THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 145 



ntiflery of Bifan. This lliort journey they very happily per- 

 formed. Tellera bx-ought back a parchment manufcript, 

 which he J-eceived as a prefenc from ihe monks,, to be feat 

 -to the king of Portugal, 



It was on the 24th of April that the Baharnagafh arriv- 

 ■ed at Arkeeko, having before fent information of his intend- 

 ed vifit. The Portuguefe general, who never doubted but that 

 tie would come to thcfea-fide, pitched his tents, andfpread his 

 carpets and culhions on the ground to receive him. But it 

 .was lignificd to him from the baharnagalh, who was pro- 

 bably afraid of putting himfcif under the guns of the Ikct, 

 that he did not intend to advance To far, and that the gover- 

 nor ft ould meet him halfway. This being agiccU 10 on 

 •both fides, they fat down on the grafs. 



The Baharnagafli began the convcrfation, by telling the 

 Portuguefe, they had, in virtue of certain prophecies, beea 

 -long expelled in this country; and iliat he, and all tlie olfi- 

 cers of Abyfllnia, were ready to do tliem evrry fervice and 

 -kindnefs. After the I'oriuguefe general b.ad rcturrjcd a 

 ■proper anfwer, the pricfts and monks concluded the in- 

 terview with certain religiou.s fervices. Scgueyra then made 

 the Baharnagalh a pr^^^lcnt of a very fine Tuit of coniplcrc 

 •armour with fome pieces of fdk ; while the Biharnagafh, 

 on his fide, made the return with a very fine horfe and 

 mule. 



All doubt concerning Matthew was removed at this 



interview; he was acknowledged as a genuine ambaila- 



dor. The Portuguefe now flecked to Scgueyra, befeeching 



him ro choofc from among his men, who Ihould accom- 



"VoL. II. T pany 



