ABYSSINIA. 261 



jectecl the trade of the kingdom of Adel with India to 

 heavy dues. This new establishment threatened both 

 the kingdom of Adel and the empire of Abyssinia, and 

 the Queen-Eegent Helena, hearing of the Portuguese 

 passage round the Cape, saw that nothing but their 

 assistance could save Adel and Abyssinia from ruin. 

 Pedro Covillan, the Portuguese, was still at her court, 

 and she arranged with him to form an alliance with 

 the King of Portugal. There was also at her court 

 an Armenian merchant named Matteo, who had a great 

 reputation for probity, and who had been in the habit 

 of travelling through the Eastern States to fulfil mis- 

 sions for the kings and the great. Helena selected 

 him as her ambassador to the King of Portugal, and 

 it appears certain that the despatches which he carried 

 were drawn up by Pedro Covillan, their contents 

 being that the Queen's demands would be explained in 

 person by Matteo, who enjoyed her full confidence. 



Ambassadors travelled more slowly in the sixteenth 

 century than they do now, and Matteo first went to 

 the Portuguese Indies, it being only three years after- 

 wards, in 1513, that he continued his voyage to Por- 

 tugal, whither he proceeded with a fleet loaded with 

 spices sent home by Albuquerque, the Portuguese 

 Governor-General. 



During this time Helena had concluded a treaty of 

 peace with the King of Adel, but as the relief expected 

 from Portugal did not arrive, that prince, incapable of 

 resisting the Turks, allied himself with them against 



