Search results

Title: [Funeral in Negroland]
Description: The engraving shows a funeral rite, or fakotima, in Negroland. In this scene, the funeral orations have already ended, and the deceased has been propped up on a platform. According to Ogibly, when the deceased was a man (as is the case here), his friends put "a Bowe and Arrow into his hand, and arrayed him with his best Garment." Then, they offered presents, "one Needles, another a Kettle or Bason; the third a Garment; a fourth Dishes, and Earthen and Tin Cups." In this engraving, the kinsmen of the deceased play with bows and arrows in front of the corspe, as was customary., Illustration in John Ogilby's Africa: Being an Accurate Description of the Regions of Aegypt, Barbary, Lybia, and Billedulgerid: the Land of Negroes, Guinee, and Aethiopia, and Abyssines, with all the Adjacent Islands, either in the Mediterranean, Atlantick, Southern, or Oriental Sea, Belonging Thereunto (London: Printed by Tho. Johnson, for the author, and are to be had at his house in White Fryers, M.DC.LXX [1670]), p. 394., Fels Afro-Americana Image Project, Africa: Images, Maps, and Geography.
Date: [1670]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Books & Other Texts | Rare *Wing O163 14.F p 394, https://digital.librarycompany.org/islandora/object/Islandora%3A2954

Title: [The king's seat]
Description: Shows the throne or ("seat") of an African King in Nether-Ethiopia. According to Ogilby's text, "The Stool, or Seat, whereupon he sits, stands raised upon a Foot-pace, dressed with white and black Wickers, very artificially Woven, and other sorts of curious adornings; behind his Back hangs on a Pole a Shield, cover'd with divers party-colour'd Stuffs, brought out of Europe. Near him stand also six of eight Fanns, by them call'd Pos, or Mani, and containing in length and breadth half a Fathom, at the upper end of a long Stick which runs through the middle of it, having a round Brim, in form of a half Globe fasten'd, interwoven with little Horns, and with white and black Parrots Feathers between: Those Fanns certain People, which the King keeps for that purpose, move with great force, which agitating the Air, causes a refreshing and pleasant coolness. Before the King's seat lieth spread a great Cloth twenty Fathom long, and twelve broad, made of quilted Leaves sew'd together, upon which none may go but the King and his Children; but round it they leave room for two or three persons to pass by, the Nobility sitting in long Ranks, every one with a Buffles Tail in his Hand, which for the most part they move in the preference of the King: Some sit upon the bare Ground; others upon Cloathes made of the same Stuff with the King's: Behind them stand the People; as behind the King all his great Officers, not few in number." (p. 507), Illustration in John Ogilby's Africa: Being an Accurate Description of the Regions of Aegypt, Barbary, Lybia, and Billedulgerid: the Land of Negroes, Guinee, and Aethiopia, and Abyssines, with all the Adjacent Islands, either in the Mediterranean, Atlantick, Southern, or Oriental Sea, Belonging Thereunto (London: Printed by Tho. Johnson, for the author, and are to be had at his house in White Fryers, M.DC.LXX [1670]), p. 507., Fels Afro-Americana Image Project, Africa: Images, Maps, and Geography.
Date: [1670]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Books & Other Texts | Rare *Wing O163 14.F p 507, https://digital.librarycompany.org/islandora/object/Islandora%3A2960

