Negroland

Sources from old books

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

NIgritia is so called from its ancient People, the Nigritae, who reciprocally seem to have had their Name from their black Colour, or from that of their Land, which in some places is all burnt by the excessive heat, which contributes to the blackning both the Sand and the Inhabitants. They who attribute this blackness to the Race of Cham, say, that people of other Countreys preserve their whiteness in Nigritia, and that the Asiaticks, and the Americans, who are in the same Zone with the Negroes, are not naturally black. The Niger does somewhat temper the Country, by means of its Waters, but the Rains which fall there, occasion several Diseases. As Commerce is now in high consideration amongst the European Nations, it is not improper to say somewhat of the Coast of Nigritia. Cap Blanc is a tongue of Land as hard as a Rock, ten or twelve fathom high, with a very spacious Haven, where Ships are safe against most Winds. Arguin, a Castle in a little Island, belongs to the Hollanders. The Barks may enter into the River of St. John, and treat with the Negroes for Ostridge-Feathers, Gums, Amber, and some small Gold. Senega, one of the principal Branches of the Niger, is not a League in breadth, at its disemboguing it self into the Sea. The Coast on the North of Senega is very low, and hardly to be kenn'd by those that are twelve Leagues distant at Sea. The Road of Cape-Verd, has twelve or thirteen fathom water, upon a bottom of grey Sand. The Island belonging to the Flemmings, called Gorea, has a Plat-form, flank'd by four Bastions of Earth, with a Dungeon of Bricks, which did not hinder it from being insulted in the late Wars. The entrance into it is on the West of the Island, where Ships of a hundred Tun may touch and ride. The Road is good, but no fresh water to be had. Rufisca is a retreat commodious enough. Gambia is about five Leagues broad at its influx into the Sea, but it is not Navigable for Barks above sixty Leagues. 'Tis said, that the Portugals have remounted the Niger sometimes as far as the Kingdom of Benin, in the space of above eighteen hundred Leagues; that the Danes have formerly possess'd Cantozi, towards the place where the Niger divides it self; and that this Niger forms great Lakes, upon the Banks of which there are several good Cities, from whence go Caravans as far as Tripoli of Barbary. The English, in hopes of getting some of the Gold of the Countrey, had a design to go up the Senega with several light Ships; but the excessive heats, the insults of the Negroes accompanied with some Portugueses, made them lay aside the thoughts of their Enterprize. The Negroes are commonly simple and candid, Idolaters towards the Sea, Mahometans in the inland Countrey. They have three pretty considerable Kingdoms, Tombut, Borno, and Gaoga. Most of their Cities are not to be compared with our Towns, the Houses being only built of Wood, Chalk, and Straw; and often one of these Cities makes a Kingdom. The last Kings of Tombut, whom they call Tombouctou, have had the reputation of possessing a great quantity of Gold in Bars and Ingots. They are said to have this Gold from the Kingdom of Gago; and that from the Kingdoms of Morocco and Sus, there go often several Cafiles, or Caravans, for the bringing it thence. The Kingdom of Gualata produces Milet. That of Agades has a City indifferently well built. Borno, formerly the abode of the Garamantes, is inhabited by a People who live in common; private persons there, acknowledge for their Children, those who resemble them, and the flattest nosed are the handsomest and greatest Beauties. Several Nations are between the branches of the Niger, where some Authors place the Gardens of the Hesperides. Those of Senega send abroad Slaves, Gold in dust, Hides, Gums and Civit Cats. The Negroes are very strong, and are more sought after, and bought up by the Europeans, than those of other Countreys. They of Guiney are docible, for which reason they are commonly made domestick servants. Those of Angola are employed in cultivating of Land, by reason of their strength. 'Tis a saying, That he who expects to have any service from his Negro, must give him Food enough, a great deal of Work, and many Blows. On the South of the Niger are several other small Kingdoms• that of Melli, with a City of six thousand Houses; Gago, rich in Gold, as we have said. Zegzeg, considerable for its Commerce; Zanfara, fertile in Corn. The enumeration of the other places would be here as tedious, as it is unnecessary, since they are neither strong, nor well peopled, and but a very little trade is driven by 'em. The Portugals have yielded up to the English some Fortresses, which they had towards the Mouths of the Niger, which has given our Nation the means of trafficking here, and making Enterprizes, as do also the Hollanders.