The International Prester John Project: How A Global Legend Was Created Across Six Centuries

Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile

James Bruce's Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile, published in six volumes, relates Bruce's travels throughout the horn of Africa to become (what he considered) the first European to discover the source of the Blue Nile River. He recorded his travels in five quarto volumes.

In discussing Ethiopia's legal system, Bruce adds another interpretation of the linguistic history of the association between Prester John and the Ethiopian negus: "These complaints [to the emperor], whether real or feigned, have always for their burden Rete O Jan hoi!, which, repeated quick, very much resembes Prete Jianni, the name that was given to this prince, of which we never knew the derivation" (qtd. in Brewer, p. 298).

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