Title: [The Koredo]
Description: Set in Negroland, the engraving addresses way in which the King dealt with disobedient subjects, or "any man who keeps away from his duty." As Ogilby explained, when any nobleman proved disobedient, or failed to comply with a summons, the King sent his Koredo, or shield. The shield was brought by two drummers (shown here in the foreground), who began beating their drums "as soon as they came near the Offenders Habitations." Upon receipt of the shield, the offender was required, without the slightest delay, "to speed away to the Court, carrying the shield with him." After presenting the shield to the King, the offender was expected to "beg forgiveness of his miscarriages," and to "take up Earth before the King, humbling himself." (p. 399), Illustration in John Ogilby's Africa: Being an Accurate Description of the Regions of Aegypt, Barbary, Lybia, and Billedulgerid: the Land of Negroes, Guinee, and Aethiopia, and Abyssines, with all the Adjacent Islands, either in the Mediterranean, Atlantick, Southern, or Oriental Sea, Belonging Thereunto (London: Printed by Tho. Johnson, for the author, and are to be had at his house in White Fryers, M.DC.LXX [1670]), p. 399., Fels Afro-Americana Image Project, Africa: Images, Maps, and Geography.
Date: [1670]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Books & Other Texts | Rare *Wing O163 14.F p 399, https://digital.librarycompany.org/islandora/object/Islandora%3A2955

Title: ["Household-stuff"; Negroland]
Description: The engraving offers a partial view of the interior and exterior of a house in Negroland. It accompanies the following paragraph in Ogilby's text: "The best of their Household-stuff is commonly one or two wooden Chests, bought of the Whites, wherein they Lock all they possess; so that little can be seen in their Houses. They have some Kalabasses, which they call Akosso, made of the Straw of Mille, wherein they commonly carry their Wares and other Goods to sell. Their Arms, such as Shields, Assagays, or Launces, hang on the Wall for Ornament. The remaining part of their Goods consists in a Mat to sleep on, two or three stumps of wood for Stools, a Pot or two to boyl in, two or three Kalabasses to drink Palm-Wine out of, and a great Kettle to wash themselves in." (p. 454) Many of the objects to which Ogibly refers can be seen in the engraving. For example, at the far left, an African washes himself in a "great Kettle," while the man at the far right raises a kalabasse in his hand. In the center of the scene, the standing figure holds his sleeping mat, and several straw baskets (Akosso) are scattered on the ground. In accordance with Ogilby's description, arms, shields, and the like decorate the walls of the house., Illustration in John Ogilby's Africa: Being an Accurate Description of the Regions of Aegypt, Barbary, Lybia, and Billedulgerid: the Land of Negroes, Guinee, and Aethiopia, and Abyssines, with all the Adjacent Islands, either in the Mediterranean, Atlantick, Southern, or Oriental Sea, Belonging Thereunto (London: Printed by Tho. Johnson, for the author, and are to be had at his house in White Fryers, M.DC.LXX [1670]), p. 454., Fels Afro-Americana Image Project, Africa: Images, Maps, and Geography.
Date: [1670]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Books & Other Texts | Rare *Wing O163 14.F p 454 A, https://digital.librarycompany.org/islandora/object/Islandora%3A2957

