Chapter XVIII: Part 18

“I, Incense of the Virgin, King of Ethiopia, send you this letter and embassy, the son of Nahum, son of the King of the hand of Maria, son of the King of the seed of Jacob, these are those who were born of the house of David and Solomon, who were Kings in Jerusalem. May this reach the King Don Joam, King of Portugal, son of the King Don Manuel. Peace be with you, and the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you for ever. When they gave us news of the power of the King your father, how he broke the power of the Moors, sons of Mahomed, I gave thanks and praise to the Lord God for the raising up and greatness and crown of salvation in the house of Christendom. I also greatly rejoiced when the speech of your embassy reached me, which came to make affection and friendship and acquaintance between the King and me; in order to tear out and cast forth the bad Moors, Jews, and Pagans from his and my kingdoms. And being in this pleasure, I heard news that the King your father had died before we had despatched his ambassadors from my kingdoms, on which account my pleasure was turned into grief, and regrets were increased in my heart when I remembered the passing away of his life; and all the great men of my court grew sad, and wept along with me; also all the clergy carried their weeping and lamentation to the monasteries; and as much pleasure as they had felt at the first news, so much grief had they with the second. Sir brother, from the beginning of my kingdoms until now no ambassador had come from the Christian kings and kingdoms of Portugal; only we heard of the dangers of those who go of their own desire to those parts in pilgrimage to Jerusalem and Rome, and they are scattered about those kingdoms and countries and provinces, and I never had any certain information, only in the lifetime of the King your father, who sent his captains and gentlemen with many people and priests and deacons, who brought all things necessary for saying mass, and on that account I was very joyful, and ordered them to be received, and received them with great honour. Then I despatched them, pleased and contented, with much honour and peace. And after that they reached the seaport which is at the extremity of my kingdoms in the Red Sea, they did not find there the great captain whom your father had sent there, nor did he wait, as he had sent to tell me. And as it is your custom to make a captain-major every three years, he could not wait or come, as another captain-major came in that time, and for this reason the ambassadors of the King your father, who had come to me, were detained. I have sent them to you, those that I sent to your and my father, to give you my embassage; and that which I send to the Pope, Sir king and brother, fulfil the friendship and affection which the King your father opened between us, and always send me your embassies, which I much desire as from a brother, and such is reason, since we are Christians, for the Moors, who are vile and bad, concert together in their sect; and now I do not wish for ambassadors from the kings of Egypt, nor from other kings who used to send them, but only from your highness, which I much desire, because the Moorish kings do not hold me as a friend on account of the faith, but only on account of their trade and merchandise, from which much profit accrues to them, and they take away from my kingdoms much gold, of which they are great friends, and of me little; and their pleasures do not rejoice me, only I trade with them because it was the custom of my predecessors. And if I omit to make war upon them, and to destroy them, it is in order not to destroy the holy house of Jerusalem, in which is the tomb of Jesus Christ, which God has left in the possession of the vile Moors; and so they destroyed all the churches which are in the land of Egypt and Syria; and for this reason I omit destroying them. For which I feel my heart sufficiently angry and sad; and from not having near me any Christian king to assist me and rejoice my heart. And I, Sir brother, am not pleased with the kings of Frankland, who, being Christian, are not of one heart, and are always fighting with one another. If I had a Christian king for a neighbour, I would never separate from him for an hour. As to this, I do not know what to say nor what to do, since these are things which God ordains. Sir king and brother, always send me your embassy and write to me, because, seeing your letters it seems to me that I see your face, for much more love exists between those who are distant than between those that are near, on account of the desires they feel, as in my case, who do not see your treasures and love you well always in my heart. As our Lord Jesus Christ says in the gospel: ‘Where the treasure is, there is thy heart.’ Thus my heart is for you, and you are my treasure; and do you make me your treasure, and join your heart to mine. Sir brother, keep this word, for you know a great deal, and also I dare to say that you know more than your father, and for this which I thus know, I give thanks to God, and leave sadness and take pleasure and say, ‘Blessed be the learned son of great understanding of the King Don Manuel, who has sat on the seat of his kingdoms.’ Look, Sir, and do not weary against the Moors and Pagans, for, with the help of the Lord God, you will destroy them; do not say that you have less forces than your father, because they are many, and God will assist you. I have got men, gold and provisions like the sands of the sea and the stars of heaven. Both of us together we will destroy all the Moorish State. Neither do I want anything from you except people to set in order and arm our people, and you are an entire man. The King Solomon reigned at twelve years, and had great strength and had more knowledge than his father. I also, when my father Nahum died, was left very little, and succeeded to his seat, and God gave me greater forces than to my father, and I have got all the people of my kingdoms and districts under my hand, and I am at rest. For this let us together give thanks to God for such great favour. Sir brother, hear another word now, I want you to send me men, artificers to make images, and printed books, and to make swords and arms of all sorts for fighting; and also masons and carpenters, and men who make medicines, and physicians, and surgeons to cure illnesses; also artificers to beat gold and place it, and goldsmiths and silversmiths, and men who know how to extract gold and silver and also copper from the veins, and men who can make sheet lead and earthenware; and masters of any trades which are necessary in these kingdoms, also gunsmiths. Assist me in this which I beg of you, as a brother does to a brother, and God will assist you, and save you from evil things. Our Lord receive your prayers and petitions, as He received the holy sacrifices in their time. First, the sacrifice of Abel, and of Noah when he was in the ark, and of Abraham when he was in the land of Midian, and of Isaac when he went away from the Cave of the Oath, and of Jacob in the house of Bethlehem, and of Moses in Egypt, and of Aaron on the mountain, and of Jasom, son of Hu, and of Galgala, and of Gideon on the shore, and of Manoe and his wife, and of Samson when he was thirsty in the dry land, and of Jepthah in the battle, and of Baron and Debora when she went against Sisera the captain on Mount Thabor, and of Samuel and Rama the prophet, and of David on the threshing floor, and of Arbana, and of Solomon in the city of Gabon, and of Elias on Mount Carmel, when he raised up the dead son of the widow, and of Rica at the well, and of Josaphat in the battle, and of Manasse after he sinned and returned to God, and of Josias _bepaca_ after he turned, and of Daniel in the lions’ den, and of Jonas in the belly of the fish, and of the three companions, Sidrach, Misaac, and Abdenago in the fiery furnace, and of Anna, within the tent of the altar, and of Nehemiah who made the walls with Zorobabel, and of Matatias with his sons upon a quarter of the world, and of Esau upon the blessing. So, Sir, God will receive your sacrifices and prayers, and will assist you to go forward against evil adversaries in all times and all days. Peace be with you, and I embrace you with the embrace of holiness, and so I embrace those of your holy council of the kingdom of Portugal, and the archbishops, bishops, priests, and deacons, men and women. The grace of God, and the blessing of Our Lady, Mother of God, be with you and with all. Amen.”

