^0 
TRAVELS IN ABYSSINIA. 
silver, with a silver cross in his hand ; and wore 
a rich dress of silk and gold. He was young, 
not above twenty -three, of low stature, not quite 
black, but of the colour of ruddy apples." 
The letters of the Captain-General of India were 
then presented ; and, being translated, were gra- 
ciously read, though a wish was expressed that 
they had come from the king of Portugal himself. 
Points of divinity were then agitated, and the 
Prete put the question, Whether, if the Pope 
should order things contrary to the precepts of 
the apostles, they would think themselves justifi- 
ed in obeying him ? The Portuguese evaded the 
question ; but his majesty assured them, that, if 
the Abuna should give any such orders, they 
would never hesitate to prefer the apostolic au- 
thority. 
Two days after, when the ambassadors liad 
gone to bed, they were awaked by an order to 
attend upon the Prete. They were introduced 
with the usual ceremonies, when, after some con- 
versation, the Prete announced that permission 
was granted them to leave Abyssinia and return 
to Portugal. 
Immediately after this interview the king be- 
gan a journey, in which he was accompanied by 
the embassy. They came to a great monastery, 
called Machan Celacen, or the Trinity, where 
they had an opportunity of witnessing the most 
