In addition to being a member of the Academy of Sciences of Lisbon, Esteves Pereira was also a member of the Sociedade de Geografia de Lisboa [Geographical Society of Lisbon], for which he published several texts in its Boletim [Bulletin].

Esteves Pereira's interest in the Orient emerged at a time when many European scholars were paying particular attention to those regions. His studies, however, were conducted in an amateur capacity, as he maintained an intense professional career as an army officer. However, h ere, the term “amateur” is used in its original sense, referring to someone who dedicates themselves to their studies out of love for the subjects they pursue. Having developed expertise in various Oriental languages, he spent his free time studying unpublished or lesser -known texts, with the aim of bringing them to the attention of the academic community of his time. He primarily did so within the framework of the two scientific societies to which he belonged, the Academy of Sciences and the Geographical Society, and he approached these studies in much the same way as he solved mathematical problems in his role as an engineer, as noted by David Lopes. However, t his amateurism and “mathematical” approach to literary works did not diminish the value of his contributions. On the contrary, it was thanks to this method that many texts from the Orient were brought to light. The anecdote shared by his great-nephew—that Esteves Pereira’s interest in the Ethiopian language began when he saw plates with Ge’ez characters—reinforces the idea that he approached the questions he encountered with scientific curiosity. Seeing letters he did not recognise piqued his curiosity, and he did everything he could to understand them.

Primary references : Canção de Galavdevos: rei da Etiópia , [s. l.] [s. n.], [s. d.]; História de Minás Además Sagad, rei da Etiópia , (texto etiópico, publicado, traduzido e anotado por…), Lisboa, Imprensa Nacional, 1888; Crónica de Susenyos, rei da Etiópia , (texto etiópico e tradução portuguesa por…), Lisboa, Imprensa Nacional, 1900; Duas homílias sobre S. Tomé, atribuídas a S. João Crisóstomo , Coimbra, Imprensa da Universidade, 1914; Livro da Montaria, feito por D. João I, rei de Portugal , Coimbra, Imprensa da Universidade, 1918; O livro do profeta Amós e a sua versão etiópica: estudo literário , (texto etiópico e tradução portuguesa por…), Lisboa: Academia das Sciências, 1917; “Tratado em defensam da carta de marear pelo Doutor Pedro Nunes cosmógrafo-mor”, Revista de Engenharia Militar , Lisboa, vol. 16 (1911), pp. 182-192, pp. 240-248, pp. 280-287, pp. 351-366, pp. 424-433, pp. 482-493, vol. 17 (1912), pp. 34-41, pp. 54-65; “Tratado sobre certas dúvidas de navegação pelo Doutor Pedro Nunes”, Revista de engenharia militar , Lisboa, Tipografia do Comércio, vol. 18 (1913), pp. 266- 275, pp. 364-371, pp. 424-433; Vida de S. Paulo de Tebas: primeiro eremita: segundo a versão etiópica , (texto etiópico e tradução portuguesa por…), Coimbra, Imprensa da Universidade, 1904.

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