CAP. IX.--_Of certain questions which the Archbishop of Braga
put to Francisco Alvarez, and the answers which he gave._

While we were at the Court in the city of Coimbra, no long time elapsed before the King, our sovereign, departed with his Court to Almeirim, where on some occasions I reminded his Highness about sending me to carry out the journey which I had promised and sworn to Prester John to make, namely, to carry his letters and a cross of gold and his obedience to the Holy Father in Rome. His Highness told me that he was fully mindful of this, but that the roads did not give an opportunity for this, on account of the wars with France. From Almeirim His Highness departed with his Court for the city of Lisbon, where, in the manner above mentioned, I reminded His Highness of my despatch to Rome. He gave me the same answer as before. Upon this, Bras Neto was named ambassador; it was not said to what place. He, Bras Neto, begged me to ask the King to send me with him. I begged of the King the favour to send me with Bras Neto, since he was going to Rome. His Highness told me that Bras Neto was going to the emperor and not to Rome, and that he well remembered about sending me, but that I could not go except when Don Martinho went, and that he would soon despatch him. At this time a benefice becoming vacant in the archbishopric of Braga, His Highness did me the favour to bestow it on me, and, with his presentation, sent me to the archbishop, for him to confirm me in it. Whilst I was with his lordship, he never ceased asking me about the affairs of Prester John. I answered him truly, as I knew them very well, and his lordship ordered everything to be written down, and the questions and answers are the following:

Questions which Senhor Don Diogo de Sousa, archbishop of Braga, put to Francisco Alvarez, chaplain of the king our sovereign, respecting some particulars of the country of Prester John, beyond those which the said Francisco Alvarez has written in his book; the said Francisco Alvarez having gone to the said Prester in the company of Don Rodrigo de Lima, who went as ambassador to the said Prester, on account of the death of Duarte Galvam, who was sent there by the King Don Manuel, may he be in holy glory; which persons reached the port of Masua, an island in the Red Sea, close to the town of Arquico, country of the Prester, on the 27th day of April 1520, and they passed six[282] years in the said country and lordships of the Prester, and they returned to embark at the said port of Masua, close to Arquico, in the year 1526 on the 28th day of April; and the said Francisco Alvarez came to this city of Braga to be confirmed in the benefice which the King our sovereign gave him. He remained in it some days, and the said Francisco Alvarez reached this city of Braga on the 30th July, of the year 1529.

He said that usually the people do not eat only once a day, and this at night, and that the monks and clergy fast strictly during Lent, so that many only eat three times in the week, namely, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, that they do not drink wine of grapes nor of honey, and that they drink other beverages which are made of other vegetables.

In Lent they eat neither meat not milk, nor eggs nor butter, even though they are near dying, they eat vegetables and some few fruits which are in the country. All the men and women, great and small, fast all the Wednesdays and Fridays in the year; this is not to be understood from Christmas to the Purification of Our Lady, nor from Easter to Trinity, when there is no fast. Friars, priests, gentlemen and noblemen, fast all the week excepting Saturday and Sunday.

He said that no men died at the hands of justice, that they flogged many, and put out the eyes of some, and of others they cut off a foot or a hand, according to the quality of the crime; but that he had seen a man burned because he was found to have committed two robberies in a church.

That the Pope or Patriarch of the country of Prester John is called Abima, which means father, and that there is nobody else in all the kingdoms and lordships of the Prester who confers orders except him.

The Prester John is called Acegue,[283] which means emperor, and he is called Neguz, which means king.

There is no manner of physic, only they apply fire; in some sickness they use cupping without fire, and for headaches, they bleed on the head with a knife placed on the vein, and they strike it with a stick so that it should draw blood, and also they take some herbs as a beverage to cure themselves.

In all the country there is no town which exceeds one thousand six hundred inhabitants, and of these there are few, and there are no walled towns or castles, but villages without number. The houses generally, or most of them, are round, and all of one story, covered with terraces or thatch, and courtyards round them. People generally sleep on ox-hides, others on beds made of straps of the same hides; no kind of table. They eat in flat trenchers, like trays of great width, without napkins or tablecloths. They have basins of very black earthenware like jet, and pipkins of the same clay for drinking water and wine. Many eat raw meat, and others eat it roasted on the ashes, others roasted over woodfire, and others over cowdung where there is no wood. There is much wax there, and tapers and candles; they do not make candles of tallow. There is no oil there except a kind which they call _hena_, and which is made from some herbs like Mayweed;[284] it has no taste, and is beautiful as gold. There is no fish there except very little from the rivers; from the sea none.

There are no monasteries except of St. Anthony, and not of any other order, as some friars say who come from there.

The gentlemen, monks, canons, and priests are clothed; most of the other people are bare from the waist upwards, and a sheepskin on the shoulders, with the front and hind feet tied together.

Most of the monasteries are situated on high mountains, or in great ravines; they have large revenues and jurisdiction. In many monasteries they do not eat meat all the year, and fish very few times, as they have not got it in the country. The services of these monasteries are psalms and prose, and so it is done in the churches of the canons.

Every church has two curtains, one on this side of the altar with little bells, and no one but priests enter inside this curtain; and another curtain in the middle of the church. And no one but persons in orders enter the church, and many gentlemen and honourable persons are ordained in order to enter the church. They go to the door of all the churches and monasteries to read the epistles and gospels, and they say them rapidly, and there they give the communion to the people.

