FOOTNOTES:
[1] See the St. James’s Gazette. Criticism of Mr. Justin McCarthy’s language, October 29th, published since the above was written.
[2] Sic.
[3] Or “of the Vision”, according to some.
[4] Caspar Correa says it was a breviary on parchment, and describes a picture contained in it on paper which had come from Jerusalem or Rome.
[5] Gaspar Correa says that at this leave-taking the Portuguese sounded their trumpets and drums and the fleet saluted, and a ball from a camel gun made three rebounds amongst the men of the Barnegaes, without hitting anyone. The Governor sent to ask pardon of him, saying it was a mistake of the bombardier. The Barnegaes answered that no one was safe unless God pleased, and that the ball had done no one any harm.
[6] Gaspar Correa says of the Embassy that Don Rodrigo de Lima was a man of good presence, and a fit man for such a service; that Jorge d’Abreu, the second person of the Embassy, was a very well dressed gentleman; that Francisco Alvarez was a very prudent man, and well informed in all matters of the altar and divine services; that Estevan Palharte was a good fencer; the three Portuguese who accompanied Mattheus were Miguel Fernandez, Diogo Tatys, and João d’Alvarenga, all men skilful in manual arts, and who could sing at mass, for which the priest carried rich ornaments and all that was necessary, and irons for making wafers.
[7] Anta.
[8] “Matos idiabrados”, not in Bluteau.
[9] Meijoada, not in Bluteau.
[10] Oporto.
[11] Alosna.
[12] Como em chacola, dancing and singing, i.e., not reverentially.
[13] Como quem anda per mãos diante da imagem. According to the Spanish translation of Miguel de Salves. Saragossa, 1561.
[14] Oussia.
[15] Under a canopy.
[16] Symam.
[17] By threes.
[18] Mansfield Parkins calls it teff, the species of corn most esteemed in this country.
[19] Zamboa, not referred to in Selves’ translation.
[20] Should be teskar.
[21] Castar should be Teskar; Mansfield Parkyns calls it a sort of funereal feast, where charities are bestowed on the poor and the priests.
[22] Couto, an asylum, an enclosure; celeiro, a granary.
[23] Zagonaes. Ethiopian corruption of diakonos.
[24] Dibarua, hillock seen from afar.
[25] Bait en-negus.
[26] Azorague, a kurbach, or whip of hide, cravache.
[27] A Portuguese measure equal to about three pints.
[28] Padrinho.
[29] Shoa.
[30] Rumană Wark, the golden pomegranate.
[31] This opinion of the Abyssinians appears to have anticipated the Sorbonne judgment of 1733, given in the 20th chapter of Tristram Shandy.
[32] Crisma.
[33] Envorilhados for enrodilhados.
[34] Adens and marrecas.
[35] No las assombram a terra: perhaps this means with a paper kite. This passage is omitted in Selve’s translation.
[36] Cevado, literally, allured.
[37] The favourite or preferred, Bitwaddad, because he was liked.
[38] Ar-ras.
[39] Mount Sinai.
[40] Foy desordenado e feito leigo; not a correct expression.
[41] A gold coin in some parts of Africa.
[42] Bechugarias.
[43] Zafoens or Safoens.
[44] Tufas.
[45] Nubians.
[46] Dafilla.
[47] Igzio maranna Kristos, Amharic.
[48] The Latin text of a similar excommunication of noxious animals was given in the Pall Mall Gazette, or Times, in 1879.
[49] Kurbayra.
[50] Tigri mahom, should be Tigri măkuănăm.
[51] “Where”, should be “here”; this river, the Mareb, not the Nile, separates the country of the Barnagais from that of Tigré.
[52] This and other passages show that some of the churches in Abyssinia, which are sometimes called Portuguese churches by travellers, are anterior to the Portuguese.
[53] Sic.
[54] This passage appears to have been inserted here by some error of the printer, and to belong to some other chapter.
[55] Pontões.
[56] Sobarbava.
[57] Pliny says Candace was the name of many Queens, as Pharaoh was of the Kings of Egypt.
[58] Mansfield Parkyns calls it a sycamore tree, and says it is remarkable for the extraordinary circumference of its trunk and the great spread of its branches, which cast their shade over such a space of ground as would be sufficient for the camp of the largest caravan.
