THE FIRST VOYAGE TO GUINEA 



deserts, continuing for the space of five dayes journey. 

 And they affirme, that if the sayd Christian Emperor 

 were not hindered by those deserts (in the which is great 

 lacke of victuals, & especially of water) he would or 

 now have invaded the kingdom of Egypt, and the citie 

 of Alcair. The chiefe city of Ethiopia, where this great 

 emperor is resident, is called Amacaiz, being a faire citie, 

 whose inhabitants are of the colour of an Olive. There 

 are also many other cities, as the city of Sava upon the 

 river of Nilus, where the Emperour is accustomed to 

 remaine in the Sommer season. There is likewise a 

 great city named Barbaregaf, and Ascon, from whence 

 it is said that the Queene of Saba came to Hierusalem 

 to heare the wisedom of Salomon. This citie is but 

 litle, yet very faire, and one of the chiefe cities in Ethiope. 

 In this province are many exceeding high mountains, upon 

 the which is said to be the earthly paradise : and some 

 say that there are the trees of the Sunne and Moone, 

 whereof the antiquitie maketh mention : yet that none 

 can passe thither by reason of great deserts of an hundred 

 daies journey. Also beyond these mountains is the Cape 

 of Bona Speranza. And to have said thus much of 

 Afrike it may suffice. 



The first voiage to Guinea and Benin. 



N the yeere of our Lord 1553. the twelfth 

 day of August, sailed from Portsmouth 

 two goodly ships, the Primerose and the 

 Lion, with a pinnas called the Moone, 

 being all well furnished aswell with men 

 of the lustiest sort, to the number of 

 as also with ordinance and 



A.D. 



1553- 



Amacaiz,, 



From whence 

 the Queene of 

 Saba came. 



The earthly 

 Paradise. 

 The trees of 

 the Sunne and 

 the Moone. 



seven 

 to 



score, 



victuals requisite to such a voiage : having also two 

 captaines, the one a stranger called Anthonie Anes Pin- 

 teado, a Portugall, borne in a towne named The Port 

 of Portugall, a wise, discreet, and sober man, who for 

 his cunning in sailing, being as well an expert Pilot as 

 a politike captaine, was sometime in great favour with 

 vi 145 K 



Pinteado. 



