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Full download Advanced Financial Accounting 7th Edition Beechy Test Bank all chapter 2024 pdf
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Beechy, Trivedi, MacAulay Advanced Financial Accounting, Seventh Edition
Chapter 7 Segment and Interim Reporting
5) At least 75% of an organization's consolidated external revenues are disclosed by separate operating
segments. The remaining segments do not meet any of the reportable segment thresholds. Which of the
following is true about the remaining segments?
A) They must still be reported as separate segments.
B) They can be combined only if they have similar economic characteristics.
C) They can be combined only if the segments are horizontally or vertically integrated.
D) They can be combined and classified as "other."
Answer: D
Page Ref: 367-369
Learning Obj.: 7.1
Difficulty: Moderate
11) The following information on sales is available for the company's three operating segments:
12) The following information on sales and operating profit is available for the company's three operating
segments (in 000s):
14) There is certain information that reportable segments are required to disclose only if that information
is regularly reviewed by the chief operating decision-maker. Which of the following must be disclosed
even if it is not regularly reviewed by the chief operating decision-maker?
A) Measure of profit/loss
B) Amortization and depreciation
C) Income tax expense/benefit
D) Interest revenue and expense
Answer: A
Page Ref: 371-372
Learning Obj.: 7.2
Difficulty: Moderate
15) Under IFRS 8, certain reconciliations, such as total reportable segment revenues to the entity's
revenues, are required. Why are these reconciliations required?
A) To prove that the consolidated financial statements balance
B) To ensure that all reportable segments have been identified
C) To show the relative contribution of each segment to the total
D) To show how reportable segments were identified
Answer: C
Page Ref: 372
Learning Obj.: 7.2
Difficulty: Moderate
16) IFRS 8 requires the disclosure of certain key information such as an organization's major customers
and geographic areas of operations. Why are these disclosures required?
A) To demonstrate that the chief operating decision-maker has made prudent decisions
B) To allow users to assess potential business risks
C) To provide sufficient information to creditors
D) To allow users to see that the poor performance of one segment is usually offset by the good
performance of other segments
Answer: B
Page Ref: 371-372
Learning Obj.: 7.2
Difficulty: Moderate
B)
Sales to single customers that
Breakdown between domestic had more than 10% of
and foreign non-current assets company's revenues
Yes No
C)
Sales to single customers that
Breakdown between domestic had more than 10% of
and foreign non-current assets company's revenues
No Yes
D)
Sales to single customers that
Breakdown between domestic had more than 10% of
and foreign non-current assets company's revenues
No No
Answer: A
Page Ref: 371-372
Learning Obj.: 7.2
Difficulty: Moderate
20) Which of the following statements about interim financial statements for public companies is true?
A) Interim financial statements must be audited.
B) Interim financial statements should be in a format consistent with the year-end financial statements.
C) Interim financial statements must have the same level of detail as the annual financial statements.
D) Interim financial statements do not have to be in full compliance with IFRS.
Answer: B
Page Ref: 379
Learning Obj.: 7.3
Difficulty: Moderate
21) With respect to interim financial statements, which of the following is not dictated by IFRS?
A) Content
B) Identification of recognition principles
C) Identification of measurement principles
D) Frequency of preparation
Answer: D
Page Ref: 380
Learning Obj.: 7.3
Difficulty: Easy
22) Which of the following is not included among requirements for interim financial reports for public
companies?
A) Statement of comprehensive income
B) Statement of financial position
C) Statement of cash flows
D) Summary of significant accounting policies
Answer: D
Page Ref: 380-381
Learning Obj.: 7.3
Difficulty: Moderate
23) Rules for interim reporting require that comparative information be presented. What comparative
information should the current statement of financial position include?
A) The same quarter, last year
B) The immediate preceding quarter
C) The year end, last year
D) As budgeted for the period
Answer: C
Page Ref: 380-381
Learning Obj.: 7.3
Difficulty: Difficult
24) Yang Ltd. will issue interim financial statements for its second quarter. Which statement(s) must
report details of the second quarter as well as for the year to date?
A) Statement of comprehensive income only
B) Statement of changes in equity only
C) Statement of comprehensive income and statement of changes in equity only
D) Statement of comprehensive income, statement of changes in equity, and statement of cash flows only
Answer: A
Page Ref: 380-381
Learning Obj.: 7.3
Difficulty: Easy
25) What is the difference between the way taxes are treated under the discreet approach and under the
integral approach?
