Read the _History_ of Nonnosus,[18] containing a description of
his embassy to the Aethiopians, Amerites,[19] and Saracens, then
a most powerful nation, as well as to other Eastern peoples. At
this time Justinian was emperor of the Romans, and Caïsus chief of
the Saracens. This Caïsus was the grandson of Arethas, himself a
chief, to whom Nonnosus’s grandfather was sent as ambassador, during
the reign of Anastasius, to conclude a treaty of peace. Nonnosus’s
father Abrames[20] had in like manner been sent on an embassy to
Alamundarus,[21] chief of the Saracens, during the reign of Justin,
and was successful in procuring the release of Timostratus and
John, two Roman generals who were prisoners of war. Caïsus, to
whom Nonnosus was sent, was chief of two of the most illustrious
Saracen tribes, the Chindeni and Maadeni. Before Nonnosus was
appointed ambassador, his father had been sent to this same Caïsus
by Justinian, and had concluded a treaty of peace, on condition that
Caïsus’s son Mavias should be taken as a hostage to Byzantium. After
this, Nonnosus was entrusted with a threefold mission: to Caïsus, to
induce him, if possible, to visit the emperor, to Elesbaas, king of
the Axumites, and to the Amerites. Axumis[22] is a very large city,
and may be considered the capital of Aethiopia; it lies more S. and
E. than the Roman empire. Nonnosus, in spite of the treacherous
attacks of tribesmen, perils from wild beasts, and many difficulties
and dangers on the journey, successfully accomplished his mission,
and returned in safety to his native land.[23]
He relates that Caïsus, after Abrames had been sent to him a
second time, set out for Byzantium, having previously divided his
chieftaincy between his brothers Ambrus and Yezid. He brought a large
number of his subjects with him, and was appointed administrator of
Palestine by the emperor.
He tells us that the ancient name for what are now called σανδάλια
(sandals) was ἀρβύλαι, and that φακιόλιον (turban) was called
φασῶλις.[24]
He tells us that most of the Saracens, those who live in Phoenicon
as well as beyond it and the Taurenian mountains,[25] have a sacred
meeting-place consecrated to one of the gods, where they assemble
twice a year. One of these meetings lasts a whole month, almost to
the middle of spring, when the sun enters Taurus; the other lasts two
months, and is held after the summer solstice. During these meetings
complete peace prevails, not only amongst themselves, but also with
all the natives; even the animals are at peace both with themselves
and with human beings. Other strange, more or less fabulous
information is also given.
He tells us that Adulis[26] is fifteen days’ journey from Axumis. On
his way there, he and his companions saw a remarkable sight in the
neighbourhood of Auē (Avē), midway between Axumis and Adulis; this
was a large number of elephants, nearly 5000. They were feeding in a
large plain, and the inhabitants found it difficult to approach them
or drive them from their pasture. This was what they saw on their
journey.
We must also say something about the climatic contrarieties of summer
and winter between Avē and Axumis. When the sun enters Cancer, Leo,
and Virgo, it is summer as far as Avē, as with us, and the atmosphere
is extremely dry; but from Avē to Axumis and the rest of Aethiopia,
it is severe winter, not throughout the day, but beginning from
midday, the sky being covered with clouds and the country flooded
with violent rains. At that time also the Nile, spreading over
Egypt, overflows and irrigates the land. But when the sun enters
Capricornus, Aquarius, and Pisces, the atmosphere, conversely, floods
the country of the Adulites as far as Avē, while it is summer from
Avē to Axumis and the rest of Aethiopia, and the fruits of the earth
are ripe.
During his voyage from Pharsan,[27] Nonnosus, on reaching the last
of the islands, had a remarkable experience. He there saw certain
creatures[28] of human shape and form, very short, black-skinned,
their bodies entirely covered with hair. The men were accompanied by
women of the same appearance, and by boys still shorter. All were
naked, women as well as men, except for a short apron of skin round
their loins. There was nothing wild or savage about them. Their
speech was human, but their language was unintelligible even to
their neighbours, and still more so to Nonnosus and his companions.
They live on shell-fish and fish cast up on the shore. According
to Nonnosus, they were very timid, and when they saw him and his
companions, they shrank from them as we do from monstrous wild beasts.