_ 36 _ Furthermore, they told us that Prester John lived nearby and that he had many cities on the coast whose inhabitants were great merchants and owned large ships. However, Prester John's kingdom lay deep in the interior and it was impossible to reach except by camel. These Moors had brought two Christian prisoners here from India. They recounted these and many other things, which filled us with such happiness that we wept with joy, and we prayed to God that He would be pleased to grant us health so that we might one day see what we so much longed for. This country and island, known as Mozambique, had a chief, just like a viceroy, to whom they gave the title of sultan. He often came to our ships, accompanied by other members of his tribe. The captain served him very fine food. He also presented him with a set of hats and short capes with hoods, some corals and many other articles. Despite this, the chief was so haughty that he disdained whatever was given to him. Instead, he asked us to give him some scarlet cloth, but we had not brought any. However, anything we had we gave him. One day the captain-major gave him a gift consisting of a great quantity of figs and delicacies. In return he asked the chief to allow two pilots to accompany us. He gave his
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