THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 461 



©ther Order, was given to the fathers of Jerufalem, or the 

 Holy Land, whom we fliall henceforth call Capuchin fri^ 

 ars. Thefe capuchins loft no time, but immediately dif- 

 mifled the reformed Francifcans, whom we Ihall hereafter 

 diftinguifh by the name of Francifcans, fuffering only two 

 of that Order to remain at Cairo^ 



The Francifcans, thus banillied, returned all to Rome, 

 and there, for feveral years together, openly defended their 

 own caufe, infifting upon the juftice of their being repla- 

 ced in the exercife of their ancient functions. This, how- 

 ever, they found abfolutely impoffible. They were a poor 

 Order, and the intereft of the capuchins had flopped every 

 avenue of tlie facred college againft them. Finding, there- 

 fore, that fair and dire6l means could not accomplifli their 

 ends, they had recourfe to others not fo commendable, and 

 by thefe they fucceeded, and obtained their purpofe. They 

 pretended that, when the Jefuits were chafed out of Abyf- 

 fmia, a great number of Catholics, avoiding the perfecution, 

 had fled into the neighbouring countries of Sennaar and 

 Nubia ; that they flill remained, moft meritorioufly prefer- 

 ving their faith amidft the very great hardlhips inflicted 

 upon them by the infidels ; but that, under thefe hardfliips, 

 they muil foon turn Mahometans, unlefs fpiritual afliflancc 

 was fpeedily fent them. 



This reprefentation, as totally void of truth as ever fable 

 was, was confirmed by the two Francifcans, who flill re- 

 mained at Cairo by permifllon of the capuchins, or fathers 

 of the Holy Land ; and, when afterwards publiflied at Rome,. 

 i± excited the zeal of every bigot in Italy. All interefled. 

 themfelvcs in behalf of thefe imaginary Cliriflians of Nur 

 I hb.:- 



