honour walks Women are rarely seen amongst the men at Court they have a private place unto which none is admitted but the Abuna and some of the most Religious Persons They have Eunuchs that wait upon them usually Blacks they appear at the Churches but in a place separated from the rest Sometimes when the Emperour will shew his Grandeur and happiness to his Courtiers he sends for his Chief Queen who must appear in all the State and Glory that her Industry or Beauty can produce she is received by the Emperour with some expressions of kindness and then she is admitted to sit down on his right hand for the left is the place of honour in Abassia Once every year he hath a great Feast kept at Court with wonderful expressions of joy it is the day of the Emperours Birth It is the custom that the Neguz should give entertainment to all that will be pleased to accept of his kindness he is the next day after requited with Presents of the most considerable Persons of his Court. This Imperial Court is never fixed in any one place but Marches with the Emperour about 6000 Tents do always pitch about him in such an excellent order that in a moment from the farthermost tent one may come to that of the great Neguz where a strong guard watches about his Person day and night The Souldiers of the Kings guard are very neatly attired and well furnished with Bows and Guns they are mixed at present since the use of Powder was introduced amongst them by the Portugueses Of the Government THe Emperour hath several great Kingdoms that acknowledge his jurisdiction and seven or eight crowned heads that are under him His name is Giam Belul that is Precious Giam Or John a name of the same signification as Illustrious Serenus Excellent c. Titles that we give to our Princes When he writes this is his stile In the name of God the Father Almighty Creator of Heaven and Earth of things visible and invisible in the name of God the Son Jesus Christ who is the same with the Father from the beginning of the world Light of Light true God of true God and in the name of God the Holy Spirit who is also a living God proceeding from the Father This Letter you shall receive from a mighty King whose name the Lions do respect by the grace of God I am call'd Athani Tinghib that is the Incense of the Virgin the son of K. David the son of Solomon the Son of the King by the hand of Mary the Son of Naw according to the flesh the son of S. Peter S. Paul according to grace the beloved of God the Pillar of the Faith who hath taken upon him the name of Abraham Emperour of the Great and upper Ethiopia and of large Kingdoms and dominions King of Xoa of the Cafates of Fatigar of Angote of Baru of Baliganze of Adea of Vangue of Goiame where is Nilus source of Damaraa of Vaguemedri of Ambea of Vagne of Tigremahon of Sabaym the Country of the Queen of Saba of Bamagaes and Supream Lord as far as Nubia that confines upon Egypt c. Many Titles and Kingdoms are heapt together to express his Grandeur at present he enjoys but the Titles alone of many of those Kingdoms whiles others do eat up the reversion eleven or twelve of them do remain faithful to him sometimes the Inhabitants are disturbed by their war-like Neighbours but they could never be subdued by any other Prince for his sake they endure the loss of their Goods Estates Children and oft times they are driven into extream Poverty because they cannot leave their lawful Prince but they must also renounce Religion with him before they can be accepted of by their enemies This consideration ties them fast to the Neguz interest and obliges them to be most faithful unto him notwithstanding all their losses The Government of this Great Prince is partly Arbitrary and partly Subject to the written Laws that are contained in two Volums written as they say by the Apostles themselves The first they call Manida the other they name Abethilis they comprehend the Rules of Government relating to right or wrong they further observe much of the politick Law of Moses which he commanded the Jews In those other occasions of which these Books are silent the Emperours or the Judges pleasure and reason passeth for a Law The first Books called Manida and Abethil are full of most excellent Rules and Statutes Some wise man of that Empire composed them for to direct the Prince in the execution of his Office and that they might receive more credit he caused it to be bruited abroad that these books had been found in the ruines of the Church where St. Lycanon who was sent into Ethiopia by St. Philip the Apostle did teach and that they had been composed by the Disciples of our Saviour assembled together in a general Councel Assoon as this religious lye had been divulged every one was desirous to see and hear the Contents of this Book when they saw therefore that the matter was answerable to the fame of it they began really to credit it so that they do as religiously obey the commands of these Books as the Gospels and the word of God When the Emperour dines or sups some small portion of it is read before him after the Musick which in this country is very pleasant and grateful to the ear more than in any other place out of Italy although the instruments upon which they play be not like ours The Emperour hath one Judge called Bikir over all his dominions to judge of matters of right or wrong under him are the Sudhâ—drie's provincial Judges that are to give up an account of their actions to him they are often removed at the least complaint and others placed in their rooms It is a great disgrace to receive a bribe they all do follow the dictates of reason in pronouncing their sentences in proportioning the penalties according to the nature and hainousness of the offences These Judges have only a power over the people the Clergy and Monks have other Officers and Superintendants that do judge of their matters Besides these inferiour Judges every other year the grand Marshal or Supream Bikir sends men into several Provinces to hearken after the behaviour and examine the deportment of the Judges If any be found guilty of any crime he is severely punished and shamefully thrust out of his Office with a mark of Infamy that renders him incapable of having any publick employment in this Country Such seldom remain there long for the shame and obloquy of the people forces them to be gone and seek other habitations in a remote Country The Bikir hath also his Lieutenants like unto our Colonels disposed of in all the dominions of grand Neguz each Lieutenant gives him account of all the men he is able to provide for the service of the Prince in case of necessity
