312 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



The day after, they found the ford, and pafled it without 

 difficulty; and, being on the other fide, they began to be a 

 little more compofed, as being far from the Pagans, and 

 now near entering the territory of Narea. After afcending 

 a high mountain, they came to Gonea, where they found 

 a garrifon under one of the principal officers of that king- 

 dom, who received them with great marks of honour and 

 joy, on account of the warm recommendation Sela Chriftos 

 had given them, and perhaps as much for a confiderable 

 prefent they had brought along with them. 



Narea, the fouthmoft province of the Abyffinian empire, 

 is ftill governed by its native princes, who are called the 

 Bencros ; its territory reached formerly to Bizamo. 



The Galla have quite furrounded them, efpecially on the 

 fouth-eaft and north. What is to the well is a part of Africa, 

 the moll unknown. The people of Narea have a fmall trade 

 with Melinda on the Indian Ocean, and with Angola on the 

 weftern, by means of intermediate nations. Narea is abun- 

 dantly fupplied with gold from the Negro country that is 

 neareft them. Some have, indeed, faid there is gold in Na- 

 rea ; but, after a very diligent inveftigation, I find it comes 

 chiefly from towards the Atlantic. 



The kingdom of Narea Hands like a fortified place in the 

 middle of a plain. Many rivers, rifing in the fourth and 

 fifth degrees of latitude, fpread themfelves, for want of level, 

 over this flat country, and ftagnate in very extenfive marfh- 

 es from fouth by eaft, to the point of north, or north-weft. 



The 