Title: [Ehem, or little boats, and jenge-jenge, or African bridges, in Negroland]
Description: Engraving shows two ehem (or canoes), which were commonly used in Negroland. On the left, two men build an ehem, while a third wades through the water with a bundle of wood on his back. To the right, five men paddle a finished ehem. As Ogilby wrote, "Along the whole Coast the Inhabitants use light and nimble Boats, or Sloops; by them call'd, Ehem; by the Portuguese, Almades; and by the English and others, Canoos: with which they go some Leagues to Sea, and row up the Rivers from one place to another: They are made of one entire piece of Wood, or the body of a Tree cut long-ways with Cutting-Knives; then made hollow on the sides, and narrow above, with a flat bottom, and without any covering over head; the Ends before and behind narrow, and close together as a Hand-bow, and almost in the same fashion; the Head somewhat lower, the Sides a finger thick, and the Bottom two: And after the hollowing, they burn the Wood with Straw, to prevent Worms, and cleaving by the Sun. At each End the Canoo hath a Bowe like a Galley, a foot long, and a Knob a hand thick, whereby the Blacks carry them in and out of the Water upon their shoulders; for they suffer them not to lie soaking in the water, but set them upon Props to dry; by which means they both preserve them from rotting, and make them more pliable and swift in the using. Behind they have a Rudder like an Oar, being a long Stick with a round leaf at it: The common ones, wherewith they go out a Fishing, are generally sixteen foot long, five broad, and three foot high; some so large, that fifty or sixty men may stand in them with their Arms; which sort are made about Cape de tres Puntas, because there grows mighty large Trees, being seventeen or eighteen fathom in thickness. They lie not high with their Sides above water, but oftentimes he that steers the Helm, sits with his body most in the water: The small ones will hold onely one man in the Breadth, but seven or eight in the Length; which are rowed with Oars made of hard wood, in shape of a Spade, with an extraordinary dexterity Galley-fashion; and make such swift way in Still water, that they seem to flye, but in Rough-water they will not go forward so fast: The smaller sort, by reason of their narrowness, overset very easily which the Negroe's with great facility turn and leap into again." (p. 454-55), Illustration in John Ogilby's Africa: Being an accurate description of the regions of Aegypt, Barbary, Lybia, and Billedulgerid: the Land of Negroes, Guinee, and Aethiopia, and Abyssines, with all the adjacent islands, either in the Mediterranean, Atlantick, Southern, or Oriental Sea, Belonging Thereunto (London: Printed by Tho. Johnson, for the author, and are to be had at his house in White Fryers, M.DC.LXX [1670]), p. 454 (bottom)., A closely related version of the engraving (mirror image) was published in Pieter van der Aa's La galerie agreable du monde (Leyden: 1729?) under the title Ehem, ou canots, petits bateaux, et Jenge-Jenge ou ponts des Africains., Fels Afro-Americana Image Project, Africa: Images, Maps, and Geography.
Date: [1670]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Books & Other Texts | Rare *Wing O163 14.F p 454 B, https://digital.librarycompany.org/islandora/object/Islandora%3A2958

Title: Dracht en wapening der Hottentots = The Hottentots clothing and their dress
Description: Set in a lush landscape near the Cape of Good Hope, the illustration features a group of Khoikoin, also known (pejoratively) as the Hottentots. Engraving accompanies a passage in which Ogilby offers a detailed description of their clothing and weapons. "Their Clothing is very sordid, and vile, most of the Men wearing onely a Sheeps Pelt, or Badgers Skin, in manner of a Mantle about their Shoulders, with the hairy side commonly within, and ty'd under their Chin. Such a Mantle consists of three Pieces, neatly sew'd together with Sinews of Beasts in stead of Threed. When they go abroad, or upon a Journey, they throw another Sheeps-skin, with the Wool on the out-side, over the undermost. Upon their Heads they wear a Cap of Lamb-skin, with the Woolly side inward, and a Button on the top. Their shoes are made of a Rhincerot's Skin, and consists of a whole flat Piece, before and behind of a like heighth, with a Cross of two Leather-bands fasten'd to their Feet. Before their Privacies hangs a little piece of a wild Wood-Cat, or ring-streaked Tyger, or Jack-alls Skin, ty'd behind with two Thongs. The Habit of the Women differs little from the former, being a Sheep-skin Mantle on the upper part of their Bodies, with the Wool inwards; but somewhat longer than the Men; also another Skin hanging behind to cover their back-parts, and a square Piece before their Privacies. On their Heads they wear a high Cap of a Sheeps, or Badgers Skin, bound to their Heads with a broad Fillet: In all the rest following the Mens Garb. . . . Many of them wear as an Ornament, the Guts of Beasts, fresh and stinking, drawn two or three times one through another, about their Necks, and the like about their Legs . . . . When they go abroad they have usually an Ostrich Feather, or a Staff, with a wild Cats Tail ty'd to it, in one Hand, in stead of a Handkerchief to wipe their Eyes and Noses, and beat away the Dust, Sand, and Flies, and in the other Hand a sleight Javelin. The Women never go abroad without a Leather Sack at their backs, having at each end a Tuft or Taffel, fill'd with one trifle or another. Their Weapons, or Arms, are Bowes and Arrows, and small Darts, three, four, or five Foot long, having at one end a broad sharp Iron fixed, which they handle and throw very dexterously." (p. 590-91), Double-page plate in John Ogilby's Africa: Being an Accurate Description of the Regions of Aegypt, Barbary, Lybia, and Billedulgerid: the Land of Negroes, Guinee, and Aethiopia, and Abyssines, with all the Adjacent Islands, either in the Mediterranean, Atlantick, Southern, or Oriental Sea, Belonging Thereunto (London: Printed by Tho. Johnson, for the author, and are to be had at his house in White Fryers, M.DC.LXX [1670]), p. 590., A seemingly identical copy of this engraving appeared in Pieter van der Aa's La Galerie agreable du monde (Leyden: 1729?). The Leyden version was signed by van der Aa., Fels Afro-Americana Image Project, Africa: Images, Maps, and Geography.
Date: [1670]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Books & Other Texts | Rare *Wing O163 14.F p 590, https://digital.librarycompany.org/islandora/object/Islandora%3A2962

