip cut off, but was otherwise a shapely man, and of a very good presence; he was cloathed after the _Coptish_ fashion, wearing a turban like them, and spoke very good _Italian_, which gave me the opportunity of conversing with him; he told me his name was _Michael_, that he was a native of _Tripoly_ in _Syria_, and that he had made three or four voyages into Christendom; that eighteen months before he had parted from _Gontar_, the capital city of _Ethiopia_, and was so long retarded by the way, because of the contrary winds he met with on the Red Sea, by which he came. That of an hundred persons whom he had brought along with him, of his own servants, and the slaves he was to present to the Grand Signior, thirty or forty were dead. If he had come by land, he had not been so long by the way; for from _Gontar_ to _Schouaquen_ it is about six weeks journey, and from _Schouaquen_ to _Cairo_ forty or fifty days by camels; but he could not take that way because of his train. He told me many things relating to the kingdom of _Ethiopia_, which I shall here give the reader an account of.

But first, of the ways of passing out of _Egypt_ into _Ethiopia_. The Merchants setting out from Grand _Cairo_, are carry’d up the _Nile_ against the stream, as far as _Monfallot_, and thence travelling in Caravans, first come to _Siint_, and so in order to the following towns: _Wack_ three days journey; _Meks_ two days; _Scheb_ three; _Sellim_ three; _Moschu_ five; _Dungala_ five, accounted to be the Metropolis of _Nubia_, then they come into the kingdom of _Sennar_; from _Dungala_ they travel to _Kshabi_, three days journey; _Korti_ three more; _Trere_ three; _Gerry_ one; _Helfage_ one; _Arbatg_ three; _Sennar_ four; from _Sennar_ in fourteen days they arrive at the confines of _Habessinia_, the entrance is call’d _Tshelga_. The passage by sea is various, for the Merchants embark in several ports on the Red Sea, as _Suesso_, _Gidda_, _Alcossir_, and so coast it to _Suaquena_ and _Matzua_. The safest way of travelling into the kingdom of _Prester John_, is with some metropolitan or embassador. Some land at _Baylar_, a port belonging to the King of _Dengala_, in amity with the _Habessins_, but the journey thence by land is tedious, and infested by the _Gallons_. ’Tis but three months travel by land from Grand _Cairo_ to _Gontar_, the chief city of _Ethiopia_.

_Of ~Ethiopia~: By ~Michael~ of ~Tripoly~, Embassador from the ~Habessine~ Emperor to the Grand Signior._

_Ethiopia_, or the country of the _Abyssins_, called in _Arabic Abesch_, from whence comes the word _Abyssin_, is a great empire, being above seven months travel in circuit: On the east side it is bordered by the Red Sea, and _Zanguebar_, on the south with _Zeila_, _Avousa_, _Naria_, _&c._ On the west by the country of the _Negroes_ and _Nubia_, and on the north, with the country of _Nubia_ and _Bugia_, because to come from _Ethiopia_ into _Egypt_, one must cross _Nubia_ down the _Nile_. About an hundred years ago, _Greyu Mahomet_, King of _Zeila_, of which the inhabitants are all _Moors_, invaded _Ethiopia_, and forced the King to save himself on a mountain, from whence he sent to demand assistance of the King of _Portugal_, who immediately sent it him, but hardly was he who commanded these auxiliaries enter’d the country, when he resolved to return back again, finding that they eat raw flesh there: However, his brother Don _Christopher_ had more courage, and would not return without doing some exploit: He marched up into the country with about three hundred musqueteers, fought, vanquished, and killed the _Moorish_ King, and then re-established the lawful King of _Ethiopia_: For reward of which service, the King of _Ethiopia_ gave lands and estates to all the _Portuguese_ that staid within his dominions, and their offspring are still in that country. The father of this present King was a Catholic, but he dying about thirty odd years ago, the Queen his wife, who was a great enemy to the _Jesuits_, and no Catholic, and who suffered impatiently, that they should govern, as they pleased, the late King her husband, wrought upon her son that succeeded him, to persecute all the _Roman_ Catholics, in such a manner, that the _Jesuits_ were obliged to make their escape, and he put to death all the Capuchins whom he found. Since that time, three Capuchins more were put to death at _Schouaken_; for the King of _Ethiopia_ knowing that they had a mind to come into his kingdom, sent to the Governor of _Schouaken_ praying him to put to death those three religious _Franks_. The Governor of _Schouaken_, caused their heads to be immediately struck off, and sent them to the King of _Ethiopia_, who, as a reward, made him a present of three bags of gold dust, promising him as many bags of gold dust, as he should send him heads of _Franks_. And fifteen or sixteen years since, two others have been put to death in the province of _Oinadaga_, whose names were Father _Fioravanti_, and Father _Francesco_. In short, this King is a declared enemy to all _Franks_, whom he accuses of being heretics, and of having conspired to put the crown upon the head of one of his enemies: So that a _Frank_ who would go into that country, must pass for an _Armenian_ or _Cophte_, for the King and his people are of the _Cophtish_ Religion. They believe but one nature in _Jesus Christ_. At the end of eight days they circumcise as the _Jews_ do, and baptize a fortnight after. Before the _Jesuits_ went thither, they baptized none before they were thirty or forty years of age. They say mass as the _Cophtes_ do, but their church books are in the _Ethiopic_ language. Their Patriarch depends on the Patriarch of _Alexandria_, and when the Patriarch of the _Abyssines_ dies, they send deputies to _Alexandria_, to entreat the Patriarch to send them another, and he convocating his Clergy, chuses out the fittest among them, whom he sends, but is never any more heard of in _Egypt_, till he be dead.