A) Under the discreet approach, taxes are estimated by applying an average tax rate to pre-tax interim net
income, but taxes are calculated separately for each interim period under the integral approach.
B) Under the integral approach, taxes are estimated by applying an average tax rate to pre-tax interim net
income, but taxes are calculated separately for each interim period under the discreet approach.
C) Under the discreet approach, taxes are recognized as they are incurred and paid, but under the
integral approach, taxes are estimated by applying an average tax rate to pre-tax interim net income.
D) Under the integral approach, taxes are recognized as they are incurred and paid, but under the
discreet approach, taxes are estimated by applying an average tax rate to pre-tax interim net income.
Answer: B
Page Ref: 383-384
Learning Obj.: 7.4
Difficulty: Moderate
26) During the first quarter of the company's fiscal year, HA Inc. paid $100,000 to an arbitrator, who
assisted in negotiating an end to a strike by factory workers, and $200,000 for annual property taxes. How
much of these costs should be expensed in the first quarter under the discreet approach and under the
integral approach?
A)
Discreet Integral
$400,000 $100,000
B)
Discreet Integral
$150,000 $150,000
C)
Discreet Integral
$150,000 $100,000
D)
Discreet Integral
$100,000 $150,000
Answer: B
Page Ref: 383-384
Learning Obj.: 7.4
Difficulty: Difficult
27) When can benefits of an income tax loss in an interim period not be recognized in that period?
A) If the loss will be offset by taxable income later in that year
B) If the loss can be used as a loss carryback
C) If it is more likely than not that a tax loss carryforward benefit will be realized
D) If the loss occurs in the first interim period
Answer: D
Page Ref: 385-386
Learning Obj.: 7.5
Difficulty: Moderate
28) In practice, most companies use the discreet approach in preparing their internal interim financial
statements. Which of the following costs is usually not included in the financial statements?
A) Insurance
B) Income taxes
C) Maintenance
D) Bonuses to employees
Answer: B
Page Ref: 384
Learning Obj.: 7.4
Difficulty: Moderate
29) Under IAS 34, which of the following costs is not viewed as a constructive obligation?
A) Contingent lease payments in excess of a contractual base amount
B) Year-end bonuses
C) Quantity discounts or rebates
D) Maintenance costs
Answer: D
Page Ref: 385
Learning Obj.: 7.5
Difficulty: Moderate
30) The recommendation for interim income tax expense requires the use of which of the following rates
in the first quarter?
A) Estimated average
B) Marginal
C) Applicable progressive
D) Loss carryforward
Answer: A
Page Ref: 385
Learning Obj.: 7.5
Difficulty: Moderate
31) In Canada and the United States, at a minimum, how often are interim financial statements required
to be issued?
A) Monthly
B) Bi-monthly
C) Quarterly
D) Semi-annually
Answer: C
Page Ref: 389
Learning Obj.: 7.3
Difficulty: Easy
32) The Alfred Company has operations in several international regions. These regions reported the
following information:
Which of these segments are reportable? Fully document all supporting calculations.
Answer:
Revenue test
Threshold $12,800 × 10% = $1,280
Reportable segments A, B, D, E
Profits test
Threshold $1,100 × 10% = $110
Reportable segments A, B, C, D
Assets test
Threshold $29,800 × 10% = $2,980
Reportable segments A, B, D
Therefore, all segments must be reported separately as each segment qualifies under one or more of the
threshold tests.
Page Ref: 367-369
Learning Obj.: 7.1
Difficulty: Moderate
33) Ravens Inc. sells office furniture, including desks, chairs, partitioning walls, and office supplies, in
more than six countries. The company is publicly traded and files annual statements with the securities
regulator. The following information was provided by the controller for the most recent year ended
December 31, 20X9.
Revenues
(in millions)
Desks $75
Chairs 40
Partitions 115
Office supplies 10
$240
Canada $75
United States 109
Australia 30
Europe 15
Asia 11
$240
Required:
Explain the nature of the disclosures that would be required by Ravens.
Answer: Ravens Inc. is a public company and must report segmented information as required by IFRS 8.
For entity-wide disclosures, public companies must disclose key information on types of products and
services sold, even if these do not qualify as separate reportable segments. Ravens would then have to
disclose the four types of revenues. In addition, companies are required to break down revenues by each
material geographic segment. For geographic segments, if revenues are material, they should be disclosed
separately. If we assume that 10% of revenue is material, then Canada, the United States, and Australia
must be disclosed separately. For reportable segments where additional information would be required,
(using the 10% of revenue threshold, which is $24 million), the segments for desk, chairs, and partitions
must be disclosed separately. For these segments, information related to revenues, expenses, assets, and
liabilities must be disclosed.