The priests consecrate at the altar, and do not show the sacrament. When the priest who says mass comes to take the communion, he takes a particle from the top, and the other two large parts he leaves for the communion of the people. All the people who come to the church have to receive the communion every day, or else not come to church. When the communion is ended, they give them a little blessed water with which they wash their mouths.

Nobody sits down in the church, nor do they enter it shod; they do not hem or spit, nor do they let any dog or other animal come into the church. They confess standing, and so receive absolution. They pray in the churches of the canons as in those of the friars. Friars do not marry, canons and priests do so. When the canons live together in the circuit they eat in their houses, and the friars eat in community. The chiefs of these churches are called Licacanate. The wives of the canons have houses outside of the circuit, where they go to live with them: the son of a canon remains a canon, and the son of a priest not, except he chooses later to become one. No tithes are paid to any church, they live on the large properties which the churches and monasteries possess. Complaints against the clergy are dealt with before the secular justice.

The vestment is made like a shirt, and the stole with a hole in the middle, and put over the head; they have no maniple, nor amice, nor girdle; priests and friars all have their heads shaved, and the beards not. The friars say mass with their hats on their heads, and the priests with their heads bare.

In no church is more than one mass said, and no mass is said for alms, not even for the dead. When any person dies, the priests come with cross and holy water and incense, and recite certain prayers for him, and carry him off to burial very hurriedly: next day they bring offerings: the churchyards are all closed, so that nothing can enter them.

Prester John has no determined place of abode, he always goes about the country in tents, and he will always have in his camp five or six tents among good and common ones: and there will always be at Court of people for the horses and mules from fifty thousand upwards.

The kitchen of Prester John is a good crossbow shot behind his quarters, and they bring his food in this manner: all that he has to eat comes in porringers and dishes of very black earthenware on wooden trays, and pages bring them, and above the pages come a pallium of silk, which covers them so that these viands come with reverence.

There are many royal farms belonging to the Prester, in which a great quantity of bread is gathered, which is given to honourable persons, and the poor, and to poor monasteries and churches, without Prester John making any profit of the produce and revenue of these farms, but only alms.

In all the country there is much bread, wheat and barley; in other lands there is more millet than wheat or barley, in these, and where wheat and barley, there is much taff and dagusha (seeds not known to us), pulse, beans, pease, and all vegetables; and in other lands all sorts of grain and vegetables in great quantity and abundance. There are many water springs, but no fountains made of stone. In the town of Aquaxumo, where the Queens Saba and Candacia were, there are many wells and tanks made with good masonry.

In the town of Aquaxumo there are images very well made, and figures of lions and dogs, and oxen, and other antiquities made of stone. In this town Queen Candacia became a Christian by the advice of her eunuch, whom St. Philip baptized by inspiration of the Holy Spirit.

In all this country there is no bridge of stone or of wood; in no part of the kingdoms or lordships of Prester John are there Jews. There are infinite quantities of sugar canes, and they do not know how to make it; grapes and peaches are ripe in the month of February and end in April: there are many oranges, lemons and citrons, and few pot herbs, because they do not plant them.

Animals, namely lions, ounces, tigers, wolves, deer, antas,[285] wild cows, foxes, lynxes,[286] wild boars, porcupines, civet cats, roedeer, gazelles, elephants, and other animals not known to us, of which the country is full, except two which I never saw there, namely bears and rabbits.

Birds, partridges of three kinds, like ours, other fowls which we call of Guinea, there they are called zegra, quails, pigeons, turtles, hawks, falcons, kites, eagles, thrushes, sparrows, swallows, nightingales, larks, wild ducks, of different kinds,[287] and other waterfowl, herons, cranes, _hemas_, and all other birds that may be in the world, and not known to us; and there are all in this country except magpies and cuckoos, which I never saw, nor heard of their being there.

There are so many apes, that in the kingdom of the Barnagais, in a town which is named Ceroel, at the time the harvest is ripe, they pursue them till they make them pass a mountain; and they keep guard over them in a pass by day, because at night they do not move about, and they give a certain provision to two men who keep guard over them until the corn is gathered in, when they let them loose, or leave off keeping watch over them.

There is much basil in the thickets, and there are none of our trees except cypresses, plumtrees, and willows by the rivers; there are no melons, cucumbers, nor horseradish.

In the country there is no gold or silver money, and purchases are made by exchange of one thing for another, principally salt, which is current throughout the country as money.

There is linen there, but it gives no fibre, and no stuff is made with it; there is much cotton, and stuff made of it; there is much coloured cloth, and there is a very cold country where they wear serge.

The churches there are well built, but the walls are not well wrought, and they do not place anything upon them; they pitch [the roof] upon props, which reach from the ground upwards.

In the country there is gold, silver, copper and tin, but they do not know how to get it out of the mines.

There are many lepers in this country, and they do not live separated from the people, they live all together; there are many people who, out of their devotion, wash them, and tend their sores with their hands.

There is a great quantity of honey in all the country, and the bees are not in hives, but inside the houses, where the cultivators live, clinging to the walls on the inside, where they have a mode of egress outside, and also inside they surround the house: but they do not on this account desist from dwelling in the house, because the bees go outside. There are a great number of these swarms of bees, chiefly in the monasteries, there are also many in the woods and mountains, and the men put hives near the trees and fill them with bees, and bring them in them to the houses.

Since no one sits in the churches, at their doors outside of them, and within the circuit, there are always a great quantity of staves with cross pieces like a ...[288] or cripple’s crutch, and each one takes his staff and leans upon it as long as he is at the offices of the church. In the churches there are many effigies painted on the walls. Effigies of our Lord and our Lady, and of the apostles and patriarchs, and prophets and angels, and in all the churches St. George. They have not got solid images. There are many books in the churches all written on parchment, because there is no paper there, and the writing and language is Tigray,[289] which is that of the first country in which Christianity began.

In this country they are not accustomed to write to one another, neither do the officers of justice write anything. All the justice that is done, and what is ordered, is by messengers and speech. I say only that I saw the property of Prester John written down on being delivered up and received.

