3 i6 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER, 



which feparates it: from the fea.;: of which ample mention- 

 has been already made in the beginning of this hiftory. 



ThtS: was to turn them to Cape Gardefan, the longeft 

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

 of their enemies; whereas the direction. ■.< of j the coaft 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 witfcthe religious difputes which raged in Abyffinia. 



However, I very much dOubt whether this nearer! route 

 could be accomplifhed, at lead by travellers, fuch as Fecur 

 Egzie, Fernandes, and their; companions, all ignorant of 

 the language, and, therefore, conitantly at the discretion of , 

 interpreters, and the malice or private views of different ; 

 people through whofe hands they muft. have palled* . 



The Benero, having thus provided againft the dangers 

 with which his fl ate was threatened, if our travellers went: 

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

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

 through the fmall ftate of Gingiro, and an ambafTadOr from 

 the fovereign of that Mate was then at Narea, hedifpatched 

 that minifter in great hafte, recommending the Portuguefe 

 to his protection fo long as they mould be in his territory. . 



Fecur Egzie and his company fet out with the ambafla- 

 dor of Gingiro in a direction due eaft ; and the firft day they 

 arrived at a poll of Narea, where was the officer who was 



a, to 



