THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 307 



and diligent in raifing this fabric, he had not neglected the 

 advancing of another, the converfion of Abyilinia to the 

 obedience of the fee of Rome. 



Ras Sela Christos (if we believe thefe miflionaries) had 

 converted himfelf, by reading with attention the Abyffinian 

 books only. Being about to depart from Gojam to fight a- 

 gainft the Galla, he wanted very much to have made his 

 renunciation and confeflion in the prefenceof Peter Paez. 

 But, as he was bulled at Gorgora building a convent and 

 palace there, he contented himfelf with another Jefuit, Fran* 

 cifco Antonio d'Angelis ; and, being victorious in his expe- 

 dition, he gave the fathers ground and a fum of money to 

 build a monaftery at Collela, which was now the third in 

 Abyilinia belonging to the Jefuits. 



As for the king, though probably already determined 

 in his own mind, he had not taken any Hep fo decilive as 

 could induce the compliance of others. Difputes were con- 

 ilantly maintained, for the moll part in his prefence, be- 

 tween the miflionaries and the Abyflinian monks, chiefly 

 concerning the long-agitated queftion, the two natures in 

 Chrift, in which, although the victory declared always in 

 favour of the Jefuits, if we may credit their reprefentations„ 

 no conviction followed on the part of the adverfaries. At 

 laft Abuna Simon complained to the king, that unufual and 

 irregular things had been permitted without his knowledge; 

 that difputes upon articles of faith had been held without 

 calling him, or his being permitted to give his clergy the 

 advantage of his fupport in thefe controverfics. 



-Qj\ 2 The 



