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Narrative of the Portuguese embassy to Abyssinia during the years 1520-1527 — John Shaqi

Narrative of the Portuguese embassy to Abyssinia during the years 1520-1527Alvares, Francisco

History

Narrative of the Portuguese embassy to Abyssinia during the years 1520-1527

Name: Narrative of the Portuguese embassy to Abyssinia during the years 1520-1527
Author: Alvares, Francisco

Alvares, Francisco

Ethiopia -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800; Ethiopia -- Foreign relations -- Portugal; Lebna-Dengel, Emperor of Ethiopia, active 1508-1540; Portugal -- Foreign relations -- Ethiopia

NARRATIVE

                                OF THE

                          PORTUGUESE EMBASSY

                                  TO

                               ABYSSINIA

                      DURING THE YEARS 1520–1527.

                                  BY
                       FATHER FRANCISCO ALVAREZ.

                    TRANSLATED FROM THE PORTUGUESE,

                              AND EDITED,

                    With Notes and an Introduction,

                                  BY
                       LORD STANLEY OF ALDERLEY.

                                LONDON:
                   PRINTED FOR THE HAKLUYT SOCIETY.

                              MDCCCLXXXI.

             T. RICHARDS, PRINTER, 37, GREAT QUEEN STREET.

                            WORKS ISSUED BY

                         The Hakluyt Society.

                      NARRATIVE OF THE PORTUGUESE
                         EMBASSY TO ABYSSINIA.

                               No. LXIV.

                                COUNCIL

                                  OF

                         THE HAKLUYT SOCIETY.

    COLONEL H. YULE, C.B., PRESIDENT.
    ADMIRAL C. R. DRINKWATER BETHUNE, C.B.    } VICE-PRESIDENTS.
    MAJOR-GENERAL SIR HENRY RAWLINSON, K.C.B. }
    W. A. TYSSEN AMHERST, ESQ., M.P.
    REV. G. P. BADGER, D.C.L.
    J. BARROW, ESQ.
    WALTER DE GRAY BIRCH, ESQ.
    E. A. BOND, ESQ.
    E. H. BUNBURY, ESQ.
    ADMIRAL SIR R. COLLINSON, K.C.B.
    THE EARL OF DUCIE.
    AUGUSTUS W. FRANKS, ESQ.
    CAPTAIN HANKEY, R.N.
    LIEUT.-GENERAL. SIR J. HENRY LEFROY, C.B., K.C.M.G.
    R. H. MAJOR, ESQ.
    REAR-ADMIRAL MAYNE, C.B.
    DELMAR MORGAN, ESQ.
    ADMIRAL SIR ERASMUS OMMANNEY, C.B.
    LORD ARTHUR RUSSELL, M.P.
    THE LORD STANLEY OF ALDERLEY.
    EDWARD THOMAS, ESQ.
    LIEUT.-GENERAL SIR HENRY THUILLIER, C.S.I.

    CLEMENTS R. MARKHAM. C.B., HONORARY SECRETARY.

                             INTRODUCTION.

The present work on Abyssinia is the earliest extant; for though Pedro
de Covilham, the explorer of King John II, who was despatched from
Portugal in May 1487, reached Abyssinia more than thirty years before
our author, he does not appear to have left any written memorial of his
long residence in that country.

This work of Francisco Alvarez has been translated from the original
edition printed in black letter by Luis Rodriguez, bookseller of the
King, on the 22nd October 1540, the _British Museum Catalogue_
supposes at Coimbra.

The narrative of Alvarez has been translated into several languages,
but most of these translations are considerably abridged. The following
are a list of the translations:--

    “Viaggio fatta nella Ethiopia, Obedienza data a Papa Clemente
    Settimo in nome del Prete Gianni.” Primo Volume delle
    navigazione. 1550. Fol.

    “Viaggio nella Ethiopia, Ramusio.” 1 vol. 1554.

    “Description de l’Ethiopie.” 1556. Fol.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

Narrative of the Portuguese embassy to Abyssinia during the years 1520-1527

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