as we saw him travel; now I will only relate how his stuffs and
property travel, which are in the Balagamija, and which are beyond
reckoning. All silk stuffs go in square osier baskets; they will be
four spans[252] long, and two or two and a half wide, they are covered
with leather of raw cowhide with the hair on; from each corner comes a
chain to go over the lid, which has an iron ring in the middle through
which they pass these chains, and in them a padlock. Thus these baskets
go locked, and both those containing silks and those with thin Indian
stuffs, and men carry them on their heads, more than five or six of
them. And between a certain number of these carriers are guards. And
since every year the silks and brocades increase in number, both those
that are paid to him and those that he buys, and so many are not
expended, neither can they carry them all on a journey, he orders every
year some to be put in hollows in the earth which are arranged for that
purpose. We knew of one as our road passed by there, and close to some
gates which have already been mentioned, and which are named Badabaje,
at the great ravines which I spoke of before. And at this hollow there
are many guards, and all the merchants who pass there pay dues for
toll. In the same way that the stuffs travel, the treasure also travels
in smaller baskets covered with leather, and also locked like those of
the stuffs, only that they have over their leather covering and chains
and padlock, another cowhide put on fresh and sewn with straps of the
hide, and it dries there and becomes strong. These treasure baskets
are in very great quantity, and travel with numerous guards, and they
say that every year he puts many of these also into hollows in the
earth or in grottos, because he cannot carry the increase of each year.
This hollow, which we knew of, is a league from the house of Pero de
Covilham, and he used to tell us that the gold which was in this hollow
was enough to buy the world, because every year a large sum was put
in, and they never took it out again. As to the silks and brocades,
Pero de Covilham said that they often took them out to give them to
churches and monasteries, as was done three years before our arrival,
when Prester John sent large offerings to Jerusalem of the silks and
brocades from the grottos, on account of the multitude he possessed;
and that there were many of these excavations or grottos of the same
kind as that that we knew of, which is under a mountain. The ambassador
who conveyed these offerings is named Abba Azerata, and now he is chief
guardian of the Prester’s sisters, and they say that he took with him
fifteen men, among whom were gentlemen of _nagaridas_, or as we
should say in our language, of kettledrums,[253] and the number of
their kettledrums was sixty. And I heard tell by those who went with
him that they sounded them all along the road, and in the city of
Cairo, as far as Jerusalem; and on their return they came in flight,
because the Turk was coming against the Sultan,[254] and against his
great city, through which they had to pass.
CAP. CXXVIII.--_How three hundred and odd friars departed from
Barua in pilgrimage to Jerusalem, and how they killed them._
In this country many friars are accustomed to go every year in
pilgrimage to Jerusalem, and also some priests. While we, Portuguese
and the Franks who were in the country, were at Barua, the country
and chief town of the Barnagais, a caravan of friars was prepared to
make the said journey and pilgrimage as they are accustomed. There
went together three hundred and thirty-six friars, and in this number
entered fifteen nuns, and this about Christmas, because they depart
after the day of the kings, and reach there in holy week, because they
go very slowly; and they make this journey at this time because they
say that the winter ends in Nubia, which is the beginning of Egypt, and
that in the most part of Egypt and in Cairo it does not rain, and so at
this end of the winter water is still to be found. The manner in which
these friars set out was this: they came together from all parts to the
said town, and when the day of kings had passed, they were entrusted
by the Barnagais Dori (who then reigned) to some Moors to convey them
safely. These Moors were from Suaquem and Rifa. Suaquem is at the end
of the countries of the Prester, and at the entrance of Egypt, and on
that account they were entrusted, and Rifa is in the middle of Egypt,
and the river Nile passes through the middle of that city. These Moors
were obliged to place these pilgrims in safety in the city of Cairo,
and they were well known Moors, traders in the Prester’s countries, and
therefore they were entrusted to them. They commenced their journey
to another town, which is one march from this place (Barua), which is
named Einacem; they say that it is a town and district abounding in
provisions, and many monasteries; and here they finish making up the
