TRAVELS IN ABYSSINIA. 
27 
of them. To the south-west lay a Christian king- 
dom, called Oggi, the sovereign of which is tri- 
butary to Abyssinia, and received them kindly. 
This prince had a force of 5000 cavalry, 600 of 
whom rode on steeds harnessed with elk skins, the 
rest on the bare horse. Beyond them were the 
Goragues, a people entirely heathen, and among 
whom all affairs were transacted by divination from 
the entrails of beasts. The king's tribute is paid 
. chiefly in gold ; they pay two lions, three whelps, 
and some hens and chickens, composed of that 
metal. The people reported that white men came 
to trade with them, but they knew not who, or 
from whence. 
Bermudez mentions Damut, Gojam, and the 
head of the Nile ; but his account differs in no 
material degree from that of other travellers. Be- 
yond Damut, however, he describes a territory 
called Couche. The king was called Axgagce, or 
Lord of Riches, a title justified by the profusion 
of gold to be found in his country. He paid al- 
legiance to the king of Abyssinia, but on the con- 
dition of never entering his territory without his 
consent. This country is separated from Abyssi- 
nia by a broad river, over which he would never 
allow a bridge to be built, lest it should cease to 
be a barrier of his dominions. His army consist* 
ed of 20,000 foot and 10,000 horse, for the use 
of whom he carried constantly in the camp a 
