poncet's journey* 
7S 
It was celebrated with a profuse display of world- 
ly pomp. Twelve thousand men were drawn up 
in the court of the palace, through whom the 
emperor marched in his most splendid attire, pre- 
ceded by the sound of fifes, kettle-drums, trum- 
pets, hautboys, and other instruments. His 
ci'own, adorned with a cross of jewels, was car- 
ried before him, and his led horses, covered with 
immensely rich trappings, closed the procession. 
On the entrance into the church two cannons 
were fired, and two more when the sacrament 
was administered. The emperor dined that day 
in public. Our traveller's account of the dishes 
coincides precisely with that of Lobo, with the 
addition, that every thing which the monarch 
eats h preyiously tasted. A little brandy, fol- 
lowed by mead, were the only liquors used by 
him. Poncet was surprised at the absence of 
wine, considering the admirable grapes which 
the country produced. He was told, however, 
that the heat prevented wine from keeping ; and, 
on tasting the mead, he found it delicious, though 
not very salutary to the stomach. 
Gondar is three or four leagues in circumfe- 
rence, and contains a hundred churches. It ex- 
hibits nothing, however, of the splendour of an 
European city. The houses are only one story 
high, and there are no shops. The trade, which 
is extensive, is carried on in a vast open space^ 