caravan. This town belongs to the lordship of Dafila, subject to the
Barnagais. At the time they set out these friars travelled very slowly,
for at hours of vespers they encamped in their halts,[255] and then
they pitched their churches which they carried with them, and there
were three churches, and they said their hours and masses, and then
all received the communion. Next day at the hour of tierce they arose
and began to travel; and they all went laden with their provisions,
and gourds and waterskins, and their churches by turns,[256] that is
to say, the tabutos or altar stones, for let me say that the tents of
the churches went on camels. So each day they did not make a journey
exceeding two leagues; and to see their customs I travelled for two
days with these friars, and saw what I relate. In those two days we
may have travelled, according to good judgment, three leagues and
little more. From the town of Einacem as far as Suaquem two lords rule,
namely, Dafella and Canfella, and both are subject to the Barnagais;
and they say that from this town to Suaquem there are fifteen days’
march of a caravan of merchants, who travel a little more than three
leagues in a day’s march. From Suaquem to Rifa there are fourteen
days of the same pace of a caravan. On this road, on leaving Suaquem
Egypt begins, and they say that all the country is inhabited, except
for two days where there are no dwellings or water; and they say that
along this road there are many churches and many Christians, who give
much alms to these pilgrims, and they are subject to the Moors. They
say that on this road is the monastery in which St. Antony abode, and
of this order are all the friars of the Prester’s countries. And from
Rifa to Cairo they say the country is very cool, always going down the
river Nile (as they say) there are eight days’ journey. This caravan of
friars departed before we did, and as soon as it passed Suaquem other
Moors attacked them, and it seems that they were more powerful than the
Moors who conducted them, and they took all the pilgrims, and killed
the old men, and made captives of the young ones, and sold them; and
of 348 friars there did not escape more than fifteen. These did the
pilgrimage, and later I heard three of these fifteen, who related to
me all their fatigues, and told me that what had happened to them was
because they were great friends of the Portuguese; and in truth it is
so, because they receive bad treatment from their neighbours for our
sake. From Rifa to Cairo is a pleasant country for travelling, with
white people, Moors, Jews, and Christians. And in Cairo they say they
make their stations at Cosme, Damiano,(or the church of Saints Cosmo
and Damian, martyrs united in the Calendar under 27th September.) and
St. Barbara, and at the fountain which is in the garden of the balsam.
They also say that from Cairo to Jerusalem there are eight days’
journey. Since this destruction of friars till now no more friars
or priests have gone to Jerusalem in a caravan, and if any go, they
go like concealed passengers; and those who go there and return are
held to be holy men. And because the people of Jerusalem are white
people, when we arrived in this country, they called us Christians of
Jerusalem. There is another road from here by sea which takes less
time; embarking at Masua for Mount Sinai, they go in fifteen days or
less (according to the weather), and from Mount Sinai to Jerusalem they
go in eight days. The Abyssinians are not much able to travel by this
way, because they have not got any navigation, and they hope that our
Portuguese will make this way secure, if a fortress were made in Masua
by the King our Sovereign.
CAP. CXXIX.--_Of the countries and kingdoms which are on the
frontiers of Prester John._
The countries, kingdoms and lordships which confine with the kingdoms
of the Prester, as far as I could learn, are these. First, they
commence at Masua, opposite the Red Sea, which is opposite to the
south, then they are at the outskirts[257] of the Moorish Arabs who
keep the herds of the great lords of the countries of the Barnagais,
and they go about in encampments[258] of thirty or forty, with their
wives and children. All these Moors have a Christian captain, and all
are thieves, and they rob the poor on the roads by their power and the
favour of the lords whose herds they keep. Next further on comes the
kingdom of Dangalli,[259] which is a Moorish kingdom. This kingdom
has a seaport which is named Belie, this is behind the gates of the
Red Sea, inside to the parts of Abyssinia; and this kingdom runs on
till it meets the kingdom of Adel, which is the sovereignty of Zeila
and Barbora; where these two kingdoms join in the interior, which
is towards the country of the Prester, there are twenty-four large
lordships or captaincies, which they call Dobaas; and I have already
spoken of these Dobaas above in the Chapter xlviii.
