roared far off with a sonorous sound. And then
the Portuguese mariner lifted up his hands in prayer to the sacred chorus
of angels, who had guided the vessel so long on its way, and prayed
God to remove the fulfilment of the evil things which Adamastor had
prophesied against his nation.

The Genius of the Stormy Cape might have taken up a direr song of prophecy
against the inhabitants of the unfortunate land of which he formed so
conspicuous and mournful a prominence.

COVILHAM AND PAIVA.

Maritime discovery had now, by slow and painful degrees, proceeded down
the coast of Africa, nearly to the southernmost point, and from thence
will soon be curving round in due course to India. But expeditions by sea
were not the only modes of discovery undertaken by the Portuguese in the
reign of John the Second of Portugal. Pedro de Covilham and Alfonso de
Paiva went on an enterprise of discovery mainly by land. The latter died
at Cairo, the former made his way to Cananor, Calecut, and Goa, and thence
back to Cairo, where he found that his companion had died. He then set out
again, and eventually came into the kingdom of Shoa, [5]to the court of
"the King of Habbesh," who fulfilled sufficiently in Covilham's eyes, the
idea of Prester John, and was accordingly called so. It is a curious
coincidence, that an ambassador from the King of Habbesh, called Lucas
Marcos, a priest of that country, came about this time to Rome and
afterwards to Lisbon, which circumstance gave a new impetus to all the
King of Portugal's "hopes, wishes, and endeavours."

[Footnote 5: A country in the south of Abyssinia. Tegulet, the ancient
capital of Shoa, is in 38 degrees 40' E. long., and 9 degrees 45' N.
lat.]

BEMOIN, PRINCE OF JALOF.

A more remarkable person even than an ambassador from Prester John arrived
nearly at the same time at Lisbon. This was Bemoin, Prince of Jalof.
Bemoin came to seek the protection of the King of Portugal, and the reason
of his coming was as follows. He was the brother, on the mother's side, of
Brian, King of Jalof. This king was inert and vicious. He had, however,
the wisdom to make Bemoin prime minister, and to throw all the cares and
troubles of governing upon him. Nothing was heard in the kingdom but of
Bemoin. But he, seeing, perhaps, the insecurity of his position,
diligently made friends with the Portuguese, keeping aloof, however, from
becoming a convert, though he listened respectfully to those who