There would be much fruit and much more tillage in the country, if the great men did not ill treat the people, for they take what they have, and they do not choose to provide more than what they require and is necessary for them.

In no part that he went about in were there butchers’ shops, except at the Court, and no person of the common people may kill a cow (even though it is his own) without leave from the lord of the country.

The people speak the truth little, even when they make oath, unless they swear by the head of the King. They much fear excommunication, and if they are ordered to do something, and that it be to their prejudice, they do it from fear of excommunication.

The oath is administered in this manner. They go to the door of the church with two priests, and they have there incense and embers, and he who has to swear puts his hands upon the church door, and one the priests tells him of the oath to speak the truth, and that if he speaks falsely, that as the lion swallows his prey in the woods, so may his soul be swallowed by the devil; and as the wheat is broken between the stones, so may his bones be ground by the devils; and he who swears, at each thing answers Amen; and as the fire burns wood, so may your soul be burned in the fire of hell and made dust. He says Amen. And this if you do not speak truth; he says Amen. And if you speak truth, may your life be prolonged with honour, and your soul in paradise with the blest. He says Amen. And this ended, he gives his testimony.

He says that the movable feasts, Easter, Ascension, Pentecost, are celebrated on the same days and seasons that we celebrate them. The birth of Christ, Circumcision, Epiphany, and other feasts of saints also agree with us, and others not. The year and months begin on the 29th day of August, on which was the beheading of St. John, and the year is of twelve months, and the month of thirty days. When the year is ended, there are five days over, which they call pagomen, which means fulfilment of the year, and in the bissextile year there are six days over; so they keep with us.

He says that during all Passion week they are dressed in black or blue, and do not speak to one another for grief, saying that Judas by a kiss of peace betrayed his Lord.

Although there are in the churches effigies painted on all the walls, and also crosses, nevertheless on no cross is a crucifix painted, neither have they any of solid carving; because they say they are not deserving to see Christ crucified. All the priests, friars, and gentlemen carry crosses in their hands, both on foot and on horseback; and the laymen of the people and lower people carry crosses round their necks. Every priest and friar carries a little horn of copper with holy water, and the hosts where they arrive beg of them water and a blessing, and they give it. Before they eat they throw drops of water on the food, and also in the drinking vases.

Their arms are assagays, few swords, a few shirts of mail, long and narrow; our Portuguese say that they are not of good mail.

There are many bows and arrows, they have no feathers like ours; there are very few helmets and casques. Those that there are have come since they have had intercourse with the Portuguese. There are plenty of strong bucklers; there are no cannon, except two swivel guns which we brought them. At our departure there were fourteen muskets at Court, which they bought from the Turks who come there to trade. The Prester ordered whatever they asked to be given for them, and ordered men to be taught to shoot.

There are trumpets, but not good ones; there are many drums of copper which come from Cairo, and others of wood which have leather on both sides; there are tambourines like ours, and large cymbals which they sound. There are flutes and some instruments with chords, square like harps, which they call David moçanquo, which means the harp of David. They play these to the Prester, and not well.

In this country there are in some parts very flat lands, and in others mountainous; and altogether they are fruitful lands. There are no snowy ranges, but withal severe frosts, especially in the flat lands. In all the lands there is great breeding of cattle.

He says that he did not see the river Nile, and he reached to two days’ journey from it, and the days’ journey which they went were small ones, namely, four or five leagues, a little more or less. But some of those in his company reached its source, and they say that it rises in the Kingdom of Gojame, and its source is in great lakes, and where it rises there are islands, and thence it commences its course and goes to Egypt.

The time when the Nile rises in Egypt is (as they say) from the 15th day of September and later, and in all October; and the reason of this is, because the winter of Ethiopia begins from the middle of June to the middle of September, and on account of the great rains which take place in it without this winter ever changing, the Nile overflows in Egypt at that time.

It is the general custom of Prester John and all the people for no man on horseback to pass a church, but before they reach it they dismount, and so pass it, and lead their beasts by the bridles, and after passing they mount.

When Prester John and all his people travel, the altar and the altar stone on which mass is said, all goes on the shoulders of the priests as on a litter, and there go eight priests with each altar by turns, that is, four and four: and a priest goes in front of them with a thurible, and further in front a zagonay ringing a bell, and all the people go away from the road, and those that are on horses dismount, and show reverence to the altar stone or altar.

There is no grape wine there, more than in two houses, where it is made publicly, namely, in the house of Prester John and the house of the Patriarch Abima Marcos; and if any other is made, it is secretly. The wine with which mass is said in all the churches and monasteries is made in this manner. They take raisins which they have stored in the sacristies and they put them to soak in water for ten days, and they swell, and they let them dry, and they crush them and press them in a cloth, and with that wine which comes out they say mass.[290]

The horses, natives of the country of Prester John, are many and not good, for they are like Gallician beasts; those which come from Arabia are very good, like Moorish horses; those from Egypt are much better, very tall and big and handsome. Many lords breed horses from the mares they get from Egypt in their stables. In this manner, namely, when they are born, they do not suck the mother more than three days, and they at once put the mares to the horses[291]; and they tie up the little colts somewhat apart from the mothers, and they keep for them many milch cows, and give them their milk to drink.

DEO GRATIAS.

MAP OF PART
OF
ABYSSINIA

to illustrate the journey of
FATHER FRANCISCO ALVAREZ
A.D. 1520]

INDEX.

GENERAL INDEX.

