4 
TRAVELS IN ABYSSINIA. 
Diaz, and Vasco de Gama, when they set sail on 
this great expedition, received the strictest injunc- 
tions to consider every object of discovery as se- 
condary to that of Prester John. The voyages 
subsequently undertaken along the eastern coast 
to Mosambique, Mombasa, and Melinda, had this 
for their sole object. * Meantime, intelligence 
was received, by a different channel, of the object 
so eagerly sought after. In 1499, two Portu- 
guese, Covilham and De Payva, were sent into the 
Red Sea to collect all the information which could 
be there obtained. Here they would naturally re- 
ceive an account of Abyssinia, and of the circum- 
stances from which it appeared, that this, if any, 
must be the country of Prester John. De Payva 
remained in the Red Sea, probably with the inten- 
tion of proceeding thither ; while Covilham made 
a voyage to India and along the eastern coast of 
Africa. On his return, he learned the death of 
De Payva, and immediately determined to pene- 
trate himself into Abyssinia. He succeeded, reach- 
ed Shoa, where the emperor then was, and was 
received with that favour which novelty usually se- 
cures, when not accompanied with any circum- 
stances to awaken dread or suspicion. There was 
an ancient law of Abyssinia, by which no stranger 
was permitted to leave the kingdom ; and this, 
* Di Barren IV, 1, Q§| 