Page Ref: 367-372
Learning Obj.: 7.1, 7.2
Difficulty: Moderate
34) The controller of Getaway Corporation has prepared and summarized the following information for
her company (all in millions of $):
Inter-segment Operating
External sales sales profit (loss) Total assets
Hotels 975 89 1,050
Car rentals 512 65 642
Guided tours 205 (25) 221
Bus tours 173 100 11 250
Cruises 98 50 (15) 95
Total 1,963 150 125 2,258
Required:
Identify which segments are reportable. Also discuss any ethical issues related to reporting of segmented
information.
Based on total profits, the threshold is 10% of $165 ($89 + $65 + $11), which is $16.50. Hotels, car rentals,
and guided tours are reportable segments based on the profit threshold test.
Based on the asset threshold test, any segment with assets of $226 is reportable. Based on this test, only
the hotels, car rentals, and bus tour segments are reportable.
Based on the above analysis hotels, car rentals, guided tours, and bus tours are reportable.
From an ethical perspective, companies may attempt to hide poor operating results by combining
segments. It is up to management to define the segments, which could be based on products, services,
geographies, or customers. It may be that segregation by products/services would show some segments
to show losses and some profits. On the other hand, segmentation by customer type (business and
residential, for example) might report all segments being profitable, which would provide a more
favourable picture.
Page Ref: 364-369
Learning Obj.: 7.1
Difficulty: Moderate
35) Explain what an operating segment is. For each of the examples below, determine what operating
segments the company has and why.
a. A beverage company sells beer, wine, and bottled water. The beer and wine are sold through liquor
store outlets and directly to restaurants. The bottled water is sold to retailers.
b. A company sells leather apparel. The company designs, manufactures, and retails these goods
through its own retail outlets. There are primarily three divisions: (1) designing and sourcing and
purchasing various raw materials; (2) manufacturing; and (3) distribution and retail. The design and raw
materials flow through to the manufacturing division. All output of the manufacturing division is
transferred to the distribution and retail division. Only the distribution and retail division has external
revenues. The other divisions have internal revenues only.
c. A drug company researches, manufactures, and distributes its drugs to pharmacies and hospitals in
Canada, the United States, and Australia. It currently manufactures three drugs. Two of these drugs treat
diabetes, and one drug is used to treat arthritic pain. The company has a fourth drug that is in phase three
of the research process, awaiting final approval. This drug will also be used to treat pain, but mainly
headache pain.
Answer: An operating segment is defined as having three criteria as outlined in IFRS 8:
1. It is a component of the enterprise that is expected to generate revenues and incur costs.
2. Discreet financial information is regularly available through the company's accounting system.
3. The business component's operating results are regularly reviewed by the chief operating decision-
maker.
First of all, we assume that all the divisions have discreet financial information available that is regularly
reviewed by the chief operating decision maker.
a. Beer and wine and bottled water could be seen as three separate operating segments, having separate
managers and being distinct products. On the other hand, beer and wine are sold in the same markets to
the same type of customer and could be grouped as alcoholic beverages. Bottled water would then be a
separate operating segment.
b. For the leather apparel company, there are three divisions, but all the output is sold by the
distribution and retail division. There are no materials bought from external suppliers by the
manufacturing or the distribution and retail division. Although each division does generate revenues and
expenses, it is likely that they would all be aggregated together as a single vertically integrated segment,
rather than as three separate segments.
c. The company currently has four products, three of which produce revenue and one that is expected
to generate revenue. So based on product lines, the company would possibly identify four segments.
However, based on the type of disease that these products are marketed to, there are two segments–
diabetes and pain; or three segments–diabetes, arthritic pain, and headache pain. A final segmentation
would be based on geographic markets: Canada, the United States, and Australia. The final
determination of which segments to report would be based on how the assessment of the chief operating
decision-maker.
Page Ref: 364-365
Learning Obj.: 7.1
Difficulty: Difficult
36) Explain what entity-wide disclosures are required by a public company. Why is this disclosure
required under IFRS 8, and how is this information useful?