Abima Mark, 255

Abyssinia long without an Abima, 253

Account of Pero de Covilham, 265, 270

Antiquities at Axum, 81, 83

Apes, 69

Baptism, 48, 49, 217, 240, 243

Betudete, 52, 168, 326, 328

Birds, 51

Bisan, arrival at, 18;
description of, 32, 33;
departure from, 38

Burial, 50

Canons, 63, 139

Church services, 23, 31

---- for women, 55

---- of Holy Trinity, 155, 233, 236

Churches, old, 75

---- near Axum, 87

---- St. George, 95, 156, 228, 229

---- cut out of the rock, 122, 130

---- of the Queen Mother, 237

Circumcision, 48, 246

Clergy, gathering of, 234

Consecration of church of the Trinity, 256

Conversation on Bible history, 136

---- church matters, 188, 193, 201, 225, 226, 254, 261, 262

---- about carpets, 258;
about interpreters, 259

Court churches, 219

Cows, fine breed of, 104, 331

Cultivation, 35, 106, 139, 163

Dagusha grain, 102

Defiles, 158, 159, 160, 228, 341

Dress of the people, 77, 92

Embassy, arrival at Massowah, 3, 4;
departure from Arquico, 11;
presents sent with, 10, 179, 197, 239;
selection of, 9, 10;
assaulted with stones, 134;
good reception of by Ras of Angot, 135, 137;
received by the Prester, 166–170, 180–183, 184–186, 202, 211;
difficulties of, 173, 194, 196, 199;
present to, of a church tent, 195;
of a chalice, 198;
of dresses of honour, 211;
mass of, 199–201;
quarrels of, 213–215, 276, 277, 278, 282;
preparations for departure, 272, 275, 301, 355;
brought back to Court, 283;
departure, 356, 363;
return to Portugal, 382;
reception by Diogo Lopes de Sequeira, 385;
reception by the King, 386–388

Escape of a Prince from the mountain, 147

Epiphany Play, 241

Flogging, 145, 146, 157, 319, 320

Franks in Ethiopia, 174, 175, 177, 178

Friars, 62, 86, 96, 105, 289, 343

Game, abundance of, 67

Gold-washing, 85

Gratitude of a Portuguese to a Jew, 376

Happy valley, or mountain of the Princes, 140–144, 148, 149

Horse breeding, 412

Interview of Captain General, and the Barnagais, 8

---- of Don Rodrigo and the Barnagais, 42

Iron used for money, 117

Jews, 349

Journey from Lisbon to Coimbra, 382, 386

Justice, administration of, 64, 139, 279, 314, 316, 318, 333

King Abraham, 120

---- of Adea’s daughter, rejected on account of her large teeth, 110

King Lalibela, 122

Kingdom of Adea, 346

---- of Adel, 346

---- of Amazons, 318

Lakes, 151, 153, 154

Lent austerities, 285–288, 290

Lion, anecdote of, 52

Locusts, 67–72

Manuel, death of King, 299

Marriage, 46, 47

---- of priests, 56, 192

Maundy Thursday, 291

Memorial feast of St. Philip, 34, 35

Monasteries, description of, 21, 22, 88, 89, 90, 91, 118, 119,
162, 294

---- revenues, 36, 37

Moorish marauders, slaughter of, 107

Noble conduct of Hector da Silveira, 366

Nubians, 65

Nuns, 62

Officials sent by King Solomon, 353

Ordination, 248–252

Palm Sunday, 291

Prester, appearance of, 203;
attends the Portuguese church service, 221, 224;
battle with King of Adel, 304, 310;
mode of encampment, 331, 338;
mode of travelling, 218, 231, 233, 340;
shows himself to his people, 220;
reception of, 235;
requests for presents, 238, 239;
entertains the Portuguese, 244, 260, 298;
presents to Portuguese and Franks, 271, 273;
letter to Diogo Lopez de Sequeira, 368, 374;
writes to King of Portugal, 270, 274, 389, 400;
writes to the Pope, 313;
divides the inheritance of his mother, 304;
territories of, 350

Priests’ orders, 57, 247

Prison, 335

Queen of Adea, 323, 325

Questions of Archbishop of Braga, and replies to them, 401–412

Red Sea fortresses, plans for, 204

Remedies, Ethiopian, 164

Royal message, mode of receiving, 59

---- umbrellas, 230

Sacramental bread, how made, 28

---- wine, substitute for, 412

Saints in Ethiopia, 208

---- lives of, 209

Salt, used as money, 99, 117

St. Peter’s See, claims of, 190, 191, 206

Teff, grain, 32, 102

Tigray, 74

Tigrimahom, 73, 93, 329

Torrent, sudden rise of, 113

Translation of remains of King Nahum, 257

Tribute, 94, 131, 321, 322, 324

Visit of Alvarez to the Abima, 245

---- Don Rodrigo to the Abima, 263–5

Voyage of the Embassy to India, 364

---- down the Indian Coast, 377

---- from India, 378–381

Wealth of Portuguese monasteries, 262

Wrestling, 216

Yearly baptism, 240

NAMES OF PERSONS.

