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Guedes Rodrigues' Private Collection
SANTOS (João dos)
ETHIOPIA Oriental e Varia Historia de Cousas notaveis do Oriente. Composta pollo Padre Fr. João dos Santos. Évora: Impressa no Convento de S. Domingos de Évora por Manoel de Lira, 1609.
[ ]10, A-R8, S4, A-P8, Q3; 2 partes, [10], 140, 123 ff.; 270 mm
FIRST EDITION. VERY RARE. One of the most important descriptions of the South East African region and one of the most relevant primary sources for understanding how that region was seen at the end of the 16th century. Fr. João dos Santos, after finishing his theological studies, volunteers to join a mission of Dominican friars sent to the East by Jerónimo Correa. He left Lisbon on the 13th of April 1586. On the 12th of August of that year he disembarked on the coast of Mozambique, heading for the kingdom of Sofala in the company of an older Dominican missionary, João Madeira. He spent two years in Sofala, later moving to Quelimane, Quiiteve and Mutapa, Sena and Tete and the Querimba Islands. On the 22nd of August 1597, after the arrival of an English ship, he left for India, where he remained until 1600. On his return to Portugal, he returned to his native Évora, writing down his memoirs, most likely by order of his superiors. Again, he passed through Southeast Africa and India, where he died in 1622. Divided into two parts, the work presents, in the first, a description of the landscapes, fauna, flora and uses and customs of the regions that Fr. João dos Santos crossed. The second part deals with the history of missions in Southeast Africa and India, mixing personal impressions with testimonies from other missionaries. Obviously written from an apologetic point of view towards the Dominicans, at the same time, the author's effort to achieve the historical rigor defined as standard at the time is notorious, adding arguments and documents that support the written statements. In this way, the work stands out as a unique source for the modern history of that region. VERY RARE AND VALUABLE.
¶ Inocêncio, v..4, p.33; Barbosa, v.3, p. 748; Palha, 4222; Travel and Exploration, 350.
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