Nubia

Sources from old books

1682. Cosmography and geography in two parts by Richard Blome

NƲBIA is bounded on the North, West and South, almost every where with Mountains; which separate it from the Desart of Barca and Egypt on the North; from Saara and the Negroes, on the West; and from the Abyssins, on the South; the rest towards the East, is hounded in part by the Nile which separates it from the Isle of Gueguere; in part by an Imaginary Line, which separates it from divers Provinces; of which, some belong to the Turks; who hold all that is on the Red Sea, which they have taken from the Abyssins.

NƲBIA thus taken, makes a long square, whose length from South-West, to North-East, is about 400 Leagues; and its breadth from South-East, to North-West, almost every where, 200 Leagues. The chief Cities of Nubia, are, Cusa, Gualva, Dancala, Jalac and Sula, according to the Arab of Nubia: Moreover and in the same Author, I find that Tamalma, Zaghara, Mathan, Angimi, Nuabia, Tagua, and some others fall likewise in Nubia; and by some Authors Gorham, which some would put among the Negroes, should be likewise in Nubia, because it is on the Nile: There where it can have no communication with the Negroes, who ought to be upon, and about the Niger. Likewise Damocla, towards the Negroes, and Bugia towards Egypt, ought to be esteemed in Nubia.

Gorham is on the Nile, and on the Coast of the Isle Gueguere. Sanutus make: a Kingdom, a Desart, and a People of this name, and extends them almost al• the length of the Isle Gueguere; not making any mention of the City of this name, nor John Leon of Africa, nor the Arab of Nubia, nor Vincent Blanck, who saith, he hath been in these quarters, and speaks only of the Desart o• Gorham. Other Authors make mention of this City, and describe it on the Nile. Sanutus saith, that there are found Emeralds in those Mountains, which bound Gorham on the South.

Except only Gorham, the Arab of Nubia observes the distances between all the other Cities which we have taken notice of; and saith, that Tamalma hath many Inhabitants, no Walls; makes little account of Mathan and Angimi: Moreover, he esteems Mathan the Residence of the King of Canem, who holds here many Cities; makes Zaghara better, and saith, it hath some Trade, Tagua and Nubia more, from which last the Region and People took their names. John Leon and Sanutus after him, esteems Dancala or Dangala, the chief of the Kingdom, seated on the Nile, and that it hath about 10000 Families. And he saith, its Houses are built with Chalk, and covered with Laths or Boards: The Inhabitants civil and rich, driving a good Trade through all Egypt, even to Cairo; whither they carry Arms, Cloths, Civet, Sanders and Ivory. They have a certain Poyson worth 100 Ducats an Ounce, which they sell only to strangers, which promise not to use it in the Countrey. And also Bugia seated on the Nile, a City of some account and Trade; as is Jalac, Gualva and Cusa, also seated on the Nile.

1685. Geographia universalis: the present state of the whole world by Pierre Duval.

NƲbia, is three hundred and fifty Leagues in length, and two hundred in breadth. It retains some remnants of Christianity in its old Churches, and in the Ceremonies of Baptism, that is there administred. The Nubians obey a King, who commonly keeps Cavalry upon the Frontiers of his Dominions, because he hath potent Enemies, for his Neighbours, the Abissin, and the Turk. Histories affirm, That an Army of a hundred thousand Horse, was formerly Levyed, and led by a King of Nubia, against the Governour of Aegypt. Gold, Civet, Sandal-Wood, Ivory, Arms, and Linnen, are Transported from this Country. The Commerce of the Nubians is, most especially, with those of Cairo, and the other Cities of Aegypt, They have a strong, subtle, and penetrating Poyson in this Countrey, the tenth part of a Grain of which, will kill a man in a quarter of an hour, and the Ounce, is valued at a hundred Ducats. One of the King's principal Revenues, consists in the Receipt of the Right of Exportation. 'Tis sold to Strangers, but upon condition of not making use of it, but out of the Kingdom. The Inhabitants have Sugar-Canes, but they know not how to improve them. They have amongst them Bereberes, of the Mahometan Religion, who go in Troops to Cairo, and return from thence, when they have gotten ten, or twelve Piasters. The capital Cities are, Nubia, and Dancala, near the Nile: the others are but little known to us. A Relation of the Year 1657, affirms, That the King of Dancala, pays a Tribute in Cloths, to the King of the Abissins. Geography, in some sort is, indebted to this Countrey, since it presented the World with the Author of the famous Geography of Nubia, the Cherif-Alderisi.

1695. A New Body of Geography by A. Sewall & T. Child.

NƲBIA.

THis Kingdom is bounned on the North with the Desart of B•rca, and Aegypt; on the West with the Desarts of Gaoga, and Borno. On the South with the Desart of Gorham. And on the East with the Abyssines Country. The extent of it from South-West, and North-East, is about 320 leagues from the 11 D. to the 23 D. 30 min. Northern Latitude, and the breadth of it 180 from the 47 D. 30 min. to the 63 D. 30 of Longitude.

The Air is extremely hot every where, the Soil more or less fruitful according to the places,. About the River Nile it abounds with all things, because of the flowing of that River. It produceth plenty of Sugar-Canes, but they have not the way to clarify it, and so use it black; they have good Pastures, and Corn, as also Gold, Musk, Civet, Saunders, and Ivory. In the other part of it it is barren, and desart: It is not well known, no more than several other places of Africa. These people Trade more especially with the Aegyptians.

The most remarkable Rivers are the Nile, Nubia, and Sira, which comes hither to empty itself. The Nubia, which is as full of Water as the other, runs into Nilus a little below Asna in Aegypt; its Channel is nigh as deep as that of Nile, and the Waters thereof are so disagreeable to the Crocadiles, that they burst within 5 or 6 days after they go into it. You may Travel sometimes 100 leagues, and not meet with a River or Spring, •o that Travellers often dye in their Journey fo• •hirst.

Th• Inhabitants are very black, heatlthy, courageous, and cunning. They have great numbers of Lyons, Tigers, Crocodiles, fine Horses, and excellent Camels; but no Monsters, because of their good Waters.

The people of Nubia are subject to a King, who keeps ordinarily several Armies upon the confines of his Kingdom. It can't be said, that they profess any Religion at present; but 'tis certain, that they were once Christians, since there are 150 Churches, wherein Jesus Christ, the Virgin, and several Saints stand Carved. Their Ceremonies are a mixture of Christianity, Judaism and Mahometamism. They were subject heretofore to the Patriarch of Alexandria, and celebrated their Divine Service in the Coptick Tongue.

Nubia hath these remarkable Cities in it,

• Nubia, or Nuaba.
• Danga, or Tenupsis.
• ...Cusa, Ghaloa.
• ...Dancala.
• ...Jalac.
• ...Demba.
• ...Damoclea.
• ...Zigide.

Desarts.

• ...Jadie, Angini.
• Darga, or Dogra.
• Saloux, or Salene.
• ...Sabaha, Mathan, Sala.
• ...Arane.
• ...Ghoram.
• ...Zou.