a voyage to abyssinia-第5章

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an　excellent　remedy　for　sore　eyes。

The　burning　wind　spoken　of　in　the　sacred　writings；　I　take　to　be　that　which　the　natives　term　arur；　and　the　Arabs　uri；　which　blowing　in　the　spring；　brings　with　it　so　excessive　a　heat；　that　the　whole　country　seems　a　burning　oven；　so　that　there　is　no　travelling　here　in　this　dreadful　season；　nor　is　this　the　only　danger　to　which　the　unhappy　passenger　is　exposed　in　these　uncomfortable　regions。　　There　blows　in　the　months　of　June；　July；　and　August；　another　wind；　which　raises　mountains　of　sand　and　carries　them　through　the　air；　all　that　can　be　done　in　this　case　is　when　a　cloud　of　sand　rises；　to　mark　where　it　is　likely　to　fall；　and　to　retire　as　far　off　as　possible；　but　it　is　very　usual　for　men　to　be　taken　unexpectedly；　and　smothered　in　the　dust。　One　day　I　found　the　body　of　a　Christian；　whom　I　knew；　upon　the　sand；　he　had　doubtless　been　choked　by　these　winds。　　I　recommended　his　soul　to　the　divine　mercy　and　buried　him。　　He　seemed　to　have　been　some　time　dead；　yet　the　body　had　no　ill　smell。　　These　winds　are　most　destructive　in　Arabia　the　Desert。



Chapter　IV



The　author's　conjecture　on　the　name　of　the　Red　Sea。　　An　account　of　the　cocoa…tree。　　He　lands　at　Baylur。


To　return　to　the　description　of　the　coast：　　sixty　leagues　from　Suaquem　is　an　island　called　Mazna；　only　considerable　for　its　ports；　which　make　the　Turks　reside　upon　it；　though　they　are　forced　to　keep　three　barks　continually　employed　in　fetching　water；　which　is　not　to　be　found　nearer　than　at　a　distance　of　twelve　miles。　　Forty　leagues　from　hence　is　Dalacha；　an　island　where　many　pearls　are　found；　but　of　small　value。　　The　next　place　is　Baylur；　forty　leagues　from　Dalacha；　and　twelve　from　Babelmandel。

There　are　few　things　upon　which　a　greater　variety　of　conjectures　has　been　offered　than　upon　the　reasons　that　induced　the　ancients　to　distinguish　this　gulf；　which　separates　Asia　from　Africa；　by　the　name　of　the　Red　Sea；　an　appellation　that　has　almost　universally　obtained　in　all　languages。　　Some　affirm　that　the　torrents；　which　fall　after　great　rains　from　the　mountains；　wash　down　such　a　quantity　of　red　sand　as　gives　a　tincture　to　the　water：　　others　tell　us　that　the　sunbeams　being　reverberated　from　the　red　rocks；　give　the　sea　on　which　they　strike　the　appearance　of　that　colour。　　Neither　of　these　accounts　are　satisfactory；　the　coasts　are　so　scorched　by　the　heat　that　they　are　rather　black　than　red；　nor　is　the　colour　of　this　sea　much　altered　by　the　winds　or　rains。　　The　notion　generally　received　is；　that　the　coral　found　in　such　quantities　at　the　bottom　of　the　sea　might　communicate　this　colour　to　the　water：　　an　account　merely　chimerical。　　Coral　is　not　to　be　found　in　all　parts　of　this　gulf；　and　red　coral　in　very　few。　　Nor　does　this　water　in　fact　differ　from　that　of　other　seas。　　The　patriarch　and　I　have　frequently　amused　ourselves　with　making　observations；　and　could　never　discover　any　redness；　but　in　the　shallows；　where　a　kind　of　weed　grew　which　they　call　gouesmon；　which　redness　disappeared　as　soon　as　we　plucked　up　the　plant。　　It　is　observable　that　St。　Jerome；　confining　himself　to　the　Hebrew；　calls　this　sea　Jamsuf。　　Jam　in　that　language　signifies　sea；　and　suf　is　the　name　of　a　plant　in　Aethiopia；　from　which　the　Abyssins　extract　a　beautiful　crimson；　whether　this　be　the　same　with　the　gouesmon；　I　know　not；　but　am　of　opinion　that　the　herb　gives　to　this　sea　both　the　colour　and　the　name。