the Blacks lives a people very deformed and mishapen different from the rest of men not in the main composition of the body but in the disproportion of the parts They do not love to appear amongst persons that have the true form of men necessity constrains them to entertain a Trade which they do in such a strange manner that they are not like to the rest of Nations They inhabit the Country called Guangara and Media it is mountainous and inconvenient for passengers whom they never suffer to go through their dominions The River Niger so full of Gold passeth along their Territories and furnishes them with that Commodity to exchange for those other Commodities that nature requires and that they have not in such plenty as their Neighbours It is a business of difficulty to speak with some of them they are so savage Those that Trade upon the River may Land their Goods and see them afar off but they seldom do shew themselves They are very just in their dealings and will not wrong strangers of a farthing which if they did it might put a stop to their Trade without which they cannot probably live They seem to have some Government amongst them for upon the mountains places are fortified and the passages blockt up and they have been seen to observe a Decorum in their manner of Life and behaviour From this place many Nations of Europe have their Golden dust for the ships go up the River many hundred leagues to Trade with this obscure sort of people who shew themselves afar off leaving with their Merchandise such tokens and signs that may express their demands but they alwayes retreat at the same time into the Woods and will not suffer any to come near This hath been related to me for certain by many eye-witnesses and by persons of Credit and Worth this is a strange sort of people which none of their Neighbours can certainly know Ethiopia yields many other Commodities Hides are very plentiful especially of the wilde Beasts and Buff-skins which in this Country are bigger and thicker than in any other Here are stuffs made of the Bark of the Indian-tree that grows also here in every place the common people are employed to fit it for sale and work Some Spices Drugs and Roots do naturally come forth in this Climate called by the ancients the Torrid Zone The Merchants of Adel and Mozambique and of other places adjoyning to the Sea do enter into the Land in times of Peace to Trade with the Inhabitants and fetch from them their Commodities to convey them afterwards to the Sea-side where the Moors the Arabs and Banyans of the Indies do meet them with the Factors of other Nations to take from them their Goods Now this is the policy of all the Princes that keep the Sea shoar not to suffer an Abyssin unless he be an Apostate to have liberty to Trade out of the Country of the Neguz of whose power they are very jealous least he should recover again the Dominion of the Sea which he hath lost with all his Ships and Sea-port Towns some few years since When he offers to stir all his Neighbours do joyn together to force him into his bounds for he is lookt upon as their common enemy Some nevertheless of the Abyssin Monks have correspondency with the Indians and Chineses but it is only for those Merchandises that are for the supply of their own territories A short Relation of some of their Emperours found in an ancient Ethiopian Record that the Author hath brought with him into Itaty THis Empire is very ancient and was as large in its first beginning the people were warlike incroaching daily upon their Neighbours especially upon those that live in Egypt and about the River Nilus The Egyptians have had continual wars with them In the time of the Pharoes our Emperours were famous Moses the Lawgiver of the children of Israel was the General of Pharaoh or of King of Egypt he was ordered to march with a party of Israelites against Mouchadir Emperour of Ethiopia he readily obeyed and with a small party he routed the great Army of our Emperour not sâ— much by valour as by the assistance of a divine power the King of Egypt was grown jealous of him and of his people and therefore he sent them to this war hoping to free himself from his fears by the swords of the Ethiopians who were become terrible to all their Neighbours but God caused that which was intended for the mischief of the Israelites to turn to their advantage for by the Victory they purchased unto themselves the esteem and admiration of all their enemies It is true that the King did then begin to vex the Children of Israel with hard burthens and grievous taxes thinking by that means to weaken their spirits and disable them from inâ—uring either himself or any other but this also turned to their benefit for it procured their freedom and the ensuing miracles that forced it from those that kept them in bondage When the Egyptians were overthrown the Ethiopians had wonderful success against them they subdued all the Country as far as Thebis bordering