Answer: Entity-wide disclosures are required to provide the user with information to assess the nature
and financial results of the various principal activities that the company is involved in, as well as the
business risks inherent in those activities. Business risk is dependent on the types of products and
services that a company sells, as different products and services may be impacted by commodity prices,
competitive pressures, and economic conditions. Specifically, the geographic areas in which companies
operate impact foreign exchange rate risk, political risk, and inflationary risk. Another major risk is the
extent to which an enterprise is dependent upon a few customers. Users need to know how reliant the
company is on a few customers in order to assess customer risk and credit risk. Therefore, entity-wide
disclosures are required on products and services that are sold, geographic areas that the company
operates in, and any major customers.
1. Disclosure of the revenues for each segment's product and services is required.
2. For each geographic area, companies must disclose:
• revenues from external customers in foreign countries;
• revenues from external customers in the company's home country;
• non-current assets located in foreign countries; and
• non-current assets located in the company's home country.
Where the revenues or assets in an individual foreign country are material, they must be disclosed
separately.
3. Finally, where a single customer represents 10% or more of the total revenues of the company, this
fact and the related amounts of revenue must be disclosed. The name of the customer is not required.
Customers under common control are treated as a single customer.
Page Ref: 371-372
Learning Obj.: 7.2
Difficulty: Moderate
37) HB Company is a private company with a significant amount of long-term debt. The company reports
under IFRS. One of the conditions of the debt-financing indenture is that it must provide quarterly
financial statements to the lender. HB pays tax at the rate of 20% on the first $200,000 of income and 40%
on any income in excess of $200,000. During 20X5, the company earned $500,000 and paid tax at an
average rate of 32%. Similar results were expected for 20X6.
HB realized the following actual results for the year ended December 31, 20X6 (in thousands):
Required:
Calculate income tax expense (recovery) for each quarter in 20X6 and for the year in total under the:
a. discreet approach
b. integral approach
Answer:
a. Discreet approach (in thousands)
200 20% 40
350 40% 140
550 180
38) Blue Sky Inc. (BSI) is a public company that is required to file interim statements on a quarterly basis.
BSI has a loss carryforward available of $150,000, which has not been recognized as a deferred tax asset.
In the first interim period, the company earns $80,000, and it is expected that it will earn the following
amounts in each of the next three quarters: $50,000 in quarter two, $170,000 in quarter three, and $200,000
in quarter four. The company pays a tax rate of 30%, excluding any loss carryforwards.
Required:
Calculate the tax expense for each interim period assuming that the company follows the requirements of
IAS 34.
Answer: The amount of tax expected to be paid for the year, using the loss carryforward, is:
((80,000 + 50,000 + 170,000 + 200,000) - 150,000) × 30% =
($500,000 - 150,000) × 30% = $105,000.
The average tax rate is then calculated to be 105,000 / 500,000 = 21%.
39) Under IAS 34, companies generally should use the discreet approach for interim reporting. However,
IAS 34 outlines exceptions to this rule. Explain what these exceptions are and how they are treated in
interim reports. What argument does IAS 34 provide for this treatment?
Answer: IAS 34 specifically discusses year-end bonuses, customer/purchaser rebates, contingent rents,
employer payroll taxes, and income taxes as exceptions to the discreet approach. The guidance is to use
the integral approach for these types of costs. The argument is that these types of expenses give rise to
constructive obligations and therefore should be recorded as the obligation arises in each interim period.
Companies should estimate or project what these costs might be for the entire year and then accrue the
costs in the interim period.
1. Year-end bonuses: These bonuses are accrued in each interim period provided there is a legal or
constructive obligation to pay and a reliable estimate can be made.
2. Customer volume rebates: If the required level of sales to the customer is expected to be achieved by
the end of the year, and the rebate is probable, then the volume rebates should be accrued in each interim
period. Similar treatment can be used by the purchaser who has earned the rebate and therefore accrues
the receivable as purchases are made in each interim period.
3. Contingent lease payments: If the required level of sales is expected to be achieved over the year, then
the lease payment obligation should be accrued in each interim period as the sales are recognized.
4. Income taxes: The interim income tax expense should be determined using the estimated average
effective income tax rate.
5. Employer payroll taxes: Payroll taxes for employees change depending on the level of wages paid. As
a result, the company estimates the taxes based on a full year's compensation.
Page Ref: 385-386
Learning Obj.: 7.5
Difficulty: Moderate
Copyright © 2014 Pearson Canada Inc.
7-17
Beechy, Trivedi, MacAulay Advanced Financial Accounting, Seventh Edition
Chapter 7 Segment and Interim Reporting
40) Sharst Link Company (SLC) is a public company and must file interim statements. SLC experienced
the following events during the third quarter of 20X9:
1. A large marketing plan was rolled out for a new product costing $9,000,000. The plan is expected to
drive sales for the next four quarters.