CAP. CXXX.--_Of the kingdom of Adel, and how the king is
esteemed as a saint amongst the Moors._
The kingdom of Adel (as they say) is a large kingdom, and it extends
over the Cape of Guardafuy, and there in that part another rules
subject to Adel. Among the Moors they hold this King of Adel for a
saint, because he always makes war upon the Christians; and he sends
of the spoils of his battles (as they say) offerings to the house of
Mekkah, and to Cairo, and presents to other kings, and they send him
from their parts arms and horses, and other things to assist him in his
wars; and I have before related, in Chapter cxxxiii, how this king was
routed and his captain Mafudy killed. This kingdom of Adel borders upon
the kingdom of Fatigar and Xoa, which are kingdoms of the Prester John.
CAP. CXXXI.--_Of the kingdom of Adea, where it begins and where
it ends._
In the middle of the kingdom of Adel, more in the interior, commences
the kingdom of Adea, which is of Moors, and they are peaceful and
subject to the Prester: they say that this kingdom reaches to Magadaxo.
In Chapter cxxix I have related how Prester John went there in person,
to make peace, and made in it churches and monasteries, and left there
priests and friars. This kingdom of Adea borders upon the kingdom of
Oyja, which belongs to Prester John, and all these above-mentioned are
towards the sea and the east.
CAP. CXXXII.--_Of the lordships of Ganze and Gamu, and of the
kingdom of Gorage._
To the middle of this kingdom of Adea, towards the west, begin some
lordships of pagans which are not kingdoms, and are at the extremities
of the kingdoms and lordships of the Prester. Of these lordships or
captaincies the first is called Ganze, and it is a mixture of pagans
and of Christians who are gradually entering it. Next after this comes
another large lordship, and (as they say) in size almost a kingdom;
they are pagans, little valued as slaves; they have no king, only
chiefs who rule separately. This is called Gamu, it runs more towards
the west. Also to the south is the kingdom called Gorage, and its
inhabitants Gorages; they say they have a king; in Chapter cxi, I spoke
of it. This kingdom and the lordships of Ganze and Gamu border upon the
kingdoms of Oyja and Xoa, which belong to Prester John.
CAP. CXXXIII.--_Of the kingdom of Damute, and of the much gold
there is in it, and how it is collected, and to the south of
this are the Amazons, if they are there._
Going more to the west by the same extremities of the Prester’s
kingdoms, and principally to the west of the kingdom of Xoa, there is a
very great country and kingdom which is called Damute. The slaves of
this kingdom are much esteemed by the Moors, and they do not leave them
for any price; all the countries of Arabia, Persia, India, Egypt, and
Greece, are full of slaves from this country, and they say they make
very good Moors and great warriors. These are pagans, and among them in
this kingdom there are many Christians. And I say there are some there
because I saw them at the Court; there came many priests and friars and
nuns, and they say that there are many monasteries and churches there,
and the king’s title is King of the Pagans. From this kingdom comes
most of the gold that is in the country of the Prester which can be
made use of, and it is very fine. In this kingdom there are (as they
say) plenty of fresh provisions of various sorts, and when we kept Lent
in Gorage there came from this country much green ginger, grapes, and
peaches, which in this country are found at that time, and later, in
flesh days, many large sheep, and cows of great size. They say that
at the extremity of these kingdoms of Damute and Gorage, towards the
south, is the kingdom of the Amazons; but not as it seems to me, or
as it has been told to me, or as the book of _Infante Don Pedro_
related or relates to us, because these Amazons (if these are so) all
have husbands generally throughout the year, and always at all times
with them, and pass their life with their husbands. They have not got
a king, but have a queen, she is not married, nor has she any special
husband, but withal she does not omit having sons and daughters, and
her daughter is the heir to her kingdom. They say that they are women
of a very warlike disposition, and they fight riding on cows, and are
great archers, and when they are little they dry up the left breast,
in order not to impede drawing the arrow. They also say that there is
very much gold in this kingdom of the Amazons, and that it comes from
this country to the kingdom of Damute, and so it goes to many parts.
