Guinea

Sources from old books

1635. Historia mundi: or Mercator's atlas. London. by Gerhard Mercator.

GVINEA, VVITH THE ILANDS OF St. THOMAS, OF THE Prince, and the Good-yeere. (Book Guinea)

THE Kingdome of Guinea is in that Country,* 1.1 where the Ganginean Aethiopians are, whom Orosius, and Ethicus doe mention, as Ortelius witnesseth. The Inhabitants doe call it Ghinui. It is the Blackmoores Country. The Blackmoores are called the Inhabitants of the Black River, which floweth thorow the middle of the Country, and like Nilus doth fertilize the Fields round about it. This River doth increase as Nilus doth in the moneth of June, 40. dayes together, all which time you may goe by Boate into Countries neere unto it. And the Earth is so dunged with mudde and slime, so that it yeeldeth a great increase. About the River there are large Plaines, but no Mountaines or Hills. There are also many woods, in the which there are Elephants. There are also many Lakes, which are caused by the overflowing of the River Niger. The Ayre is wholesome, in so much that those who are sicke of the Spanish disease, if they come unto that Country, doe certainely recover their health, and grow well. These Blackmoores have a divers kinde of speech according to the Soyle and Climate. Their religion is also diverse: In the Mediterranean parts they are Christians, Mahumetans, and Heathens. But those that dwell by the Sea Coast doe worship Idols. There are three Kings of the Blackmoores, Tombuti, Borni, and Gaogae. The Gualatians also have a King of their owne. They are all Cole-black.* 1.2 The Kingdome of Guinea is seated betweene Gualata, Tembutum, and Melli,* 1.3 and it reacheth from the River Niger, to the Aethiopian Ocean. The Ayre of Guinea is not agreeable to our bodies, both in regard of the untemperatenesse of the Climate, and by reason of the raine, both which doe breed putrifaction, and Wormes. But it hath abundance of Barley, Rice, Cotton, Gold, Ivory, also Sheepe and Hens.* 1.4 There is also a kinde of Spice which casteth like Pepper, which the Portugals call Melegneta. And another Spice as strong againe as Calicut Pepper, which the aforesaid Portugals doe call Pimiente del Rabo, which it is unlawfull to sell, l•st they should thereby bring downe the price of common Pepper. It hath no fruit but Dates, and the Inhabitants are faine to fetch them out of Numidia or Gualata. They have great store of Elephants and Apes, and Birdes, especially Peacocks, and Ash-colour Popinjays or Parro•s. And they have certaine small Birds, which doe curiously ••ild themselves a nest which hangeth in the boughes of the Trees. Th•• have neither Castle, Towne, nor Citty. But they have one

great Village, in which the Princes, Priests, Doctors, and Merchants doe dwell: the others live scatteringly here and there. About Caput Lupi Conzalui the Inhabitants doe adore the Sunne, the Moone, and the Earth, upon which to spet they account it a h•inous offence. They doe out and launce their flesh, and afterward they paint it with a certaine coloured Oyntment: which they thinke to bee very comely, but to us it seemeth a fearefull spectacle. When they salute their Prince, they fall downe upon their knees, and clap their hands together: but in common salutations they cry Fui•, Fut•, Fui•. They doe not drinke all Dinner time, but when they have din'd they drinke water or wine that commeth out of the Date Tree. But yet this Date Tree doth not beare Dates, but is a Tree different from it, which sendeth forth a kinde of Juyce at all times of the yeere. They cut the body of the Tree, and receive the bleeding juyce which distilleth from it into a Vessell, and drinke it till they are drunke, for it is a liquor that is purer than any Wine, it is of an ashie colour, and they call it Mignolum. This Tree will yeeld but two or three measures in one day. This Tree beareth Olives, the Oyle whereof hath a threefold vertue, it smelleth like a Violet, tasteth like an Olive, and if it bee powr'd or laide upon meate, it dyeth it like Saffron. The men and women doe both goe bare-headed, some have Hats made of barkes of Trees, or of the Indian Nut. Some of them doe bore holes thorow their upper Lippe, and their Noses, and doe weare pieces of Ivory in them, and doe thinke it becomes them very well. And some doe weare Ivory and Fishes Shells in their Noses and Lippes. They make their Aprons of the Barkes and rindes of Trees, and with them they hide and cover their secret parts: also they weare the skins of Apes, and Monkies which are fastned together with a little Bell. They paint one eye red, and the other blue. The richer sort of women doe weare great Rings of Iron, Copper, or Tinne upon their Thighes. And they delight very much in their foolish ill-favoured barbarousnesse. Their Gold coyne hath no Inscription on it, and they use Iron money upon ordinary occasions, and for petty matters.

