344 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



Dembca, and on the other by the mountains of Begem- 

 der. 



For this purpofe he fent to Peter Paez, his ordinary con- 

 -feflbr, to come to him ; and, having told him his refolution, 

 he declared, that, in proof of the fincerity of his converfion, 

 he had put away all his wives (of whom he had feveral of 

 the firft quality, and many children by them) and retained 

 only his firft, by whom he had the eldeft of his fons, deftin- 

 ed to fucceed him in the empire. 



Paez, having received his confeffion, and public renun- 

 ciation of the Alexandrian faith, returned to Gorgora ting- 

 ing his nunc dimittis, as if the great end of his million was now 

 completed ; nor was he deceived in his prognoftication. For, 

 having too much heated himfelf with zeal in travelling, he 

 was, upon his arrival, taken with a violent fever ; and, tho' 

 every fort of remedy was adrniniftered to him by Antonio 

 Fernandes, yet he died on the third of May 1623, with great 

 demonftrations of piety and refignation, and firm conviction, 

 that he had done his duty in an active, innocent, and well- 

 fpent life. 



He had been feven years a captive in Arabia in the hands 

 of the Moors, and nineteen years mimonary in Abyflinia, 

 in the worft of times, and had always extricated himfelf 

 from the moll perilous fituations , with honour to himfelf 

 and advantage to his religion. In perfon, he was very tall 

 and flrong ; but lean from continual labour and abftinence. 

 He was red faced ; which, Tellez fays, proceeded from the 

 religious warmth of his heart. He had a very good under- 



Handing, 