They say that the husbands of these women are not warriors, and that
their wives dispense them from it. They say that a great river has its
source in the kingdom of Damute, and opposite to the Nile, because
each one goes in its own direction, the Nile to Egypt, of this other
no one of the country knows where it goes to, only it is presumed that
it goes to Manicongo. They also say that they find much gold in this
kingdom of Damute, I tell it as I heard it. They say that when winter
comes they expect rains and storms, and without necessity they dig
and till the earth that it may be soft: and the waters wash the earth
and leave on the top of it the clean gold: and that they find most of
this gold by night by the light, because they see it glitter. And in
the town of Aquaxumo, which is in the kingdom of Tigray, I often saw
it searched for in the above-mentioned manner, and they said that they
found it, but not at night. This Damute borders upon Xoa, which belongs
to Prester John.
CAP. CXXXIV.--_Of the lordships of the Cafates, who they say had
been Jews, and how they are warriors._
Making more for the west, and almost west through this Damute, are
other lordships which they call the Cafates, people who are not very
dark, and large of stature. They say that they had been of the race of
the Jews, but they have no books or synagogues, they are more subtle
people than any that are in this country; they are pagans and great
warriors, and always carry on war with the Prester. They border upon
part of Xoa and Gojame, which are kingdoms of the Prester. I say this
for I never reached there, and some of our people went there with the
great Betudete, and afterwards the Prester in person. They said that
these Cafates gave them much to do, chiefly at night, when they came
to kill and plunder, and by day they took refuge in the mountains and
thickets, and the mountains (as they say) consist more in ravines than
in heights.
CAP. CXXXV.--_Of the kingdom of Gojame which belonged to Queen
Helena, where the river Nile rises, and of the much gold there
is there._
Now leaving the south and turning west, there is another kingdom of the
Prester, named Gojame, of which a great part belonged to Queen Helena.
They say that in this kingdom rises or issues the river Nile, which in
this country they call Gion; and they say that there are in it great
lakes like seas, and that there are in them marine men and women, and
some report this from eyesight. I heard Pero de Covilham say that he
had gone by order of Queen Helena to show how an altar should be made
in a church which she had ordered to be built in this kingdom, where
they buried her, and they made this altar of wood, and covered it all
over with gold, and also the altar stone was of solid gold. I state
what he told me, and I think he spoke the truth; and as to the altar
stone, the Abima who had consecrated it, told me that it was large and
of great weight and price. I always heard say while we were in the
neighbourhood of this kingdom that there were numerous guards at that
church, who guarded it on account of the much gold that was in it.
They say that there is much gold in this kingdom also, and that it is
inferior gold. I could not learn what this kingdom borders upon on the
other side, only they said that there were deserts and mountains, and
beyond them Jews. I do not credit it or affirm it; I speak as I heard
general report, and not from persons whom I can quote.
CAP. CXXXVI.--_Of the kingdom of Bagamidri, which is said to be
very large, and how silver is found in its mountains._
At the end of this kingdom of Gojam begins another kingdom, which they
say is the largest kingdom in the Prester’s country, and it is called
Bagamidri. This they say extends along the Nile. And it cannot fail
to be large as they say, because it begins at the kingdom of Gojame,
and runs along the edge of the kingdoms of Amara and Angoir and Tigray
of the Tigrimahom, and of the kingdom of the Barnagais: so it extends
far more than two hundred leagues. Between the kingdoms of Angoir and
Tigray, at the end of them are other lordships which are named Aganos,
in them Christians and Pagans are intermingled. I do not know what
these border upon on the other side, they must border upon this kingdom
of Bagamidri. I have heard many people say that there was a mountain
in this kingdom of Bagamidri which contains much silver, and that they
do not know how to extract it; and that when they got any, it was in
this manner, namely, where they saw any hollow or cave they filled it
with wood, and set it on fire, as in a limekiln, and that this fire
melted the silver and it ran in spouts, a thing not to be believed. I
asked Pero de Covilham about this; he said he did not doubt that it was
quite true. I tell it as I heard it, and I know that the silver is much
sought after.