Ababitay, 45

Abdenago, 317, 330

Abraham, Rabbi, 268

Abreu, Jorge d’, 9, 100, 152, 198, 213, 272, 273, 275, 281, 284,
330

Alvarenga, 330

Alvarez, Francisco, 9, and _passim_

Ambiata, Arraz, 279, 329

Andrade, Lazaro d’, 9, 161, 215, 221

Balgada, Robel, 97, 98, 324, 329

Braga, Archbishop of, 401

Brancaliam, Nicolas, or Macoreo, 178, 210, 228, 254

Calçadilha, Licentiate, 267

Candace, Queen, 80

Carneiro, Antonio, 388

Catelam, Nicholas, 221

Cordoeiro, Pedro, 216

Covilham, Pero de, 177, 224, 254, 265–270, 289, 298, 303, 331, 350

Diz, Ayres, 216

Diaz, Fernan, 7

Dori, 47, 343

Escolar, Joam, 9, 17, 19, 38, 221, 288

Fernandez, Diogo, 330

Fernandez, Joam, 9, 276

Gabmaria, 216

Gabri, Andreas, 310

Galvan, Duarte, 3, 10, 182, 364, 377

---- Antonio, son of Duarte, 377, 379

Gama, Lopo da, 9, 141, 213

Gonzalvez, Joam, 9, 276

Gonzalvez, Francisco, 19

Gradani, Thomas, 178

Helena, Queen, 321

Joam, Mestre, 9, 18, 134

Lalibela, King, 122, 130

Lemos, Francisco de, 388

Lima, Rodrigo de, 9, 19, 383

Lopez, Pero, 9, 288

Mahfus, 304–310

Magalhaes, 273

D. Manuel, King, 267, 299

Mares, Manuel de, 9, 221

Mattheus, 8, 11, 13, 19, 171, 183, 240, 391

Mattheus, Francisco, 19

Masqual, Fray, 12

Mendez, Alonso, 9, 330

Meneses, Don Luis, 298, 314

Nahum, King, 148, 157, 257, 307, 310

Neto, Bras, 401

Paiva, Afonso de, 266

Palharte, Estevan, 9, 216, 277

Pereira, Gaspar, 9, 19

Piriz, Francisco, 388

Rafael, Ajaze, 212, 250

Robel, Balgada, 97

Romana, Orque, 47

Saldanha, Antonio de, 7

Sampayo, Lopo Vaz de, 367, 374

Sequeira, Diogo Lopez de, Viceroy, 3, 7, 311, 367, 385

Sheba, Queen of, 78, 353

Silveira, Hector da, 361, 366, 374

Soares, Lopo, Viceroy, 3, 310, 366

Teixeira, Pero Gomes, 7

Veiga, Tristan Vaz da, 378

Zagazabo, or, Alicacanate, 100, 315, 317, 354, 362, 366, 387

NAMES OF PLACES.

Aadete, 37

Abacinete, 90, 279, 283

Abafazem, 75

Abra, 156

Acel, 152

Adea, kingdom, 323, 325, 330, 346

Adel, kingdom, 327, 346

Alnayazare, 385

Amara, or Amhara, 150, 161, 234

Ancona, 131

Anda, 163

Anecheta, river, 159

Angote, 133, 150

Angua, 139

Angueha, 89

Ansiam, 385

Aquate, 72

Aquaxumo, or Axum, 78–83, 316

Arquico, 4, 11, 314, 361

Badabaxa, defile, 161

Barra, 41, 60, 284

Barua, 41, 45, 278, 284, 343, 356

Belete, 97

Bellonos, people, 352

Benacel, 99

Bisam, monastery, 5, 17, 18

Bogrimidi, kingdom, 144, 351

Botan, 384

Braga, 402

Brilibanos, or Dibra Libanos monastery, 161

Buno, kingdom, 81

Cafates, people, 349

Caina, 36

Campo do Bollan, 384

Cananor, 377, 378

Çernache, 385

Cochim, 377, 378

Coimbra, 386

Corcora, 99, 101

Dalaqua, 359

Damute, 99, 347

Dankali, kingdom, 345

Dangugui, 97

D’Antanhol, 386

Dara, 47, 289, 304, 311

Debra Libanos, 161

Dinguil, 361

Dobaa, 104, 108

Farso, 105, 108

Fartaque, kingdom, 375

Fatigar, kingdom, 302, 307

Fontouro, 384

Gamu, 347

Ganze, 347

Gavinhoe, 384

Gemaa, river, 160

Goa, 376

Gojam, kingdom, 322, 350

Golegan, 384

Gorage, country, 293, 347

Huaguida, mountain, 163

Ingabela, 132

Janamora, 112

Jangargara, 19

Kurbayra, 70

Lalibela, 122, 147

Magadoxo, 330

Manadel, 103, 277, 283

Mareb, river, 73

Mastanho, 139

Masua, or Massowah, 3, 6

Maskat, 365

Mountain of the Princes, 140–144

Orgabija, kingdom, 330

Ormuz, 367

Oyja, kingdom, 327, 347

Penacova, 384

Ponte d’Almonda, 383

Sabalete, 115

Santarem, 383

San Martinho, 386

Seruel, 41

Sequete, 47

St. Helena, island, 379

Suakem, 311, 343, 353

Tabaguy, district, 163

Temei, 66, 72

Terceira, island, 380

Xoa, or Shoa, 42, 161

Zalote, 40

Zeila, 310

ANTIQUATED PORTUGUESE WORDS AND TERMS.

Matos idiabrados, 14

Meijoada, 15, 159, 343

Em chacota, 23

Oussia, 24

Azorague, 42

Envorilhado, 50

Asombrar a terra, 51

Desordenado, 57

Sobarbava, 79

Mancal, 84, 167

Estrevimento, 98

Valuras, 103, 158

Maotente, 103

Fueiros, 119

Cunheiras, 121

Espelhos, 125

Revindo, 126, 128, 287

A pe quedo, 132

Preguntas d’estrada, 135

Salsa de Palmela, 137

Era a rodo, 137

Reguengnos, 149

Boinhos, 150

Bregios, 156

Jogo de malham, 159, 167

Desviados, 165

Mosseos, 167

Sonaves, 181

Cofos, 185

Pelote de usteda, 187

Ceroules, 188

Cervilhas, 188

Bouçaes, 200

Vivos, 216

Enxarafas, 232

Comeeira, 244, 260, 337

En cocras, 247

Alambeis, 266

Releixo, 287

Hopa, 296

Humiziados, 297

Menuta, 314

Escodilhinas, 332

Moucho, 333

Sem tresposta, 336

Cerolho, 340

Revezado, 343

De mao em mao, 365

Impidosa, 384

T. RICHARDS, PRINTER, 37, GREAT QUEEN STREET.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] See the _St. James’s Gazette_. Criticism of Mr. Justin McCarthy’s language, October 29th, published since the above was written.

[2] _Sic._

[3] Or “of the Vision”, according to some.

[4] Caspar Correa says it was a breviary on parchment, and describes a picture contained in it on paper which had come from Jerusalem or Rome.

[5] Gaspar Correa says that at this leave-taking the Portuguese sounded their trumpets and drums and the fleet saluted, and a ball from a camel gun made three rebounds amongst the men of the Barnegaes, without hitting anyone. The Governor sent to ask pardon of him, saying it was a mistake of the bombardier. The Barnegaes answered that no one was safe unless God pleased, and that the ball had done no one any harm.

[6] Gaspar Correa says of the Embassy that Don Rodrigo de Lima was a man of good presence, and a fit man for such a service; that Jorge d’Abreu, the second person of the Embassy, was a very well dressed gentleman; that Francisco Alvarez was a very prudent man, and well informed in all matters of the altar and divine services; that Estevan Palharte was a good fencer; the three Portuguese who accompanied Mattheus were Miguel Fernandez, Diogo Tatys, and João d’Alvarenga, all men skilful in manual arts, and who could sing at mass, for which the priest carried rich ornaments and all that was necessary, and irons for making wafers.

