52^. TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



Translation of an Arabic LETTERyrowz i/je King of Abyssi- 

 nia to M. DU ROULE. 



" The king Tecla Haimanoiit, king of the ellabliflicd 

 " church, fon of the king of a thoufand churches. 



" This letter cometh fortli from the venerable, augull 



" king, who is the Ihadow of God, guide of Chriftian prin- 



" ces that are in the world, the moft powerful of the Naza- 



" rean kings, obferver of the commandments of the gofpel, 



" protecftor of the confines of Alexandria, he that maintain- 



" eth order between Mahometans and Chriftians, defcended 



" from the family of the prophets David and Solomon, up- 



" on whom being the blcllings of Ifrael, may God make his 



" happinefseternal, and his power perpetual, and prote(5t his 



" arms — So be it. — To his excellence the moft virtuous and 



" moft prudent man du Roule, a Frenchman fent to us, 



" may God preferve him, and make him arrive at a degree 



^ of eminence — So be it. — Elias,your interpreter whom you 



" fent before you, being arrived here, has been well receiv- 



" ed. We have undcrftood that you are fent to us on the 



*' part of the king of France our brother, and are furprifed 



" that you have been detained at Sennaar. We fend to you 



" at prefent a letter for king Baady, in order that he may 



" fetyou at liberty, and not do you any injury, nor to thofe 



" that are with you, but may behave in a manner that is 



" proper both for you and to us, according to the religion 



" of Elias that you fent, who is a Syrian ; and all thofe that 



" may come after you from the king of France our brother, 



" or his conful at Cairo, fliall be well received, whether they 



" be 



