THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 



397 



ter Paez, in moderation, charity, perfeverance, long-ftif- 

 fering, and peace ; extended and maintained afterwards 

 by blood and violence beyond what could be expected from 

 heathens, and thrown down by an exertion of the civil power 

 in its own defence, againft the encroachments of prieft- 

 hood and ecclefiaftical tyranny, which plainly had no other 

 view t. an, by annihilating the conftitution under its native 

 prince, to reduce Abyfhnia to a Portuguefe government, as 

 had been the cafe with fo many independent Hates in In- 

 dia already. 



This proclamation was made on the 14th of June 1632. 

 After this Socinios took no care of public affairs. He had 

 been for a long time afflicted with various complaints, e- 

 fpecially fince the laft campaign in Lafta ; and affairs were 

 now managed by prince Facilidas in his father's place, 

 though he did not take upon him the title of King. E- 

 mana Chriflos, brother of Sela Chriflos, a fleady Alexan- 

 drian, and Guebra Chriflos, were then made governors of 

 Laita and Begemder ; but no fleps were taken in this inter- 

 val againft the Jefuits. 



On the 7th of September the king died, and was buried 

 with great pomp, by his fon Facilidas, in the church of Ga- 

 neta Jefus, which he himfelf had built, profefling himfelf 

 a Roman Catholic to the laft. The Portuguefe hiftorians 

 deny both his refignation of the crown, and his perfeverance 

 in the Roman Catholic faith to his death, but this apparently 

 for their own purpofes. 



He was a prince remarkable for his ftrength of body ; of 



great courage and elevation of mind ; had early learned the 



4 exercife- 



