Alvarez's narrative. 
7 
a fleputation of friars from a neighbouring monas- ^ 
tery, called Bisan, or the Vision, waited upon and 
welcomed them. They were then informed, that 
this district was governed by a prince called Bar- 
nagasso, (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 embarrass- 
ment arose from a point of etiquette, which made 
it appear dishonourable for either party to make 
the first movement to meet the other. It was 
agreed that the interview should take place upon 
the road, and preparations were made by the Por- 
tuguese, at a particular point, for commodiously 
receiving the Barnagasso. That prince, however, 
on hearing of such preparation, made a full stop, 
declaring, that in going thither, he might be con- 
sidered as waiting on the Portuguese. The lat- 
ter, willing to accommodate the " Lord of the 
" Sea," caused the preparations to be carried for- 
ward almost to the point where he then was ; but 
his highness insisted, that the principle was still 
the same, and that he would not stir a foot beyond 
his actual position. The interview seemed to be 
broken up, till, after long discussion, it was deter- 
mined, that the two parties, having come within 
sight of each other, should take their departure at 
the very same instant of time. A meetinij was 
thus at last effected, without any circumstance 