upon the Red Sea but about thirty years afterwards there rose a King of Egypt that was valiant in war that recovered with his small numbers of men all the dominions belonging to his Predecessors as far as the Mountains where the River Nilus hath a terrible downfall In his race it continued until the time of Cambyses who entered Egypt and conquered it but could never subdue Ethiopia for when he sent his Embassadours to our Emperor they were sent back with a defiance of his Power as he was passing over some of the sandy hills between Ethiopia and Egypt with some of his Troops they lost a great number of men in a storm of wind for they were there buryed alive some of them saved themselves with their King out of the violent storm but this overthrow prevented his coming into our Country where our Emperour expected him with all his people The wind did fight for us against our enemies it saved us the trouble and hazard of venturing against them with our swords In the time of King Solomon our Empire was governed by Queen Maqueda she sent Embassadors to him and afterwards went to visit him her self she was kindly entertained at her return she was brought to bed of a Son which she had by Solomon called Melich she brought Circumcision into the Land and laid the foundations of the Jewish Religion which her Son afterwards when he was come from Jerusalem did establish commanding all people under his command to receive it After him many Kings did Reign in Ethiopia the most famous was Ubsharem Habraini David the 1 Solomon the 1 and many others The Scepter hath always continued in the same race since that time until now Ubsharem was a warlike Prince he conquered all the Provinces as far as the Sea-coast South-wards and made all the Kings his
because at a certain time of the year they send a sweet perfume unto them a Purse full of Gold and Silver and in consideration of this yearly tribute they suffer them to exact cheat and rob the poor Travellers and Merchants We advanced far into the Country many days journey before we came to the Turks Army they were upon their return from pillaging the Christians they were laden with spoils and slaves They made as much haste as they could in their march for the Precious John had gathered his Army together and was in the pursuit of them from Suez we came first into the Country called by the Inhabitants Ganfila next to Dafroha and so through Barnagasso Lacca and part of Dangali we arrived at last upon the borders The body of the Turks Army when we met it was near a large lake full of excellent fish The people of this Country are ignorant of all kind of Arts they have not the address of fishing with Bows and Arrows they kill Birds and Beasts upon which they feed and live they own the Turks for their Masters against their will This lake is in the Kingdom of Bamagasso which was lately conquered and taken from the Great Neguz the people retain some Reliques of Christianity but with that ignorance that one can scarce distinguish them from the Heathens unless it be by the name up and down the Country some sorry houses are erected fitter for wild beasts than men The walls are of mud and stones the roofs of a sort of slender Cane and Reeds which grow near the water side and in low places the middle of it is supported by a Pillar of wood that stands in the huts and keeps the whole Fabrick from falling to the ground for this miserable people are not acquainted with the Art of Architecture The Towns are composed of this sort of dwellings there are not many of them but those that are have chosen the best Land for their scituations near some fresh waters or lakes for unless it be in these places the ground is parched up all the year long but during the time of the Rains In Egypt they never fall but in Aethiopia they are very extraordinary about the month of January and February Such violent showers do pour down that no creature is able to abide without a shelter several parties of the Turks Army were stragling up and down but the main body was at the lake Gueresh When we came up to them they were composed of Horse and Foot about six thousand not able to abide a a combat with the Abyssins therefore they thought upon nothing else than a safe retreat They had plundred the Country people that were yet subject to Prester John and had carryed men women and children into captivity A sad sight it was unto us that were Christians to behold our brethren and our Christian name so miserably abused by the enemy of Christ our Abuna could not refrain from tears he laboured to relieve some of them and to comfort them in their affliction but for fear of discovering himself he was not willing to express too much grief or kindness to them The Embassadours credit saved us from all affronts we lodged two nights with them for during that time they expected the coming up of some Troups that were sent to pillage It is the custom of the people that border upon the Abyssins once a year to visit their Territories for they meet with a considerable deal of plunder with little or no hazard The Abyssins are more superstitious than warlike they have been renowned for Valour but at present they are Cowards they suffer every petty Nation that is daring to destroy their borders which is the fault chiefly of their Governors for having so much Riches as they have so many Mines of Gold and other considerable Commodities they might allow a part to some war-like people to fight under their banners and assist them against their troublesome Neighbours At present they have little communication with people of their Religion which if they had it would be a mighty support to them and their interest When the Portugueses were sent with an unconsiderable party into those Dominions the Abyssin Emperour felt the benefit of