VASCO DE GAMA, 
36S 
mity of his countrymen to the Portuguese name. 
However, he studiously dissembled,- — received 
graciously their presents, — ^undertook to report 
their wishes to his sovereign, who was called the 
Xeque, — and assured them that there could be 
no difficulty in procuring pilots to convey them to 
India. At his return he shewed equal outward 
courtesy. The Portuguese were much surprised 
when three of his attendants, on seeing the image 
of the angel Gabriel on the stern of the admiral's 
ship, fell down and worshipped it. On inquiry, 
they found that these were natives of Abyssinia, or 
of the dominions of Prester John, who, though now 
converted to the Moorish faith, felt an instinctive 
reverence at the view of the objects of their early 
adoration. The deep veneration which every true 
Portuguese felt for the name of Prester John 
made the intelligence be received with extraordi- 
nary emotion, and they eagerly sought to con- 
verse with these persons. This was observed 
with visible jealousy by the Moors, who took im- 
mediate care to withdraw the Abyssinians, and to 
prevent their returning. Grounds of suspicion 
continued to increase, till at length they broke 
out into open hostility. Some boats, which the 
Portuguese had sent on shore, were attacked by 
twenty of the enemy's vessels, which they beat 
off, not without considerable loss. Upon this 
unequivocal proof of the hostile disposition of the 
