a voyage to abyssinia-第6部分

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ainty　two　days；　till　on　the　first　of　March　having　doubled　a　point　of　land；　which　came　out　a　great　way　into　the　sea；　we　found　ourselves　in　the　middle　of　a　fair　large　bay；　which　many　reasons　induced　us　to　think　was　Baylur；　that　we　might　be　farther　assured　we　sent　our　Abyssin　on　shore；　who　returning　next　morning　confirmed　our　opinion。　　It　would　not　be　easy　to　determine　whether　our　arrival　gave　us　greater　joy；　or　the　inhabitants　greater　apprehensions；　for　we　could　discern　a　continual　tumult　in　the　land；　and　took　notice　that　the　crews　of　some　barks　that　lay　in　the　harbour　were　unlading　with　all　possible　diligence；　to　prevent　the　cargo　from　falling　into　our　hands；　very　much　indeed　to　the　dissatisfaction　of　many　of　our　soldiers；　who　having　engaged　in　this　expedition；　with　no　other　view　than　of　filling　their　pockets；　were；　before　the　return　of　our　Abyssin；　for　treating　them　like　enemies；　and　taking　them　as　a　lawful　prize。　　We　were　willing　to　be　assured　of　a　good　reception　in　this　port；　the　patriarch　therefore　sent　me　to　treat　with　them。　　I　dressed　myself　like　a　merchant；　and　in　that　habit　received　the　four　captains　of　gelves　which　the　chec　sent　to　compliment　me；　and　ordered　to　stay　as　hostages；　whom　I　sent　back；　that　I　might　gain　upon　their　affections　by　the　confidence　I　placed　in　their　sincerity；　this　had　so　good　an　effect；　that　the　chec；　who　was　transported　with　the　account　the　officers　gave　of　the　civilities　they　had　been　treated　with；　came　in　an　hour　to　visit　me；　bringing　with　him　a　Portuguese；　whom　I　had　sent　ashore　as　a　security　for　his　return。　　He　informed　me　that　the　King　his　master　was　encamped　not　far　off；　and　that　a　chec　who　was　then　in　the　company　was　just　arrived　from　thence；　and　had　seen　the　Emperor　of　Aethiopia's　letters　in　our　favour；　I　was　then　convinced　that　we　might　land　without　scruple；　and　to　give　the　patriarch　notice　of　it　ordered　a　volley　of　our　muskets　to　be　fired；　which　was　answered　by　the　cannon　of　the　two　ships　that　lay　at　a　distance；　for　fear　of　giving　the　Moors　any　cause　of　suspicion　by　their　approach。　　The　chec　and　his　attendants；　though　I　had　given　them　notice　that　we　were　going　to　let　off　our　guns　in　honour　of　the　King　their　master；　could　not　forbear　trembling　at　the　fire　and　noise。　　They　left　us　soon　after；　and　next　morning　we　landed　our　baggage；　consisting　chiefly　of　the　patriarch's　library；　some　ornaments　for　the　church；　some　images；　and　some　pieces　of　calico；　which　were　of　the　same　use　as　money。　　Most　of　the　soldiers　and　sailors　were　desirous　of　going　with　us；　some　from　real　principles　of　piety；　and　a　desire　of　sharing　the　labours　and　merits　of　the　mission；　others　upon　motives　very　different；　the　hopes　of　raising　a　fortune。　　To　have　taken　all　who　offered　themselves　would　have　been　an　injury　to　the　owners　of　the　ships；　by　rendering　them　unable　to　continue　their　voyage；　we　therefore　accepted　only　of　a　few。



Chapter　V



An　account　of　Dancali。　　The　conduct　of　Chec　Furt。　　The　author　wounded。　　They　arrive　at　the　court　of　the　King　of　Dancali。　　A　description　of　his　pavilion；　and　the　reception　they　met　with。


Our　goods　were　no　sooner　landed　than　we　were　surrounded　with　a　crowd　of　officers；　all　gaping　for　presents；　we　were　forced　to　gratify　their　avarice　by　opening　our　bales；　and　distributing　among　them　some　pieces　of　calico。　　What　we　gave　to　the　chec　might　be　worth　about　a　pistole；　and　the　rest　in　proportion。

