Barnagais came to the town of Arquiquo, and sent a message to the
Governor of his having come. As it seemed likely to the governor that
he would come to speak to him on the beach, he ordered a tent to be
pitched and stuffs to be arranged in the best manner possible, and
ordered seats to be made for sitting on. When all was done, a message
arrived that the Barnagais would not come there: then the same day
Antonio de Saldanha went to this town of Arquiquo to speak to the
Barnagais, and he brought a message and agreement that they should
meet and see one another midway, and so we all got ready to go with
the governor: some by sea and some by land, as far as half way where
they were to see one another. There the Governor ordered his tents to
be pitched and seats to be made. The Barnagais coming first would not
come to the place where the tents were spread and the seats made. The
Captain General having landed, and learned that the Barnagais would
not come to the tents, ordered them to go with the seats and leave
the tents; but still he would not stir with his people to where the
seats were placed. The Captain General again sent Antonio de Saldanha
and the ambassador Mattheus to him: then they agreed that both should
approach each other, that is, the Captain General and the Barnagais.
So they did, and they saw each other and spoke in a very wide plain,
seated on the ground upon carpets. Among many other things that they
talked of, the principal one was that both gave thanks to God for
their meeting, the Barnagais saying that they had it written in their
books, that Christians from distant lands were to come to that port
to join with the people of Prester John, and that they would make a
well of water, and that there would be no more Moors there: and since
God fulfilled this, that they should affirm and swear friendship. They
then took a cross which was there for that purpose, and the Barnagais
took it in his hand, and said that he swore on that sign of the cross,
and on that on which our Lord Jesus Christ suffered, in the name of
Prester John and in his own, that he would always favour and help to
favour and assist the men and affairs of the king of Portugal and his
captains who came to this port, or to other lands where they might be
able to give them assistance and favour, and also that he would take
the ambassador Mattheus into his safe keeping, and likewise other
ambassadors and people, if the Captain General should wish to send
them through the kingdoms and lordships of Prester John. The Captain
General swore in like manner to do the same for the affairs of Prester
John and the Barnagais, wherever he might meet with them, and that
the other captains and lords of the kingdom of Portugal would act
likewise. The Captain General gave to the Barnagais arms, clothes, and
rich stuffs: and the Barnagais gave the Captain General a horse and a
mule, both of great price. So they took leave of each other very joyful
and contented, the Captain General to the ships, and the Barnagais to
Arquiquo.[5] The Barnagais brought with him quite two hundred horsemen,
and more than two thousand men on foot. When our gentlemen and captains
saw this novelty which God had so provided, and how a path was opened
for aggrandising the holy Catholic faith, where they had small hopes of
finding such; because they all held Mattheus to be false and a liar,
so that there were grounds for putting him on shore and leaving him
alone; many then clamoured and asked favour of the Governor, each man
for himself to be allowed to go with Mattheus on an embassy to Prester
John, and here they all affirmed by what they saw that Mattheus was a
true ambassador. Since many asked for it, it was given to Don Rodrigo
de Lima; then the Captain General settled who were to go with him.
We were the following: First, Don Rodrigo de Lima, Jorge d’Abreu,
Lopo da Gama, Joam Escolar, clerk of the embassy, Joam Gonzalvez, its
interpreter and factor, Manoel de Mares, player of organs, Pero Lopez,
mestre Joam, Gaspar Pereira, Estevan Palharte, both servants of Don
Rodrigo; Joam Fernandez, Lazaro d’Andrade, painter, Alonzo Mendez, and
I, unworthy priest, Francisco Alvarez.[6] These went in company with
Don Rodrigo; the Captain General here said, in the presence of all:
Don Rodrigo, I do not send the father Francisco Alvarez with you, but
I send you with him, and do not do anything without his advice. There
went with Mattheus three Portuguese, one was named Magalhaēs, another
Alvarenga, another Diogo Fernandez.
