THE PORTUGUESE AND THEIR FOLLOWERS. 31 
trepot of tlie commerce of the East, went as far as 
Ormuz, at the entrance of the Persian Gulf, and then, 
again passing up the Red Sea, he arrived at Cairo. 
John II. had sent to Cairo two learned Jews to 
await the arrival of Covilham, and to one of these, the 
Rabbi Abraham Beja, the traveller gave his notes, the 
itinerary of his journey, and a map of Africa given to 
him by a Mussulman, charging Beja to carry them all to 
Lisbon with the least possible delay. For himself, not 
content with all that he had done hitherto, and wishing 
VILLAGE SCENE. 
to execute the mission which death had prevented Pa'iva 
from accomplishing, he went into Abyssinia, where the 
“ negus ” or king, known by the name of Prester John, 
flattered by seeing his alliance sought by one of the 
most powerful sovereigns of Europe, received him with 
the greatest kindness, and gave him a high position at 
his court, but to make sure of retaining his services, he 
constantly refused him permission to leave the country. 
Although he had married there and had some children, 
Covilham still longed for his native country, and when, 