2. A lawsuit was settled and the company must pay $15 million within the next 90 days. There was no
payment made by the end of the third quarter. In previous quarters, there was no provision made for this
settlement since it was determined to be not probable.
3. Goodwill was tested for impairment and determined to have an impairment loss of $10 million.
4. In the previous interim period, due to a significant drop in the selling price of the inventory, the
inventory was written down to its net realizable value of $9 million from a cost of $10 million. In this
quarter, the inventory is still on hand and the circumstances have again changed, resulting in the net
realizable value increasing to $12 million.
5. Customers earn volume rebates when annual sales volumes exceed $6 million. This is a contractual
agreement that the company has made to pay rebates of 4% on total sales for the year once the amount of
$6 million is achieved. Currently, there were sales of $2 million to one customer for the quarter. In each of
the previous quarters, sales of $1.5 million had been made to this customer. It is expected that sales of $2
million will be made in quarter four to this customer also.
Required:
For each event, indicate the impact on the interim statement for the third quarter using the guidance
required by IAS 34.
Answer: The discussion below outlines the treatment of each event required under IAS 34:
1. The large marketing plan is a cost of the interim period and cannot be deferred and spread over
future periods. Therefore, a marketing cost of $9 million will show in the expenses in the third interim
period.
2. The settlement of the lawsuit is a cost of the current period and will be recognized as a liability since
it has not yet been paid. The cost of $15 million will show as a cost in the third quarter.
3. The goodwill impairment loss must be recorded in the interim period when it arises. Therefore, an
impairment loss of $10 million is recognized in quarter three.
4. The inventory impairment from the second interim period may be reversed in the third interim
period. So there will be a reversal of the impairment loss of $1 million recognized in the third interim
period.
5. Since the customer rebates are contractual, they can be estimated and accrued in each interim period
if it is likely that the rebates will be paid. In this case, the sales in the first three interim periods total $5
million. It is expected that another $2 million of sales will be made to this customer in the fourth interim
period. Consequently, a liability for the rebate $80,000 on the current sales of $2 million should be
recognized. This assumes that the liability has also been recognized in the previous interim statements. If
this is not the case, then the total liability accrued to date of $200,000 (4% × $5 million) should be
recognized.
Page Ref: 382-386
Learning Obj.: 7.5
Difficulty: Moderate
41) Sparky Limited (SPL) is a public company and must file interim statements. SPL experienced the
following events during the second quarter of 20X11:
1. In the first quarter, an impairment loss on goodwill was recognized in the amount of $5 million. The
circumstances leading to this loss have now changed, and the value of the goodwill is once again above
its original cost.
2. During the second quarter, the company shut down its manufacturing plant for annual maintenance.
The annual maintenance costs totalled $7.5 million in the quarter.
3. As per a lease agreement, the company must pay additional rent charged at 3% of sales if annual sales
are greater than $12 million. The contingent rent is payable on the total annual sales. The company
reported sales in the first quarter related to this leased location of $3 million, and in the second quarter
sales totalled $4 million. It is expected that sales for the third and fourth quarters will be $5 million and $3
million, respectively.
4. The company made a large sale to a new customer for $6 million. This sale relates to a contract of
services that will be provided over the next nine months, which commences in the first month of the
second interim period.
Required:
For each event, indicate the impact on the interim statement for the second quarter using the guidance
required by IAS 34.
Answer: The discussion below outlines the treatment of each event required under IAS 34:
1. Impairment losses on goodwill cannot be reversed. Even though the reversal takes place in the next
interim period, and within the same annual period, the loss cannot be reversed. The impairment loss is
treated in the same way as though the interim period was a year-end. Therefore, there is no impact of this
event in the second interim period.
2. Annual maintenance is expensed in the interim period in which it occurs. It cannot be deferred since
it does not meet the definition of an asset at the interim period report date. In this case, the maintenance
costs of $7.5 million will be reported in the second interim period.
3. Contingent rents are accrued if the required sales level is expected to be achieved. In this interim
period, a contingent rent cost and liability will be recognized of $120,000 ($4 million × 3%). This assumes
that the contingent rent liability was also recognized in the first interim period. If this was not the case,
then the contingent rent cost and liability to be recognized in the second quarter would be $210,000 ($7
million × 3%).
4. The large sale is for services to be performed over the next nine months, starting the first month of the
second interim period. As a result, only three of nine months will be reported as revenue in the second
quarter, which calculates to be $2 million. $4 million will be recognized as deferred revenue and brought
into income over the next two quarters.