There are four Kings that pay tribute to the King of _Ethiopia_, to wit, the King of _Sennar_, who pays his tribute in horses. _Sennar_ is a very hot country. The King of _Naria_, who pays his tribute in gold. The King of _Bugia_, and King of _Dangala_. _Naria_ is a good country, and in that country are the mines out of which they have the gold that passes on the coasts of _Soffala_ and _Guiney_. These mines are not deep, as in many other countries. From that country also comes the civet. I think it will not be amiss here to say somewhat of Civets, which so rare in our country, as that they deserve to be taken notice of where one can find them. They are called Civet Cats, come from _Naria_, (as I just now said) and are taken in snares. The _Jews_ in _Cairo_ keep many of them in their houses, where for buying a few drachms of civet one may see them. It is a beast almost as big as a good Dog: It hath a sharp snout, small eyes, little ears, and mustachios like a Cat: The skin of it is all spotted black and white, with some yellowish specks, and hath a long bushy tail, almost like a Fox. It is a very wild creature, and I believe the bite of it would put a body to no small pain. The _Jews_ keep them in great square wooden cages, where they feed them with raw mutton and beef, cut into small pieces. When they would get from them that which is called civet, and is the sweat of this beast that smells so sweet, they make him go back with a stick, which they thrust in betwixt the bars of the cage, and catch hold of his tail; when they have that fast, they take hold also of his two hind legs, pulling him half out of the cage by the door, which falls down upon his back, and keeps him fast there, then another opens a certain cod of flesh that these beasts have, which is shaped like a split gyserne, and with an iron spatula scrapes all the sweat off it within. The males have that piece of flesh betwixt their stones and yard, which is like a Cat’s. The females have it betwixt their fundament and privities, and it is emptied of the sweat but twice a week, each beast yielding about a drachm at a time, by what I could discern. When that sweat, or excrement is taken out, it is of whitish grey, but by little and little, in some short space, it turns to a very brown colour. It smells very sweat at a distance, but near hand it stinks and causes a head-ach. There are as many kinds of civet sweat, as there are of Civet Cats, for it is more whitish, greyish, or yellowish, and drier in some than in others, and yet they mingle all together. After all, it is in vain to think to have pure civet, for the _Jews_ falsify it; and if a man imagine it to be pure, because he has seen it taken from the beast, he is mistaken, for before people come to their houses, they rub the inside of that piece of flesh, with a little oil, or some such stuff, that so the sweat and it together may make more weight, but when nobody is present, they take it out pure, and mingle it afterwards. To find out the truth of this, I went one day to the house of a _Jew_ that kept Civet Cats, without giving him notice before, (for because I had bought a little of him, and promised to come again another time, he asked me as often as he saw me, what day I would come) and having desired him to get me some fresh civet, he told me, that it was not the day he used to take it out; and having returned without acquainting him before, upon one of the days when he said he was accustomed to gather it, he refused then also to do it, pretending business, which confirmed all that had been told me of that matter. In the mean time they hold these beasts very dear; for having asked that _Jew_, and others also, how much they would have of me for a Civet Cat, they all told me, an hundred chequins. _Dangala_ is the capital city of _Nubia_, the King of _Dangala_ is King of the _Barberins_, who are a kind of blacks, of the Musulman religion, that came in crowds to _Cairo_, to get services; they are somewhat silly, but very faithful, and serve for a small matter, for two maidins a day, or a maidin and their diet: You may make them do whatsoever you please. They wear a blew shirt, plat all their hair in tresses, and then rub it over with a certain oil, to keep their head from being lousy. At _Cairo_, when they have any falling out, they go before the _Scheiks_ of their own nation, who make them friends, and if they think it convenient, adjudge them to pay a fine, with which they feast and make merry together. They are great lovers of Crocodiles flesh; and when any _Frank_ has got one for the skin, they come and beg the flesh, which they dress with a pretty good sauce. When these blades have scraped