Scribal note in Kebra Nagast (The Glory of the Kings)(end 15^th-begin 16^th)

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The Kebra Nagast or The Glory of the Kings, is a 14th-century national epic account written in Ge'ez by Is'haq Nebura -Id of Axum. The text, is at least 700 years old. In it the genealogy of the Solomonic dynasty, which followed the Ethiopian Orthodox Church. What is important for us is that in a late 15^th century copy there is a note added about the boundaries of Ethiopia and there Sofala is mentioned.

Taken from : Chez la Reine de Saba: Chronique Éthiopienne By Hugues Le Roux, Ligaran,

(and the end of the story of the Queen of Sheba)

And the limits of the Provinces of Ethiopia were as follows:

Eastward the first of his estates was Gaza in Judea and a dependence of Jerusalem; It was towards the sea Iarico (1);

it ran along the sea to Lebanon and to Soba (2). It came down to Bississe (Bisis) and Asnet. It went into the land of Negroes

who go naked. It plunged into the land of Kebereneouonion (Kebereneyon), to the House of Darkness, that is to say, until sunset.

Its tip reached Feneel and Sofala (3); it approached the vicinity of the Earthly Paradise, where there is grazing and many

animals. And in Finekenet it went up to Zaoul (Zawel). It exceeded the Sea of India, it pushed to the sea of Terces (4). Its limit

was in the country of Medyam (5) until it joined the country from Gaza. And the border returned to where it had started.

Such was the Kingdom of the King from Ethiopia, for him and his descendants, in Eternity.

(1) sea Iarico: Jericho close to the Dead Sea.

(2) Soba: in the Biqa (Beqaa) valley (in eastern Lebanon).

(3) Sofala: Close to Beira (Mozambique).

(4) sea of Terces: According to Rashi, a medieval rabbi, it is the Tarshish Sea of Africa (southern Mediterranean).

(5) Medyam: maybe Media is a region of north-western Iran, best known for having been the political and cultural base of the Medes.