1843.] and the Abyssinian Church. 727 



suddenly sounded through the streets of Gendar, as the herald announc- 

 ed the following proclamation to the empire. 



" Listen and hear, we formerly recommended to you the adoption of the 

 Roman Catholic creed, on the firm conviction, that it was the only true 

 one ; but numbers of our subjects having sacrificed their lives for the 

 religion of their ancestors, and we henceforth accord its free exercise 

 unto all. Let the priests resume possession of their churches, and 

 worship the God of their forefathers. Farewell and rejoice." 



It is not possible to describe the rapture with which this welcome 

 edict was received. The praises of the emperor resounded from every 

 quarter. 



The rosaries and the chaplets of the Jesuits were tossed out of 

 doors and burnt in a heap. Men and women danced for joy in the 

 streets, and the song of liberation burst from the lips of the disen- 

 thralled multitude. 



" The flock of Ethiopia has escaped from the hyenas of the West. 

 The doctrine of ist. Mark is the column of our Church. 

 Let all rejoice, and sing Hallelujah; 

 For the sun of our deliverance has lighted up the land." 



Sunscus did not long survive this victory over himself, for a slow 

 fever carried him off during the month of September of the same year, 

 and his son Basilides was called to the throne. His first act was the 

 suppression of a conspiracy raised against him by the Jesuits, who were 

 in consequence deprived of their arms and munitions of war, and exiled 

 from Maignagna. The obstinate prelate long refused to submit to this 

 order, until his effects having been plundered by the banditti, he also, 

 after destroying the pictures and sacred utensils of the church, withdrew 

 from the province for ever. 



Still the fathers had not relinquished all hope of exciting disorder 

 in Ethiopia, and finding their profit in the troubled waters. Entering 

 into a treaty with the rebellious chieftain Johannes Akayus, upon con- 

 dition of protection, they promised liberal supplies from India, both of 

 money and Portuguese soldiers ; but the emperor being soon made ac- 

 quainted with the arrangement, expelled and commanded them to 

 repair forthwith to Massowah. 



The banished foreigners lay for some time concealed among the 

 mountains, awaiting the expected succours from Goa ; but the Patriarch 