together ten or twelve piastres, they return home again wealthy to their own country, provided they escape being robbed by the _Arabs_ upon the way, who many times serve them so, therefore they commonly return in companies, as they came. The King of _Dangala_ pays his tribute to the King of _Ethiopia_ in cloth. The provinces of _Ethiopia_ are _Gouyan_, (where the King keeps a Viceroy) _Beghandir_, _Dambia_, _Amara_ (which is a great province, full of mountains and good castles) _Damoud Tegre_, and _Barnegas_. Besides, there are several provinces governed by Princes, who are vassals to the King of _Ethiopia_. In short, the kingdom of _Ethiopia_ comprehends twenty-four _Tambours_, or Vice-roys. The capital city is called _Gonthar_, and is in the province of _Dambia_. _Ethiopia_ (as the Embassador told me) is as cold as _Aleppo_ or _Damascus_, only the countries near the Red Sea, and the country of _Sennar_ are hot. The King of _Ethiopia_ has above an hundred wives, and keeps no Eunuchs to look after them, because they look upon it as a sin to geld a man; so that the women have the same liberty there as in _Christendom_. He is a King of very easy access, and the poorest have the freedom to come and speak to him when they please. He keeps all his children on a mountain, called _Ouhhni_, in the province of _Oinadaga_, which is a mountain two days journey distant from _Gonthar_; there is a place like a cistern on the top of the mountain, into which they are let down every night, and taken up again in the day-time, and suffered to play and walk about. When the King dies, they chuse out one of the wittiest of them, and make him King, without any regard to birthright; and when he comes to have children, he sends his brothers prisoners to some other place, and places his children at _Ouhhni_. The place where the Kings are buried, is called _Ayesus_, and is a kind of grott, where the aged are laid in one side, and the young in the other. Heretofore there was a church there of the same name, in time of the Jesuits; and in the same place there is a library. The Embassador assured me, that he had been in that library, and I fancy it is the old library of the ancient _Ethiopians_. _Ethiopia_ is a good and fertile country, producing wheat, barley, _&c._ The greatest desarts of it are not above three or four days journey over; and nevertheless, when the King makes any progress, he lodges in tents. The houses of the great lords are like those of _Cairo_, that is to say, very mean, in respect of the houses of _Europe_, and the rest are only of mud. The country affords men of all trades, except watch-makers. They have no camels there, but mules, asses, oxen, and horses. All the people of this country eat raw flesh, except the King, who has it dress’d, and drinks wine of grapes; the rest drink only wine made of millet, or sarasin wheat, but as strong as ours, and brandy made of the same grain. They are cloathed after the fashion of the _Franks_, and wear cloth, velvet, and other stuffs imported to them by the Red Sea. They have harquebusses from the _Turks_, and of those people there are not above three or four hundred who serve in the wars with harquebusses. In trading, they make no use of coined money, as the _Europeans_ do, but their money are pieces of fifteen or twenty _Pics_ of cloth, gold, which they give by weight, and a kind of salt, which they reduce into little square pieces like pieces of soap, and these pass for money. They cut out that salt upon the side of the Red Sea, five or six days journeys from _Dangala_, as you go from _Cairo_, and the places where they make it are called _Arbo_. Among them is the nation of the _Gauls_, whom in _Ethiopic_ they call _Chava_, and are a vagabond people in _Ethiopia_, as the _Arabs_ are in _Egypt_. These _Gauls_ are rich in cattle, and are always at wars with the _Ethiopians_. They have no harquebusses, nor other fire arms, but make use of lances and targets. After all, they speak so many different languages in _Ethiopia_, that the Embassador said to me, _If God hath made seventy-two languages, they are all spoken in ~Ethiopia~_. I asked his Excellency if he knew any thing of the source of the _Nile_, and this he told me, concerning it: The head of _Nile_ is a well that springs out of the ground in a large plain, where many trees grow; this fountain is called _Ouembromma_, and is in a province called _Ago_. It makes that a very delightful place, casting up water very high in several places: And this Embassador of _Ethiopia_ assured me, that he had been above twelve times with the King of _Ethiopia_ to spend several days about that fountain, which is twelve days journey from _Gonthar_.

