MOCHA. 
477 
tlie reigning Queen-mother or Itegh^ was induced to send 
Matthew, an Armenian, as her ambassador to Portugal, for the 
purpose of opening a direct communication with that country.* 
The arrival of this mission produced a strong impression in 
Europe respecting Abyssinia, and in return an embassy was 
sent back with Matthew, consisting of several Portuguese gen- 
tlemen of different professions, which, after many unforeseen dif- 
ficulties and considerable delay, arrived safely, in 1520, at 
Massowa. A very interesting narrative of the transactions which 
occurred during its stay in Abyssinia was subsequently pub- 
lished by Francis Alvarez, secretary and chaplain to the mission, 
and the detail of a journey through Tigre, Lasta, aud Amhara, 
which he has there introduced, contains much geographical and 
other valuable information. f After staying six years in the 
country, Alvarez and his companions (with the exception of two, 
named P. Andrad, and J. Bermudez) returned to Europe, bear- 
ing letters from the Emperor David to King John of Portugal, 
accompanied by a native of the country, Zaga Zabo, whose 
arrival induced the Church of Rome to entertain sanguine hopes 
* An account of this embassy is given in Legatio Magni Indorum presb: Joan: ad 
Emanuel Lusitanise, Anno, 1513, by Damiana Goez. (Antwerp, 1552,) which appears 
to be very fairly drawn up, though his information is far from correct. 
"f* Vide Alvarez (Fian.) Verdadeira Informcam das terras do preste Joam das Indias, 
Lixb. 1540, fol. (British Museum.) His narrative is to be found also in the " Viaggi" 
0f Ramusio, L. i. p. 189, who translated it from a Portuguese manuscript, sent to him 
by Damiana of Goez, which differs from that published at Lisbon, and is considered as 
in some respects superior to it. The ground plans of the excavated churches are wanting 
in the Lisbon edition. I have myself a French edition translated from Ramusio, pub- 
lished at Antwerp, 1558, and I have seen a Spanish copy of the same : an English epi- 
tome of it is given in Purchas, (Part IL) 1026. 