1682. Cosmography and geography in two parts by Richard Blome.

GƲINEA, or GƲINY.

GƲINY is the Coast of Africa, which is found between the River Niger and the Equinoctial Line. Some give it a larger extent, some a less: There are they who begin it on this side the Niger, and continue it unto the Kingdom of Congo. We have comprehended in the Country of the Negroes that which is about the Niger; and in the Lower Aethiopia, that which is beyond the Gulph of St. Thomas: And so Guiny will remain between the Cape of Serre Leon, which will bound it on the West, and against the Negroes, to the River of Camarones, which is on the East, will separate it from the Lower Aethiopia. This Coast right from East to West is 7 or 800 Leagues long, and not above 100 or 150 in breadth. The form being much more long than broad, we will divide it into three principal parts, which we will call MELEGƲETE, GƲINY, and BENIM: This the most Eastward, the first the most West, and the other in the middle; yet each of these three parts separated make the breadth, and the three together the length of this Guiny. After this Guiny we will speak something of what is on this side towards the Niger, and of some Isles which are beyond, as St. Thomas, &c. Under the name of MELEGƲETE, we comprehend that which is between the Capes of Serre Leon and of Palmes: Under the particular name of GƲINY we esteem not only that which is between the Capes of Palmes and of Three Points; but likewise that which advances to the River Volta, and beyond, where the Kingdom of Benim begins, and ends not till the River Camerones. Of these 3 parts Guiny is the largest and best known, communicating its name to the rest. Its Coast, which is between the Capes of Palmes and that of Three Points, is called the Coast of Ivory; that which is beyond the Cape of Three Points, the Coast of Gold: for the abundance of Gold and Ivory found in the one and the other.

The Coast of IVORY is very commodious, and well inhabited. The English, French, Hollanders, and Hanse-Towns trade likewise in divers Ports on the same Coast; fetching thence, Gold, Ivory, Hides, Wax, Amber-greece, &c. On the Gold Coast are divers Kingdoms or Realms, as of SABOƲ, FOETƲ, ACCARA, and others. The Kingdom of SABOƲ is esteemed the most powerful of all, and that his Estates extend sixty and odd Leagues on the Coast, and near 200 up in the Land. In 1482 the Portugals built on the Coast of FOETƲ the Fort of St. George de la Mina, and long time after the Hollanders that of Nassau, adjoyning to the Town of Moure, on the Coast of Sabou; the one and the other to maintain their Traffick. Its other places, and which are within Land are, Labore, Ʋxoo, and Quinimburm.

MELEGƲETE took its name from the abundance of Meleguete, here gathered of divers sorts: It is a Spice in form like French Wheat; some of a taste as strong and biting as Pepper: from which the Portugals receive great gain, but the English, French, and Hollanders bring it. The Portugals call it Pimienta-del-Rabo; the Italians, Pepe della Coda; Tail Pepper, that is, Long Pepper. Of their Palm Trees they make Wine as strong as the best of ours: They have likewise, Gold, Ivory, Cotton, &c. Its chief place is Bugos, on the Cape of Sierre Leonne.

The Kingdom of BENIM hath more than 250 Leagues of the Coast; Cape Formoso dividing it into two parts: That which is on the West forms a Gulph, into the middle of which the River Benim disburthens it self; and more to the West that of Lagoa: That which is on the East extends it self on a right line, where the Rio Real de Calabari, and the Rio del Rey, disburthen themselves near to that of Camarones, which ends the Estate towards the East. This last part is more healthful than that of the particular Guiny, the Inhabitants living 100 years and more. The Land produces the same Fruits, and feeds the same Beasts with Guiny, and its People are more courteous to Strangers. Their principal City, so called, is esteemed the greatest and best built of any, either in Guiny or the Land of the Negroes. Its King is powerful, and very loving to his Subjects; they are all much addicted to Women, the King being said to keep about 5 or 600 Wives, with all which, twice a year he goeth out in great pomp, as well for Recreation, as to shew them to his Subjects; who according to their abilities do exceed; Those of the gentile or better sort keeping 20, 30, 40; others 50, 60, or 70: and those of the poorest rank 5, 10, or 12. Their Custom both for Men and Women, till they are married, is to go naked, and after their cloathing is only a Cloth, which is tied about their Middles, and hangs down to their knees. Its other chief places are, Ouwerre, Focko, Boni, and Bodi.