forrein succours for the enemy was beaten in two battels and forc'd to yield to the Christian Valour Amongst the Prisoners several Noblemens children were seen who by their Meen and Garb were distinguishable from the ordinary sort These poor creatures were led to be sold in Turky and other places as beasts and the worst is they were to be forced to renounce their Religion What a grief was it to their Christian Parents to suffer such a loss to have their Sons and Daughters amongst the Infidels This inconveniency might be prevented did these In-land Christians keep a strong Guard upon their confines or with a stout resolution labour to drive these Robbers far from their habitations or labour to revenge themselves by carrying the War into their own Land or by seizing on the Sea coast and the passages of the mountains that limit their Country where they might place such strong Castles and numerous Guards as might keep the Turks and Moors from all such attempts But when we have fully taken a view of Abassia or Aethiopia Superiour and of the Emperour and Government we may be better able to see the cause of these disorders that happen almost every year in some corner of the Land Having therefore spent some days in the view of our Christian brethren that were led into Captivity we took our leave of them and of the Turks Army and marched on our journey towards a large Town of the Kingdom of Tigremahon called Bashaw it lies beyond a large River that runs through Africa it receives the tribute from other small Rivers and then it runs through many Countreys until it discharges it self into Nilus the people of the Country call it in their language Togassi and others Guekrahock Were it not for this River it were not possible to subsist in this In-land Country but it divides it self into so many branches and waters so large a Territory that no part of the Emperours Country is without some benefit that it brings unto it The Country round about did hear the Marches of the enemies rage and fury the Towns were burnt to the ground the people either fled or carryed into captivity the land and trees were not spared in some places for they had cut down a great quantity to facilitate their passages over some Rivers Here we came into a Country far more fruitful than any other I had seen in Africa it was capable of more improvement did the Inhabitants skill and industry answer the goodness of the soil I do not find but this part might bear as excellent Fruits as any other place of the world The heat of the climate quickens nature in the production of all Vegetatives so that it is blessed with two Springs every year or at
the Land or to displease their Soveraign Lord. The Territorie round about is very barren and the place extream cold most part of the year whether it be the nature of the Soil or the elevation of the Mountain into the second Region of the Air none could tell me but here these Persons of Quality are famished to death imprisoned and put to suffer several other sorts of puments according to the pleasure of the Neguz This place is very convenient for that purpose for the Friends and Acquaintance of the offenders cannot come to learn the miseries that they endure nor the cruelties that they suffer which if they did know might oblige them to a revenge or ill will against their Emperours Of several Customs of the Abyssins THe Emperour and people have so great a respect for the Churches that they never ride by them upon their Horses as soon as they come within a hundred paces they alight and walk a foot bowing at the publick places of their Devotion in honour of that great God that hath named them his Houses of Prayer as they pass by When the Emperour makes any progress far from the usual place of Residence certain Religious men do carry before him upon their shoulders a banner with some pious representation in it with an Altar or Table of Stone upon which they use to Celebeate their Communion before them marcheth a fellow with a Censer in one hand and a little Bell in the other at the sound of it the horsemen come down the people stand by and all do prepare themselves to let their Prince pass They never use to send their thoughts one to another in writing but by messengers either out of ignorance or superstition for they fancy the use of writing so sacred that they will not profane it in ordinary business because God hath been pleased to commit his Holy Word in writing yet of late seeing the inconveniencies their scrupulous fancies have reduced them to they have made use of writing in several occasions as in Registring the Affairs of the Kingdoms in setting down the expences disbursements and Receits of the Emperours Revenues c. But the characters are distinct from those of the Bible or of their Sacred Books And when the Emperour sends an Embassadour he then dispatches with him some Credential Letters They are not to make Wine but by stealth none but the Abuna and the King may cause the Grapes to be strained for they are afraid that if Wine did grow common it would introduce much debauchery and many disorders which could not find a remedy They do not forbid it out of superstition as the Turks but for some politick considerations that Wine may not grow so common amongst them that they might neglect the other drinks which encourage Husbandry for they use a sort of drink made of a leaf which they sow it is of a pleasant taste much like unto old Mede a drink made of Honey They drink also water steeped with Barley other Grains The Emperour and the Abuna have liberty to drink and make Wine by their Laws All the Wine of this Country is very black but a great Cordial it burns not so much the stomach as others do in hot places but cherisheth and refresheth the body The towns in this Country are not numerous