TELLEZ ADVOCATES HIS OWN VIEWS. 109 



to be greater than the Nile itself, rising in a territory 

 called Bora, in the kingdom of Narea, which is the 

 most southerly, and whereof we shall speak here- 

 after. It begins its course westward, a few leagues 

 farther turns to the northward, and runs about the 

 kingdom of Zingero, of which we shall also give 

 an account, making it a sort of peninsula, as the 

 Nile does the kingdom of Gojam. After leaving 

 this kingdom, it takes its course to the southward; 

 and some say, it is the same that falls into the sea 

 at Mombaza." Tellez alludes to the course of the 

 Zebee again, when recounting the visit of Fer- 

 nandez to the Court of Zingero ; but merely 

 observes, that it encompasses the kingdom of 

 Zingero, making it a sort of peninsula, and then 

 runs to empty itself towards the coast of Melinda ; 

 thus embodying, as it were, in an account of the 

 southern parts of Abyssinia, professed to be given by 

 Fernandez, that view of the course of the river he had 

 previously advocated and represented in the small 

 map placed at the commencement of his volume. 



Tellez, whilst he is minute enough upon the 

 manners and customs of the people of Abyssinia, 

 and dilates upon the history of the labours of his 

 order in that country, contrives to mystify us 

 considerably in the geography and politics. I 

 cannot help thinking he was directed by some 

 Government to write as he did for a particular 

 purpose, or was jealous of other nations reaping the 

 benefits of the ill-judged policy of the Jesuits, 