_More Observations of ~Ethiopia~, by Father ~Lobo~, Father ~Alvarez~, Father ~Tellez~, and others; extracted from their ~Portuguese~ voyages._

The rains begin to fall in _June_, and continue _July_, _August_, and part of _September_, which make the _Nile_ swell and overflow in those months. Father _Tellez_ says, the mountains of _Habessimia_ are much higher than our _Alps_ and _Pyrenean_ hills; these render the country more temperate and healthful, and make that torrid climate tolerable to the _European_ bodies: There is plenty of good springs and herbage. In the midst of the plains there rise up many steep rocks of wonderful figures and shapes, on the tops whereof are woods, meadows, fountains, fish-ponds, and other conveniences of life: The natives get up to them by ropes, and crane up their cattle: These are like so many fortresses, which defend the natives against the sudden incursions of barbarous nations on all sides.

This kingdom abounds with metals, but they neglect to work them, lest _Turkish_ or other invasions would follow, if such baits were discovered. Their winter is from _May_ to _September_, the sun then passing and repassing perpendicular over their heads. During this season, once every day it rains torrents, and thunders most violently, which are accompanied sometimes with sudden and furious hurricanes.

The Jesuits residing in the province of _Zambea_, observ’d both the poles, the antartic higher with his cross stars: In this tract of heaven, there is, as it were, a cloud, or blot full of little stars, as our _Via Lactea_.

The animals of this vast kingdom are, the _Hippopotamus_, or river-horse, which makes great devastation in their plantations, Crocodiles, _Rhinocerots_, Elephants, Lyons, Tygers, Panthers, _Camelopardalus_, _Gazels_, _Zembra_’s, Civet Cats; great varieties of Monkeys, Apes, and Baboons; Ostriches, _Cassowars_, Turtles, Locusts in prodigious numbers. The ordinary trees are, the Date, Coco, Tamarind, _Cassia_, Oranges, _Musa_, or Plantane, Cotton trees, with many others peculiar to the climate and region.

In one year they will have three several crops of rice, millet, tef-seed, (their common food, ten times less than mustard seed) of wheat, and other _European_ grain, yet the locusts often devour all, and bring on famines.

They make a drink of honey, burnt rice, water, and a wood call’d _Sardo_. They have no mills, but grind all their grain with the hand.

Great caravans pass up and down the country, to and from the sea ports, with merchandise. In many places the towns and villages are extremely thick, and very populous.

Snow sometimes lies on the high mountains of _Ethiopia_, especially those called _Semain_ and _Sallent_, or the _Jews_ hills. This part of _Afric_ called _Habessinia_, is much the highest of that quarter of the world, the great rivers running east, north, and west, as _Hawas_, _Hanazo_, the _Nile_, _Niger_ or _Gambia_, the _Zaire_, _&c._ taking their rise in it.

_Ludolfus_ in his late learned Commentaries on his _Ethiopic_ History, figures several animals proper to these _African_ regions; as, 1. _Tygris orbiculis minutis variegata._ 2. _Tigris maculis virgatis._ 3. _Pardus maculis seu scutulis varius._

The _Habessine_ ports towards the Red Sea are very ill guarded, therefore the _Turks_ are in possession of _Arkiko_ and _Matzua_. The _Habessines_ are not addicted to navigation, they trade only with the _Arabians_, and carry their goods to _Suoquena_, _Arkiko_, and _Matzua_: The _Arminians_ often get entrance into the country, where they are very well received.

