THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 107 



route to Aden, a rich trading town, without the Straits of 

 Babelmandeb. Here they feparated : Covillan fet fail for 

 India, De Paiva for Suakem, a fmall trading town and illand 

 in Barbaria, or Barabra of the ancients. What other circum- 

 flances occurred we know not, only that De Paiva, attempt- 

 ing his journey this way, loft his life, and was never more 

 heard of. 



Covillan, more fortunate, pafted over to Calicut and 

 Goa in India ; then crofted the Indian Ocean to Sofala, to in- 

 fpect the mines ; then he returned to Aden, and fo to Cairo, 

 where he expected to meet his companion De Paiva ; but 

 here he heard of his death. However, he was there met by 

 two Jews with letters from the king of Abyftinia, the one 

 called Abraham, the other Jofeph. Abraham he fent back 

 with letters, but took Jofeph along with him again to Aden, 

 and thence they both proceeded to Ormus in the Perftan 

 Gulf. Here they feparated, and the Jew returned home by 

 the caravans that pafs along the defert to Aleppo. Covillan, 

 now folely intent upon the difcovery of Abyftinia, returned 

 to Aden, and, crofting the Straits of Babelmandeb, landed 

 in the dominions of that prince, whofe name was Alexan- 

 der, and whom he found at the head of his army, levying 

 contributions upon his rebellious fubjeets. Alexander re- 

 ceived him kindly, but rather from motives of curiofity 

 than from any expectation of advantage which would re- 

 fult from his embafly. He took Covillan along with him 

 to Shoa, where the court then refided. 



Covillan returned no more to Europe. A cruel policy 



of Abyftinia makes this a favour conftantly denied to ftran- 



gers. He married, and obtained large pofteftions ; conti- 



O 2 nued 