Title: An inhabitant of Angola
Description: Portrait image of an Angolan man. Subject wears only a tall head-piece, seemingly made of feathers, and a ribbon around his genitals. He holds a long spear in his right hand. An Angolan idol appears in the sky in the background. On the preceding page, Hebert wrote, "In Angola the people are fearfull blacke, their Religion is Ethnick, the Idols are of great esteeme amongst them, and called Mokisso, generally they are so wedded to Superstition, that some adore the Deuill in forme of a bloudie Dragon. Others a Ram-goat, a Leopard, a Batt, an Owle, a Snake or Dogge, to whom they ceremoniously kneele and bow vnto, groueling then vpon the Earth, they throw dust on their faces, and offer Hearbes, Rice, Rootes, Fruits, and such like, which is deuoured by the Witches, a Monster not a little feared and esteemed of amongst these Deuillish Sauages." (p. 8), Illustration in Sir Thomas Hebert's A relation of some yeares travaile, begvnne anno 1626: Into Afrique and the greater Asia, especially the territories of the Persian monarchie: and some parts of the Orientall Indies, and iles adiacent. Of their religion, language, habit, discent, ceremonies, and other matters concerning them . . . (London: Printed by William Stansby, and Jacob Bloome, 1634), p. 9., Fels Afro-Americana Image Project, Africa: Images, Maps, and Geography.
Creator: Marshall, William, fl. 1617-1650, engraver
Date: [1634]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Books & Other Texts | Rare *Stc 13190 902.F (Preston) p 9, https://digital.librarycompany.org/islandora/object/Islandora%3A2892