in Houses they seldom contain above 2000. I never â—aw a walled City some Castles of late have been built for pleasure rather than for defence Their houses are but mean and low covered with a thick thatch their beds are Hides tied up at the four corners They eat upon couches with a little round and low table placed before them that supports a large dish they have some Vessels made of earth of a shining black very beautiful these are their cups to drink of late they have the use of Gold and Silver in their houses They have several sorts of weapons short Lances Swords Bows and Arrows without Feathers Helmets and Head-pieces they have got some field Guns purchased from Merchants at an extraordinary rate to encourage them to import more The Abyssins are natural lyars and deceivers they seldom speak truth when they swear unless they be brought to take a solemn Oath or be forced to swear by the Head of their Neguz or be scared with the thoughts of Excommunication for they apprehend that above all corporal punishments This is their manner of administring an Oath the party that is to swear follows two Priests to the Church-door they carry before him Fire and Incense as soon as the party comes the Priests cause him to lay his hand on the door saying unto him these words If thou swear an untruth as the Dragon devoureth the beasts of the Forrest so let the infernal Devils devour thee as the Grapes are bruised in the Wine-press so let them bruise thy body and as the fire consumeth the wood so let thy soul for ever burn in hell The party that sweareth answers to every one of these imprecations Amen But if thou speak the truth let thy life be prolonged with honour and thy soul at last be received into heaven and again he answereth Amen which being ended he tells what he knows of the business required from him They have not the liberty to kill an Ox without the Governours leave although it belong to them for they are careful to preserve Cattel in that place from the excess of Luxury here are no shambles therefore in the towns as in Europe their ordinary victuals are Mutton Herbs Fruit Fowl wild Beasts and such like The wild Goats do increase here in such a manner especially near the Mountains that they eat up all the Corn and Grass other wild things are here in great numbers they do not therefore suffer their tame Cattel to be destroyed whiles they have so many wild that they threaten the Fruits of the earth with destruction to encourage the hunting of them they forbid the ordinary use of Beef This Inland people is naturally of a lazy disposition they have therefore many Laws to quicken them and oblige them to labour and provide for their own preservation As the not killing of their Oxen without License the refusing alms to beggars they are not to suffer any in the Kingdoms of the Neguz that will not work unless they be so sick and maimed that they are not able to help themselves then the Religious houses do administer comfort to them for they are endowed for that purpose with many Lands and Reversions The Abyssins are very devouâ— in all holy duties in holy places they pay unto them a great respect they 'l neither spit nor sit down in their Churches nor suffer any Dogs nor Cats nor any other unreasonable creature to enter into them but instead of seats they use Crutches very conveniently made to lean upon At the Church door there stands a multitude of them every one takes his own and draws as near the Preacher as possible he can They
called Mazamo is the most considerable because of its pleasant scituation that hath invited thither many Religious men that have planted upon the sides of it six Monasteries It lyes convenient for trade for near unto it is the Red sea from whence these holy Anachorets do fetch their Merchandise to convey them to the rest of the Kingdom and because they border upon the Moors they pay unto them a yearly tribute to have the liberty of passing through their territories unmolested by their means the Kingdom receives a considerable benefit they have great numbers of Mules Asses Camels Rhinocerots Elephants especially in the Mountains where these creatures are wild There is one thing very remarkable in the mountains near a little town called Abbarah is a large fountain of such strange nature that whatsoever is cast into it turns within a days time into a hard stone whether it be Wood Flesh Earth or any other substance And not far from it at certain times amongst the common people it is reported that there are appearances in the mountains very dreadful when I passed by that place my curiosity carryed me to it I did really hear strange voices and names in the air but saw nothing but I did attribute the cause to the wind and the disposition of the mountains that are so placed that when a strong gale blows upon the Rocks there are unusual names heard the wind strikes also through several Caves and at the entry many shreiks and crys are heard so that the Country people dare not adventure in to know the cause of them The vulgar opinion is that this place leads into hell and that the Souls of the damned tormented in these lower-parts of the earth do send up here their complaints I did visit these Caves near them none would come with me for fear of mischief I perceived the cause of the wonder and did discover it to some of the Fryers but their igrance and superstition would never believe me from their infancy they had been bred up with an apprehension of these dark Caves which no reason could possibly remove from them I went to see all the curiosities of this Country with my guard being accompanyed by some Persons belonging to the Emperours Court they led me into a deep valley where we heard nine Eccho's or returns of our voices one after another At the end of it near a large