Celebrated Travels and Travellers Vol 1 First Part Chapter VIII part 1a - The conquest of India and of the spice countries.

William Tomko (0:01)

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Recording by William Tomko.

Celebrated Travels and Travellers, Volume 1 Exploration of the World by Jules Verne. First Part, Chapter 8 Part 1a.

At the same time that the King of Portugal, John II, dispatched Diaz to seek in the South of Africa the route to the Indies, he ordered two gentlemen of his court to find out if it would not be possible to attain the same end by an easier, safer, and more rapid means, by way of the Isthmus of Suez, the Red Sea, and the Indian Ocean. For carrying out such a mission, there was needed a clever, enterprising man, well acquainted with the difficulties of a journey in those regions, and possessing a knowledge of the Oriental languages, or at the very least of Arabic. This agent must be of a versatile disposition, and able to assemble, capable, in a word, of concealing the real meaning of projects, which aimed at nothing less than withdrawing all the commerce of Asia from the hands of the Muslims and Arabs, and threw them from the Venetians, in order to enrich Portugal with it. There was living at this time an experienced navigator, Pedro de Covilham, who had served with distinction under Alonso V, in the war with Castile, and who had made a long stay in Africa. It was upon him that John II cast his eye, and Alonso de Paiva was given him as a colleague. They left Lisbon in the month of May 1487, furnished with detailed instructions, and with a chart drawn according to Bishop Calzadilla's map of the world, by the help of which the tour of Africa might be made. The two travelers reached Alexandria and Cairo, where they were much gratified at meeting with some Moorish traders such as Covilham Fez and Glemsen, who conducted them to tour the ancient Aegean Geber at the foot of Sinai, where they were able to procure some valuable information upon the trade of Calicut. Covilham resolved to take advantage of this fortunate circumstance to visit a country which, for more than a century, had been regarded by Portugal with covetous longing. While Paiva set out to penetrate into those regions, then so vaguely designated as Ethiopia, in quest of the famous Prester John, who, according to old travellers, reigned over a marvellously rich and fertile country in Africa. Paiva doubtless perished in his adventurous enterprise, being never again heard of. As for Covilham, he travelled to Aden whence he embarked for the Malabar coast. He visited in succession Kenanor, Calicut and Goa, and collected accurate information upon the commerce and productions of the countries bordering on the Indian Ocean, without arousing the fears of the Hindus, who could not suspect that the kind and friendly welcome they accorded to the traveller would bring about in the future the enthrallment and ruin of their country. Covilham, not considering that he had yet done enough for his country, quitted India and went to the eastern coast of Africa, where he visited Mozambique, Sofala, long famous for its gold mines, of which the reputation, by means of the Arabs, had even reached Europe, and Zeila, the Avalites portus of the ancients, and the principal town of the Adel coast, upon the Gulf of Oman, at the entrance of the Arabian Sea.

After a somewhat long stay in that country, he returned by Aden. Then, the principal entropole of the 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 traveler, gave his notes, the itinerary of his journey, and a map of Africa given to him by a muscleman 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 to execute the mission which death had prevented Paiva 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, in 1525, a Portuguese embassy, which Alvarez was a member, came into Abyssinia, he witnessed the departure of his countrymen with the deepest regret. And the chaplain of the expedition has naively re-echoed his complaints and his grief.