[59] Mansfield Parkyns thus describes it: “The principal obelisk is carved on the south side, as if to represent a door, windows, cornices, etc.”
[60] Mancal, an unknown game, antiquated in the reign of Don Manuel; the translation of Selves calls it a juego de herradura. “Baton ferré des deux bouts”.—Roquette’s Dict.
[61] Arouca, a town in the bishopric of Lamego.
[62] Nebrete, i.e., Nabrĭd, imposed by hand, the title of the Governor of Axum.
[63] Maabar or Mahabar, a club, gathering.
[64] Feitos igoaes; the Selves translation has, las camas hechas, y por cubrir.
[65] Abacinete, i.e., Amba Sanete, name of a hill.
[66] Estefarruz is probably a misprint of Alvarez for Estefanuz, or Stephen.
[67] i.e., Fillets.
[68] Maluk.
[69] Or Kyriakos.
[70] Gada is an expedition sent from the highlands to collect the salt, Băal means master or chief; Băalgada is a title given to the chiefs of those expeditions, and is a title still used in Ethiopia, like Duke or Count.
[71] Estrevimento, antiquated.
[72] The drachm of gold; that is, the salt increases in value.
[73] Dagusa (Eleusine tocusso), used for bread, but more for brewing beer. Mansfield Parkyns says (vol. i, p. 265): “very little ‘teff’ is grown in this neighbourhood, but chiefly millet (mashéla) and dagousha”.
[74] Valuras.
[75] Maotente.
[76] Igzio maranna kristos.
[77] Nug (Guizotia oleifera), Pampilhos, a plant like olho de boy.
[78] Apodavam.
[79] Cătăma, a camp.
[80] Or Caravan of merchants.
[81] Conquest here means maintaining the struggle, or the duty of conquering. Whilst the Moors were still unconquered in the south of Spain, certain parts of their territory were said to belong to the Conquest of Castile, others to the Conquest of Aragon.
[82] Poçoncha.
[83] Twenty-six almudes make a pipe.
[84] Both these towns of Corcora are in the modern maps.
[85] Por amor de unas sierras.
[86] Gabya.
[87] Esparto.
[88] Yĭkun amlak, may he be Lord.
[89] This passage is not very clear. Selves translates: “the church lies to the east, and the Epistle is said at the west”.
[90] Fueiros, projections over the sides of a cart to enable it to carry more load, side rails, wings, thripples, shelvings.
[91] Terza, nine o’clock.
[92] Cunheiras, not in the dictionaries, possibly for wedge marks.
[93] Palmo, measure of four inches.
[94] Corucheo; Selves calls it coroza.
[95] Espelhos.
[96] Frecheiros.
[97] Lunas.
[98] Of the wall of inclosure.
[99] Revindas, Revindo, a, not in any dictionary except the Diccionario Portatil of Santa Rosa de Viterbo, Coimbra, 1825, which says: “Arco, on abobeda de meio circulo perfeito que dizem de meia volta em berço”.
[100] Revinda.
[101] Curral.
[102] A pe quedo.
[103] Preguntas d’estrada, wayside questions. The question about the length of time the Holy Family passed in Egypt was not, however, a simple or purposeless question, as the Abyssinians assert that during that time they visited Abyssinia.
[104] Salsa de Palmela.
[105] Era a rodo.
[106] Church of the Trinity.
[107] With his knapsack in his hand. Con la barjuleta en la mano, Selves.
[108] Furou na silveira; Rompiendo por una enramada, Selves.
[109] In the preceding chapter it was said to be two days’ journey in circumference.
[110] This is the worst trait of Abyssinian character to be found in any of the accounts of that country; and instances of similar conduct are only to be found in Russia.
[111] See Major Harris for an account of the imitation by the King of Shoa of this custom of shutting up the King’s relations.
[112] Esparavel, a parasol or umbrella, apparently a mark of rank.
[113] Morgados ou coutos.
[114] Reguenguos, private estates of the King.
[115] De ab inicio.
[116] Amhara.
[117] See Cap. 57, p. 139.
[118] Cabaça.
[119] Boinhos.
[120] Gumari, a hippopotamus.
[121] Lixa squatina.
[122] Makana Selase, place of the Trinity.