[7] Anta.

[8] “Matos idiabrados”, not in Bluteau.

[9] Meijoada, not in Bluteau.

[10] Oporto.

[11] Alosna.

[12] _Como em chacola_, dancing and singing, _i.e._, not reverentially.

[13] _Como quem anda per mãos diante da imagem._ According to the Spanish translation of Miguel de Salves. Saragossa, 1561.

[14] _Oussia._

[15] Under a canopy.

[16] _Symam._

[17] By threes.

[18] Mansfield Parkins calls it teff, the species of corn most esteemed in this country.

[19] Zamboa, not referred to in Selves’ translation.

[20] Should be _teskar_.

[21] _Castar_ should be _Teskar_; Mansfield Parkyns calls it a sort of funereal feast, where charities are bestowed on the poor and the priests.

[22] _Couto_, an asylum, an enclosure; _celeiro_, a granary.

[23] _Zagonaes._ Ethiopian corruption of _diakonos_.

[24] _Dibarua_, hillock seen from afar.

[25] _Bait en-negus._

[26] _Azorague_, a kurbach, or whip of hide, _cravache_.

[27] A Portuguese measure equal to about three pints.

[28] _Padrinho._

[29] Shoa.

[30] _Rumană Wark_, the golden pomegranate.

[31] This opinion of the Abyssinians appears to have anticipated the Sorbonne judgment of 1733, given in the 20th chapter of _Tristram Shandy_.

[32] _Crisma._

[33] _Envorilhados_ for _enrodilhados_.

[34] _Adens_ and _marrecas_.

[35] _No las assombram a terra_: perhaps this means with a paper kite. This passage is omitted in Selve’s translation.

[36] _Cevado_, literally, allured.

[37] The favourite or preferred, _Bitwaddad_, because he was liked.

[38] _Ar-ras._

[39] Mount Sinai.

[40] _Foy desordenado e feito leigo_; not a correct expression.

[41] A gold coin in some parts of Africa.

[42] _Bechugarias._

[43] _Zafoens_ or _Safoens_.

[44] _Tufas._

[45] Nubians.

[46] Dafilla.

[47] _Igzio maranna Kristos, Amharic._

[48] The Latin text of a similar excommunication of noxious animals was given in the _Pall Mall Gazette, or Times_, in 1879.

[49] Kurbayra.

[50] _Tigri mahom_, should be _Tigri măkuănăm_.

[51] “Where”, should be “here”; this river, the Mareb, not the Nile, separates the country of the Barnagais from that of Tigré.

[52] This and other passages show that some of the churches in Abyssinia, which are sometimes called Portuguese churches by travellers, are anterior to the Portuguese.

[53] _Sic._

[54] This passage appears to have been inserted here by some error of the printer, and to belong to some other chapter.

[55] _Pontões._

[56] _Sobarbava._

[57] Pliny says Candace was the name of many Queens, as Pharaoh was of the Kings of Egypt.

[58] Mansfield Parkyns calls it a sycamore tree, and says it is remarkable for the extraordinary circumference of its trunk and the great spread of its branches, which cast their shade over such a space of ground as would be sufficient for the camp of the largest caravan.

[59] Mansfield Parkyns thus describes it: “The principal obelisk is carved on the south side, as if to represent a door, windows, cornices, etc.”

[60] _Mancal_, an unknown game, antiquated in the reign of Don Manuel; the translation of Selves calls it a _juego de herradura_. “Baton ferré des deux bouts”.--Roquette’s _Dict._

[61] Arouca, a town in the bishopric of Lamego.

[62] _Nebrete_, _i.e._, _Nabrĭd_, imposed by hand, the title of the Governor of Axum.

[63] _Maabar_ or _Mahabar_, a club, gathering.

[64] _Feitos igoaes_; the Selves translation has, _las camas hechas, y por cubrir_.

[65] _Abacinete_, _i.e._, _Amba Sanete_, name of a hill.

[66] _Estefarruz_ is probably a misprint of Alvarez for _Estefanuz_, or Stephen.

[67] _i.e._, Fillets.

[68] Maluk.

[69] Or _Kyriakos_.

[70] _Gada_ is an expedition sent from the highlands to collect the salt, _Băal_ means master or chief; _Băalgada_ is a title given to the chiefs of those expeditions, and is a title still used in Ethiopia, like Duke or Count.

[71] _Estrevimento_, antiquated.

[72] The drachm of gold; that is, the salt increases in value.

[73] _Dagusa_ (_Eleusine tocusso_), used for bread, but more for brewing beer. Mansfield Parkyns says (vol. i, p. 265): “very little ‘teff’ is grown in this neighbourhood, but chiefly millet (_mashéla_) and _dagousha_”.

[74] _Valuras._

[75] _Maotente._

[76] _Igzio maranna kristos._

[77] _Nug_ (_Guizotia oleifera_), _Pampilhos_, a plant like _olho de boy_.

[78] _Apodavam._

[79] _Cătăma_, a camp.

[80] Or Caravan of merchants.

[81] Conquest here means maintaining the struggle, or the duty of conquering. Whilst the Moors were still unconquered in the south of Spain, certain parts of their territory were said to belong to the Conquest of Castile, others to the Conquest of Aragon.

[82] _Poçoncha._

[83] Twenty-six almudes make a pipe.

[84] Both these towns of Corcora are in the modern maps.

[85] _Por amor de unas sierras._

[86] _Gabya._

[87] _Esparto._

[88] _Yĭkun amlak_, may he be Lord.

[89] This passage is not very clear. Selves translates: “the church lies to the east, and the Epistle is said at the west”.

[90] _Fueiros_, projections over the sides of a cart to enable it to carry more load, side rails, wings, thripples, shelvings.

[91] _Terza_, nine o’clock.

[92] _Cunheiras_, not in the dictionaries, possibly for wedge marks.

[93] _Palmo_, measure of four inches.

[94] _Corucheo_; Selves calls it _coroza_.

[95] _Espelhos._

[96] _Frecheiros._

[97] _Lunas._

[98] Of the wall of inclosure.

