.i6 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



which feparates it from the fea ; of which ample mentioa 

 has been already made in the beginning of this hiftory. 



This was to. turn them to Cape Gardefan, the longelt 

 journey they could poffibly make by land, and in the middle 

 of their enemies ; whereas the direaion of the coail of 

 the Indian Ocean running greatly to the weftward, and to- 

 wards Melinda, was the fhorteft journey they could make 

 by land. Melinda, too, had many rich merchants, who, 

 though Moors, did yet traffic in the Portuguefe fettlements 

 on the coaft of Malabar, and had little intelligence or con- 

 cern with the rehgious difputes which raged in Abyffinia.. 



However, I very much doubt whether this nearefl route 

 could be accompliflied, at leail by travellers, fuch as Fecur 

 Egzie, Fernandes, and their companions, all ignorant of 

 the language, and, therefore, conllantly at the difcrction of 

 interpreters, and the malice or private views of different 

 people through whofe hands they mtiil have palled. 



The Benero, having thus provided againft the dangers 

 with which his ftate was threatened, if our travellers went 

 by Melinda, made them a prefent of fifty crufades of gold 

 for the neceffaries of their journey ; and, as their way lay 

 through the fmall ftate of Gingiro, and an ambaffador from 

 the fovereign of that ftate was then at Narea, he difpatched 

 that miniftcr in great hafte, recommending the Portuguefe 

 to his proteaion fo long as they fliould be in his territory. 



Fecuh Egzie and his company fet out with the ambaffa- 

 dor of Gingiro in a diredion due eaft ; and the lirft day they 

 arrived at a poft of Narea, where was tlie officer who was 



a. 



