The Portugues Asia, or, The history of the discovery and conquest of India by the Portugues containing all their discoveries from the coast of Africk, to the farthest parts of China and Japan, all their battels by sea and land, sieges and other memorable actions, a description of those countries, and many particulars of the religion, government and customs of the natives, &c. : in three tomes / written in Spanish by Manuel de Faria y Sousa ... ; translated into English by Cap. John Stevens.

CHAP. VII.

Of the Empire of Aethiopia, and first of the Kingdoms and Provinces into which it is divided; of the Progress of Chri∣stianity therein, and of the Product of the Land.

1. EThiopia was the Second of our Three great Discoveries (which were India, Ethiopia, and China) and therefore shall be the Second described. The Reader may be assured of its Truth, as being delivered by an unbiassed and learned Person, that spent a considerable time there, travelling and exa∣mining into the Truth of things, and being an Eye witness of the greatest part.

2. The City Danoas was the Metropolis of this Empire, seated on the top of a Moun∣tain: The Country about it is divided into Districts, some mountainous, but all fruit∣ful. Three Miles to the Northward is O∣gara so fertile, that the green and ripe Fruit hangs at once upon the Trees. Westward is Dambia, not inferior to the other; then Amfras, where our Patriarch resided, and had Lands. Next follows Dara and others, till you come to the Nile.

3. In all these Divisions are many Mona∣steries and Churches, with Priests and Friars. Ethiopia kn•…•…w not the Sacrament of Con∣firmation. The Country Tacussa was best disposed to receive Christianity, because

many Portugueses lived there, and that of Gorgorro by the Labours of the Jesuits who had a Church there. So the Heathen Ago•…•…s gave ear to our Doctrine; these are a war∣like People, and possess a plentiful Country. The Damotes, though more polite, received not the Gospel so well, till being overcome in a Battle by their Prince, they submitted and entertained the Religious Men, and there are now theremany Churches and Mo∣•…•…asteries.

4. The Kingdom of Gojao was the first that admitted the Observation of Lent, and kept the Catholick Holy-days. It contains a great number of Monasteries, among them those of Gonge and Salalo are famous. The Je∣suits had three Residences here, Colelá, Sarcá, and Neb•…•…sse. The first two have good Churches finished, the third one very mag∣nificent begun. The Stone they are built of is blew, so light it is more like Wood, but yet hard. The Kingdom of Bagamidri re∣ceived some Catholick Fathers, and there are still Christians there.

5. The Kingdom Amora began to incline to Christianity at the time the Emperor re∣jected our Doctrine. The Viceroy •…•…da Christos and many of the People continued firm. The Faith was not spread into the Kingdoms of Narea and Zemen, or Provinces of Abargale, Borá, Saloá, Casta, Bugua, Ore∣jate, Sarte, Anubas, Sera and others.

6. It took most root in the Kingdom of Tigre, which being the chiefest of Ethiopia, the Description of it will serve to illustrate

what relates to all the others. The King∣dom of Tigre is almost round, its extent One hundred Leagues North and South from the Borders of the Amaceus to those of En∣derate, with the same distance East and West from Dangali at the mouth of the red Sea to the River Tacasse near Semen. It is divided into several Governments, called Xumetes, and the Governors Xumos, some of them in some cases not subject to the Viceroy, but immediate to the Emperor. In Sire, Ende∣rata, Agamea, Serave and some others, the Xumos must be Natives of the Province, and of certain Families to which those Commands are peculiar. Their Law-suits are like ours in Europe, there lies an Appeal from the Judge to the Viceroy, and from him to the Emperor, except in some Cases, in which the Judge finally determines.

7. The Governments are sold, and he that bids most carries them. A Governor is declared, by putting on him the Cab•…•…ya, ty∣ing a red Ribband about his Head, and he walking about the C•…•…tama, or Court, a Cryer proclaims; We have made this our Slave Go∣vernor of the Province of Bugna (or any other.) Then he returns to Court, and takes his leave of the Emperor, having first laid aside the Ornaments used at this act, for the same serve all upon that Occasion. Then he sends a Servant with such a Riband, to make it known in the Town where the Governors reside. The Viceroy of Tigre for his Place pays Three hundred Oqueas yearly, which is about Two thousand Ducats. The Bar∣nog•…•…

(corruptly Barnaga•…•…) which signifies King of the Sea; for Bar is the Sea, and Nogus a King, pays Two hundred. The Xu∣mos or Governors according to the value of their Commands, there being no set Rates, but all pay.