The Soil of Guiny is generally fertil, the most part bearing twice a year, because they have two Summers and two Winters. They oall it Winter when the Sun passes their Zenith, and that the Rains are continual. All the whole Country is very fertil, abounding in Corn, Rice, Millet, and in many sorts of Meleguete; in Fruits, as Oranges, Citrons, Lemmons, Pomegranates, Dates, &c. Also in Gold, both in Sand and in Ingots, in Ivory or Elephants Teeth in great abundance, in Wax, Hides, Cotton, Amber-greece; they extract Wine and Oyl from their Palm-Trees; and of this Oyl, and the Ashes of the Palm-Tree, they make excellent Soap. They have many Sugar-Canes, which are scarce at all Husbanded: They have Brasil-Wood, better then that which cometh from Brasil: they have abundance of Wood, proper to build and Mast Ships; and Pearls, which they find in Oysters, towards the River Des Ostros, that is, of Oysters; and of St. Anne, between the Branches of the Niger.* 1.33 And for these good Commodities in way of Barter, they truck or take course Cloth, both Linnen and Wollen; Red Caps, Frize Mantles and Gowns; Leather Baggs, Sheep-skin Gloves; Guns, Swords, Daggers, Belts, Knives, Hammers, Axheads, Salt, Great Pins, little pieces of Iron, which they convert to several uses; Lavers and great Dutch Kettles with two handles. Basons of several sizes, Platters, Broad Pans, Posnets, Pots, &c. made for the most part of Capper, which are sometimes Tinned within. Some of which Ʋtensils are made of Tinn, and others of Earths, which are here desired: Also Looking-Glasses Beads, Corals and Copper, Brass and Tinn Rings, which they wear about them for their adornment. Hors-tails which they use to keep away the Flies which annoy them, as also when they Dance. And lastly, certain Shels which pass instead of Money; having here, and in many other Countries, no current Money of Metal, as the Europeans have; but make use of those Shells, which they hang in bundles upon strings; for which they buy in their Markets such things as they want.

Among their Beasts they have Elephants, which are said to be the biggest of all four footed Beasts: Of nature they are very gentle, docile, and tractable; they live to a great age, seldom dying till the age of 150 years. They are very serviceable, both in War and Peace, and as profitable by reason of their Tusks. It is said, That when the Male hath once seasoned the Female, he never after toucheth her. Next the Elephants may be reckoned the Musk-Cats,* 1.35 which with Springs they take in the Woods, when they are young, and keep them in Hutches, and take from them the Musk, which they keep in Glasses or Pots, and so vend it: And these Cats they vend to the English and other Nations at good rates. Then their Apes, Monkeys and Baboons,* 1.36 which are strong and lusty being taken and brought to it young, serve like men: They send them to fetch Water at the River, make them to turn meat at the Fire, serve at Table to give Drink; but they must be very watchful, otherwise they will do mischief, and eat the meat themselves; and these are much beloved by their Women, doing the duty of Men, which they are as desirous of themselves, and hating Men. Again, there are some of these Monkeys or Apes, which love Men and hate Women. They have variety of Birds, among which, they have several sorts of Parrots which are brought to talk. Their Fruits are excellent, as Oranges, Lemmons, Citrons, Pomegranates, Dates, Annanas or Pynes, which for smell and taste, resembleth all Fruits. Trennuelis, a Fruit so delicate and delicious that 'tis thought it was the Fruit in Paradise which was forbidden Adam and Eve to eat of. Iniamus, Battatas, Bachonens, the Palm-Tree, and above all here is a Tree called the Oyster Tree, by reason of its bearing Oysters thrice every year; a thing, if report may be credited, is true; and if true, very strange.

