462 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



bia; and pope Innocent XII. was fo convinced of the truth 

 of the flory, as to eflablifh a confiderable fund to fupport 

 the expence of this, now called the Ethiopic million, the fole 

 condud of which remains Hill with the reformed Francif- 

 cans. 



To take care of thefe fugitive Chriftians of Nubia, though 

 it was the principal, yet it was not the only charge commit- 

 ted to the fathers of his miffion. They were to penetrate 

 into Abyffinia, and keep the feeds of the Romifti faith alive 

 there until a proper time fhould prefent itfelf for convert- 

 ing the whole kingdom. 



In order to this, a large convent was bought for them at 

 Achmim, the ancient Panopolis in Upper Egypt, that here 

 they might be able to afford a refrefliment to fuch of their 

 brethren as fhould return weary and exhaufted by their 

 preaching among the Nubian confeflbrs ; and, for further 

 affiftance, they had permiifion to fettle two of their Order 

 at Cairo, independent of the fathers of the Holy Land, not- 

 withflanding the former exclulion. 



Such is the flate of this miffion at the prefent time. No 

 Nubian Chriftians ever exifted at the time of their eilablifli- 

 ment, nor is there one in being at this day. But if their 

 profelytes have not increafed, their convents have. Ach- 

 mim, Furlhout, Badjoura, and Negade are all religious 

 houfes belonging to this miffion, although I never yet was 

 able to learn, that either Heretic, or Pagan, or Mahometan, 

 was fo converted as to die in the Chriftian faith at any 

 one of thefe places ; nor have they been much troubled 

 with relieving their brethren, worn out with the toils of 



Abyffiniaii 