Title: Von den Innwohnern des Königreichs Loango, auch von den Anziguern, auss dem V. Capitel dess ersten Buchs
Description: Engraving is set in the Kingdom of Loango. On the left, a man belonging to the peoples formerly called the Bramas defends himself against a member of the Antique nation, a people known for their cannibalism. On the right, another member of the Antique nation chops up a decapitated corpse. Human limbs and various body parts hang from a structure in the background., Plate 12 in Duarte Lopes's Regnum Congo hoc est: warhaffte vnd eigentliche Beschreibung dess Königreichs Congo in Africa vnd deren angrentzenden Länder darinnen der inwohner Glaub Leben Sitten vnd Klendung wol vnd aussführlich vermeldet vnd angezeigt wirdt (Getruckt zu Franckfort am Mayn: durch Matthias Becker in Verlegung Hans Dietherich vnd Hans Israel von Bry, im Jahr M.D.C.IX. [1609]), n.p., Caption reads: "Dieses Völcklein dess Königreichs Loango, so vor zeiten Bramas genennet waren / vergleichen sich fast in allem mit den aus Congo, so ihre Nachbawren sennd / allein sie haben für ihre Rüstung nichts als lange Schilde / welche fast den ganzen Menschen bedecken / unnd in der andern Handt ein langen Pfeil mit einem langen breiten Ensen / fast wie ein Knöbelspiess / in der mitte hat has Gehölz einen runden Knopff / damit sie ihn fassen: Tragen auch Dolche welche sennd fast wie die Ensen an gemelten Spiessen. Aber diesem Königreich Loango, wohnen die Völcker Anzigues, so da in Menschenfresseren all andere wilde Nationen ubertreffen / dann sie ihre Merzigen von Menschenfleisch so gemein under ihnen haben / als wir hie aussen von allerlen Viehe / und das nicht von ihren Feinden / wie andere Indianer / sondern von ihren eigenen Freunden und Gesinde / wie in der Historien weitter zu lesen ist. Ihre Wehren sennd kleine Bögen und Pfeil / auch haben sie Arte mit kleinen Stielen / wie in dieser Figur zu sehen / mit welchen sie alle Schüsse des Pfeils mit einer grossen behendigkeit abzuwenden wissen / umb den Leib sennd sie umbgürtet mit breitten Ledern Riemen / drener Finger brent / von dicker Elendshaut / u. Sonsten sennd sie in allen den abgemeldten gleich.", The above can be translated approximately as follows: "These people of the Kingdom of Loango, formerly called the Bramas / resemble in almost all respects the people of the Congo, their neighbors / for arms, they have nothing more than a large shield / which almost covers them entirely / and in the other hand they have a long shaft with a long, pointed tip / almost like a spear / in the middle of the wooden shaft is round knob / so that it can be held: [They] also wear a dagger, whose tip is almost like that of the shaft. But in the Kindgom of Loango also live the Antiques, who surpass all other primitive nations in their cannibalism / . . . . /, for they eat not only their enemies, but also their friends and servants / as can be further read about in stories. Their weapons are bows and arrows / and also another sort / as can be seen in this engraving / which they use with great agility to protect themselves from arrows / around their waists they wear wide leather straps / their finger burns / from thick "Elendshaut" (difficult to translate -- "Elend" means suffering or misery, and "Haut" means skin), / and otherwise they resemble in all respects those described above.", Fels Afro-Americana Image Project, Africa: Images, Maps, and Geography.
Date: [1609]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Books & Other Texts | Rare *Sev Lope 1212.F plate 12, https://digital.librarycompany.org/islandora/object/Islandora%3A2888

Title: Von denen so Biagas genannt werden, im IX. Capitels des andern Buchs
Description: Foreground shows three men belonging to the Biaga nation. Two sleep behind their shields; the third stands with his shield, dagger, club, and arrow. In the background, Biagas use thier shields to protect themselves from their enemies' arrows., Plate 13 in Duarte Lopes's Regnum Congo hoc est: warhaffte vnd eigentliche Beschreibung dess Königreichs Congo in Africa vnd deren angrentzenden Länder darinnen der inwohner Glaub Leben Sitten vnd Klendung wol vnd aussführlich vermeldet vnd angezeigt wirdt (Getruckt zu Franckfort am Mayn: durch Matthias Becker in Verlegung Hans Dietherich vnd Hans Israel von Bry, im Jahr M.D.C.IX. [1609]), n.p., Caption reads: "Diese Völcker wohnen umb den ersten See dess Fluss Nili / ist ein unbarmherzig / Mörderisch und räubersiches Völck / grosser länge und statur / eines abscheulichen Anblicks / schwarzer Farb. Ihre Waffen / sind Kolben / Pfeil / Dolchen / Spiess und grosse Schilde / hinter welchen sie sich auch lägern / oder sich mit bedecken für den Schoss dess Pfeils / sie gehen gar nackend / fressen auch Menschenfleisch / die Backen und Leffzen haben sie auffgeschlizt / wenden das weisse an den Augen heraus / und stellen sich auss das ungeherst so ihnen möglich ist / ihre Feinde damit zu erschröcken / wie in der Historien weitläusstig zu sehen.", Caption can be translated approximately as follows: "These people [i.e., the Biagas] live near the first lake of the Nile / they are an unmerciful / murderous and rapacious people / of great height and stature / intimidating appearance / and black color. Their weapons / are clubs / arrows / daggers / spears and large shields / under which they sleep / or with which they protect themselves from arrows / they wear nothing / are also cannibals / they cut out the cheeks and lips / they take they whites' eyes out / and act monstrously to frighten their enemies / as can be read about futher in the accounts.", Fels Afro-Americana Image Project, Africa: Images, Maps, and Geography.
Date: [1609]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Books & Other Texts | Rare *Sev Lope 1212.F plate 13, https://digital.librarycompany.org/islandora/object/Islandora%3A2889

