Most Of The Soldiers And
Sailors Were Desirous Of Going With Us, Some From Real Principles Of
Piety, And A Desire Of Sharing The Labours And Merits Of The
Mission, Others Upon Motives Very Different, The Hopes Of Raising A
Fortune.
To have taken all who offered themselves would have been
an injury to the owners of the ships, by rendering them unable to
continue their voyage; we therefore accepted only of a few.
Chapter V
An account of Dancali. The conduct of Chec Furt. The author
wounded. They arrive at the court of the King of Dancali. A
description of his pavilion, and the reception they met with.
Our goods were no sooner landed than we were surrounded with a crowd
of officers, all gaping for presents; we were forced to gratify
their avarice by opening our bales, and distributing among them some
pieces of calico. What we gave to the chec might be worth about a
pistole, and the rest in proportion.
The kingdom of Dancali, to which this belongs, is barren, and thinly
peopled; the king is tributary to the Emperor of Abyssinia, and very
faithful to his sovereign. The emperor had not only written to him,
but had sent a Moor and Portuguese as his ambassadors, to secure us
a kind reception; these in their way to this prince had come through
the countries of Chumo-Salamay and Senaa, the utmost confines of
Abyssinia, and had carried thither the emperor's orders concerning
our passage.
On Ascension Day we left Baylur, having procured some camels and
asses to carry our baggage.
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