The Inhabitants, especially before the coming of the Portugals, were rude and barbarous, living without the knowledge of a God, Law, Religion, or Government, very disingenious, and not caring for Arts or Letters.* 1.39 They are much addicted to Theft, and take it for an honor, if they can cheat or steal any thing, (though not considerable) from a White Man. They are very perfidious, Lyars, given to Luxury; in matter of Justice, they are indifferent severe,* 1.40 punishing ofttimes with death; but paying a fine will free them; and the place of Judicature is in the open Market Place. Their Food is gross and beastly, as is their Habitations, mean and beggerly. They go naked, save about their Waist they tye a piece of Linnen; yet very proud and stately: They are of a Corpulent body, flat nosed, broad shouldred, white eyed. and teeth'd, small eared, &c. In matters of Religion, they are great Idolaters, worshiping Beasts, Birds, Hils, and indeed, every strange thing which they see; they hold there is two Gods, one doth them good, and the other hurt; and these two Gods, they say, fight together. Also they believe there is a God, which is invisible, which they say is black; yet of late they have tried many Forms of Religion, as Judaism, Mahometism and Christianity; but care not much for any. Nevertheless, some of them believe they die not, and to that end, give their dead bodies something to carry with them into the other World. They keep their Fetissoes day, that is, one day in seven for a day of rest, as their Sabbath, which is on a Tuesday, (a day that no other Nation in the World keeps) very strict; at which time, they offer Meat and Drink to their Fetisso or God, on a four square place, covered with Wires or Fetissoes straws, which the Birds (by them called Gods Birds) devour. During which time, the Fetissero sits upon a Stool with a Pot of Drink in his hand, using several Ceremonies. Amongst their Barbarous Customs they have one very good, and that is, when their Daughters are of a fitting age to marry, they put them into Houses, which are in the nature of Monasteries, where for a year they are educated by Old Men of good repute amongst them. And at the expiration of the said year, they are brought well habited (according to their Custom) and accompanied with Musick, and Dancing; and when a Young-man makes choise of any of them, he bargains with her Parents, and satisfies the Old Man that educated her, for his pains and charges (which is not much) and then takes her to Wife. The Portion being thus paid, they meet one another naked, and the Woman swears to be faithful to the Man, both at Bed and Board, and so the Marriage is concluded: But the Man sweareth not, being at liberty; so that upon the least offence, he may put her away, or force her to pay a Fine of so many Potoes of Gold: And according to the ability of a Man, he may buy and keep as many Wives as he pleaseth; among which, the eldest is subservient to the youngest. The Man never lieth with any of his Wives, neither eateth with them, but on Tuesdays, which is their Sabbath. And although the Husband commands, yet the Wife is the Purse-bearer until she be with Child, and ready to be delivered; at which time, being stark naked, and in the Field, among the People, she throweth the bag to her Husband, until taking a handful of Manniget and a spoonful of Oyl, she goeth abroad the next day, as well as if she had not been with Child, or suffered any pain; and then feasteth her Neighbors, circumciseth the Child; and after it hath lain sprawling upon the ground two or three daies, she taketh it, and carrieth it on her shoulders,* 1.45 like those which we call Gipsies; and is about four years of age, the Mother bringeth it to the Father, who teaches it to Swim, make Nets, Fish and Row, giving it nothing but what it can earn; and when it can be master of so much Gold as will purchase Linnen to make it a Wastcloth, it is rich.

In Guiny there are several Petty Kingdoms who make War one against the other; during which War, they destroy and burn the Countrey, to the end that the enemy may find no succour, removing their Goods to a Neighboring Kingdom, with whom they have peace; and the whole Kingdom surrounds the King, for his defence and safeguard; and thus they march. Their Weapons are the Bow and Arrows, with which they are so expert, that they can shoot within the breadth of a Shilling. Also they make use of the Poniard, the Dagger, the Shield and Turbant. In which Wars, those they kill, they eat; those they take, they make Slaves; and such are those, that the English, Dutch and other Nations buy of them; and whom they subdue, they take Hostages from. Their Kings are not over-rich, that Revenue which they have comes from the Customs and Tithes upon Goods; as also in the two Ounces of Gold paid by every Man that lieth with anothers Wife: Likewise, in Fines levied for Theft for their ransom; and lastly, in the Sixpenny forfeitures for bringing their Weapons within any of their Cities: Neither do they live in great pomp and grandure; a poor Cottage with us, being with them a Princes Palace. Yet they are had in such reverence, that none cometh to speak with them (though of their Nobility and Gentry) but must crawl upon the hands and knees, and so deliver their business unto them. But the White Men are had in so much respect (though never so poor) that they sit cheek by jowl by their Kings. Upon the Coronation day, as also upon the Quarter days, when the Kings receive their Customs, they make a maguificent Feast which lasteth for two or three days; at which times they have all the varieties in their way as the Countrey will afford; and many of them are held very powerful.

And here, on this Coastof Guiny, the Dutch have been great Traders, having several Holds and Factories, but of late in Anno 1663 and 64, the English have had many struglings with the Dutch, whom they have pretty well subdued; and have now settled their several Factories, and are incorporated into a Society at London, called the Royal African Company, who have many Factories and settlements, driving a very considerable Trade, to the great benefit of the Nation.

