a voyage to abyssinia-第4节
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ver their heads。 This had the effect we wished； the noise and fire of our arms struck them with so much terror that they fell upon the ground； and durst not for some time so much as lift up their heads。 They forgot immediately their natural temper； their ferocity and haughtiness were softened into mildness and submission； they asked pardon for their insolence； and we were ever after good friends。
After our reconciliation we visited each other frequently； and had some conversation about the journey I had undertaken； and the desire I had of finding a new passage into Aethiopia。 It was necessary on this account to consult their lubo or king： I found him in a straw hut something larger than those of his subjects； surrounded by his courtiers； who had each a stick in his hand； which is longer or shorter according to the quality of the person admitted into the king's presence。 The ceremony made use of at the reception of a stranger is somewhat unusual； as soon as he enters； all the courtiers strike him with their cudgels till he goes back to the door； the amity then subsisting between us did not secure me from this uncouth reception； which they told me； upon my demanding the reason of it； was to show those whom they treated with that they were the bravest people in the world； and that all other nations ought to bow down before them。 I could not help reflecting on this occasion how imprudently I had trusted my life in the hands of men unacquainted with compassion of civility； but recollecting at the same time that the intent of my journey was such as might give me hopes of the divine protection； I banished all thoughts but those of finding a way into Aethiopia。 In this strait it occurred to me that these people； however barbarous； have some oath which they keep with an inviolable strictness； the best precaution； therefore； that I could use would be to bind them by this oath to be true to their engagements。 The manner of their swearing is this： they set a sheep in the midst of them； and rub it over with butter； the heads of families who are the chief in the nation lay their hands upon the head of the sheep； and swear to observe their promise。 This oath （which they never violate） they explain thus： the sheep is the mother of them who swear； the butter betokens the love between the mother and the children； and an oath taken on a mother's head is sacred。 Upon the security of this oath； I made them acquainted with my intention； an intention； they told me； it was impossible to put in execution。 From the moment I left them they said they could give me no assurance of either life or liberty； that they were perfectly informed both of the roads and inhabitants； that there were no fewer than nine nations between us and Abyssinia； who were always embroiled amongst themselves； or at war with the Abyssins； and enjoyed no security even in their own territories。 We were now convinced that our enterprise was impracticable； and that to hazard ourselves amidst so many insurmountable difficulties would be to tempt Providence； despairing； therefore； that I should ever come this way to Abyssinia； I resolved to return back with my intelligence to my companion； whom I had left at Pate。
I cannot； however； leave this country without giving an account of their manner of blood…letting； which I was led to the knowledge of by a violent fever； which threatened to put an end to my life and travels together。 The distress I was in may easily be imagined； being entirely destitute of everything necessary。 I had resolved to let myself blood； though I was altogether a stranger to the manner of doing it； and had no lancet； but my companions hearing of a surgeon of reputation in the place； went and brought him。 I saw； with the utmost surprise； an old Moor enter my chamber； with a kind of small dagger； all over rusty； and a mallet in his hand； and three cups of horn about half a foot long。 I started； and asked what he wanted。 He told me to bleed me； and when I had given him leave； uncovering my side； applied one of his horn cups； which he stopped with chewed paper； and by that means made it stick fast； in the same manner he fixed on the other two； and fell to sharpening his instrument； assuring me that he would give me no pain。 He then took off his cups； and gave in each place a stroke with his poignard； which was followed by a stream of blood。 He applied his cups several times； and every time struck his lancet into the same place； having drawn away a large quantity of blood； he healed the orifices with three lumps of tallow。 I know not whether to attribute my cure to bleeding or my fear； but I had from that time no return of my fever。
When I came to Pate； in hopes of meeting with my associate； I found that he was gone to Mombaza； in hopes of receiving information。 He was sooner undeceived than I； and we met at the place where we parted in a few days； and soon afterwards left Pate to return to the Indies； and in nine…and…twenty days arrived at the famous fortress of Diou。 We were told at this place that Alfonso Mendes； patriarch of Aethiopia； was arrived at Goa from Lisbon。 He wrote to us to desire that we would wait for him at Diou； in order to embark there for the Red Sea； but being informed by us that no opportunities of going thither were to be expected at Diou； it was at length determined that we should meet at Bazaim； it was no easy matter for me to find means of going to Bazaim。 However； after a very uneasy voyage； in which we were often in danger of being dashed against the rocks； or thrown upon the sands by the rapidity of the current； and suffered the utmost distress for want of water； I landed at Daman； a place about twenty leagues distant from Bazaim。 Here I hire a catre and four boys to carry me to Bazaim： these catres are a kind of travelling couches； in which you may either lie or sit； which the boys； whose business is the same with that of chairmen in our country； support upon their shoulders by two poles； and carry a passenger at the rate of eighteen or twenty miles a day。 Here we at length found the patriarch； with three more priests； like us； designed for the mission of Aethiopia。 We went back to Daman； and from thence to Diou； where we arrived in a short time。
Chapter III
The author embarks with the patriarch； narrowly escapes shipwreck near the isle of Socotora； enters the Arabian Gulf； and the Red Sea。 Some account of the coast of the Red Sea。
The patriarch having met with many obstacles and disappointments in his return to Abyssinia； grew impatient of being so long absent from his church。 Lopo Gomez d'Abreu had made him an offer at Bazaim of fitting out three ships at his own expense； provided a commission could be procured him to cruise in the Red Sea。 This proposal was accepted by the patriarch； and a commission granted by the viceroy。 While we were at Diou； waiting for these vessels； we received advice from Aethiopia that the emperor； unwilling to expose the patriarch to any hazard； thought Dagher； a port in the mouth of the Red Sea； belonging to a prince dependent on the Abyssins； a place of the greatest security to land at； having already written to that prince to give him safe passage through his dominions。 We met here with new delays； the fleet that was to transport us did not appear； the patriarch lost all patience； and his zeal so much affected the commander at Diou； that he undertook to equip a vessel for us； and pushed the work forward with the utmost diligence。 At length； the long…expected ships entered the port； we were overjoyed； we were transported； and prepared to go on board。 Many persons at Diou； seeing the vessels so well fitted out； desired leave to go this voyage along with us； imagining they had an excellent opportunity of acquiring both wealth and honour。 We committed； however； one great error in setting out； for having equipped our ships for privateering； and taken no merchandise on board； we could not touch at any of the ports of the Red Sea。 The patriarch； impatient to be gone； took leave in the most tender manner of the governor and his other friends； recommended our voyage to the Blessed Virgin； and in the field； before we went on shipboard； made a short exhortation； so moving and pathetic； that it touched the hearts of all who heard it。 In the evening we went on board； and early the next morning being the 3rd of April； 1625； we set sail。
After some days we discovered about noon the island Socotora； where we proposed to touch。 The sky was bright and the wind fair； nor had we the least apprehension of the danger into which we were falling； but with the utmost carelessness and jollity held on our course。 At night； when our sailors； especially the Moors； were in a profound sleep （for the Mohammedans； believing everything forewritten in the decrees of God； and not alterable by any human means； resign themselves entirely to Providence）； our vessel ran aground upon a sand bank at the entrance of the harbour。 We got her off with the utmost difficulty； and nothing but a miracle could have preserved us。 We ran along afterwards by the side of the island； but were entertained with no other prospect than of a mountainous country； and of rocks that jutted out over the sea； and s