CAP. V.--_Of the goods which the Captain sent to Prester John._
They then prepared the present which was to be sent to the Prester: not
such as the King our Sovereign had sent by Duarte Galvan, because that
had been dispersed in Cochim by Lopo Soarez: and what we now brought
was poor enough, and we took for excuse that the goods which we brought
had been lost in the ship St. Antonio, which was lost near Dara in the
mouth of the straits. These were the goods which we took to Prester
John: first, a gold sword with a rich hilt, four pieces of tapestry,
some rich cuirasses, a helmet and two swivel guns, four chambers, some
balls, two barrels of powder, a map of the world, some organs. With
these we set out from the ships to Arquiquo, where we went to present
ourselves to the Barnagais. Thence we went to rest about two crossbow
shots distance above the town, in a plain at the foot of a mountain.
There they soon sent us a cow, and bread and wine of the country. We
waited there because they had to send to us, or give us from the
country, riding horses and camels for the baggage. This day was Friday,
and because in this country they keep Saturday and Sunday, Saturday for
the old law and Sunday for the new, therefore we remained thus both
the two days. In these days the ambassador Mattheus settled with Don
Rodrigo and with all of us, that we should not go with the Barnagais
because he was a great lord, and that we should do much better to go to
the monastery of Bisam: and that from that place we should get a better
equipment than from the Barnagais. Don Rodrigo, doing this at his wish,
sent to tell the Barnagais that we were not going with him, and that we
were going to Bisam. And the Barnagais, not grieving on this account,
went away and left us. And because our equipment had to be made by his
order, they gave us eight horses and no more, and thirty camels for
the baggage. So we remained discontented, knowing the mistake we were
making in leaving Barnagais to please Mattheus.
CAP. VI.--_Of the day that we departed and the fleet went out
of the port, and where we went to keep the feast, and of a
gentleman who came to us._
We departed from this plain close to the town of Arquiquo, on Monday
the thirtieth of April. On this day, as soon as we lost sight of the
sea, and those of the sea lost sight of us, the fleet went out of the
port, although the Captain General had said he would wait there until
he saw our message, and knew in what country we had arrived. And we
did not go more than half a league from where we departed from, and
then rested at a dry channel, which had no water except in a few little
pools. We held the midday rest here on account of the great drought
of the land: for further on we should not have water, and the heat
was very great. We all carried our gourds, and leather ewers, and
waterskins of the country, with water. In this dry river bed there were
many trees of different species, amongst which were jujube trees, and
other trees without fruit. Whilst we were thus resting at the river bed
there came to us a gentleman named Frey Mazqual, which in our tongue
means servant of the cross. He in his blackness was a gentleman, and
said he was a brother-in-law of the Barnagais, a brother of his wife.
Before he reached us he dismounted, because such is their custom, and
they esteem it a courtesy. The ambassador Mattheus, hearing of his
arrival, said he was a robber, and that he came to rob us and told us
to take up arms: and he Mattheus took his sword, and put a helmet on
his head. Frey Mazqual, seeing this tumult, sent to ask leave to come
up to us. Mattheus was still doubtful, and withal he came up to us like
a well born man, well educated, and courteous. This gentleman had a
very good led horse and a mule on which he came, and four men on foot.
CAP. VII.--_How Mattheus made us leave the road, and travel
through the mountain in a dry river bed._
We departed from this resting place all together, with many other
people who had been resting there; and this gentleman went with us on
his mule, leading his horse: and he approached the ambassador, Don
Rodrigo, and caused the interpreter we had with us to approach, and
they went for a good distance talking and conversing. He was in his
speech, conversation, questions, and answers, a well informed and
courteous man, and the ambassador Mattheus could not bear him, saying
that he was a robber. And while we were going by a very good wide and
flat road, by which were travelling all the people who had rested with
us at the rest, and many others who were travelling behind, Mattheus,
who was in front, left this road and entered some bushes and hills
without any road, and made the camels go that way, and all of us with
them, saying that he knew the country better than anyone else, and
that we should follow him. When Frey Mazqual saw this he said that we
were out of any road, and that he did not know why that man did this.