The _Arabians_ come in their barks cross the Red Sea, from _Mocha_, _Aden_, _Ziden_, _Cameron_, and other ports. Few of the _Habessines_ pass over into _Arabia_, and when they do, they dissemble their religion, and disguise themselves in the habits of Musulmans. This comes from _Hubert Klock_, in his letters to the _Dutch East India_ Company. _Anno 1685._

Father _Hyeronymo Lobo_ observ’d the Red Sea to be navigable only in the middle, in which are some small islands and rocks above water, of little danger in clear weather: The two shoars of _Arabia_ and _Ethiopia_ are of very bad passage, full of shoals, rocks, and corals. The entrance of this sea is the clearest and deepest on the side of _Arabia_, and is the ordinary passage for ships of burthen, the other part of the mouth towards _Ethiopia_, is full of flats and shoals, so that none ventures through but little vessels: The pearl-fishing is near the island of _Daleca_. On several parts of this sea we observed abundance of reddish spots made by a weed resembling _Cargaco_ (or _Sargosso_) rooted in the bottom, and floating in some places. Upon strict examination it proved to be that which we found the _Ethiopians_ call _Sufo_, us’d up and down for dying their stuffs and cloths of a red colour, (perhaps this may be one of the _Rocoella_’s _in Imperati_, _a fucus_ or _Alga tinctoria_.)

_FINIS._

FOOTNOTES

[1] _~I~ guess them rather to have been ~Cormorants~; no ~Eagles~ having long Necks._

[2] _Rauwolff_ was here too credulous and facil to suffer himself to be abused and imposed upon by these relaters; for that there neither are, nor ever were any animals with more heads than one naturally, I do confidently affirm.

[3] Too soon, for that there are no such creatures in the world as either _Unicorn_ or _Griffin_, I am as sure as I can be of a Negative. Nay, Dr. _Brown_ hath well demonstrated, that there cannot be such a creature as the common pictures of him represent the _Unicorn_. I cannot again but wonder at the credulity of so curious and inquisitive a man as _Rauwolff_, in believing the idle stories of such a vain and lying fellow.

[4] Though _Jerusalem_ might be situate in the highest part of _Judæa_, yet are not the following places of the Scripture a sufficient proof of it. For because it was the capital, and supreme town, in regard of greatness, multitude of people, strength, jurisdiction, and other privileges, though it’s site was not higher than that of other towns, yet might people well enough be said to go up thither, it being highest in respect of dignity, though not of place. So we make no scruple to say in common speech, that whosoever travels up to _London_, goes up thither; and whosoever travels from thence, goes down into the country, let his habitation be never so much higher situate than _London_. Yet was _Jerusalem_ situate on a hill, which is enough to verify all those expressions, though that hill were not the highest in _Judæa_.

[5] _James_ the Son of _Alpheus_, one of the Apostles, was usually called _James_ the _Less_; but it was not he that was elected first bishop of _Jerusalem_, but _James_ the _Just_, who was called the Lord’s brother, and was none of the Apostles.

[6] Κατὰ τὴν ἐπώνυμον ἡμῖν πόλιν. So the Emperor _Constantine_ in a letter to _Eusebius_, _de Vita Constantini, lib. 4. cap. 39. & apud Theodoritum Histor. Eccles. lib. 1. cap. 16. v. etiam Socrat. Scholast. Hist. Eccles. lib. 1. cap. 16._

[7] V. _Socratem ibidem._ _Et Theophanem in Chronographia_ XXV. _anno Constantini_.

[8] The Italian word _Rione_ is a manifest corruption of the Latin word.

[9] _In Panegyrico, quem Romæ dixit Anthenio Augusto, his consuli._

[10] _Hæresi_ lxix _quæ est Arianorum. Sect. 2._ where he says a sad dismal fire was kindled by _Arius_: πῦρ οὐ τὸ τυχὸν ὃ κατείληφε παρὰ τὴν Ῥωμανίαν σχεδὸν, μάλιστα τῆς ἀνατολῆς τὰ μέρη, which seized almost upon all _Romania_, or _Universum Romanorum Imperium_, as _Petavius_ renders it, but especially the eastern parts of it.