Page Ref: 382-386
Learning Obj.: 7.5
Difficulty: Difficult
Cap. xl.—Of the countries and lordships that are to the west and to
the north of Aquaxumo, where there is a monastery, named
Hallelujah, and of two other monasteries to the east.
In the country to the west of Aquaxumo, which is towards the
Nile, there are extensive lands and lordships, as they say. And in
these countries and parts is the land of Sabaim, whence the Queen
Saba took her name and title, and where the black wood is found
which she sent to Solomon to make inlaid work in the temple. From
this town of Aquaxumo to the beginning of the country of Sabaim
there are two days’ journey. This lordship is now subject to the
kingdom of the Tigrimahom, and a brother-in-law of the Prester John
is lord and captain of it: they say it is a great and good lordship. On
the north side there lies another lordship named Torate, a country of
mountainous ridges; there is a distance of four leagues to these
mountains and lordship of Torate. It is on a great and high mountain,
and at its foot and on the top of it is a flat space of half a league, with
large trees, and a monastery with great revenues (as they say)
named Hallelujah, containing many friars. They say that it bears this
name, because in the commencement of Christianity in this country,
when St. Mary of Syon was built in Aquaxumo, this monastery was
built next. They say that they did not know then what they ought to
pray or to chaunt, and that there was here a devout father who kept
vigils, and commended himself to God at night, and this devout man
affirmed that he heard the angels in heaven, who sung Hallelujah,
and that from this the custom remained in this country that all the
masses commenced with Hallelujah, and so this monastery is called
by name Hallelujah. And if in that time that friar was good and
devout, now, those who are here, have the reputation of being great
robbers. The hill and range on which this monastery stands is
entirely surrounded by dry channels, which only have water after the
thunder showers for a space of two or three leagues. In another
mountain in the same lordship of Torate, is another great monastery,
but not so great as that of Hallelujah, and they say that it has good
friars, they also say that they are not good friends with the others,
because they have a bad reputation. Returning to our road, at a
distance of three leagues from the town of Aquaxumo, there is
another monastery on another hill, this is named St. John. Further
on, a distance of two leagues, there is another monastery which is
named Abbagarima. They say that this Abbagarima was king of
Greece, and that he left his kingdom, and came to do penance, and
there ended his life in sanctity. There is behind his chapel a cave
very convenient for doing penance, and they say that he abode
there. They say that this king works many miracles: we came here
on the day of his feast, and there were here more than three
thousand cripples, blind men and lepers. This monastery is between
three peaks, almost on the side of one of them, and it seems as
though it would fall into the hollow where they say he did penance.
They descend into it by a ladder, and bring out of it earth like gravel,
or soft stone, and they carry it away and hang it to the necks of the
sick in rags. (They say that some have received health.) I asked
about the revenue of this monastery, the friars told me it had a
revenue of sixteen horses, and besides, some endowments of
provisions. It is a small monastery of few friars and small revenues,
and at the foot of it they sow much garlic; there are between the
peaks, large tilled fields, and it has an infinite number of very good
vineyards, they make much raisins of them: they come in very early,
they begin in January and end in March.
Cap. xlii.—Of the animals which are in the country, and how we
turned back to where the ambassador was.
There are in this country tigers and other animals, which at night
kill the cows, mules and asses, in the closed towns, which they did
not do in the kingdom of the Barnagais which we had left behind. We
departed from this place[68] on the 6th of August of 1520, and
returned back to where we had left the ambassador, who was lodged
by order of the Tigrimahom, and much to his satisfaction, with all the
Portuguese who had started with him from Temei, a country in the
kingdom of the Barnagais. In the said place a great lord was lodged,
by order of the Tigrimahom, in order to protect and provide for the
ambassador; and likewise other gentlemen were lodged in towns
within sight of this, and many others who accompanied the
Tigrimahom. He was lodged in a Beteneguz, and the ambassador
was at the distance of a league from that place. On the day that we
arrived the Tigrimahom sent to summon the ambassador; and he
went at once, and all the Portuguese went with him. When we
arrived at the Beteneguz where he was, they told us that he was in
the church, he and his wife, to receive the Communion; and this was
an hour before sunset, which is the hour for saying mass on fast
days. We went towards the church, and met with him on the way.
