with the news he had received from Dia. It was whifpered about that he either confulted his fafety or private intereft. Let what would be the caufe, his actions justified the worft of fufpicions; but when leaft expect ed, he fteered for Diu, on the firft of January, when a ftorm rifing, which lafted eight days, his fleet was difperfed into feve ral ports, and feveral veffels, with two galleys loft, fo that he entered but with so fail. A treaty of peace was presently set on foot, and concluded little to the advantage of the Portuguese, which common fame attributed to covetoufnels.—Antonio de Silveyra foon after returned to Portugal, and had fcarce anchored at Lifbon, when the great men of the court came to conduct him to the king, and princes, who with joy to fee and honour this hero, whofe generofity did him as much honour as his valour at the fiege of Diu. What a pity fo much courage as the Portuguele difplayed in the difcovery and conqueft of the Indies, had not been always fanctified by juftice, and crowned by humanity!

In the year 1540, Don Stephano de Gama failed on an expedition, wherein he is faid to have had two ends in view; the one of which was to carry fuccour to the emperor of Abyffinia, and the other, to deftroy the Turkish fleet, which he expected to find at Suez.

The account of this voyage is written by Don Juan de Caftro, who was afterwards governor and viceroy of India, from whence we have derived our authorities.

It was on the 31st of December at funrife, that they departed from the bar of Goa, towards the ftreights of Mecca, and difcovered the island of Socotra on the 13th of January following. Of this land we have already spoken, but the defcription given by our author is fo exact in many particulars, that we fhall here transcribe

it.

ground in the road is generally fandy, but in fome places ftony, yet, not fo as to cut the cables. But there is no other place or harbour throughout the island where fhips may fafely anchor. The coaft is very high, and girt with lofty craggy mountains. The tides there are contrary to those of India; for when the moon appears on the horizon, it is high tide, which from that time begins. to ebb, and by the time he comes to the meridian of the island, it is low water; then as the moon declines from the meridian, it begins to flow again in the fame order, as it fets at Goa, and being fet, it is here full fea".

The inhabitants of Socotra

are Chriftians. They have churches throughout the island, in which there is no oracle but the crofs; for which fign they have great devotion, it being rare to find any perfon without one about his neck; and they ufe the Chriftian names of John, Peter, Andrew, &c. and the women generally that of Mary.

These people have no king, ruler, prelate, nor any other perfon to whom they are subject, but, though Chriftians, live in a manner like wild beafts without any order, or government. In all the inland there is neither city nor town, but most part of them live in caves, and fome in little thatched cottages quite feparate from one another. The food is flesh and wild dates. They drink milk, and feldom any water. The people are of the beft difpofition. The women are fair, and the men go naked, except covering their private parts with a fort of cloth, the manufacture of the islands. The inhabitants are not industrious in catching fifh, and have not the art of navigation t The fruit of the palm-tree is their chief fuftenance; but the land yields all forts of eatable and medicinal plants.

The fleet came within fight of Aden on the 27th of January, when they perceived fome land, which they had feen before, and taken for an island, to be the mountain of Aden. Leaving Aden, they proceeded on their voyage; and our author here takes occafion to defcribe the ftreights of Babelmandel, Arabic gulph or Red Sea, of which we fhall fay more hereafter. We have already obferved that the deftination of the fleet was towards [Habesh, Abesh, or] Abyffinia, which they fuppofed to be the empire of Prefter, or Prefbyter John. a prejudice that for a long time was entertained among the Europeans nations. In their courfe they paffed by Shamoa, Dallaka, and other places in the channel, and on the 12th arrived at Maffua, the fituation of which the author has defcribed in the following manner, T E,

N

"Maffua is an island not half a mile in length, and in breadth not a caliver shot. It is very flat, and lies in a great and crooked nook of the coaft, very near the point of it. The current is very small, and all the winds come from the land. The depth of the water is eight or nine fathoms, and the ground bozy. The entrance of this port is on the north-eaft fide, towards the middle of the channel, in order to avoid the fhoal running from the point of the work. Near this island lie two others. There is no fpring in any of them, but in Maffua ate many cifterns of water, and many fhoals lie feattered between them; but vessels are safe in the mid channel???:

Mallua was fubject to the emperor of the Abyffinians or Abassins, fill the king of Dallaka feized, and fixed his refidence on account of the trade carried on, for gold and ivory. The air is exceeding hot and unhealthy in May or June, for want of wind, fo that both the king and the inhabitants retire to Dallaka, during these two months. The land, as far as Archido, where there, are many wells, a league to the fouth of Maffua, is very high and full of mountains, between which and the fea are spacious fields and plains; but thence forward the coaft is more clear. The country abounds with elephants, tygers, wolves, wild bears, flags, elks, and other forts of beafts unknown to the Portuguefe.

