_ 362 _ Harqiqo(A) and Baroa,(B) a Mediterranean city of Abyssinia, were occupied by Turks who wished to conquer the remainder of Ethiopia. God Our Lord had wished that they should be defeated by Prester John and the Portuguese whom he had with him. The land was made secure(C). But not the sea since the Turks who survived the defeat retreated to an island in the Red Sea(D) where they are now. Because of this, and also because another powerful Turkish captain(E) is in the port of Moka.(F) Which lies on the Red Sea, with six or seven galleys, it is impossible for us to sail in our ships this year. Also it is necessary for an armada to go with the Father Patriarch which will cost 6000 escudos.(G) (A) The port of Arkiko (Harqiqo) in the Red Sea (cf v. gr. Mohit, tab IX). (B) Debaroa (otherwise Baroa), a town on the Tigris. (C) But the general Galawdewos himself fell on 23 March 1559 in a battle against the mahommedan Nur (cf Beccari X 150-51 171). (D) The island and port of Massaua (Beccari x 102 219). (E) Moka, the Arabian port not far from the strait of Bab el Mandel (v Mohit, tab XII). (F) Probably Sophar (otherwise Cafar), a most brave Turkish commander (cf Couto, Dec VII, lib 1, ct; Beccari X 108-10 114). (G) Bishop Ambrosius Buttigeg OP thought in 1556 that the same could be done in Ethiopia without any cost to the kingdom (cf Wicki, Zur Orientreise des papst[ichen Nuntius Ambrosius Buttigeg OP 1553-56, 371).
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