fountain the ground being very stony we found several slates very white that had Images of Beasts and men imprinted in them in a blew character so perfectly that no hand could ever paint them better Nature sometimes delights to shew her Industry or Art amongst the most contemptible trifles and to cast her Gold and Pearls in vessels and places not answerable to the price of these things The Prince of this Kingdom received us with much civility but not with more State than is proper to such remote and barbarous people The Abuna made his progress all over his Diocese he visited the Court of this King amongst the rest and in his company I went to see much of Ethiopia he had a traine suitable to his estate several of the Grandees out of curiosity did accompany us His business was in every place to see to the behaviour of the Clergy to appoint Bishops careful of the Publick Interest and to look that they that were already appointed might do their office without respect of persons He displaced three during our progress and establish'd others in whom he confided they were the Bishops of Balgada of Abuguna and Fungi men that had not behaved themselves well in their function Of the Kingdom of Tigremahon IT is the best territory of Neguz but much ruined by the Wars of the Turk it is watered with many little Rivers that run into Nilus so that all the Summer it yields a pleasant Prospect and as great advantage to the Inhabitants for in most places they reap two Crops of every thing that is sown or planted It contains about sixty leagues in length from the River Nilus to Darngali and thirty in breadth The Emperour lives here for the most part and therefore he appoints Governours over several places of it Three Provinces it contains Sabami Torrates Balgada In that of Sabami are several Mines of Gold out of which the Neguz digs five Millions of Dollars every year over this Province is a Sebesh a Governour that takes care to gather the Emperours Revenue and to keep good order in every place It is not so fruitful as the other Provinces but in recompence it furnishes a great quantity of that Rich Metal that others do want This place is said to be the country of the Queen of Saba that visited Solomon the Abyssins do tell many stories of her Voyage to Jerusalem and of her return that caused all the Kingdoms that acknowledged her jurisdiction to become Jews In this Kingdom was a famous City called Caxumo it was the Metropolis of all Ethiopia but it hath been mightily ruined by the Wars so that at present it shews but a few houses that serve to receive Shepheards and Graziers for here is abundance of Cattel of all sorts round about stand many old Ruines over-grown with herbs but yet they declare the importance and greatness of the City that did give Laws to this part of the Country although it is so near the line the air is very temperate not so much by reason of the continual brises that blow very fresh from three a clock till the afternoon as because of the abundance of fresh water Springs that are very cold in the hottest time of Summer Near this City is a fountain that contains much water but never yields any until the Beasts do come to drink and when they do approach it flows over and gives a very plentiful stream of clear water very grateful to the Palate We had here a sight of a strange sort of a Cat about the bigness of a Leopard the Inhabitants do use the dung in many sort of medicines and to dye their Cloath and Cottons in blew It is not so fierce as other beasts of that bigness but extream fearful it keeps for the most part in inaccessible mountains and Rocks and seldom adventures it self in the plain Country although it runs as swift as any creature I have seen Here are also great quantity of Rhinocerots Tygers Leopards Wolfs c. for here are many Woods that serve for a retreat to these furious kinds of creatures I must not omit a memorable story that is spread amongst the people of a certain hill that is scituate between Dongali and Tigremahon where a Saint very much respected by the Country people was shut up in prison and condemned by the Pagans that possessed this place to die in the beginning of Christianity He was to be famished to death in a high mountain on the top of a rock unto which he was ty'd hand and foot he continued there many days exposed to the
of his de Emendatione temporum speaks thus of the Ethiopians We have not been the first that have heard of the Ethiopian Chri 〈…〉 ans for they have Churches not only in Constantinople but also at Rome and Venice where for a while they have had liberty to perform their devotions From the Voyages of the Portugueses and the Journal of Francis Alvarez who passed into the heart of Ethiopia many things may be known of them and of their customs until this time we have heard only of the name of Ethiopia but it is strange that in the time of our fore-fathers we first heard that there were Ethiopians from those of Asia for about 300 years ago they did command in Asia especially Drangiana upon the confines of Sufiana also in India and amongst the Chinenses a great Continent until the Emperours of the Tartars did drive them out of Asia for the Abyssins being vanquished were driven out of China by Cingi King of the Tartars when Uncam the great Emperour of Ethiopia was kill'd Afterwards Cincan Son of Cingis and his Son Bathin Can Emperours of the Tartars pursued the Abyssins and forced them out of Moni and all the Region of the Chinenses and obliged them to return into Africa We may at present wonder that this Nation should be so ignorant of the Art of Navigation who was so powerful by Sea and by Land that it commanded from Ethiopia as far as China from that time we have heard of the Emperour of Ethiopia by the name of Prestegiani which in the Persian