Nilus is fill called Nil, by the Abyffini-, ans, Egyptians, Arabs and Indians. Its fprings are in the fouthern borders, towards the country of the Caffres ; nor does the river hide itfelf any where under ground, ac cording to the author, but continually fhew eth itself carrying a great breadth and depth. He likewife learned, that the increase and overflowing of the Nile, was owing to the great and continual rains which fall in June and July, in their country, which alto was overflowed; and that in Auguft the rain ceafed, and the water fell by degrees. As a confirmation of this, he obferves that at Massua in June, and part of July, there fell great forms, rains, and thunder; and that he cold perceive within land continual tempefts, and the fky black and cloudy; which yet the Abyffinians faid gave but a faint idea of what it really was. He adds, that the fame months of June and July, are the winter at Cape Buena Esperanza, and along that coaft, where the rains fall without intermillion. Upon enquiry he was farther acquainted that the river made feveral iflands; and, among the reft, one very large, with a great city on it, which he concludes muft be the ancient Meroe; that it abounded with certam dangerous animals, which he fuppofes to be crocodiles; and that in a certain place which they named, it fell from

a large rock with great noile; but not so as to make people deaf..

Atine Tingil, (called afterwards, David) reigning in 1530, became fo cruel and tyrannical, that he grew hateful to the Abyfuni. ans. At this time Gradumot, king of Zeyla, encouraged by the difaffection of his fubjects, or invited by fome of the lords, invaded his dominions, and took fome towns, by the plunder of which, he animated his troops, the chief ftrength whereof confified of 300 Turks, armed with harquebuies. On the other hand he made all the inhabitants free in the cities he passed through, and eafed them of taxes: by which means he gained not only the people in general, but the nobles themselves over, to his intereft,

The emperor fent an army against him, but on the Turks firing their calivers, which killed fome, the foldiers were fo terrified, that they prefently fled. The king of Zeyla, encouraged by this victory, and joined by multitudes of Abyffinians, ravaged the country; and marched towards that part adjoining Magadoxa and Melinda, in order to attack a mountain, where the royal treafure was lodged., To prevent this, Antile Tingil met him, with all the forces he could mufter; but this army was very foon put to flight like the former, by means of the Turks. The emperor, after this defeat, directly retreating to the mountains, died within a few days. The king of Zeyla, after his victory, continued his march to the mountain, by great journeys; and arriving there, affaulted the paffes with fuch vigour, that although the place feemed inacceffible, yet, at length, he took it, and therein the greatest treasure that ever was known in the world.

The loyal Abyffinians on the emperor's decease, elected his eldeft fon in his room; who being very young, and the country in great confufion, a brother of his tampered with fome great men (or they prompted him) to obtain the kingdom, which proved the utter ruin of the Abyffinians. While the unfortunate youth was thus engaged in a civil war, the king of Zeyla came upon him, and he being unable to resist, filed to a mountain very high and great, and of dificult afcent, having but one way up to the top, which is a large plain, abounding with springs, fruit-trees. cattle, and cultivated lands. The inhabitants here, were faid to observe the law of Moses; but how they came here, (there being no Jews any where elfe in the land) or why they never came down and converfed with the Abyffinians, Don John owned he could never difcover. However thefe people defended the king against the Moors, and king of Zeyla, who entered the mountains, but were obliged to retire. (To be continued.)

Zabar.

Zobar.An Eafern Tale. By Wieland.