8. Along the Coast of Moss•…•…a Northwards is the Country of the Dobeytas, subject to the Turks; Southward lie the Xios; up to∣ward the •…•…nland near Enderata and Ojerate the Dob•…•…s, all Mahometans subject to the Em∣peror. Next those are the Dorbeytas, Chri∣stians only in name, Rebels to the Empire, defended by their inaccessible Mountains. The Mamps•…•…s follow their Example, and have been often attacked without success. Along the same Coast are these Provinces; Cantiba the Upper and Lower, Seraoe, Sa∣licit, Sama, Tedexerez, Torates and Galas: Westward is Siré, and its Desart on th•…•… Banks of the famous River Tacasse bordering on the Cafres; then Nader and Addit. From the West Southward Tamben, Gralta, Sart, Ojerate, Enderata, the Bugnas, Dobas, and Sera a plentiful Country peculiar to the Queens. Turning again to the West Senafe, both Mambarata's, Agamea, Ambacenete, B•…•… the greater and lesser, Galá, and many other Governments. The Center of all is Tremona between the famous Church of A•…•…çum, where the Emmperors are Crowned, and the Fa∣mous Monastery of Abb•…•… Guarima. In each of these Divisions there is a Fair every week, and several Custom Towns, as Barava, Ser•…•…, Sir•…•…, that yield a considerable Revenue.

9. There are two Winters, the first of the Sea, and reaches about two days Jour∣ney up the Inland, beginning at Massua, and ending beyond the Monastery of Brizan. It begins in December and ends in March. From that place forward towards the Inland it is Summer. The second Winter begins near the famous Church Asmara near Bizan, where the first Winter ended, and reaches over all Ethiopia. The Commencement of it is in Iune, as in India and Coast of Arabia, but not so severe. It Rains the Afternoons only with Thunder and Lightning before, which gives notice to Travellers and Shep∣herds to get to shelter; for soon after fall flashes of Fire, and such Hail as kills all it meets.

10. There are also two Summers, the first temperate, the other insupportable, for the burning Wind, which they call Urur, strikes down People, and sometimes they rise no more. In some Places, as Marebo, Tacasse, Nor and others, as soon as Winter expires, pestilent Fevers Rage, proceeding from Vapors the Sun exhales from Bogs. Though the Roads are full of Woods, mountainy and lonesom, they are not so much infested with Highway-men as in Europe.

11. There never was the Plague in this Kingdom, and when it happens in the other Provinces, it kills not many, because there are no great Towns. Such as are Infected, or fearful, go from the Towns into Cottages about the Mountains, and if any dies, he is burnt together with the Cottage, no Body

daring to bury him. The People are long lived, and know not what the Pleurisie or Stone is: They have abundance of good and wholsom Springs. From them and what the Country about most produces the Provinces take name. There are also hot Springs doubt∣less Medicinal, if they knew the use of them. The Cattle drinks of them, and thereby be∣comes larger and fatter. They have other Springs and Rivers esteemed miraculous.

12. As there are two Winters and Sum∣mers, so the Product of the Earth is two∣fold: They have abundance of Wheat and Barley, Pease, Lentils, Beans, Kidney-beans, Indian-wheat of several Sorts, Hemp, where∣of they make no use, Nuga, an Herb with yellow Flowers whereof they make Oil, Zufo for the same use, and serves to die Cloath of a Saffron colour; Aja, a Grain between Wheat and Rye, but has a scattering Ear, a particular sort of Grain whereof they make Sava answerable to our Beer, though not so clear, yet serves to make them drunk.

13. They have white Rose-trees, white and red Lil•…•…es very beautiful, Jasmin won∣derful for smell and greatness, Hony-suckles, a certain odoriferous Flower that dies by day, and recovers at night. Their Hills, Valleys, Meddows, and Shores are cover'd with variety of Flowers of of all Colours. All sorts of Herbs are there abundantly pro∣duced, and some but little Ginger.

