The Strange Adventures of Andrew Battell, of Leigh, in Angola and the Adjoining RegionsBattell, Andrew
History
The Strange Adventures of Andrew Battell, of Leigh, in Angola and the Adjoining Regions
Battell, Andrew
Angola -- Discovery and exploration; Congo (Democratic Republic) -- Discovery and exploration
To the eastward of Longeri is the Province of Bongo, and it bordereth on
Mococke, [of which] the great Angeca[161] is king. In this place is
great store of iron, and palm-cloth, and elephants’ teeth, and great
store of corn.
[_Cango._]
To the north-east is the great province of Cango,[162] and it is
fourteen days journey from the town of Longo. This place is full of
mountains and rocky ground, and full of woods, and hath great store of
copper. The elephants in this place do excel, and there are so many that
the people of Longo hath great store of elephants’ teeth, and bring them
to the port of Longo.
[_Calongo._]
To the northwards of Longo, three leagues, is the river Quelle:[163] and
on the north side is the province of Calongo [Chilunga]. This country is
always tilled, and full of corn, and is all plain and champaign ground,
and hath great store of honey. Here are two little villages that show at
sea like two hummocks,[164] which are the marks to show the port of
Longo; and fifteen miles northward is the river Nombo,[165] but it hath
no depth for any bark to go in. This province, towards the east,
bordereth upon Bongo; and towards the north upon Mayombe, which is
nineteen leagues from Longo along the coast.
[_Yumbe._][166]
The province of Mayombe is all woods and groves, so overgrown that a man
may travel twenty days in the shadow, without any sun or heat. Here is
no kind of corn nor grain, so that the people liveth only upon plantains
and roots of sundry other sorts, very good, and nuts; nor any kind of
tame cattle, nor hens. But they have great store of elephants’ flesh,
which they greatly esteem, and many kinds of wild beasts; and great
store of fish. Here is a great sandy bay, two leagues to the southward
of Cape Negro, which is the port of Mayombe. Sometimes the Portugals
take logwood[167] in this bay. Here is a great river called Banna.[168]
In the winter it hath no bar, because the general winds cause a great
sea; but when the sun hath his south declination, then a boat may go in,
for then it is smooth because of the rain. This river is very great, and
hath many islands, and people dwelling in them. The woods are covered
with baboons, monkeys, apes and parrots, that it will fear any man to
travel in them alone. Here also are two kinds of monsters, which are
common in these woods, and very dangerous.
[_Gorillas and Chimpanzis._][169]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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