T H E S Q U R C E O F T H E N I L E. 645- 



Arabic Gulf. Before they had been a month at fea, Abdul- 

 la died, as did Hamct Ali feven days after they arrived at 

 Suez. They had been on fea three months and fix days from 

 Jidda to that port, becaufe they failed againfl the monfoon. 



It was the 25th of June that Theodorus arrived at Cai- 

 ro, delivered the king's prefcnt, the account of the Abuna's 

 death, and the king's delire of having fpeedily a fuccefTor. 

 The patriarch, having called together all his biihops, 

 priefts, and deacons, conferred the dignity on a monk of 

 the Order of St Anthony, the only Order of monks the Cop- 

 tic church acknowledges. Thefe pafs a very aullere life in 

 two convents in a dreary defert, never tailing flelli, but li- 

 ving on olives, fait fardines *, wild herbs, and the woril of 

 vegetables. Yet fo attached are they to this folitude, that, 

 when they are called to be ordained to this prelature of A- 

 bylTinia, a warrant from the baflia, and a party of Turks-, 

 is necelTary to bring this eled: one to Cairo in chains, where 

 he is kept in prifon till he is ordained ; guarded afterwards, . 

 and then forced on board a vefTel which carries him to A- 

 byllinia, whence he is certain never to return. 



The Abuna departed from Suez the 20th of September; 

 the beginning of November he arrived at Jidda; in Febru- 

 ary 1745 he failed from Jidda, taking with him Abdelcader, 

 now freed from prifon ; he arrived at Mafuah the 7th of 

 March, and immediately fcnt an cxprefs to notify his arrival 

 to the king and queen, and to Ras Welled de I'Oul. Con- 

 gratulations 



* This is a fifh common in the Mec^ittiranean, of the kind of anchovies, the common food 

 of tlie galley- llaves, and lower lort of people. 