Title: Von den Weibern in Monomotapa, auss dem IX. Capitel dess andern Buchs
Description: In the foreground, a woman from Monomotapa stands with her bow and arrow. Behind her, two other women burn off the left breast of a third woman, so that it does not interfere with her ability to shoot an arrow. In the background, a battle is waged between the Monomotapa women and a group of male warriors., Plate 14 in Duarte Lopes's Regnum Congo hoc est: warhaffte vnd eigentliche Beschreibung dess Königreichs Congo in Africa vnd deren angrentzenden Länder darinnen der inwohner Glaub Leben Sitten vnd Klendung wol vnd aussführlich vermeldet vnd angezeigt wirdt (Getruckt zu Franckfort am Mayn: durch Matthias Becker in Verlegung Hans Dietherich vnd Hans Israel von Bry, im Jahr M.D.C.IX. [1609]), n.p., Caption reads: "Diese Weiber sennd under dem Kenser Monomotapa / welcher ein mächtiger Kenser ist / unnd viel Könige under sich hat / welche ihm bissweilen viel zu schaffen geben / derhalben er sich allezeit mit einem grossen Heer Kriegsvolck versehen muss / under welchen sennd die besten die Legionen dieser Weiber / welche von Jugend auss zum Krieg abgerichtet sennd / welche auch auss der uralten Amazoer art ire lincke Brust abbrennen / damit sie ihnen am schiessen nicht hindern. Ihre Wehren sennd Bogen und Pfeil / sennd gute und geschwinde Schützen / auch sehr standthafft unnd unversagt. Diese Weiber haben eine eigene Landschafft zubewohnen / so ihnen von irem Kenser eingegeben ist: Doch zu einer gewissen zeit gesellen sie sich zu den Männern / welche sie ihres gefallens ausssuchen: Und so sie etwan einen jungen Knaben geberen / so schicken sie denselben den Männern heym / so sie aber Mägdlein geberen / so behalten sie dieselbigen sich / und richten sie zum Krieg abe.", Portions of the caption can be translated approximately as follows: "These women are under the Kenser [?] Monomotapa / which is a powerful Kenser / to which many kings belong / which up until now has accomplished much / . . . . / . . . . / from their youth, the women are trained for war / and following the ancient tradition of the Amazoer, they burn off their left breast / so that it does not infere with their ability to shoot. Their weapons are bows and arrows / . . . . / . . . . These women have their own area in which to live / so that they are surrounded by their Kenser. But at certain times they also socialize with men / . . . and sometimes a son is born, who is sent back to the men, but when a daughter is born, she is kept and trained for war.", Fels Afro-Americana Image Project, Africa: Images, Maps, and Geography.
Creator: Bry, Hans Dietherich and Hans Israel von, engraver
Date: [1609]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Books & Other Texts | Rare *Sev Lope 1212.F plate 14, https://digital.librarycompany.org/islandora/object/Islandora%3A2890

