52 TRAVELS IN ABYSSINIA* 
nately, about this time, the emperor Claudius died j 
whom, unless in the perfidy above mentioned, they 
admit to have been their steady friend, and a most 
accomplished prince. He was succeeded by his 
son Manes, who assumed the name of Adamas Se- 
gued, which he conceived honourable, from the 
illustrious ancestors by whom it had been borne. 
He little suspected that he was thus delineating 
the darkest features in his own character. A- 
damas, signifying adamant, expressed his cruelty 
and hardness of heart ; while Segued, being easily 
convertible into the Portuguese cego (blind) aptly 
illustrated his utter insensibility to the mysteries 
of the Catholic faith. Every action of his future 
life confirmed the missionaries in the soundness of 
this interpretation. His first step was to recal the 
permission which had been granted to the natives 
of Abyssinia, even those the most intimately con- 
nected with the Portuguese, to profess the Romish 
religion. He next sent for Oviedo, and, in the 
course of conversation, burst into so violent a rage, 
that he drew his sword and ran towards the mis- 
sionary, with the avowed intention of cutting off 
his head. The sword miraculously dropped from 
his hand ; but he assured the father, that unless a 
total change took place in his course of conduct, 
his life would soon be the forfeit. Oviedo was 
soon after banished to a remote and desolate moun- 
tain, where, it is said, he must have perished, but 
5 
