Alvarez's narrative. 
19 
afraid of the Portuguese, or the Portuguese of 
them ? The ambassador assured him, that faith 
in their reHgion rendered them quite superior to 
all dread of the Moors ; an assertion to which 
the monarch returned somewhat of a sceptical 
answer. 
Soon after there was a long conference, and 
much discussion concerning the respective tenets 
of the Romish and Abyssinian churches. The 
emperor made a firm stand for the marriage of the 
priesthood, and seems to have seriously puzzled 
the ambassador, by quoting decrees of councils 
to that effect, of which the latter was obhged to 
confess his total ignorance. The interview, how- 
ever, passed amicably, and after several similar 
discussions, the Prete determined to admit them 
to the high honour of a view of his person. On 
the evening of the 19th of November, they went 
to the first gate, where they were detained for a 
long time, till the night was nearly spent. Then, 
after many ceremonies, they were brought in view 
of the first curtains. These being raised, they 
discovered other curtains richer still ; and behind 
them thrones covered with splendid tapestry. 
Behind the thrones were curtains, richer than 
any of those formerly seen ; which being raised, 
they at length beheld the Prete Jannu The mo- 
narch was seated on a scaffold, ascended by six 
steps. He had on his head a crown of gold and 