The　kingdom　of　Dancali；　to　which　this　belongs；　is　barren；　and　thinly　peopled；　the　king　is　tributary　to　the　Emperor　of　Abyssinia；　and　very　faithful　to　his　sovereign。　　The　emperor　had　not　only　written　to　him；　but　had　sent　a　Moor　and　Portuguese　as　his　ambassadors；　to　secure　us　a　kind　reception；　these　in　their　way　to　this　prince　had　come　through　the　countries　of　Chumo…Salamay　and　Senaa；　the　utmost　confines　of　Abyssinia；　and　had　carried　thither　the　emperor's　orders　concerning　our　passage。

On　Ascension　Day　we　left　Baylur；　having　procured　some　camels　and　asses　to　carry　our　baggage。　　The　first　day's　march　was　not　above　a　league；　and　the　others　not　much　longer。　　Our　guides　performed　their　office　very　ill；　being　influenced；　as　we　imagined；　by　the　Chec　Furt；　an　officer；　whom；　though　unwilling；　we　were　forced　to　take　with　us。　This　man；　who　might　have　brought　us　to　the　king　in　three　days；　led　us　out　of　the　way　through　horrid　deserts　destitute　of　water；　or　where　what　we　found　was　so　foul；　nauseous；　and　offensive；　that　it　excited　a　loathing　and　aversion　which　nothing　but　extreme　necessity　could　have　overcome。

Having　travelled　some　days；　we　were　met　by　the　King's　brother；　to　whom；　by　the　advice　of　Chec　Furt；　whose　intent　in　following　us　was　to　squeeze　all　he　could　from　us；　we　presented　some　pieces　of　Chinese　workmanship；　such　as　cases　of　boxes；　a　standish；　and　some　earthenware；　together　with　several　pieces　of　painted　calico；　which　were　so　much　more　agreeable；　that　he　desired　some　other　pieces　instead　of　our　Chinese　curiosities；　we　willingly　made　the　exchange。　Yet　some　time　afterwards　he　asked　again　for　those　Chinese　goods　which　he　had　returned　us；　nor　was　it　in　our　power　to　refuse　them。　　I　was　here　in　danger　of　losing　my　life　by　a　compliment　which　the　Portuguese　paid　the　prince　of　a　discharge　of　twelve　muskets；　one　being　unskilfully　charged　too　high；　flew　out　of　the　soldier's　hand；　and　falling　against　my　leg；　wounded　it　very　much；　we　had　no　surgeon　with　us；　so　that　all　I　could　do　was　to　bind　it　hard　with　some　cloth。　I　was　obliged　by　this　accident　to　make　use　of　the　Chec　Furt's　horse；　which　was　the　greatest　service　we　received　from　him　in　all　our　journey。

