50 
TRAVELS IN ABYSSINIA. 
it inexpedient to hazard his own valuable person, 
and sent forward a secondary character called 
Oviedo, with some priests of inferior rank. Ovie- 
do arrived in perfect safety at Arkeeko, whence 
he proceeded to Dobarwa, and was heartily wel- 
comed by his countrymen there resident. He 
then set out for the court, but was long detained 
on the road by the multitude of his countrymen, 
who crowded to him for the purpose of confession. 
At length he arrived at the array of the emperor 
Claudius ; where he met with the most friendly 
reception. A body of the most distinguished 
courtiers soon waited on him, announcing the em- 
peror's wish to grant him an audience. He was 
received accordingly with great pomp and courte- 
sy, and though, on the reading of the letter which 
announced the object of the embassy, the em- 
peror's countenance suffered some change, he 
soon recovered perfect composure. The mis- 
sionary, however, having obtained a private au- 
dience, represented to him the enormous errors 
under which he laboured, and called upon him to 
consider the obligation under which he and his 
kingdom lay, to pay their whole spiritual obe- 
dience to the successor of St Peter. The king 
replied, that he was exceedingly well inclined to 
the Portuguese ; that he would grant them lands 
and settlements to the utmost extent of their 
wishes 5 that they were at perfect liberty to exer- 
