16 
TRAVELS IN ABYSSINIA. 
above a hundred persons carried whips, which 
they continually lashed in the air, producing a 
noise which rendered all hearing impossible. As 
the embassy came within bow-shot of the impe- 
rial tent, sixty porters or macers, apparelled in 
silk, with skins of lions, and chains of gold, came 
running to meet them. They parted into two 
bands, and waited upon them at the entrance to 
the arches, where the ambassadors also halted. 
Under shadow of these arches were found the 
Betudete, or grand captain, and a priest called 
Cabeata, said to be the second person in the king- 
dom. The Cabeata came immediately from the 
tent of the Prete, and demanded whence they 
came. They answered, that they came on an em- 
bassy from the Captain General of India, under 
the king of Portugal. The Cabeata went to the 
Prete, and returned three times with the very 
same question, to which the same answer was 
always returned. At last he invited them to say 
what it was they wanted. The ambassador re- 
plied only by a compliment, importing that they 
kissed his majesty's hand, and felt great satisfac- 
tion at being the first Europeans who had visited 
him. The priest soon returned, saying, that they 
were welcome, and might go home to their lodg- 
ing. Nothing was seen of the Prete at this in- 
terview. 
As the embassy left the palace, a band of 