When　we　came　within　two　leagues　and　a　half　of　the　King's　court；　he　sent　some　messengers　with　his　compliments；　and　five　mules　for　the　chief　of　our　company。　　Our　road　lay　through　a　wood；　where　we　found　the　ground　covered　over　with　young　locusts；　a　plague　intolerably　afflictive　in　a　country　so　barren　of　itself。　　We　arrived　at　length　at　the　bank　of　a　small　river；　near　which　the　King　usually　keeps　his　residence；　and　found　his　palace　at　the　foot　of　a　little　mountain。　It　consisted　of　about　six　tents　and　twenty　cabins；　erected　amongst　some　thorns　and　wild　trees；　which　afforded　a　shelter　from　the　heat　of　the　weather。　　He　received　us　the　first　time　in　a　cabin　about　a　musket　shot　distant　from　the　rest；　furnished　out　with　a　throne　in　the　middle　built　of　clay　and　stones；　and　covered　with　tapestry　and　two　velvet　cushions。　　Over　against　him　stood　his　horse　with　his　saddle　and　other　furniture　hanging　by　him；　for　in　this　country；　the　master　and　his　horse　make　use　of　the　same　apartment；　nor　doth　the　King　in　this　respect　affect　more　grandeur　than　his　subjects。　　When　we　entered；　we　seated　ourselves　on　the　ground　with　our　legs　crossed；　in　imitation　of　the　rest；　whom　we　found　in　the　same　posture。　　After　we　had　waited　some　time；　the　King　came　in；　attended　by　his　domestics　and　his　officers。　　He　held　a　small　lance　in　his　hand；　and　was　dressed　in　a　silk　robe；　with　a　turban　on　his　head；　to　which　were　fastened　some　rings　of　very　neat　workmanship；　which　fell　down　upon　his　forehead。　　All　kept　silence　for　some　time；　and　the　King　told　us　by　his　interpreter　that　we　were　welcome　to　his　dominions；　that　he　had　been　informed　we　were　to　come　by　the　Emperor　his　father；　and　that　he　condoled　the　hardships　we　had　undergone　at　sea。　　He　desired　us　not　to　be　under　any　concern　at　finding　ourselves　in　a　country　so　distant　from　our　own；　for　those　dominions　were　ours；　and　he　and　the　Emperor　his　father　would　give　us　all　the　proofs　we　could　desire　of　the　sincerest　affection。　　We　returned　him　thanks　for　this　promise　of　his　favour；　and　after　a　short　conversation　went　away。　　Immediately　we　were　teazed　by　those　who　brought　us　the　mules；　and　demanded　to　be　paid　the　hire　of　them；　and　had　advice　given　us　at　the　same　time　that　we　should　get　a　present　ready　for　the　King。　　The　Chec　Furt；　who　was　extremely　ready　to　undertake　any　commission　of　this　kind；　would　needs　direct　us　in　the　affair；　and　told　us　that　our　gifts　ought　to　be　of　greater　value；　because　we　had　neglected　making　any　such　offer　at　our　first　audience；　contrary　to　the　custom　of　that　country。　　By　these　pretences　he　obliged　us　to　make　a　present　to　the　value　of　about　twenty　pounds；　with　which　he　seemed　to　be　pleased；　and　told　us　we　had　nothing　to　do　but　prepare　to　make　our　entry。



Chapter　VI



The　King　refuses　their　present。　　The　author's　boldness。　　The　present　is　afterwards　accepted。　　The　people　are　forbidden　to　sell　them　provisions。　　The　author　remonstrates　against　the　usage。　　The　King　redresses　it。


But　such　was　either　the　hatred　or　avarice　of　this　man；　that　instead　of　doing　us　the　good　offices　he　pretended；　he　advised　the　King　to　refuse　our　present；　that　he　might　draw　from　us　something　more　valuable。　　When　I　attended　the　King　in　order　to　deliver　the　presents；　after　I　had　excused　the　smallness　of　them；　as　being；　though　unworthy　his　acceptance；　the　largest　that　our　profession　of　poverty；　and　distance　from　our　country；　allowed　us　to　make；　he　examined　them　one　by　one　with　a　dissatisfied　look；　and　told　me　that　however　he　might　be　pleased　with　our　good　attentions；　he　thought　our　present　such　as　could　not　be　offered　to　a　king　without　affronting　him；　and　made　me　a　sign　with　his　hand　to　withdraw；　and　take　back　what　I　had　brought。　　I　obeyed；　telling　him　that　perhaps　he　might　send　for　it　again　without　having　so　much。　　The　Chec　Furt；　who　had　been　the　occasion　of　all　this；　coming　to　us　afterwards；　blamed　us　exceedingly　for　having　offered　so　little；　and　being　told　by　us　that　the　present　was　picked　out　by　himself；　that　we　had　nothing　better　to　give；　and　that　what　we　had　left　would　scarce　defray　the　expenses　of　our　journey；　he　pressed　us　at　least　to　add　something；　but　could　prevail　no　farther　than　to　persuade　us　to　repeat　our　former　offer；　which　the　King　was　now　pleased　to　accept；　though　with　no　kinder　countenance　than　before。

Here　we　spent　our　time　and　our　provisions；　without　being　able　to　procure　any　more。　　The　country　indeed　affords　goats　and　honey；　but　nobody　would　sell　us　any；　the　King；　as　I　was　secretly　informed；　having　strictly　prohibited　it；　with　a　view　of　forcing　all　we　had　from　us。　　The　patriarch　sent　me　to　expostulate　the　matter　with　the　King；　which　I　did　in　very　warm　terms；　telling　him　that　we　were　assured　by　the　Emperor　of　a　reception　in　thi