Page:A voyage to Abyssinia (Salt).djvu/455

 No. V.

Appendix contains a translation of the accounts given by Ibn 'l Wardi and Marco Polo, respecting Abyssinia and the adjoining districts, (referred to in p. 368,) a few miscellaneous observations on Massowa, and some particulars regarding the trade of Zeyla and Mocha; to which is subjoined the sea-journal of the 6th and 7th of July, by which I have endeavoured to fix the position of Abdelcuria, and the north-west end of the Island of Socotra.

Extract from a geographical Work written in Arabic by Ibn 'l Wardi.

"Habesh.—This country is opposite to the Hejauz, and between them is the sea. Most of the natives are Christians; and it is a long and extensive country, stretching from the east to the south of Nubia. These (the Habshi,) are the people who conquered Yemen in the time of the Chosroes, before the introduction of Islamism. Their women are beautiful, and delicately made. One of their chief cities is Kāber," (An-kober, the present capital of Efat,) "which is the metropolis of the King, and in it are many banana trees. The Habesh do not eat the male of common fowls." (This last remark is so far correct, that they will not eat them after they have once crowed, owing to some singular superstition, for which they could not account.)

Zeyla is the emporium of Habesh to the south; the natives of which are a powerful people. Islamism prevails among them, and integrity in doing what is right.

"Boja, or Bujja. —These people are the merchants of Habesh to the north, their country lying between Habesh and Nuba; and they are black, naked, and worshippers of idols. Their land is divided into many petty districts. They are sociable, good, and kind to merchants: and in their country is a mine of gold. They have no towns, nor crops of corn; but their land is an extensive desert. The merchants" (probably from Egypt) "pass through it to the valley (or torrent) of Ollaki," (the modern Salaka,) "which valley has a great population of mixed people." Here he proceeds to describe the mode of collecting the sand in which the gold is found intermingled; and then adds, that "they wash it at the wells and purify it, till the gold becomes separated, when they mix it with quicksilver, and melt it in albuwatik; and this employment forms their chief support and maintenance. Many Arabs of the tribe of Rabbea Ib'n Nuzzar have connected themselves with these people, and intermarried with them."