The Digital Ark: Early Modern Collections of Curiosities in England and Scotland, 1580-1700
Francis Brothais ( - fl. c. 1670)
Identified along with his "brother" as "F. Charles and Francis" by one who identifies as their brother and names himself "F. Brothais." Given that these three were missionaries travelling in Egypt, these identifications might indicated a monastic rather than familial brotherhood. Relevant locations: Visited Egypt, AfricaRelationships: Charles Brothais (-fl. c. 1670) was a brother of Francis Brothais
F. Brothais (-fl. c. 1670) was a brother of Francis Brothais
References in Documents:
A Narrative of some Observations lately made by certain Missionaries
in the
in the
communicated in a Letter written from
the
sixth ofJanuar. 1670.
April the 20th last I find, that you desire to hear
some news concerning my Voyage in the Upper Egypt. I am
very ready to give you that satisfaction, provided you make our
friends share in it. I shall therefore tell you, that I have spent three
months time in that voyage, accompanied with my Brothers, the
Charles
as high asNile
300 leagues above this City, being two daies journey on this side
of the Cascata's of the
, & where never anyNile
been within the memory of man. I there admired store of Idol-
Temples yet entire, together with very ancient Pallaces filled
with Statues and Idols. I counted in one place alone 7
Obelisks
like those at
, and about 120 Columns in one Hall, of theRome
bigness of five Brasses; full within and without, from the top to
the bottom, with Hieroglyphic Letters, and with Figures of false
Deities. I found Statues of white marble; and some of black of the
bigness of three persons, with a sword on their side, and of an
hard stone; namely, a Man and a Woman, at the least of the height
of eight fathoms, though seated in chairs; but well proportioned:
And two others of black marble representing women, with
Globes on their head and extravagant coverings thereon, which
were two foot broad from one shoulder to the other.
If I had had more time allow'd me to make this Voyage, or
had not been obliged to stay long time upon the account of our
Mission, in such places where nothing considerable was to be
seen, I might have made very curious Observations. There are
places where I could not stay to view them but half an hour,
which required very well the stay of many hours, and we
light
ed not but in two places, where Antiquities were to be seen, one
whereof is called Lozor, and the other Candion, which is a very an
cient Castle, esteemed by the Tradition of the Country to have
formerly been the Residence of a King. Nor indeed is this
hard to believe even before one enters into it, considering in
the advenues of the said Castle a great number of
Sphinxes
standing in a row, and turning their head towards the Alley. 'Tis
known that this is an Idol having the Head of a Woman and the
Body of a Lion, which was once a famous Deity among the E
gyptians. They are distant from each other about two pa
ces, and are 20 feet long. I walk'd in four Alleys ending at four
Gates of the Castle; and for ought I know there may be more
of them, seeing I went but half round the Castle, which is very
spacious. I reckon'd 60 of them on one side of one Alley, and
as many over against it; and 51 in another Alley; all well mea
sur'd. The Alleys are of the largeness of a Pal-mall: the Gates
of that Castle are of an extraordinary height cover'd with
most excellent stones. Measuring one which maketh the
height of one of them, I found it 26½ foot long, and proportio
nably thick. I believe, that there are above a million of Figures
in profil, none in front: I speak of those that are graven
on the Walls and Pillars. I should have needed a whole Month
to observe all the particulars of that place. I did content my
self to draw only the postures of a dozen of the most extrava
gant
Dæmonstogether with their Adorers of both Sexes; and
some Frontispieces of Temples, which are not very rich in Ar
chitecture, but built of very fine stone. That which most pleas'd
me was the ground, where the Azure and the other Colours,
which are like enamel, appear as fresh as if they had been laid on
but a month before. There are Temples so spacious, that 3000
people may stand on the roof with ease. In the same Castle there
is a Pond, the water whereof is bitter, set about with fine stones.
This water is said perfectly to whiten Linnen all alone; which
I tried not, but we dipp'd our handcherchief in it, which kept
the sent of Soap for four or five daies.
These are the only curiosities I can send you of our Voyage
which is not the fiftieth part of what was to be seen: but our time
being limited we only could stay in two places; our design not be
ing curiosity, but to satisfie the charge of the Mission among the
Christian Cophthes of that Countrey, which are in great number
there, and have many Monasteries and ancient Churches, but
poor. We have passed many places, where was neither Priest
nor Church, but only the poor people like sheep without a Shep
herd. I hope shortly to return thither, and not to come back a
gain with so much hast, after I shall have made a little voyage up
on the
in the Gallies of the Turks, &c.