IN

N the infancy of the world mankind knew no other restraints than those imposed by nature. No throne was erected on the ruins of liberty, and men had not learnt, like the beafts, to bend their necks to the yoke of men. Each took up his abode on the fpot that most pleafed him, without fear of being difturbed, and the earth beftowed on him her fruits with liberality, which he did not abufe. In thofe happy times lived Zo. har, on whom fortune was prodigal of her gifts. She had placed him not far from the banks of the Euphrates, in a country adorned with unceafing verdure, where a thousand rivulets winded through flowery vallies and meadows covered with flocks. He poffeffed whole forefts of palm-trees, he enjoyed a numerous household, and all the treafures of fimplicity. It is eafy to conceive how great might have been his felicity, for no man on earth will be unfatisfied with his lot, provided he liftens to the voice of his internal inftructor. To be happy, the wife have no dccafion for the abundance of Zohar. Though this young man had received from nature a benevolent heart and a chearful mind, yet the fervour of unrestrained youth foon made him quit the path of rectitude, led him into innumerable errors, and infpired him with innumerable extravagant defires. He found nothing but tedious uniformity in the happy flate he enjoyed. New withes and new defires fucceeded to thofe he had but juft formed, and thefe in their turn gave place to others in perpetual fucceffion. What was to be done in fuch a cafe? Notwithftanding the riches of nature, fhe is always too poor to fatisfy the defires of the unreafonable. But difguft itself, by leading them to reflection, often frees them from the mifery of ceafelefs craving.

One day, as Zohar, tired with vain with es, had funk to fleep, a lively dream continued the train of his ideas. Firnaz, the fpirit to whom the king of the Genii has fubjected our globe, undertook to cure this young man of his delufion.

Zohar thought himfelf placed on the fummit of a mountain, from whence, reclined at the foot of a cedar, he furveyed the poffeffions of his ancestors extended far and wide. But, inftead of viewing them with pleasure, he broke forth at the fight into bitter complaints. The meads were enamelled with flowers, the rivulets murmured through the palm trees, the hills were white with theep, and fhone like the marble of Paros; but they hone Kot for Zohar.

Affaulted by a thoufand different defires, he was wandering with uncertain ftep, when his eyes were fudddenly dazzled by a

light of unufual fplendor. A cloud of gold and azure defcended from the fky diffufing around, the most grateful fragrance. On this cloud was seated a celeftial figure, whose look and gracious fmile prevented the dif quiet which his appearance might have creat ed. It was the friendly Fernaz, who, without making himfelf known, thus fpoke to Zohar: "What melancholy vapour obfcure thy discontented eye? what cares corrode thy heart? tell me, that I may remove them." Emboldened by the kindness with which the Genius addressed him, Zohar thus replied. My condition is hateful to me, it is unvaried; the morning differs not from the evening, and every day is like another. My whole life feems to be but a moment tedioufly lengthened out. The air I breathe is too thick: the forefts and the fields are deftitute of attractions. Even the beauties of Thirza have no charms for me fince the permitted me to enjoy them. The fymmetry of her limbs, the ringlets of her hair, the ivory of her forehead, her languishing eye, her kiffes, which I once thought enchanting, pleafe ine no longer; and yet it is but a few days fince we were united. My heart feels an immenfe void, and finds no where in nature any thing that can gratify its defires. O beneficent Genius, for fuch you appear, if you would make me happy, change this country, which appears to me fo faded, into a country like that which the Celeftials inhabit. Let it concentre all the beauties which nature hath difperfed over the univerfe. Let every thing confpire to flatter my fenfes, and let my foul at laft be fatisfied with what ever imagination can invent of beautiful or voluptuous.

His laft words had hardly efcaped his lips, when he fell into a fworn at the feet of Firnaz. At the fame inftant the country began to affume a new appearance. Nature in filence confeffed the power of the Genius that embellished her. She became beautiful as the Spring in the fancy of a poet when he dreams of love; when the violet, the crocus, and the hyacinth fpring under his feet, and zephyrs fan the hofom of the nymph of whom he is enamoured. The plains of Zohar were now poffeffed of all the charms which Homer and the Bard of Mantua, thofe favourites of the Mufes, adorned their defcriptions of Ida, where, by means of the fafcinating Ceftus, Juno deceived the Lord of the thunder. The cryftal fireams that laved the vacant Tivoli, the luxurious groves of foft Tarentum, the fragrant fides of the flowery Hymettus, and the bowers which Venus and Adonis flept on beds of rofes, were faint representations of the beauties that adorned this enchanted Elyfium.

Zohar recovers from the fwoon; he looks around

crowds from all places of the city, come to kifs the steps of the throne; and innumerable camels bring, as prefents to the new king, the riches of his provinces, the gold of the ifles and fpices of Arabia.

