THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 309- 



Tigre being ftill as it were in a ftate of rebellion, that it 

 would be eafy for the enemies of the Catholic faith to in- 

 tercept thefe meffengers and letters by the way, fo that their 

 contents might be publifhed amongft the king's enemies in 

 Abyflinia, without ever being made known in Europe. Some 

 propofed the longer, but, as they apprehended, the more fe- 

 cure way, by paffing Narea and the provinces fouth of the 

 frontiers of that kingdom, partly inhabited by Gentiles, 

 partly by Mahometans, to Melinda, on the Indian Ocean,, 

 where they might embark for Goa. 



Lots were cad among the miffionaries who of theii:- 

 number Ihould undertake this long and dangerous jour- 

 ney. The lot fell upon Antonio Fernandes, a man of great 

 prudence, much efteemed by the king, and by the gener- 

 al voice allowed to be the propereft of all the fociety for 

 this undertaking. He, on his part, named Fecur Egzie (be- 

 loved of the Lord) as his companion, to be ambaffador to the 

 king of Spain and the pope. This man had been one of the 

 firft of the Abyffinians converted to the Catholic faith by the 

 Jcfuits, and he continued in it fteadily to his death. He was 

 a perfon of tried courage and prudence, and of a pleafant 

 and agreeable converfation. 



It was the beginning of March 161 3 Antonio Fernandes* 

 fet out for Gojam, where was Ras Sela Chriftos. Fecur Eg- 

 zie had fet out before, that he might adjuft his family affairs, 

 and took with him ten Portuguefe, fix of whom were to go 



3 "° 



• See the provincial letters of the Jefiiits in Tellez, lib. iv. cap. 5. 