The　vessels　most　used　in　the　Red　Sea；　though　ships　of　all　sizes　may　be　met　with　there；　are　gelves；　of　which　some　mention　hath　been　made　already；　these　are　the　more　convenient；　because　they　will　not　split　if　thrown　upon　banks　or　against　rocks。　　These　gelves　have　given　occasion　to　the　report　that　out　of　the　cocoa…tree　alone　a　ship　may　be　built；　fitted　out　with　masts；　sails；　and　cordage；　and　victualled　with　bread；　water；　wine；　sugar；　vinegar；　and　oil。　　All　this　indeed　cannot　be　done　out　of　one　tree；　but　may　out　of　several　of　the　same　kind。　　They　saw　the　trunk　into　planks；　and　sew　them　together　with　thread　which　they　spin　out　of　the　bark；　and　which　they　twist　for　the　cables；　the　leaves　stitched　together　make　the　sails。　　This　boat　thus　equipped　may　be　furnished　with　all　necessaries　from　the　same　tree。　There　is　not　a　month　in　which　the　cocoa　does　not　produce　a　bunch　of　nuts；　from　twenty　to　fifty。　　At　first　sprouts　out　a　kind　of　seed　or　capsula；　of　a　shape　not　unlike　the　scabbard　of　a　scimitar；　which　they　cut；　and　place　a　vessel　under；　to　receive　the　liquor　that　drops　from　it；　this　drink　is　called　soro；　and　is　clear；　pleasant；　and　nourishing。　　If　it　be　boiled；　it　grows　hard；　and　makes　a　kind　of　sugar　much　valued　in　the　Indies：　　distil　this　liquor　and　you　have　a　strong　water；　of　which　is　made　excellent　vinegar。　　All　these　different　products　are　afforded　before　the　nut　is　formed；　and　while　it　is　green　it　contains　a　delicious　cooling　water；　with　these　nuts　they　store　their　gelves；　and　it　is　the　only　provision　of　water　which　is　made　in　this　country。　　The　second　bark　which　contains　the　water　is　so　tender　that　they　eat　it。　　When　this　fruit　arrives　to　perfect　maturity；　they　either　pound　the　kernel　into　meal；　and　make　cakes　of　or　draw　an　oil　from　it　of　a　fine　scent　and　taste；　and　of　great　use　in　medicine；　so　that　what　is　reported　of　the　different　products　of　this　wonderful　tree　is　neither　false　nor　incredible。

It　is　time　we　should　come　now　to　the　relation　of　our　voyage。　　Having　happily　passed　the　straits　at　the　entrance　of　the　Red　Sea；　we　pursued　our　course；　keeping　as　near　the　shore　as　we　could；　without　any　farther　apprehensions　of　the　Turks。　　We　were；　however；　under　some　concern　that　we　were　entirely　ignorant　in　what　part　of　the　coast　to　find　Baylur；　a　port　where　we　proposed　landing；　and　so　little　known；　that　our　pilots；　who　had　made　many　voyages　in　this　sea；　could　give　us　no　account　of　it。　　We　were　in　hopes　of　information　from　the　fishermen；　but　found　that　as　soon　as　we　came　near　they　fled　from　us　in　the　greatest　consternation；　no　signals　of　peace　or　friendship　could　prevail　on　them　to　stay；　they　either　durst　not　trust　or　did　not　understand　us。　　We　plied　along　the　coast　in　this　uncertainty　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　discharg