The ears of Zohar were enchanted with the warlike found of the trumpet, and the neighing of the war-horfe that fummoned him to the field. He marches forth, he attacks his neighbours, and defeats them. The fhouts of triumph, and the groans of the dying, are mufic to his ear. Proud of fuccefs, the new conqueror haftens to inundate another nation with blood; and as he runs from victory to victory, from conqueft to conqueft, he difregards every obftacle. Already all the neighbours ftates are made tributary, the provinces are ravaged, the forefts are burnt and deftroyed; but the ambition of Zohar is not fatisfied. He is tortured with the thought that there ftill exift people who have not experienced the power of his arms. He firft formed the wifh, recorded of another conqueror who lived long after him, that heaven had made other worlds for him to fubdue. Amongst the millions of flaves that were vile enough to worship him, he found a few wife men, who, with generous boldness, fummoned him back to the duties of humanity, by propofing to him a model for Princes in the example of the Deity, who is all-powerful only that he may do good. Zohar would not hearken to them; and indeed how should wisdom make herself be heard by him who is deaf to the eloquence of tears and to the cries of murdered innocence? But the fall of this hero was approaching. A powerful nation, who for ages had enjoyed in peace the bleffings of liberty, excited his ambition. Unity and love for their country and for freedom made them a na tion of heroes. Young and old, with out diftinction, fly to arms; the juftice of their caufe and native courage animate every heart, and invigorate the moft feeble. They attack the enemy with a valour which nothing can refift. Every ftroke is mortal. The barbarians fall, and thofe that efcape take refuge in unknown deferts and dark retreats. Our hero, who had with difficulty faved himself from the juft fury of his enemies, recovers at laft from his long delirium to perceive that he is but a man. Long he wanders through fecret paths, his limbs, though urged by terror, are hardly able to bear him on. After much fatigue, he finds himself in the middle of a plain encompaffed with high mountains, where the ftillness of the place invites him to repofe. He fits down at the brink of a fountain, and folitude and the viciffitudes of life lead Zahar to ferious reflection.

"Ah, Zohar, said he, how haft thou been

deceived by vain hopes! where are now thofe dreams of greatnefs that made thee fancy thyself the arbiter of fate and the god of the earth? Deftiny, more powerful than the moft victorious armies, has dethroned thee. Wretch that thou art, into what misery_art thou plunged by thy own folly? Cruel Genius, didft thou not know that my requeft, when granted, would be fatal to me? Why didst thou liften to me when I was ignorantly demanding of thee my ruin? Alas! how happy would man be if he were released from the imperious dominion of reason, that vain prerogative, which, it is faid, exalts him above the brutes! From it flow all the evils that humanity is liable to. Dazzled with falfe light, intoxicated with the greatnefs which it promifes him, man fancies himself a god; but an unexpected blow fuddenly precipitates him from his imaginary heaven, far below the brutes of the earth. Ó happy tenants of the foreft, how freely you range through your native retreats! No paffions trouble your repofe, but such as you can easily gratify; you live in perpetual joy, while pride makes man his own tormentor. Your wants are few, and nature liberally fupplies, what is neceffary to content them.

The Spring plays all its charms for you; love beftows on you its fweets without inflaming you with those impetuous fires that fpread devaftation among the human race, and that make their very enjoyments more odious to them than real fufferings."

As he was fpeaking, a butterfly with gilded wings perched on a flower by his fide; he beheld it while with pleated inconftancy it fluttered from the lilly to the rofe, and from the rofe to the lilly. "O Firnaz! cried Zohar, twice haft thou too easily granted me the with that was to operate my ruin: hear me now, for the laft time, when I afk what will enfure my felicity. I am now reduced fo low, as to envy the lot of a contemptible infect. What is the pleasure which has perpetually involved me in a series of tumultuary paffions, compared to the innocent enjoyment of this winged caterpillar? I now prefer to the mifery of being mafter of the world, and, of being a flave to my own defires, the pleasure of roving among the treasures of Flora. Change me into a butterfly." Immediately his body began to thrink, and dwindled into the figure of a worm; he is covered with a delicate plumage, and four painted wings difplay their beauty to the fun. The foul of Zohar is aftonifhed to find itself confined in fo narrow a circle, but his defires are now more moderate, they are gratified with more ease, and do not lead him beyond his proper fphere. The new butterfly, eager to try his wings, mounts from the flower, then fuddenly alights, rifes again, and cautioufl