Storia do Mogor 111.3

111.3

These words were enough for the merchants to equip themselves for that embassy, buying slaves, male and female, for sale. As presents for the king they carried with them horses, and a mule striped naturally in various colours, so beautiful that a tiger could not be striped in a more lovely manner. I saw the skin of this mule, which died in Arabia near Mecca; and of a truth it was a wondrous thing, fit to be presented to any great ruler. Furthermore, they provided two elephant tusks, very handsome, to lift one of which four men had as much as they could do. Also they had some horns of oxen, full of civet. They forged letters wherein the King of Ethiopia demanded from the Mogul the instruments, a few books on the Mahomedan faith, and some contribution towards the restoration of a mosque founded in honour of a Darvesh, who had died in Ethiopia after coming from Mecca to preach Mahomedanism. The mosque had been destroyed by the Portuguese when they were in Ethiopia assisting the king in the suppression of a Mahomedan rebellion. The plotters then left Ethiopia on their fictitious embassy. I suppose that everyone of sober judgment will decide that this embassy was fictitious, simply from the requests entered in the letter. It is unheard of that a great king like that of Ethiopia should send to ask money to build a mosque. I am willing to admit that the King of Ethiopia might have desired books on the Mahomedan faith, and for that reason might send a request to the Mogul king.