Each came on his mule, with very good state, like great gentlemen
as they are; so they came accompanied by many great lords. This
Tigrimahom is an old man, of a good and reverend presence: his
wife came entirely covered up with blue cotton stuffs; we did not see
either her face or her body, because it was all covered up. As soon
as we came up to him, he asked me for a cross which I carried in my
hand, and he kissed it and ordered it to be given to his wife to kiss it;
she kissed it through her wrapper, and received us with a good
welcome. This Tigrimahom keeps a very large household, both of
men and women, and great state, in a great measure grander than
the Barnagais. The ambassador and those that were with him told us
that they had received great honour and hospitable reception from
the Tigrimahom, both in favour and provisions. It is but a short time
that this Tigrimahom has held this lordship, and as yet, he has not
finished visiting all his lands which are under his orders and rule, and
also those who have the title of kings, as well as the others
underneath them in rank. The Prester John deposes them and
appoints them whenever he pleases, with or without cause; and on
this account there is no ill humour here, and if there is any it is
secret, because in this period that we remained in this country I saw
great lords turned out of their lordships, and others put into them,
and I saw them together, and they appeared to be good friends.
(God knows their hearts.) And in this country, whatever happens to
them, of good fortune or of loss, they say of all of it, that God does it.
These great lords, who are like kings, are all tributaries of the Prester
John; those of this kingdom in horses, and those of the Barnagais in
brocades, silks, and some cotton cloths; and those further on from
this place (as they say) are tributaries in gold, silk, mules, cows, and
plough oxen, and other things which there are at court. The lords
who are beneath these, even though they hold their lordships from
the hand of Prester John, pay their tribute to the other lords; and
they account for all on delivering it to the Prester. The lands are so
populous that the revenues cannot but be large; and these lords,
even though they receive their revenues, eat at the cost of the
people and the poor.
Cap. xlv.—How we departed, and our baggage before us, and how a
captain of the Tigrimahom who conducted us was frightened by a
friar who came in search of us.
We departed from this Beteneguz to some very vile places in a
mountain named Benacel; and the next day we set out, and our
baggage went on in front, and we found it set down in the middle of a
plain where there was much water. When we arrived, it grieved us to
see our goods thus. Whilst we were thus at our wits’ end, there came
up four or five men on mules, and ten or twelve men on foot with
them; amongst them came a friar, and as soon as this friar came up
he at once seized the captain by the head, who had charge of our
baggage, and gave him buffets. We, on seeing this, all ran up to him
to know for what reason he did that. The ambassador, seeing the
captain covered with blood, laid hold of the friar by the breast, and
was going to strike him, and I do not know whether he did strike him.
I and all those who came up with him carried their arms ready, and
almost at the breast of the friar. It availed him that he spoke a little
Italian, because Jorge d’Abreu was there who understood it a little;
and if this had not been the case, and I, who saw his hood and said
that he was a friar, he would not have got off well. This matter having
been pacified, the friar told how he had come by order of the Prester
John to cause our luggage to be carried, and that he had been
amazed at that captain, and what he had done to him he did it on
account of the bad equipment which he was giving us. The
ambassador answered that those buffets had not been given to the
captain, but to him, since he had given them in his presence, and
that he felt it much. All having been restored to peace, the friar said
that he had to go forward on the road by which we had been
travelling, to the house of the Balgada Robel, the gentleman we had
left behind, and that from him and from his house he would bring
mules and camels to carry our baggage, and that we should go and
wait for him at a Beteneguz which was at a distance of half a day’s
journey from this place. (This is the friar who is going as ambassador
to Portugal.) We departed on our way, and went to sleep at a small
village where there is a good church; its patron is Quercos. At night
we thought we should have been eaten by the tigers. On the
following day we went forward little more than half a league to the
Beteneguz which the friar had told us of: this is at a town called
Corcora, with very good houses for resting in, and a very good
church. Here we remained Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, waiting
for the friar. They told us that to the eastward from this place there
was a large monastery named Nazareth; they say it is one of large
revenues and many friars, and that there are in it abundance of
grapes, peaches, and other fruits; and they brought us small nuts
from it. They say that to the westward, which is towards the Nile,
there are great mines of silver, and that they do not know how to get
it out, nor to profit by it.
Cap. xlvii.—How the friar reached us in this town, and then we set out
on our way to a town named Farso: of the crops which are
gathered in it, and of the bread they eat, and wine they drink.