[123] Bregĭos for brejos.
[124]? West.
[125] Mareados.
[126] Valuras.
[127] Piçarra.
[128] Joguos de malham. Selves translates: “juegos de herraduras.”
[129] Espinguam. Selves calls it cuchilla.
[130] Meijoada.
[131] Moyo, modius, measure of sixty alqueires, or bushels.
[132] Probably Debra Libanos.
[133] Maioral.
[134] Ichage is the chief monk of Ethiopia.
[135] Misprinted testar.
[136] Găbăz is a prior in Aksum. There is a Găbăz in every church, but there the title means the chief of the vestry.
[137] Alqueire.
[138] Cingida.
[139] Hawaryat means apostles, and is thus used in the name of a church.
[140] Desciados.
[141] Franks; who these were is explained in Cap. 72.
[142] Malham.
[143] Mosseos.
[144] Not translated by Selves.
[145] Bitwaddad, because he was liked, a favourite.
[146] Cacha.
[147] De Xio, a Greek.
[148] Copts. They still call white people Copts; see M. Parkyns.
[149] Encoiradas.
[150] Selves translates, “when he lowers it”.
[151] Sonaves. Selves has traves.
[152] Băzzăto means carded cotton.
[153] Cofos.
[154] Cruzados.
[155] Manicordio, also written monocordio. See Grove’s Dictionary of Music for a note on the Monochord.
[156] Pelote de usteda; not mentioned by Selves: a jacket or tunic without sleeves.
[157] Ceroules. Selves has çaraguelles.
[158] Cervilhas. Selves has Xervilletas.
[159] Of Nice. Selves has Niceno.
[160] Selves renders this: “the church of Greece had been founded by the Apostle St. John at Ephesus, and that of Alexandria by St. Mark the Evangelist.”
[161] The Council of Nice.
[162] This date does not agree with the preceding one, which would make it Monday.
[163] Alaquequa, Selves translates lazos. “Alaqueca, laqueca, pierre des Indes qui arrête le flux de sang.”—Roquette’s Dict.
[164] Bouçaes, boçal.
[165] Selves has corrected this to St. Paul.
[166] Maçaã baiones.
[167] Detença.
[168] St. Barlaam, November 19.
[169] 25th November is St. Catharine’s day.
[170] Or fugleman.
[171] Vivos, an ornament for coifs.
[172] Sendeiros Galegos.
[173] Padiola, a hand-barrow.
[174] See Chapter lxv, p. 160.
[175] From this it appears that his leg-bone was not quite broken.
[176] Sancta sanctorum.
[177] Sombreira, the same word is used for umbrellas or hats.
[178] Or hollow.
[179] Enxarafas.
[180] A canada equal to three pints.
[181] Adoration of the Magi. Col. Meadows Taylor describes a similar miracle play represented at Aurungabad by the Portuguese monks.—Story of my Life, p. 39.
[182] De comeeira, omitted by Selves.
[183] Selves has abridged this chapter considerably.
[184] En cocras, for en cocaras.
[185] Deacons, from diaconos.
[186] This passage is not clear. Selves has, “They put their hands on the church door as though opening and shutting it.”
[187] From Selves.
[188] Que zagonassem, literally to zagonise.
[189] Of Egypt.
[190] Tero.
[191] Bedem.
[192] Comprida de comieira. See page 244.
[193] Sidy, Sir, Arabic.
[194] Mozo d’espolas.
[195] Alambeis; almayzales, Selves.
[196] The Constant Prince.
[197] Cruzados.
[198] See Gaspar Correa’s account of King John’s scouts in Vasco da Gama’s Voyages, pp. 8–11.—Hakluyt Society.
[199] The leg-bone, supposed by popular superstition in Spain to be buried in the great mosque of Cordova.
[200] Jerusalem.
[201] The Portuguese fleet.
[202] Selves translates: “one was wounded in four places by a gun which must have been loaded with slugs.”
[203] This passage is very obscure; it either means that the lords had not seen Jorge d’Abreu and his companions, or that they did not wish to see them.
[204] The ships of the captain-major.
[205] Milho zaburro.
[206] Guza, probably dagusha.
[207] Agriones.
[208] Revinda.
[209] Releixo.
[210] Pendenças.
