THE SOURCE OP THE NILE. 395 



time when the vidlory obtained by their prayers gave him 

 an opportunity of eftablhTiing it. The king anfwered, with 

 feeming indifference, that he had done every thing for the 

 Catholic faith in his power ; that he had fhed the blood of 

 thoufands, and as much more was to be fhed ; and ftill he 

 was uncertain if it would produce any effecT: ; but that he 

 fliould think of it, and fend him his refolutions to-morrow. 



The next day Socinios made a declaration by Za Mariam 

 to the patriarch, to this purport: "When we embraced the 

 faith of Rome, we laboured for it with great diligence, bu't 

 the people fhewed no affection for it. Julius rebelled out 

 of hatred againft Sela Chriftos, under pretence of being de- 

 fender of the ancient faith, and was flain, together with 

 many of his followers. Gabriel did the fame. Tecla Geor* 

 gis, likewife, made a league to die for the Alexandrian faith, 

 which he did, and many people with him. The fame did 

 Serca Chriftos the preceding year; and thofe peafants of 

 Lafta fight for the fame caufe at this day. The faith of 

 Rome is not a bad one ; but the men of this country do not 

 underftand it. Let thofe that like it remain in that faith, in 

 the fame way as the Portuguefe did in the time of Atzenaf 

 Segued; let them eat and drink together, and let them mar- 

 ry the daughters of Abyffinians. As for thofe that are not 

 inclined to the Roman faith, let them follow their ancient 

 one as received from the church of Alexandria," 



Upon this declaration, delivered by Za Mariam, the pa- 

 triarch inquired if it came from the king. Being anfwered 

 that it did ; after a little paufe, he returned this anfwer by 

 Emanuel Almeyda, " That the patriarch underftood that 

 both religions mould be permitted in the kingdom, and that 



3 D 2 the 