We all began to cry out at him, because he was taking us through the
rough ground to lose and break what we carried with us, leaving the
highroads, and that we were travelling where the wolves went. Mattheus,
perceiving our outcry, and that we were all against him, took a turn,
and we went round some mountains to the road, more than two leagues
before reaching it. And before we reached it Mattheus had a fainting
fit, during which we thought he was dead for more than an hour. When
he came to himself we put him on a mule, and two men on each side to
assist him. So we went, all accompanying and looking after him, and
Frey Mazqual with us, until we arrived at the road, which was a long
way off. When we reached it we found a very large cafila of camels and
many people who were coming to Arquiquo, because they only travel in
cafilas for fear of robbers. These were all amazed at the road we had
travelled. We all slept at a hill where there was water and a certain
place for cafilas to halt at, and Frey Mazqual also. We all slept, we
and the two cafilas keeping good watch all night. From here we set out
next morning, always travelling by dry river beds, and on either side
very high mountain ridges, with large woods of various kinds of trees,
most of them without fruit: for among them are some very large trees
which give a fruit which they call tamarinds, like clusters of grapes,
which are much prized by the Moors, for they make vinegar with them,
and sell them in the markets like dried raisins. The dry channels and
road by which we went showed very deep clefts, which are made by the
thunder storms: they do not much impede travelling, as they told us,
and as we afterwards saw similar ones. All that is necessary is to turn
aside and wait for two hours the overflow of the storm, they then set
out travelling again. However great these rivers may be with the waters
of these storms, as soon as they issue forth from the mountains and
reach the plains, they immediately spread out and are absorbed, and do
not reach the sea: and we could not learn that any river of Ethiopia
enters into the Red sea, all waste away when they come to the flat
plains. In these mountains and ridges there are many animals of various
kinds, such as lions, elephants, tigers, ounces, wolves, boars, stags,
deer,[7] and all other kinds which can be named in the world, except
two which I never saw nor heard tell that there are any of them here,
bears and rabbits. There are birds of all kinds that can be named, both
of those known to us and of those not known, great and small: two kinds
of birds I did not see nor hear say that there are, these are magpies
and cuckoos; the other herbs of these mountains and rivers are basil
and odorous herbs.
CAP. VIII.--_How Mattheus again took us out of the road, and
made us go to the monastery of Bisam._
When it was the hour for resting ourselves, Mattheus was still
determined on taking us out of the high road, and taking us to the
monastery of Bisam, through mountain ridges and bushes,[8] and we took
counsel with frey Mazqual, who told us that the road to the monastery
was such that baggage could not go there on men’s backs, and that the
road we were leaving was the high road by which travelled the caravans
of Christians and Moors, where no one did them any harm, and that still
less would they do harm to us who were travelling in the service of God
and of Prester John. Nevertheless, we followed the will and fancy of
Mattheus. At the halt,[9] where we slept, there were great altercations
as to the said travelling, and as to whether we should turn back to
the high road which we had left. Seeing this, Mattheus begged of me to
entreat the ambassador Don Rodrigo and all the others to be pleased to
go to the monastery of Bisam, because it was of great importance to
him, and that he would not remain there more than six or seven days (he
remained there for ever, for he died there); and that when those seven
or eight days were passed, in which he would trade in what belonged
to him, we should be welcome to go on our road. At my request all
determined to do his wish, since it was important to him, saying that
we would remain at a village at the foot of the monastery. We departed
from this halt by much more precipitous ground and channels than those
of the day before, and larger woods. We on foot and the mules unridden
in front of us, we could not travel; the camels shrieked as though sin
was laying hold of them. It seemed to all that Mattheus was bringing us
here to kill us; and all turned upon me because I had done it. There
was nothing for it but to call on God, for sins were going about in
those woods: at midday the wild animals were innumerable and had little
fear of people. Withal we went forward, and began to meet with country
people who kept fields of Indian corn, and who come from a distance
to sow these lands and rocky ridges which are among these mountains:
there are also in these parts very beautiful flocks, such as cows and
goats. The people that we found here are almost naked, so that all they
had showed, and they were very black. These people were Christians,
and the women wore a little more covering, but it was very little.