14. For Fruit-trees they have the Tama∣rine, Peach, Pomgranate, Ancoy a sort of Pear, Fig, Orca like the Fig▪ the •…•…e of

bigger bulk, but the Leaves less; another sort of Fig-tree, called Muss, which grows like a Body of a Tree covered with Leaves so big, that a Man may wrap himself in one of them; out of the top shoots one only Branch on which are the Figs, on each of them, whatever way cut, appears a Cross, for which reason it is concluded to be the Fruit forbidden our First Father Adam, and the cause of his Fall. There are wild Ta∣marins, the Fruit whereof is not eaten. Vineyards there are none, but some wall Vines whereof they make no Wine, but Reasins. There are Lemmon-trees sweet and sowre, Cedars and Ebony-Trees. They have also Cotten, whereof are made course Clothes for the common Sort, and is used as all o∣ther things instead of Mony, of which i•…•… this Country there is none.

15. They Plow their Ground only super∣ficially, not cutting deep, and their Plows in many places are drawn by Men and Wo∣men, most of the Plow-shares are of Wood. Their chief Stocks consist in Cattle, and some Men possess from two to 10000 Head of great Cattle. Some of them divide their Herds by the Colours, and those that have Horns from those that have none, for there are naturally many here without them; none of the Bulls are fierce. There are many Goats, and it is reckoned a shame to drink their Milk; no less quantity of Sheep, some of such large Tails, as are equal to one of the Quarters; they make course Cloath of the Wool for the Poor. They have all

other sorts of Beasts and Fowl in abun∣dance.

16. The Conntry abounds in Butter and Honey, the best of the last is that of Ende∣rat•…•… and Agamea. The Bees, for fear of Theives, are kept within Doors, with holes through the Walls for them to go out. There are wild Bees, and of their Liquor is made the Wine most in esteem; both Men and Women glory in being drunk with it. Where these swarm, there resorts a little Bird that loves Honey, and fearing the Bees, goes out to meet Passengers, and attracts them with his Note, and leaping from Tree to Tree to the place where the Honey is; the People knowing this, follow him, take the Honey, and he remains satisfied with what is left.

17. It is certain there are gold Mines here, but not made use of, lest they should provoke the Turks and other Nations to covet the Country. They lie Eastward, and on the right hand of the way from Maigoga to Ta∣movem. On the top of a neighbouring Moun∣tain is to be seen a Wall, believed to have been a Fort to defend the Mines; though they are stopped up, some Gold is taken a∣bout the Skirts of them. There are other•…•… in other places, but none known of Silver in this Kingdom, in that of Semen there, are, and those so rich, that two Parts in three of the Oar are pure Metal, they are also stopped up. In Tigre there are Mines of Lead, and many of so good Iron, that they make thereof all sorts of We•…•…pons without Steel, whereof they have none In

Senafe there is abundance of pure Sulphur, and as much Salt-peter at Gralta.

18. Between Baraoa and Massua, there is abundance of a sort of bright Stone which opens in Leaves like Izinglass, and being burnt turns to a white Pouder like Ceruse used by Painters, but not with Oil, for that turns it black. Between Dangali and Senafe is a great Mine of Salt of great value, be∣cause there is no other there but what is made with Sea-water between Massua and Defalo. The Salt dug out of the Mine is cut into Bars about a Span in length, and between two and three Fingers broad and thick, which serve for Money in other Parts. Not far from it in a Mountain is a sort of Salt that is a Cure for some Diseases.

19. The Empire of Ethiopia has never a good Sea-port Town, because it reaches not to the Sea, only some little Part of the King∣dom of Tigre. The Port Baclur, the first within the mouth of the Red Sea belongs to the King of Dangali a Mahometan, and is not considerable, being incapable of great Ships. The Port Defalo between that and Arquico where the Turks have a Fort is yet worse. The best Port on the Coast is Ar∣quico, where the Turks have raised another Fort: Between it and Defalo are two large Bays, where any Ships may ride.