While we were in this town of Manadeley, half forgetting the friar,
there reached us a message that he was coming, and was bringing
mules and camels to conduct us. Immediately some of us went out
to receive him with joy and pleasure, having forgotten our first
meeting. As soon as he arrived we at once departed, and we had not
yet gone half a league, and then after another half league had been
traversed we did not travel further. We went to sleep at a Beteneguz,
which is in a mountain. Next day we travelled a distance of two
leagues, and went to sleep at a large town of Christians, which may
have near a thousand inhabitants: it is named Farso. There are more
than a hundred priests and friars in the church of this town, and as
many nuns: they have not got a monastery, they lodge about the
town like laywomen. The friars are almost set apart in two courts, in
which are a number of cottages, an unsubstantial matter, so great is
the number of these friars, priests, and nuns, and the other people
who are short of room. In other churches it is always the custom to
give the communion before the door of the church, and these priests
go and give the communion out of its place, in an open space
belonging to the church, in a tent of silk which they pitch there, very
well arranged, and there they carry on their solemnity of music with
their drums and tambourines, and when they give the communion it
is given as they do in other churches, where it is the custom to give it
at the church door, and in no other place. Two nights that we slept in
this town the nuns came to wash our feet, and drank of the water
after they had washed them, and they washed their face with it,
saying that we were holy christians of Jerusalem. At this town there
is much tillage of all kinds. Here we saw plots of coriander, like those
of wheat, and no less of a seed which is called nugo, which is like
pampilhos,[77] and with their heads, after they are quite ripe and dry,
they make oil. Not this time, but another that we came here, when
we had more knowledge of the country, and the people of the
country had more knowledge of us, I heard inhabitants of this town
say that in that year they had gathered so much crops of all kinds,
that if it were not for the worm, it would have been abundance for ten
years. And because I was amazed, they said to me: Honoured
guest, do not be amazed, because in the years that we harvest little
we gather enough for three years’ plenty in the country; and if it were
not for the multitude of locusts and the hail, which sometimes do
great damage, we should not sow the half of what we sow, because
so much remains that it cannot be believed, so it is sowing wheat, or
barley, lentils, pulse, or any other seed. And we sow so much with
the hope that even if each of those said plagues should come, some
would be spoiled, and some would remain, and if all was spoiled the
year before is in such manner abundant that we have no scarcity.
This town is almost in a valley, and above it are two hills, and here
we kept a Saturday and a Sunday. We used to go up to these hills in
the afternoons, to see the beautiful herds of cows that were collected
on the skirts of the town, and of the hills. Those of our company
guessed[78] them at fifty thousand cows. I do not say a larger
number, and yet the multitude there is cannot be believed. The
language of this country is like that we had passed, and here begins
the language of the kingdom of Angote, which is named Angutinha,
and the country also. This town is the frontier of the kingdom of the
Tigrimahom, as far as the Moors who are named the Dobas. After
we had passed twice through this district (as I said above), there
happened a good thing in it. It has two high hills, and they always
have watchmen on them, because further on from this is country of
the Moors. There are great plains, although wooded, and they
extend quite two leagues, and then are the mountain ranges in which
the Moors live. The watchmen saw the Moors come, and they
emptied the place and fled away; the Moors came and plundered the
provisions which they found, and took away what they could or
chose. The watchmen were ashamed of having run away, and
communicated with several neighbouring towns to the effect that if
they saw them make signals they should come to their assistance,
because they had determined to await the Moors if they should
return there. These did not long delay returning, the people of the
place made their signals, many people flocked to them, and came
into the field against the Moors. God was pleased to assist the
Christians, who killed eight hundred Moors, and of the Christians
there died five. The Christians cut off the heads of all the Moors, and
went and stuck them on trees half a league from there, along the
great roads by which all people pass, and they sent the shields and
javelins of all the dead Moors to the Prester John (this was whilst we
were at court). And on our coming on our return from there we found
the heads suspended to the trees along the road, as has been said:
and we felt fear and disgust at passing under them. In all this country
they make bread of any grain, as with wheat, barley, maize, pulse,
peas, lentils, small beans, beans, linseed, and teff; they also make
wine from many of these seeds: and the wine of honey is much the
best of all. As the common people gave us victuals, since the friar
found us, by order of the Prester John, they gave us of this bread,
and as it was not of wheat, we could not eat it, also they brought it at
unseasonable hours, because in all this country it is the custom to
eat only once a day, and that is at night. Besides this their food is
raw meat, and they make a sauce for it with cowdung, and that we
did not eat: nor of the bread, unless it was of wheat, or at least of
peas. Of the flesh we ordered our slaves to prepare food for us, until
the friar came to adopt our custom, and to know our wishes, and
endeavoured to give us fowls, mutton and beef, boiled or roasted,
this done by our slaves.