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OF all the prouinces subiect vnto the Prete, that of * 1.1 Barna∣gasso is best knowne vnto vs, bicause it is so neere vnto the Red sea; ouer against the shore whereof it stretcheth in length from Suachen, almost as farre as the very mouth or entrance of the streight, being (as is before saide) bounded on the
south part with the mightie riuer of Abagni, which runneth westward out* 1.2 of the lake of Barcena into Nilus. Howbeit it hath no other port vpon the Red sea but onely Ercoco, situate neere the Isle of Mazua; neither hath the Prete any porte but this, in all his dominions; so that he is (as it were) on all sides land-locked, which is one of the greatest defects in any empire, king∣dome or state, that can be imagined. This prouince is full of townes & villa∣ges, as likewise of riuers and pooles which make it exceeding fruitfull. The Viceroy or gouernour hereof, called also by the name of * 1.3 Barnagasso, resi∣deth in the citie of Beroa, otherwise called Barua, and by Ptolemey (as Sa∣nutus thinketh) Coloue, situate vpon a pleasant riuer abounding with fish. Vnto him likewise are subiect the gouernments of Danfila and of Canfila, neere vnto the borders of Egypt.
Certaine yeeres past the great Turkes forces haue mightily afflicted this prouince, destroying the townes, and leading the people captiue: so that in the end Isaac the lorde Barnagasso was inforced to compound with the Turkes lieutenant (bearing title, The Bassa of Abassia, and residing in Suachen) for the yeerely tribute of a thousand ounces of golde. Ouer and besides he paieth euery yeere vnto his soueraigne the Prete, an hundred and fiftie excellent horses, with cloth of silke and of cotton, and other mat∣ters.
On the most westerly part of Barnagasso, beginneth a mightie ridge of mountaines, which for a good space waxing narrower and narrower, at length in the kingdome of Angote dilateth 〈◊〉〈◊〉 selfe into a rounde forme,* 1.4 enuironing with the steepe sides, and impassable tops thereof, many fruite∣full and pleasant vallies, for the space of fifteene daies iourney in compasse: within which vallies (as it were in walled castles) all persons whatsoeuer, both male and female, of the Abassin bloud royall, are vnder paine of most extreme punishment, togither with their whole families, limited to re∣maine. Within this great roundell or enclosure of mountaines, there is (among many others) contained one lesser, which is begirt arounde with a mountainous wall so craggie, steepe, and vnscaleable, that no man can come in or out, but onely by a certaine basket drawne vp and downe vpon a rope: neither is it possible to famish the parties within by a siege, be it ne∣uer so long: for they haue fruitefull ground, with houses, a church, a mona∣sterie, cesternes of water, and all other necessaries for the continuall main∣tenance of fiue hundred persons. Within this strong citadell of moun∣taines (for the auoiding of all tumults and seditions) are locked vp those great personages which come neerest in bloud to the Prete, and are in pos∣sibilitie of the crowne; and here must they all liue and die, except a very few of them, who attaine at length vnto the gouernment of the empire. The Abassins haue a tradition, that one Abraham an emperour of theirs being admonished in a dreame, that he shoulde keepe his dominions in tranquil∣litie by the meanes aforesaid, was the first that founde this mountaine, and vsed it for the same purpose.
Barnagaez.
Out of this lake also the riuer of Zeila runneth eastward into the Red sea.
〈◊〉〈◊〉 in the Abassin toong signifieth the Sea, and Neguz a king: so that Barnagaez or Barnagasso, is as much as king of the sea, or Lord high ad∣mirall.
All persons of the Abassin blood royall en∣closed within a mightie roundel of mountaines. Francis Alua∣rez cap. 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, &c.