8 TRAVELS IN ABYSSINIA. 
that he would aid and favour the Portuguese to the 
utmost of his power. He was attended by two hun- 
dred footmen, with two hundred persons mounted 
on horses or mules. So favourable a reception 
encouraged them immediately to set out for the 
court of Prete Janni, (Prester John), for such is 
the appellation which Alvarez still gives to the 
Abyssinian monarch. They were attended and 
guided by Matthew, the ambassador sent by that 
prince. 
The embassy began to pass that range of high 
mountains which bars on this side the approach to 
Abyssinia. The roads are described as " high and 
* " rugged;" and the wet season having commenced, 
they were often interrupted by storms of rain 
and thunder, so terrible as obliged them to seek 
the shelter of the rocks. Formidable torrents 
were then seen pouring down the mountains ; 
but as soon as these reached the plain, they were 
soaked and dried up ; nor could our travellers 
learn, that any part of their waters entered the 
Red Sea. However, they soon entered upon a 
scene of much deeper horrors. Here the woods 
were so gloomy and terrible, " that spirits would 
" have been afraid to pass them." The mules 
refused to bear a rider, " and the camels yelled 
" as if they had been possessed with devils." Wild 
beasts walked about, without shewing the least dis- 
composure at the sight of the travellers, and ap- 