[99] _Revindas_, _Revindo_, _a_, not in any dictionary except the _Diccionario Portatil_ of Santa Rosa de Viterbo, Coimbra, 1825, which says: “Arco, on abobeda de meio circulo perfeito que dizem de meia volta em berço”.

[100] _Revinda._

[101] _Curral._

[102] _A pe quedo._

[103] _Preguntas d’estrada_, wayside questions. The question about the length of time the Holy Family passed in Egypt was not, however, a simple or purposeless question, as the Abyssinians assert that during that time they visited Abyssinia.

[104] _Salsa de Palmela._

[105] _Era a rodo._

[106] Church of the Trinity.

[107] With his knapsack in his hand. _Con la barjuleta en la mano_, Selves.

[108] _Furou na silveira; Rompiendo por una enramada_, Selves.

[109] In the preceding chapter it was said to be two days’ journey in circumference.

[110] This is the worst trait of Abyssinian character to be found in any of the accounts of that country; and instances of similar conduct are only to be found in Russia.

[111] See Major Harris for an account of the imitation by the King of Shoa of this custom of shutting up the King’s relations.

[112] _Esparavel_, a parasol or umbrella, apparently a mark of rank.

[113] _Morgados ou coutos._

[114] _Reguenguos_, private estates of the King.

[115] _De ab inicio._

[116] Amhara.

[117] See Cap. 57, p. 139.

[118] _Cabaça._

[119] _Boinhos._

[120] _Gumari_, a hippopotamus.

[121] _Lixa squatina._

[122] _Makana Selase_, place of the Trinity.

[123] _Bregĭos_ for _brejos_.

[124]? West.

[125] _Mareados._

[126] _Valuras._

[127] _Piçarra._

[128] _Joguos de malham._ Selves translates: “_juegos de herraduras_.”

[129] _Espinguam._ Selves calls it _cuchilla_.

[130] _Meijoada._

[131] _Moyo_, _modius_, measure of sixty alqueires, or bushels.

[132] Probably _Debra Libanos_.

[133] _Maioral._

[134] _Ichage_ is the chief monk of Ethiopia.

[135] Misprinted _testar_.

[136] _Găbăz_ is a prior in Aksum. There is a Găbăz in every church, but there the title means the chief of the vestry.

[137] _Alqueire._

[138] _Cingida._

[139] _Hawaryat_ means apostles, and is thus used in the name of a church.

[140] _Desciados._

[141] Franks; who these were is explained in Cap. 72.

[142] _Malham._

[143] _Mosseos._

[144] Not translated by Selves.

[145] _Bitwaddad_, because he was liked, a favourite.

[146] _Cacha._

[147] _De Xio_, a Greek.

[148] Copts. They still call white people Copts; see M. Parkyns.

[149] _Encoiradas._

[150] Selves translates, “when he lowers it”.

[151] _Sonaves._ Selves has _traves_.

[152] _Băzzăto_ means carded cotton.

[153] _Cofos._

[154] _Cruzados._

[155] _Manicordio_, also written _monocordio_. See Grove’s _Dictionary of Music_ for a note on the Monochord.

[156] _Pelote de usteda_; not mentioned by Selves: a jacket or tunic without sleeves.

[157] _Ceroules._ Selves has _çaraguelles_.

[158] _Cervilhas._ Selves has _Xervilletas_.

[159] Of Nice. Selves has Niceno.

[160] Selves renders this: “the church of Greece had been founded by the Apostle St. John at Ephesus, and that of Alexandria by St. Mark the Evangelist.”

[161] The Council of Nice.

[162] This date does not agree with the preceding one, which would make it Monday.

[163] _Alaquequa_, Selves translates _lazos_. “Alaqueca, laqueca, pierre des Indes qui arrête le flux de sang.”--Roquette’s _Dict._

[164] _Bouçaes, boçal._

[165] Selves has corrected this to St. Paul.

[166] _Maçaã baiones._

[167] _Detença._

[168] St. Barlaam, November 19.

[169] 25th November is St. Catharine’s day.

[170] Or fugleman.

[171] _Vivos_, an ornament for coifs.

[172] _Sendeiros Galegos._

[173] _Padiola_, a hand-barrow.

[174] See Chapter lxv, p. 160.

[175] From this it appears that his leg-bone was not quite broken.

[176] _Sancta sanctorum._

[177] _Sombreira_, the same word is used for umbrellas or hats.

[178] Or hollow.

[179] _Enxarafas._

[180] A _canada_ equal to three pints.

[181] Adoration of the Magi. Col. Meadows Taylor describes a similar miracle play represented at Aurungabad by the Portuguese monks.--_Story of my Life_, p. 39.

[182] _De comeeira_, omitted by Selves.

[183] Selves has abridged this chapter considerably.

[184] _En cocras_, for _en cocaras_.

[185] Deacons, from _diaconos_.

[186] This passage is not clear. Selves has, “They put their hands on the church door as though opening and shutting it.”

[187] From Selves.

[188] _Que zagonassem_, literally _to zagonise_.

[189] Of Egypt.

[190] _Tero._

[191] _Bedem._

[192] _Comprida de comieira._ See page 244.

[193] _Sidy_, Sir, Arabic.

[194] _Mozo d’espolas._

[195] _Alambeis_; _almayzales_, Selves.

[196] The Constant Prince.

[197] _Cruzados._

[198] See Gaspar Correa’s account of King John’s scouts in _Vasco da Gama’s Voyages_, pp. 8–11.--Hakluyt Society.

[199] The leg-bone, supposed by popular superstition in Spain to be buried in the great mosque of Cordova.

[200] Jerusalem.

[201] The Portuguese fleet.

[202] Selves translates: “one was wounded in four places by a gun which must have been loaded with slugs.”

[203] This passage is very obscure; it either means that the lords had not seen Jorge d’Abreu and his companions, or that they did not wish to see them.

[204] The ships of the captain-major.

[205] _Milho zaburro._

[206] _Guza_, probably _dagusha_.

[207] _Agriones._

[208] _Revinda._

[209] _Releixo._

[210] _Pendenças._