[211] Maundy, from the words of Christ, “Hic est mandatum meum”.
[212] De molde.
[213] In albis.
[214] Pascoela.
[215] Cernache dos alhos, two leagues from Coimbra.
[216] I.e., the termination of the wooden ladder.
[217] Paredinhas.
[218] Seto.
[219] Macho murzelo; mulo morzillo.—Selves.
[220] Hopa, a cloak without sleeves.
[221] Humiziados, Selves translates enfermos, sick people. Humiziados are persons hiding on account of some crime they have committed.
[222] Obscure; perhaps the words, “to stay longer”, have been omitted.
[223] See chapter cix.
[224] Mahfuz.
[225] This figure, xix, is probably a misprint.
[226] Neither Barros nor G. Correa give this date.
[227] Or Seville belonging to Spain, etc., etc.; Selves translates: “I told him to write Spain under Seville, Galicia under Corunna, and Portugal under Lisbon.”
[228] All this passage is omitted by Selves.
[229] Menuta.
[230] Ouquia, a gold coin worth twelve cruzados.
[231] Sultan, apparently the title of a magistrate of Arquigo.
[232] A king’s messenger.
[233] Gulto.
[234] Tribute.
[235] Gaveta.
[236] Or such as is still generally worn by the Aragonese peasants.
[237] 12,000 men in all.
[238] Gaveta.
[239] See chapter xlviii, p. 110.
[240] Esperavel, should be esparavel.
[241] Corregido; Selves has, la corte ... estaba aderezado.
[242] January 6, Twelfth Day.
[243] The Prester’s ambassador.
[244] Escodilhinas, for escudellinhas.
[245] Mouchas for mochas, without horns, or points, or, in the case of chairs, may be arms.
[246] Desembargadores.
[247] See chapter cvi, p. 278, where the Abdenago acted in this way.
[248] Sem tresposta.
[249] Comierias for cumieiras, summit, point of a building. See pp. 244, 260.
[250] I.e., of the open space going to the market.
[251] Cerolho. This passage is omitted in Selves’ translation. Cerolho might be a misprint for serodio, late, tardy.
[252] Palmos.
[253] Atabales.
[254] Of Egypt.
[255] Meijoadas.
[256] Or, alternately, revezadas.
[257] Na falha.
[258] Aduares.
[259] Dankali.
[260] The palace.
[261] Entrudo, Shrove Tuesday.
[262] Or, inhabitants.
[263] Era lhe dado por conto ou camara para hum pequeno mosteiro; or, “in payment for”, as Selves translates.
[264] Sysones, omitted by Selves.
[265] This man appears to be one of the Prester’s officials. See before, p. 316.
[266] Golfam.
[267] De mao em mao.
[268] Pardao, Indian coin worth 3 testoons and 3 vintems.
[269] Fortuna.
[270] Gulf of Ormuz.
[271] Selves translates: no hace de noche sino arañar la tierra y buscar.
[272] The kingdom of Fartaque was on the Arabian coast, east of Aden. It contained the town of Dhafar.
[273] The 25th of November is St. Catherine’s day, so that there must be an error as to Saturday or Sunday. Selves avoids this difficulty.
[274] This superstition still exists among sailors.
[275] Almadia.
[276] Agraço.
[277] Impidosa.
[278] Almotacem-mor.
[279] This would be the gate of the oldest part of the town. Selves omits all reference to the topography of Coimbra.
[280] On the coast of India, to the north of Goa.
[281] Milhōes.
[282] Should be seven years.
[283] Akegue, an Emperor.
[284] Pampilhos, also called olho de boy.
[285] Anta is a South American animal.
[286] Probably hyænas.
[287] Adens, marrecas.
[288] Tahu. This is the Tau-cross or T-shaped crutch emblem of St. Anthony, so called from the name of the letter in the Greek alphabet.
[289] Tigia.
[290] The Malabar Christians had the same custom. See Duarte Barbosa.
[291] As mais acavalanas logo.
Transcriber’s Notes:
1. Obvious printers’, punctuation and spelling errors have been corrected silently.
2. Where hyphenation is in doubt, it has been retained as in the original.
3. Some hyphenated and non-hyphenated versions of the same words have been retained as in the original.
4. Errata and notes have been silently corrected.