Going a little further in another forest which we could not pass on
foot, and the camels unladen, there came to us six or seven friars of
the monastery of Bisam, among whom were four or five very old men, and
one more so than all the rest, to whom all showed great reverence,
kissing his hand. We did the same, because Mattheus told us that he
was a bishop; afterwards we learned that he was not a bishop, but his
title was David, which means guardian, and besides, in the monastery
there is another above him, whom they call Abba, which means father:
and this father is like a _provincial_. From their age and from
their being thin and dry like wood, they appear to be men of holy life.
They go into the forests collecting their millet, both that grown by
their own labour, and the produce of the dues paid to them by those
who sow in these mountains and forests. The clothes which they wear
are old yellow cotton stuffs, and they go barefooted. From this place
we went forward until the camels had taken rest, and in the space of
a quarter of a league we arrived at the foot of a tree with all our
baggage, and Mattheus with his, and frey Mazqual with us, also the
friars, particularly the old ones, were there with us: and the oldest,
whom Mattheus called a Bishop, gave us a cow, which we at once killed
for supper. We were here in doubt by what way we could get out, and
as there was no help for it we all slept here together, ambassadors,
friars and frey Mazqual, ready to start.
CAP. IX.--_How we said mass here, and Frey Mazqual separated
from us, and we went to a monastery where our people fell sick._
The following day was Holy Cross of May; we said mass at the foot of
a tree in honour of the true cross, that it might please to direct
us well, entreating our Portuguese to make this petition with much
devotion to our Lord, that like as He had opened a way to Saint Helena
to find it, so He would open a road for our salvation which we saw
to be so closed up. Mass being ended we dined, and the ambassador
Mattheus ordered his baggage to be loaded on the backs of negroes,
and taken to a small monastery which was half a league from where we
were, and they name the patron of it St. Michael, and they call the
site of the monastery Dise. Joam Escolar, the clerk of the Embassy,
and I, went with this baggage on foot, as it was not ground or a road
fit for mules. We went to see what country it was there, and whether
we should go to that monastery, or whether we should turn back. Here
frey Mazqual departed from us. With the journey we made, the clerk and
I, we were almost dead when we arrived at the monastery, both from the
precipitous path and steep ascent, and the great heat. After having
taken rest, and seen the said monastery, and seen that it had buildings
in which to lodge our goods, and ourselves also, the clerk returned to
the company, and I remained at the monastery. On the following day,
fourth of May, all our people came with the goods we were bringing with
us, and which had remained at the foot of this mountain, all being
carried on the backs of negroes. And on the night on which our people
remained and slept there, Satan did not cease from weaving his wiles,
and caused strife to arise among our people, and this on account of the
ambassador’s carrying out that which he had to do, and ought to do for
the service of God and the King, and for the safety of our lives and
honour: and one said that there were men in the company who were not
going to do all that seemed fit to him, upon this they came to using
their spears. God be praised that no one was wounded. As soon as we
were all at the monastery I made them good friends, blaming them for
using such words, since he was our captain, and that which was for the
service of God and the King was an advantage to us all, and that we
ought not to do anything without mature deliberation. We lodged in this
monastery of St. Michael under the impression that we should depart at
the end of seven or eight days, as Mattheus had said, and they gave us
very good lodgings. Upon this Mattheus came and told us that he had
written to the court of Prester John, and to Queen Helena, and to the
patriarch, and that the answer could not come in less than forty days,
and that we could not depart without this answer, because from there
mules had to be sent for us and for the baggage. And he did not stop
at this, but went on to say that the winter was beginning, which would
last three months, and that we could not travel during that time, and
that we should buy provisions for the winter. Besides, he said that we
should wait for the Bishop of Bisam, who was coming from the court,
and that he would give us equipment. This one that he called Bishop
is not one, but is the Abba or provincial of Bisam. In this matter
of the winter, and the coming of this provincial, the friars of this
monastery concerted with Mattheus, and they did not lie, for nobody
in this country travels for three months, that is, from the middle of
June, July, August, to middle of September, and the winter is general:
also as to the coming of him they called Bishop, he did not delay much.