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

GƲiney is subject to such great Heats, that were it not for the Rains, and the coolness of the Night, it would be uninhabitable. It sends abroad Parrots, Apes, White-Salt, Ivory, Skins, Wax, Amber-Greece, Gold, and Slaves. Its Inhabitants have the repute of being presumptuous, thievish, Idolatrous, and extreamly superstitious. Its best Town is St. George de la Mina, now in Possession of the Hollanders. The English have amongst others, Cabo Corso, and the Danes, Fredericksbourg. Most of the Portugals, who succeeded the French in that Colony, have been compelled by reason of their small numbers, to retire into the Inlands, during the Wars with Spain. The Castle of La Mina, having been so called from the Mines of Gold which are in its Neighbourhood; the name of St. George, was given it by John the Second, King of Portugal, who after having made the Conquest of it, conceal'd the Commerce thereof, as long as he could. Benin is a particular Kingdom, with the best City of all Nigritia. Ardre, towards the Coast, has its King, from whom there was an Ambassadour to the French King at Paris, towards the latter end of the Year 1670, for the establishment of Traffick in its Dominions. The Coast of Maleguetta, is so call'd from a kind of Pepper which it produces, and which is said to be better than that of the Indies. Apes do them great service in Guinca. Those that are called Barris, fetch Water, turn the Spit, and serve too at Table.

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

GƲINEA.

THe Word Guinea signifies hot and dry. The Portuguese have divided Guinea into the upper and lower. The 1. contains all that Region, which lies between the River Senega, and the Kingdom of Congo; the 2. all the lower Aethiopia, but I understand by it, nothing but the Coasts of Guinea from the Cape of Sarrelione, or Sierra Liona, and the Mountain of Lyons, to the River of Camerones; and so tho it be a Country of lesser extent than Nigritia, yet it is better inhabited a great deal, because it lies altogether upon the Coasts of the Atlan•ic• Ocean.

Guinea is bounded on the North with Nigritia, on the West and South with the Sea of Guinea, with the Cape of Lopez Gonsalvez. The extent of it from South to North is about 250 leagues, from the 1 D. of Southern Latitude, to the 13 D. of Northern Latitude, and from West to East about 180 leagues from the 7 D. 30 min. to the 49 D. of Longitude.

The Air is extreme hot and unhealthy, by reason of the frequent Rains, which is the cause that few strangers can dwell there without much Sickness. The Soil produceth Sugar, Cotton, Rice, Millet, Barley, and several other grains, with Variety of Fruits, especially in those places, where the people of Europe have settled their Factories. It hath Mines of Gold, a great number of Elephants, Peacocks, Parrots, Apes, Tigers, Leopards, and several other sorts of Beasts. They catch excellent Fish on their Coasts; particularly the Goldeny, Porpoise, and Bonic•e. They maintain a great Trade with Ivory, Monkeys, Skins, Wax, Slaves, Ambergrease, Salt, which is very white, Gold, which they exchange for Cloaths, Stuffs, Iron, Arms, Glass, which is brought out of Europe to them.

Mountains of greatest note are those, which the Portuguese call Montes Claros, which in the West they call Sierra Liona, or the Mountains of Lyons. The biggest Rivers are Sierre-Lyone, Sueiro da Costamaneu, Lavolta, Benin, Carmo Rio del Rey, Descamarones, Rio das Gavilias, or De Poules Maguvira, or Rio Novo, Mavach, Plezoge, Menoch, or Rio Aguado.

The Inhabitants of this Country are extremely black; they are ingenious, complaisant, and very understanding in Trade, especially those that dwell along the Coasts; but are proud, thieves, lyars and do often surprize the Europeans Ships. They go all Naked without shame, with a Knife in their hands, to be always ready to revenge themselves of their Enemies. They remember every thing well without writing or reading.

Almost all these people are Idolaters: The last Relations of them say, that there are some Christians, and that some of their Kings are Catholicks.

The Government of this Country is in the hand of several Kings, and Princes, who have many other petty Kings under them, that pay them tribute, or depend on them. There are some free people, who live in a kind of Commonwealth, and others, who are almost wild, and live without any Laws. The Dutch hold S. George de la Mina, with the Fort of Nassau, or Moreh, Cormantin, Axime, Battou. The English have made themselves masters of Cape de Sierra-Liona, of the Island Madrebousa, Commendo, or Tacorari, Tabocorso, Entarhen, or Naschange. The Danes possess Frederisburg, and Christiansburg. These 3 Protestant Nations have driven out the Portuguese from the Coasts, who are retired more into the Country, and have made an Alliance with the Natives of the Country which are most considerable. The most potent Monarchs of this Country, are the Kings of Cagia, Berion, Sierra-Liona, Arder or Ardres, Ʋlcuma, and the Great Commendo.

This Country is usually divided into 4 general parts, which are, the Kingdom of Sierre-Liona; the Province, or Coast of Malaguete, or Maniguate; Guinea propria, and the Kingdom of Benin.