TRAVELS IN ABYSSINIA. 
7 
a deputation of friars from a neighbouring mo- 
nastery, called Bisan, or the Vision, waited up- 
on and welcomed them. They were then in- 
formed, that this district was governed by a prince 
called Barnagasso, (Baharnagash, or Lord of the 
Sea), who held it under the emperor of Abyssinia ; 
and that he was desirous of an interview with them. 
They readily consented ; but considerable embar- 
rassment arose from a point of etiquette, neither 
party* chusing to make the first movement. It 
was agreed that they should meet upon the road, 
and preparations were made by the Portuguese, at 
a particular point, for commodiously receiving the 
Barnagasso. That prince, however, on hearing of 
such preparation, made a full stop, and declared, 
that, to go thither, would be equivalent to waiting 
on the Portuguese. The latter, willing to accom- 
modate the " Lord of the Sea," caused the prepa- 
rations to be carried forward almost to the point 
where he then was ; but his highness insisted, that 
the principle was still the same, and that lie would 
not stir a foot beyond his actual position. The in- 
terview seemed to be broken up, till, after long dis- 
cussion, it was determined, that the two parties, 
having come within sight of each other, should take 
their departure at the very same instant of time. 
A meeting was thus at last effected, without any 
circumstance derogatory to their respective digni- 
ties 3 and the prince then swore upon a silver cross, 
