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 A∣byssins, 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 Nu∣bia: Moreover and in the same Author, I find that Tamalma, Zaghara, Ma∣than, 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 Ni∣ger. 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 Angi∣mi: 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.