[11] Pag. 144, 152, 155.

[12] Pag. 139.

[13] _Vid._ _Gillium de Bosp. Thracii_, l. III c. 12. &c.

[14] Pag. 169. Num. 3.

[15] Pag. 121.

[16] Vid. _Historiam Politicam Constantinopoleos apud Crusium in Turco-Græcia_, pag. 9.

[17] This was an old error: for thus writes _Dionysius Byzantinus_ in his little book of the _Bosphorus_, Τοῦ ῥεύματος τὸ μὲν πλεῖον κατιόντος ἐστὶ δὲ ὅτε κατ’ ἐπικράτειαν ἀναστρέφοντος·

[18] _Les voyages de Seign. Villamont._

[19] _Sands_’s Travels.

[20] The air of _Egypt_ is confessed by the ancients to be often full of vapours; which appears both by the great dews that happened after the deluge of _Nilus_ for several months; as also in that I have discovered at _Alexandria_, in the winter time, several obscure stars in the constellation of _Ursa major_, not visible in _England_; the which could not be discerned there, were there not a greater refraction at that time than with us, and consequently a greater condensation of the _medium_ or air, as the optics demonstrate.

[21] These proportions of the chamber, and those which follow of the length and breadth of the hollow part of the tomb, were taken by me with as much exactness as it was possible to do; which I did so much the more diligently, as judging this to be the fittest place for the fixing of measures for posterity. A thing which hath been much desired by learned men, but the manner how it might be exactly done, hath been thought of by none. I am of opinion, that as this Pyramid hath stood three thousand years almost, and is in no whit decayed within, so it may continue many thousand years longer: And therefore that after-times measuring these places by me assigned, may hereby not only find out the just dimensions of the _English_ foot, but also the feet of several nations in these times, which in my travels abroad I have taken from the originals, and have compared them at home with the _English_ standard. Had some of the ancient Mathematicians thought of this way, these times would not have been so much perplexed, in discovering the measures of the _Hebrews_, _Babylonians_, _Egyptians_, _Greeks_, and other nations. Such parts as the _English_ foot contains a thousand, the _Roman_ foot on _Cossutia_’s monument (commonly called by writers _Pes Colotianus_) contains nine hundred sixty seven. The _Paris_ foot a thousand sixty eight. The _Spanish_ foot nine hundred and twenty. The _Venetian_ foot one thousand and sixty two. The _Rhinland_ foot, or that of _Snellius_, one thousand and thirty three. The _Bracio_ at _Florence_ one thousand nine hundred and thirteen. The _Bracio_ at _Naples_ two thousand one hundred. The _Deran_ at _Cairo_ one thousand eight hundred and twenty four. The greater _Turkish Dike_ at _Constantinople_, two thousand two hundred.

[22] As appears by a fair and ancient monument brought from _Smyrna_ to my very worthy friend Mr _Rolt_, which stands in his Park at _Woolwich_.

[23] _Plin._ lib. 36. cap. 7.

[24] Which may also be confirmed by _Bellonius_’s observations, who describing the rock out of which, upon _Moses_’s striking it, there gushed out waters, makes it to be such a speckled kind of _Thebaic_ marble: _Est une grosse pierre massive droicte de mesme grain & de la couleur qu’est la pierre Thebaique._

[25] The compass of the _Scapus_ of this column at _Alexandria_ near the _Tarus_ is 24 _English_ feet: The compass of the _Scapus_ of those at _Rome_ is fifteen _English_ feet, and three inches. By these proportions, and by those rules which are expressed in _Vitruvius_, and in other books of Architecture, the ingenious reader may compute the true dimensions of those before the _Pantheon_, and of this at _Alexandria_, being in my calculation the most magnificent column that ever was made of one entire stone.

[26] Six feet ⁴⁸⁸⁄₁₀₀₀.

