Cafreria

Sources from old books

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

THe Land of Cafreria is the most Southern of all Africk; nay, of all our Continent, reaching along the Aethiopick-Sea, with an extent of Coasts, for about twelve hundred Leagues, part in the Torrid, and part in the temperate Southern Zone. 'Tis full of Mountains, subject to great Colds, and under several petty Kings, who for the most part pay tribute to the Emperour of Mono-Motapa. The King of Sofala pays it to the King of Portugal, who has a Garrison in the Castle of Sofala, and who, by the means of this Garrison, draws abundance of Gold from the Mines, which are in the inland Countrey. This Gold is accounted as good as any in the World; they gather it likewise in the Rivers, with Nets, after there has been Rain. Solomon might possibly have had his come from hence, which he employed in the building of the Temple. The Coast of Cafreria is low, and full of Woods: the Soyl produces Flowers of an grateful smell, and the Trees make a curious prospect. Three great Rivers discharge 'emselves into the Indian Seas, through Cafreria, all three known in the beginning, under the name of Zambera, Cuama, Spirito Santo, les Infantes.

The Cafres live without Law, so as their Name speaks them. They often furnish the Seamen, who come thither, with their Cattel: But the Mariners now cause the Oxen they buy to betied to great Posts, and shut up the Sheep before they pay 'em, because the Cafres, after having sold 'em, were used to make 'em return home with the Call of a Whistle, which is wholly peculiar to 'em. We may say of 'em, in seeing their colour, that they resemble our Chimney-sweepers; Besides, that they have big Heads, flat Noses; whether they take care to break them in their infancy; or that this happens, because when they are little, their Mothers carry them continually upon the Back: Be it how it will, they look upon it as one of the Beauties of the Countrey, to have them in that manner. They have frizl'd Hair, Lips extraordinary big, the Chine of the Back sticking out sharp, and very large Hips, insomuch, that nothing can be seen more terrible: So that we are not to wonder if Pirard calls 'em, those Devils of Cafres.

The Cape of Good Hope, which lies toward the most Southern part of this Countrey, is by much the longest; the most famous and the most dangerous Cape in the World. 'Twas called so, in hopes of arriving suddenly at the East-Indies, when it was veered in the year 1498. Before, it had the Name of the Tempestuous Cape, from the storms that are frequent thereabouts. Some have call'd it the Lyon of the Sea, others the Head of Africa: There are Signs by which the Sailers know when they are near it; fifty or sixty Leagues off they find the Bodies of great Reeds, called Trombes, floating on the Sea; and they see flying a number of white Birds, mark'd with black spots. They who return from the East-Indies, see Troops of Sea Wolves, made like Bears, and then they are continually sounding. This Cape serves for bounds to the East and West-India-Companies: As they go to the East-Indies, and return from thence, they must of necessity come in ken of it. The Land enjovs a temperate Air; several Valleys have Herbs and Flowers in abundance. There are Rivers full of Fish, and Woods full of Deer and Cattel. The Inhabitants, who make their Garments of Beasts-skins, are very good at running, but very villanous in their Diet, and when they speak, you'd think you heard Turkey-Cocks.