language that is in Asia as universal as the Latin is in Europe signifies Apostolick Padescha Prestegiani the Apostolick King that is the Christian King The Arabians call him Melich Ressuli and the Ethiopians Negusch Chavvariavvi There are many Crosses yet standing in Asia in Japan China and other places that declare how large the Empire of the Ethiopians was in that Continent besides in Malabar there is a Temple of St. Thomas yet to be seen that is of the Structure and manner of building of the Ethiopians A Continuation of Segn â— Barat 〈…〉 Of the Growth and Commodities of the Country THis Country stretches 〈…〉 self about eight degrees North and as many South from the Line So that it lies exposed to the fury of the Sun beams The soil nevertheless in many places is extream fruitful and the ayâ— temperate especially towards the Evening then the great Dewâ— come to refresh the herbs and fruits that the parching Sun had injured Part of this Country is very barren and incommodious for habitation sometimes we have felt such extream heats that it was not possible to subsist out of the shade and about sixe miles further between the Mountains and amongst the trees we had such a pleasant ayr that I never saw any more temperate in Europe I met with a great many Lakes and fresh Rivers especially upon the borders of Tigremahon where the ground yields all manner of Fruit Trees and Corn Pomegranates of extraordinary bigness Apples Pears Peaches and Apricocks are very small but of a very pleasant taste They have here a Fruit that they call Cavashau that grows in their Gardens it is very delicious and much like unto our little Muskmellons but of a contrary taste The Abyssins make a great account of it in their Feasts The Corn of this Country is very good bigger than that of Italy in most places They have Beans Pease Lentils Barley Wheat and all sorts of Grains but where the Country is so dry and barren that it will not answer the labour of the Husbandman nature hath provided instead oâ— Corn a wild Grain called Tafâ— Deguza of this the Inhabitants make a Bread which is as course and unpleasant as the Climate In many places Oranges and Limons grow naturally in the Woods here is also many Trees that yield an odoriferous smell and a great deal of Brazil-wood Sugar Canes in great abundance which the Inhabitants do make use of not as we do for they have not the Art to extract the Sugar but they feed upon them raw They have no Oil nor Olive Trees but an Herb that serveâ— them instead of Olives it is called Henar they steep it and draw out the juice that looks like Gold very beautiful to the eye and nâ— less pleasant to the taste for the Oil or Liquor extracted from it hath neither smell nor taste and is very fat as Oil uses to be so that the Inhabitants are by that means supplyed with that which serves them as well as the best Oil of Italy The Woods and Rocks are full of Bees so that they have much Honey and Wax with which they make Candles for they have no Tallow because they do not kill many tame Beasts Here is a great Trade of Raw Silks and Stuffs which the Blacks fetch from hence to carry into their Country where no Trees are to be found to harbour the Silk-worm Upon the confines of the Neguz dominions near the Kingdom of Damut are Mines of Gold about the lake out of which the River Niger proceeds so that this river carrys away some of the sandy part and rowls it with the stream that is extream fierce for it falls from high Mountains and runs with a great impetuosity to the main Ocean upon the sand the Negers do pick up much Gold which crumbles from the Rocks and proceeds out of the Mines that are dispersed all over the Country The N 〈…〉 hath people daily at work in them they are commonly men taken Captives from their Enemies When the Ethiopians go out to War they save the lives of all those that submit themselves to their mercy and send them to these places to prepare the Gold and fit it for the use of the people Some Silver Mines are also here but not so many as of Gold for the hot country is not so proper for that kind of Oar. The parching Sun is more powerful in this Climate in the bosom of the earth so that all the ground that is proper for the substance of Gold it turns it into this Metal The Mines are not so deep as in other Kingdoms they are much like unto our Quarries of Stone in Italy The Stone or Rock with which the Gold is mingled is very sandy so that it will crumble without any difficulty The mine doth usually run in a vain it is easie to distinguish it by the colour which is distinct from the other part of the Rock The Inhabitants say that all along the River that bursts forth of the Lake Laira many such Golden Quarries are to be found so that the violence of the stream doth sometimes unloose the more precious part from the rest and carry it away to the great benefit of the Inhabitants who gather it up along the shoar after great Rains and afterwards they carry it to Guiâ—y or to Mozambique and other places of note where Merchants resort In the Land towards the Country of