[27] Two feet ²¹⁸⁄₁₀₀₀. In the reiteration of these numbers, if any shall be offended either with the novelty or tediousness of expressing them so often. I must justify my self by the example of _Ulug. Beg._ nephew to _Timurlane_ the great (for so is his name, and not _Tamerlane_) an Emperor of the _Moguls_ or _Tartars_, (whom we term amiss the _Tartars_) for I find in his astronomical tables (the most accurate of any in the east) made about 200 years since, the same course observed by him, when he writes of the _Grecian_, _Arabian_, _Persian_, and _Gelalean_ Epocha’s, as also of those of _Catæa_ and _Turkistan_. He expresseth the numbers at large, as I have done, then in figures such as we call _Arabian_, because we first learned these from them; but the _Arabians_ themselves fetch them higher, acknowledging that they received this useful invention from the _Indians_, and therefore from their authors they name them _Indian_ figures. _Lastly_, He renders them again in particular tables. Which manner I judge worthy the imitation, in all such numbers as are radical, and of more than ordinary use: For if they be only twice expressed, if any difference shall happen by the neglect of Scribes, or Printers, it may often so fall out, that we shall not know which to make choice of, whereas if they be thrice expressed, it will be a rare chance, but that two of them will agree; which two we may generally presume to be the truth.

[28] _Sands_ in his Travels writes _That they are seen to rise on Good Friday._ A _Frenchman_ at _Grand Cairo_, who had been present at the resurrection shewed me an arm which he brought from thence; the flesh shriveled and dryed like that of the Mummies. He observed the miracle to have been always behind him: once casually looking back, he discovered some Bones, carried privately by an _Egyptian_ under his Vest, whereby he understood the Mystery.

[29] An argument intended by me and for which I made a collection of several Antiquities, in my Travels abroad, but these (and I wish only these) have unfortunately perished at home amidst the sad distractions of the time.

STIRPIUM ORIENTALIUM.

RARIORUM

CATALOGI TRES.

_Stirpium Orientalium rariorum Catalogus, præsertim Græciæ, & Syriæ, provinciis nascentium._

A.

Abrotanum fœmina verum Dioscoridis _Zanoni_ _v._ Heliochrysum Abrotani fœminæ facie.

Acaciæ foliis frutex Mesapotamicus _Col. Annot._ in Res medicas _Novæ Hisp. Recchi_. Acaciæ similis Mesopotamica, minutissimis foliis, siliqua integra contorta, crassa & obtusa, seu siliquæ Nabathæa _Breyn. prod. 2._ Juxta Tigridem fluvium in Mesopotamia, & Euphratem in Arabia deserta.

Ageratum Persicum _Breyn. Prod. 2._

Alhagi Maurorum _Rauwolf._ Genista spartium spinosum foliis Polygoni _C. B._ Spinosum Syriacum _Park._ Agul & Alhagi Arabibus, planta spinoso Mannam resipiens _J. B._ Manna in hac arbuscula invenitur _Tereniabin_ aut _Trungibin_ Arabibus dicta. In Persia & circa Halepum. _Rauw._ p. 84. 152. 206.

Alcea Indica parvo flore _C. B._ Ægyptia _Clus._ Ægyptiaca _Ger. emac._ Bamia _J. B._ Bamia seu Alcea Ægyptia _Park. parad._ Trionum Theophrasti _Rauwolf. Lugd. app._ Non in Ægypto tantum sed etiam in Syria invenitur. _Rauwolf_, p. 167.

Alcea arborescens Syriaca _C. B._ Althæa arborescens glabra, Ketmia dicta _J. B._ Althæa frutex 2 _Clus._ Frutex flore albo vel purpureo _Park._ _Rauwolf._ p. 54. Circa Tripolin Syriæ observavit.

Androsæmum Constantinopolitanum fore maximo _Wheeler._ Flore & theca quinque capsulari omnium maximis _Maris. Hist._ p. 473. Non est hoc Ascyron magno flore _C. B. prod._ Notæ enim non conveniunt. Circa Constantinopolin, eundo inde ad Pontum Euxinum, secus vias, & alibi copiosè.

Anemone maxima Chalcedonica _Park._ Latifolia maxima versicolor _C. B._ Maxima Chalcedonica polyanthos _Ger._ Latifolia pleno flore 1 _Clus._

Anetho similis planta semine lato laciniato _J. B._ Gingidium folio Fœniculi _C. B._ Verum, sive Syriacum _Park._ Dioscoridis _Rauwolf. Lugd. app._ In monte Libano, locis præruptis, p. 234.

Anonis lutea annua siliqua glabra breviore _Moris. Hist._ Halepo transmisit D. _Rob. Huntington_.

