Leo Africanus

Leo Africanus (properly ALHASSAN IBN MOHAMMED ALWAZZAN), a Cordovan Moor, who at the close of the 15th century made extensive travels in northern Africa and Asia Minor. Falling into the hands of pirates, he was sent to Rome, and accepted Christianity; but afterwards he returned to his old faith. He left an account of his African travels in Italian, which, first printed by Ramusio in 1559, was for long the chief source of information as to the Soudan.