Title: Nigritae exhaustis venis metallicis conficiendo saccharo operam dare debent
Description: This woodcut is one of the earliest known illustrations of sugar making in the New World. In the right foreground, two slaves gather and strip stalks of sugar cane. Kneeling on the ground in the center of the scene, another slave feeds the stalks into a sugar mill. In the lower left-hand corner, the sugar juice extracted from the stalks is boiled in a large cauldron; the unrefined sugar is placed in the pots next to it. In the background, numerous slaves are show at work: some cut cane in the fields, some carry it in bundles, others transport pots of unrefined sugar., Plate I Girolamo Benzoni's Americae pars quinta nobilis & admiratione plena Hieronymi Bezoni Mediolanensis, secundae sectionis h[istor]ia[e] Hispanorum: tum in Indos crudelitatem, Gallorumq[ue] pirataru[m] de Hispanis toties reportata spolia: . . . (Francofurti ad Moenum: Theodoro de Bry. Leod. cive Franc, 1595), part V of DeBry's Voyages., DeBry's illustration is based on the following passage in Benzoni's text from the translation of his work by W.H. Smith: "When the natives of this island (Espanola) began to be extirpated, the Spaniards provided themselves with blacks (Mori) from Guinea . . . and they have brought great numbers thence. When there were mines, they made them work at the gold and silver; but since those came to an end they have increased the sugar-works, and in these and in tending the flocks they are chiefly occupied, besides serving their masters in all else." (History of the New World by Girolamo Benzoni, of Milan. Shewing his travels in America, from A.D. 1541 to 1556 . . . Now first translated, and edited by Rear-Admiral W.H. Smyth (London: Printed for the Hakluyt Society, 1857) p. 93., Illustrations in part V of Benzoni's Voyages were engraved by Theodor DeBry after drawings by Joannes Stradanus., Fels Afro-Americana Image Project, Work Scenes.
Creator: Bry, Theodor de, 1528-1598, engraver
Date: [1595]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Books & Other Texts | Rare *Am 1590 Har (b.w) Log 1076.F plate I, https://digital.librarycompany.org/islandora/object/Islandora%3A2658

Title: Nigritae in scrutandis venis metallicis ab Hispanis in Insulas Abelgantur
Description: This mining scene is one of the earliest known illustrations of slave labor in the New World. Under the supervision of the Spaniards, several slaves pour buckets of molten metal onto the ground; others work in the caves seen in the background., Plate II in Girolamo Benzoni's Americae pars quinta nobilis & admiratione plena Hieronymi Bezoni Mediolanensis, secundae sectionis h[istor]ia[e] Hispanorum: tum in Indos crudelitatem, Gallorumq[ue] pirataru[m] de Hispanis toties reportata spolia: . . . (Francofurti ad Moenum: Theodoro de Bry. Leod. cive Franc, 1595), part V of DeBry's Voyages., DeBry's illustration is based on the following passage in Benzoni's text from the translation of his work by W.H. Smyth: "When the natives of this island (Espanola) began to be extirpated, the Spaniards provided themselves with blacks (Mori) from Guinea . . . and they have brought great numbers thence. When there were mines, they made them work at the gold and silver; but since those came to an end they have increased the sugar-works, and in these and in tending the flocks they are chiefly occupied, besides serving their masters in all else." (History of the New World by Girolamo Benzoni, of Milan. Shewing his travels in America, from A.D. 1541 to 1556 . . . Now first translated, and edited by Rear-Admiral W.H. Smyth (London: Printed for the Hakluyt Society, 1857) p. 93., Illustrations in part V of DeBry's Voyages were engraved by Theodor DeBry after drawings by Joannes Stradanus., Fels Afro-Americana Image Project, Work Scenes.
Creator: Bry, Theodor de, 1528-1598, engraver
Date: [1595]
Location: Library Company of Philadelphia | Books & Other Texts | Rare *Am 1590 Har (b.w) Log 1076.F plate II, https://digital.librarycompany.org/islandora/object/Islandora%3A2659

Main menu

Pages