CAP. CXXXVII.--_Of some lordships which are called of the
Nubians, who had been Christians, and of the number of churches
which are in the country which they border upon._
At the end of the kingdom of Bagamidri there are Moors who are called
Bellonos, and are tributaries of Prester John for a great number of
horses. Towards the north, these Bellonos border upon a people who are
called Nubiis; and they say that these had been Christians and ruled
from Rome. I heard from a man, a Syrian, a native of Tripoli of Syria,
and his name is John of Syria (he went about with us three years in the
Prester’s country, and came with us to Portugal), that he had been to
this country, and that there are in it a hundred and fifty churches,
which still contain crucifixes and effigies of Our Lady, and other
effigies painted on the walls, and all old: and the people of this
country are neither Christians, Moors, nor Jews; and that they live in
the desire to become Christians. These churches are all in old ancient
castles which are throughout the country; and as many castles there
are, so many churches. While we were in the country of the Prester John
there came six men from that country as ambassadors to the Prester
himself, begging of him to send them priests and friars to teach them.
He did not choose to send them; and it was said that he said to them
that he had his Abima from the country of the Moors, that is to say
from the Patriarch of Alexandria, who is under the rule of the Moors;
how then could he give priests and friars since another gave them.
And so they returned. They say that in ancient times these people had
everything from Rome, and that it is a very long time ago that a bishop
died, whom they had got from Rome, and on account of the wars of the
Moors they could not get another, and so they lost all their clergy and
their Christianity. These border upon Egypt, and they say they have
much fine gold in their country. This country lies in front of Suaquem,
which is close to the Red Sea. These lordships of Nubiis are on both
sides of the Nile, and they say that as many castles as there are, so
many captains: they have no king, but only captains. This Suaquem is
the town which is at the extremity of the Prester’s country, in the
beginning of Egypt, in front of these lordships, with the Moorish
Bellonos in the middle. And they say that from this Suaquem along the
coast of the sea towards Masua it is all wooded land. These are the
frontier countries of Prester John’s kingdoms and lordships which I was
able to learn, and of them I learned by hearsay, and of a few of them
by sight.
CAP. CXXXVIII.--_Of the officials that Solomon ordained for his
son that he had of the Queen Sabba when he sent him to Ethiopia;
and how they still draw honour from these offices._
I said that I would relate what I heard of the officials that Solomon
gave to his son when he sent him from Jerusalem to Ethiopia to his
mother the Queen Sabba. I heard say that to this day these officials
or officers are alive in the families of those that came, because they
go in succession from father to son. They say first that when Solomon
sent his son to the Queen Sabba, his mother, he gave him officials for
his house; and he gave an office from each of the twelve tribes, such
as chamberlains, porters, overseers, grooms, trumpeters, chief guards,
cooks, and other officials necessary for the house of a great king or
lord, and that these offices are still in those families descending
from them. Thus these officials honour themselves much as Israelites,
and gentlemen, and our relations. All of them are in great number,
because the sons of the chamberlain and their descendants, all of
them are of that office; and so also the other officials all descend
in the offices of their fathers and ancestors, except the pages, who
usually are the sons of the great gentlemen and lords, and now they
are not so. And as has been said, when the Prester sends to summon the
grandees, he does not send to tell them why: and when the sons of the
grandees served as pages, they used to disclose his secrets, and for
this he turned them out, and the captains who are sons of Moorish or
Pagan Kings whom they take in their expeditions, serve as confidential
pages, and if they see them well disposed they send them to be taught
without their entering inside,[260] and if they turn out discreet and
good they put them inside, and they serve as pages. And the sons of the
great lords serve as outside pages, and also as pages of the halter
when they travel, and pages of the kitchen, and they do not enter
inside, (as they say) and we saw this. All the canons that they call
_debeteras_ also say that they come from the families that came
from Jerusalem with the son of Solomon, and on this account they are
more honoured than all the rest of the clergy.
CAP. CXXXIX.--_How the ambassador of Prester John took
possession of his lordship, and the Prester gave him a title of
all of it, and we departed to the sea._