Hiob Ludolf

#### Latin original

Præterea animal mihi nominavit *Gregorius*, quod validum & sævum esse dicebat; አረዌ፡ኃሪስ፡ *Arwêharis*. Amhar: አውሬ፡ኃርስ፡ idq́ue procul dubio est Arabum حريش  *Harish* vel حرشن *Harshan*, quod *Vnicorne* est, capri specie, & pernicitate pedum valens. Num forte sit antiquorum *Monoceros*, qui, teste *P. Hieronymo Lupo*, in Habessiniâ reperitur, aliorum indagationi relinquimus. Pro fabuloso habitum suit istud quadrupes à peritioribus plerisque. Nimirum ineptæ descriptiones, quasi vivum capi non posset: ambigua & ex plane disparibus animalibus conficta forma: tanquam de quodam errore naturæ auctores fabularentur, omnem fidem demserant; famam tamen non prorsus vanam fuisse Lusitani tradidêre. Visum enim suit à *Joanne Gabriele*, quem supra nominavimus, apud *Agawos* in Regno *Damota, animal pulchro in fronte cornu, quinque palmos longo, & albicante præditum: mediocris equi magnitudine, & formâ: coloris spadicei: jubis atque cauda nigris, sed brevibus & tenuibus*. (alibi tamen visum crassioribus & longioribus) *In densissimis sylvis solitarium vivere, & rarò in campos progredi*, incolæ dixerunt. Quo minùs autem de veritate rei dubitaretur, pullus allatus suit Patri cuidam Societatis, qui illum oculis suis vidit. Porro *Lusitani*, in rupem quandam excelsam regionis Naninæ, quæ Gojamæ pars est, ab *Adamas-Saghedo Imperatore* relegati, testati sunt: *Se plurimos tales monocerotes in subjacentibus sylvis pascentes vidisse*; ex quorum relatione profecta sunt, quæ *Johannes Bermudes* & *Ludovicus Marmolius* de hoc animali memoriæ prodidêre Descriptio Lusitanorum veritati magis congruere videtur; quæ enim veteres recentesq́ue auctores de unicornibus scripserunt, tam confusa reperias, ut quædam de *Rhinocerote*, quædam de *Oryge*, quædam de *asinis Indicis*, quædam etiam de *ceto Gronlandico* Nahrwhal accipienda sint. tot animalibus ad Chimæram hanc sormandam opus fuit. Cæteroquin ambigendum non est, multas unicornes animantes hîc & illic dari; id tantùm summè dubium erat, de quibus sacra Scriptura ageret; quandoquidem interpretes, post LXX. Seniores, ferè omnes, Hebræum רים *Rim* vel ראם *Reem*, *Monocerotem*, animal Israëlitis planè incognitum, reddiderunt. *Æthiopicus interpres*, sive ignorans id animalis in Æthiopiâ dari: sive aliud intelligi putans, Græcum τῶν ὸ Μονόκερως ubique reddidit ዘአሐዲ፡ቀርን፡ (Bestia) *cui unum cornu*. At clarissimus *Bochartus* Arabum ريم *Rim*, è caprearum genere: vel, quod verisimilius mihi videtur, *Orygem* esse docuit. *Vrsi* nomen ድበ፡ *Dεb*, ex Arabica & Hebr. linguâ habent; animal ipsum non norunt. In Africâ enim ursos non gigni, Plinius pridem scripsit; at *apri*, *cervi* & *caprea* dantur, secus ac ille putat, nisi fortè de Africâ propriè dictâ locutus sit.

1. ↑ In relatione illius Anglicè translatâ; tit. A short relation of the river Nile &c. 1673.
2. ↑ allegantur à Bocharto in Hierozoico. L. III. c. 26.
3. ↑ Quos vide latè apud Bochart. dicto loco.
4. ↑ De hoc intelligenda est M. Pauli Veneti relatio de Vnicorni in Javâ minore. L. III. c. 15.

#### English translation

Besides these, *Gregory* [Abba Gorgoryos] nam'd to me another sort of Beast, both Strong and Fierce, call'd *Arweharis*, from the Arabic *Harish*, or *Harshaw*, which signifies with one Horn. This Beast resembles a *Goat*, but very swift of Foot; whether it be the *Monoceros* of the Ancients, which as *Jeronimus Lupus* reports, is found in *Habessinia*, I leave to the Scrutinie of others. Many skilful Authors look'd upon this Four-footed Beast as a kind of *Chimera*, considering the idle Relations as if it could not be taken alive; that if Writers were framing Fables concerning some Errour of Nature. However the *Portugals* tell us, that the Report was not altogether vain. For one of them was seen by *John Gabriel*, whom we have already nam'd, in the Province of the *Agawi*, in the Kingdom of *Damota*; it was a Beast with a fair Horn in the Fore'head, five Palmes long, and of a whitish Colour, about the bigness and shape of a middle siz'd Horse, of a Bay Colour, with a Black Main and Tayl, but short and thin (though some have been see with longer and thicker) a lively Creature, haunting the thickest Woods, and seldom appearing in the Fields. And left there should be any doubt of the Truth of the thing, there was a young *Colt* brought to one of the Fathers of the Society, who was an Eye-witness of the reality of the thing. Moreover, several *Portugueses*, who were banish'd by the Emperour *Adamas Saghed*, into a certain high Rock in the Province of *Nanina*, which is a part of *Gojam*, have attested that they say several such *Unicorns* feeding in the Woods that lay under the said Mountain. From whose Relations *John Bermudes*, and *Lodowick Marmolius* made their Reports concerning this Beast. The Description of the *Portugueses* seems most agreeable to Truth: For what the Ancient and Modern Writers have written concerning *Unicorns* are so confus'd, that some things have reference to the *Monoceros*; other things to the wild *Stag*, or wild *Goat*, somethings to the wild *Indian Ass*; and other things in reference to the *Groinland*-Whale, or Nahrwhale; so many Beasts were required to form this *Chimæra*: however there is no question to be made, but that there are many *Unicorns* up and down the World. Only there is still someControversie remaining, what those Beasts should be, of which the Scripture makes mention; in regard that all Interpreters, after the Seventy Seniors, agree, that the *Hebrew* רם or ראם, *Rim*, or *Reem* was a Beast altogether unknown to the *Israelites*. The *Ethiopic* Interpreter, whether ignorant of that Beast in *Ethiopia*; or believing some other Creature to be thereby understood, renders the Greek *Monokeros*, the *Beast with one Horn*. The most famous *Bochart* tells us, That the Arabian *Rim*, is a sort of wild *Goat*; or which seems ore probable to me, a kind of wild *Bear*. The Word *Dek* in the *Arabic*, and *Deb* in the *Hebrew* Language, are the two words that signifie a *Bear*: yet is that Beast unknown in those Parts. *Pliny* also Affirms, That there are no *Bears* in *Africa*: But as for *Boars*, *Harts*, and *Goats* they are granted to breed there, as in other places; contrary to *Plinies* Opinion: unless he may be thought to speak only of *Africa* properly so call'd.

1. ↑ In his Relation Translated into *English*; Tit. a short Relation of the River Nile.
2. ↑ By Bochart in Hierozoico. L. 3. t. 26.
3. ↑ At large by Bochart, in the place already cited.
4. ↑ In the relation of Paulus Venetus concerning the Unicorn in Java the less. L. 3. c. 15.

## External links

* Original in the Internet Archive
* Translation in the Internet Archive