A few days after our arrival the people fell sick, both the Portuguese
and also our slaves, few or none remained who were not affected, and
many in danger of death from much bloodletting and purging. Among the
first mestre Joam fell sick, and we had no other remedy. The Lord
was pleased that purging and bloodletting came to him of itself, and
he regained his health. After that the sickness attacked others with
all its force, among them the ambassador Mattheus fell sick, and many
remedies were used for him. And thinking that he was already well,
and as though delighted and pleased, he ordered his baggage to be
got ready and sent to a village of Bisam named Jangargara, which is
half way between this monastery and Bisam. In that village are friars
of the said monastery, who keep their cows there, and there are many
good houses in it. He had his baggage taken there, and went with it,
and two days after his arrival he sent to call the mestre, for he had
fallen ill again. He left all the sick people and went, and we did
not wait long after him, the ambassador, Don Rodrigo, and I, but went
to visit him, and we found him very suffering. Don Rodrigo returned,
and I remained with him three days, and I confessed him and gave him
the sacraments, and at the end of the three days he died, on the 23rd
of May 1520; and he made his will in the Portuguese language by means
of mestre Francisco Gonzalves, his spiritual father, and also in the
Abyssinian language by a friar of the said monastery. As soon as he was
dead there came thither at once the ambassador, and Jorge d’Abreu, and
Joam Escolar the clerk, and a great number of the friars of Bisam. We
took him with great honour to bury him at the said monastery, and did
the office for the dead after our custom, and the friars after their
custom. In the same night that Mattheus died, Pereira, servant of Don
Rodrigo, died. When the burial of Mattheus was done, the ambassador,
Don Rodrigo, and Jorge d’Abreu, and Joam Escolar, clerk, and certain
friars of the monastery, returned to the village where Mattheus died,
and where his goods remained. And it was intended to make an inventory
of his goods, in order that they should be correctly sent to the person
whom he named, by Francisco Mattheus, his servant, whom the King of
Portugal, our Sovereign, had given him and had set free, because
before he was a Moorish slave, and the goods were in his keeping. The
said Francisco Mattheus took it into his head not to choose that the
inventory should be made: and the friars for their part hoping to get a
share of the goods. Seeing this, Don Rodrigo left them to their devices
and came away in peace; and Francisco Mattheus and the friars took
these goods to the monastery of Bisam, and thence sent them to the
court of the Prester for them to be given to the Queen Helena, to whom
he, Mattheus, ordered them to be given.
CAP. X.--_How Don Rodrigo sent to ask the Barnagais for
equipment for his departure._
As we were thus without any remedy, and had been waiting for a month
and no message came, and we did not know what to do, and Mattheus
having died, we determined on sending to ask the Barnagais to send us
some equipment for our departure, so that we might not remain here
for our destruction. Knowing this the friars grieved much at it, and
pressed Don Rodrigo not to send, and to wait for the arrival of the
said provincial, as he would be at the monastery within ten days,
and that if he did not come that they would provide the means for
our departure. And because these people are unconfiding they would
not trust in the ambassador, although he had promised it them; and
they took an oath from all of us on a crucifix that we would wait for
the said ten days, and they also swore to fulfil that which they had
promised. And in order that we might not be disappointed on one side
or the other, or in case both should take effect, we might choose the
best, Don Rodrigo arranged to send Joam Gonzalves, interpreter and
factor, and Manoel de Mares and two other Portuguese to the Barnagais
to ask him to remember the oath which he swore and promised to the
Captain General of the King of Portugal, which was to favour and take
into his keeping the affairs of the King, and to be pleased to give
us an equipment for our travelling. When the ten days were ended the
factor sent one of the Portuguese that went with him with a good
message, and with him came a man from the Barnagais saying that he
came to give us oxen for the baggage and mules for ourselves. On the
part of the friars nothing came.
CAP. XI.--_Of the fashion and situation of the monasteries and
their customs, first this of St. Michael._