so that at present in all the Empire there are but few Walled Towns and they are so pitiful that the weakest enemy might storm them In the time of this Prince Trade and Shipping did mightily increase so that he was dreadful to his Neighbours when he had governed the Empire twenty six years he dyed Hâ—li his Son succeeded him he was the youngest his Father had for him a great kindness which was increased by his address and handsome behaviour His elder brethren were set aside and he was raised upon the Throne he was very happy all his time and enjoyed a firm peace with most of his Neighbours he continued Emperour forty seven years and three moneths After him Hell the second Melach Charvah Bouâ—i Grimshach Habraim â— c. with about thirty Kings are to be reckoned from that time to the year 936. In which year the Ethiopian Emperours that were grown so potent by Land adventured to enlarge their dominions by Sea in Asia for that intent David Emperour of Ethiopia prepared a Fleet of above 500 Sail of ships small and great to transport his Army composed of 60000 Men both Horse and Foot with this numerous Army he Landed in Arabia and conquered all that part of the Country that lies upon the Sea-shoar The Abyssins found their abode in Asia far more pleasant than in Africa therefore great numbers of men went over and passed the Seas into the new conquests The Persians and Arabians did oppose their designs but our Emperour being there in person did so order his business that all the Forces that were sent against us were routed many battels were fought between us with various success The last was near the place where the River Euphrates discharges it self into the Sea seven Kings were met upon the place with all the men that they could conveniently bring to withstand our Emperour The enemies reckoned about two hundred thousand men in their Army we had then about forty thousand this unequal number did encounter them and by the wonderful goodness of God they did overcome them This Victory opened a way to our success in Asia for it rendred the name of Ethiopia most terrible so that none did dare to meet us with equal numbers of men every year our people sent great numbers of men with their Families to inhabit in Asia and by that means to secure their interest from the ancient Inhabitants by force of Arms. The next that succeeded in the Empire was Uncan I. A man no less Valarous than his Father a great lover of Learning and of the Learned men he enlarged his dominions beyond the River Indus and conquered all that part of the Country that is so fruitful that the Asiatiques esteem it the best and most fruitful Province of that part of the world This Prince had several encounters with his Neighbours 〈…〉 Asia where he made for the mo 〈…〉 part his residence In one the King of Malabar came against him with 40000 Foot and Horse The Ethiopians were full of valoue and courage but the numbers of their enemies put them to great straits so that they offered to render themselves into their hands in case they would suffer them quietly to depart with their lives saved The enemy would not accept of that offer to his own detriment for ours being refused the condition proposed and seeing nothing but death or at least but bondage and misery prepared for them and their Prince they tool courage encounter'd the enemy with a great resolution broke the first ranks of them and then pursued them with that fury that they left not killing until the whole multitude with their King at their head fled away leaving all their own spoils and the Goods that they had taken in the former advantages they had had against our Emperour Several Emperours did succeed him but not to his Fortune and Success unless it be Joseph 3. Judahr Macarius and Paulus They carryed the terrour of our Arms into China and there possessed themselves of many large Provinces which we enjoyed until the year 1436. The Tartars about that time made some In-roads into China and finding the Climate good and the Country fruitful they invited their Countrymen into those Regions Some few years after they had gathered a numerous Army to enter China they conquer'd the Emperour of that Country who had desired our assistance against them we complyed with their desires our Emperour sent 30000 men to their assistance but by the stratagems and valour of the Tartars our men were almost all slain The Chinenses being destitute of that succour yielded themselves to the mercy of the Conquerours who thought upon nothing but how to revenge themselves upon us they came therefore with their own forces with those that they had gathered in the Country and drive out our people out of China giving no quarter to those that submitted to them There arose some dispute between some of our Generals at that time that assisted the Tartars against us so that when Uncan was kill'd in a battel by Cingi the Tartar Prince all our Countrymen left Asia with all hopes of returning thither again Since we have had many grievous encounters with our enemies the Mahumetans and Gentiles who have sometimes persecuted us into the heart of the Country when they took us at an advantage About the year 1434 the King of Adel with many of our Neighbours stormed our Sea-port Towns when our Emperour was but young and so shut us in that we have no place to entertain Commerce with any Nation without their leave In the year of our Lord several Portugueses came from Goa into our Country our Emperour dispatcht away some Embassadours with them to Rome and Portugal 1486 came into Ethiopia from John King of Portugal Pedro de Câ—â—ilham ec a lenzo de Pavia to Alexander our Neguz that treated them well Claudius succeeded Alexander and after him Adamas who was inclined to favour the Heathens superstitions he persecuted the Christians but met at last with a just Reward of his Actions for he was kill'd by his enemies in a battel FINIS Books sold by Benjamin Billingsley at the Printing-press in Broadstreet and at the same sign near the Royal Exchange in Cornhil BArtholinus Anatomy Eng. by Culpepers fol 10 s. 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Janua Linguarum Latine and Eng. adorned with Copper Cutts 2 s. 6 d. Present State of Europe Quarto 3 s. Now in the Press Culpepers Semiotiâ—a Vranica or his Astrological Judgment of Diseases The late Travels of Signior Giacomo Barati an Italian Gent. into the remote Countries of the Abyssines with a description of the Kingdoms Subject at this present to the Great Neguz of Ethiopia FINIS