ABSTRACT
It should be known that the most southerly territories ofthis empire are the Kingdom of Cambate, lying due south,the Kingdom of Narea to the south-west, and that of Baly to the south east. If we wish to reach the sea-coast from any of these kingdoms and travel due south from Narea or Cam bate we must traverse many hundreds of leagues without reaching it, because the land is very vast there and extends to the Cuama rivers and the Cape of Good Hope. Therefore the coast can only be found by going on a line from the north west straight to the south-east. If we go from these kingdoms it will be found only after travelling over two hundred and fifty or 300 leagues. However, any one who left the Kingdom of Baly and went in the direction I mention would, after less than a hundred leagues, meet the coast and the sea between Cape Darfui, which is nine to ten degrees, and Magadoxo, which is two, at the place the maps call the Badoes, which is about 7 degrees, continuing along the coast and descending from there to five or four. This stretch of coast is that nearest to the territories of the empire, and indeed at one time belonged to the empire as did the Kingdom of Baly, beyond which in the south-eastern direction, there cannot be more than a hundred leagues, as I was saying. These lands lying between Baly and the sea, the coast of which
sailors call ‘the desert’ is the real home and fatherland of the Gallas.