Apocynum folio subrotundo _C. B._ Folio rotundo, flore ex albo pallescente _J. B._ Latifolium non repens _Park._ Periploca latifolia _Ger._ Syriæ & calidiorum regionum incola esse dicitur.

Apocynum repens & scandens _Rauwolf._ Monte Libano observavit Autor Itin. p. 233. Arbores tegit ut Ephedra.

Arbutus (Κόμαρος) Dioscoridis vera _Wheeleri_. Folio non serrato _C. B._ Adrachne _Park._ Adrach. Theophrasti _J. B._ Ἀδράκλα Græcis modernis, _Bellonius_ multis locis in sua peregrinatione observavit. D. _Wheelerus_ in Achaia prope montem Pentelicum.

Arisarum angustifolium _Wheeleri_ itiner. p. 309. Caule folioso pingitur. Propè Panthæam inter Amphissam & Naupactum.

Aristolochia Maurorum _C. B._ Peregrina Rauwolfii _Clus._ Rhasut & Rumigi à Mauris nominata _Rauwolf. Lugd. app._ Aristolochiis similis _Rhasut_ & _Rumigi_ Maurorum _J. B._

Aristolochia clematitis Attica, foliis in summo bifidis seu crenatis _Wheeleri_. Θερώκαλο Græcis. In monte Hymetto.

Arum auriculis longis, Ovidne dictum, Chalepense _Rauwolf._ p. 104.

Aster luteus angustifolius _Park._ _J. B._ Luteus Linariæ rigido glabro folio _C. B._ 6 Clusii _Ger._ In monte Olympo Asiæ. _Wheel._

Astragalus Syriacus hirsutus _C. B._ Syriacus _Lob._ _Ger._ _Park._ _J. B._ Astrag. Dioscoridis, vulgò Christiana radix _Rauwolf. Lugd. app._ p. 105. D. _Wheelerus_ Itin. p. 435. Astragalum quendam describit & depingit, quem in Græcia propè Megaram invenit, & argenteum vocat. Qu. An Syriacus sit?

Atractylis Cypria _Ang. Lugd._ Purpurea _C. B._ Purpurea Cypria _Park._

Atractylis vera Antiquarum, cujus caulibus profusis utuntur mulieres Græcæ D. _Covel._ An Atractylidi & Cnico sylvestri similis _C. B._ Calochierny carduus Cretensibus _J. B._ In Thracia prope Constantinopolin. V. Hist. nost. p. 304.

Avellana Byzantina _J. B._ Pumila Byzantina _Clus._ _Ger. emac._ Peregrina humilis _C. B._ Nux Avellana Macedonica seu Byzantina _Park._

Azadirachta foliis ramosis majoribus Syriaca, seu vulgaris flore majore cœruleo _Breyn._ Azedareth arbor, Fraxini folio, flore cœruleo _C. B._ Azadaracheni arbor _J. B._ Azadarach. Avicennæ _Park._ Zizipha alba _Ger._ Fructus hujus arboris venenatus est, & canes interficit. _Rauwolf._ p. 51. In Syriâ & Palestinâ.

B.

Baccharis Dioscoridis Rauwolfio _Park._ Gnaphalio montano affinis Ægyptiaca _C. B._ Rauwolfius in Syria observavit, & Monte Libano, _Itin._ p. 233.

Balsamum verum _J. B._ Genuinum Antiquorum _Park._ Rutæ folio, Syriacum _C. B._ Balsamum Alpini _Ger. emac._ Bellonius & Alpinus Arabiam Fælicem Balsami locum patrium semper fuisse, nunquam Judæam aut Ægyptum, comtendunt.

Behmen abiad, i. e. Ben album _Rauwolffii_ _Park._ Serratulæ affinis capitulo squamoso luteo, ut & flore _C. B._ Ad pedem montis Libani humido & umbroso loco, p. 235.

Bellis Chalepensis præcox _Kusan_ & _Surugen_ dicta _Rauwolf._ p. 109.

Borago variegata Cretica _Wheel._ Muralis variegata flore odorato Cretica _Zanoni_. In monte Hymotto Atticæ. Folia maculis albis variegata sunt: flores (qui candidi) maculis & striis purpureis cæruleisve.