THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 307 



and diligent in raifing this fabric, he had not negleded the 

 advancing of another, the converfion of Abyflinia to the 

 obedience of the fee of Rome. 



Ras Sela Christos (if we beUeve thefe miflionaries) had 

 converted himfelf, by reading with attention the Abyffinian 

 books only. Being about to depart from Gojam to fight a- 

 gainft the Galla, he wanted very much to have made his 

 renunciation and confelTion in the prefence of Peter Paez, 

 But, as he was bufied at Gorgora building a convent and 

 palace there, he contented himfelf with another Jefuit, Fran- 

 cifco Antonio d'Angelis ; and, being vidorious in his expe- 

 dition, he gave the fathers ground and a fum of money to 

 build a monaftery at Col lei a, which was now the third in 

 Abyllinia belongiag to the Jefuits. 



As for the king, though probably already determined 

 in his own mind, he had not taken any ftep fo decifive as 

 could induce the compliance of others. Difputes were con* 

 llantly maintained, for the moft part in his prefence, be- 

 tween the millionaries and the Abyffinian monks, chicily 

 concerning the long-agitated quellion, the two natures in 

 Chrift, in which, although the vidoiy declared always in 

 favour of the Jefuits, if we may credit their reprcfentations, 

 no convi(5lion followed on the part of the adverfaries. At 

 laft Abuna Simon complained to the king, that unufual and 

 irregular things had been permitted without his knowledge; 

 that difputes upon articles of faith had been held without 

 ^calling him, or his being permitted to give his clergy the 

 ■advantage of his fupport in thefe controverfics. 



Qjl 2 The 



