THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 4 6f 



other Order, was given to the fathers of Jerufalem, or the 

 Holy Land, whom we fhall henceforth call Capuchin fri- 

 ars. Thefe capuchins loft no time, but immediately dif- 

 miffed the reformed Francifcans, whom we fhall hereafter 

 diflinguifh by the name of Francifcans, fuffering only two 

 of that Order to remain at Cairo, 



The Francifcans, thus banifhed, returned all to Rome, 

 and there, for feveral years together, openly defended their 

 own caufe, infilling upon the juflice of their being repla- 

 ced in the exercife of their ancient functions. This, how- 

 ever, they found abfolutely impoflible. They were a poor 

 Order, and the intereft of the capuchins had flopped every 

 avenue of the facred college againfl them. Finding, there- 

 fore, that fair and direct means could not accomplifli their 

 ends, they had recourfe to others not fo commendable, and 

 by thefe they fucceeded, and obtained their purpofe. They 

 pretended that, when the Jefuits were chafed out of Abyf- 

 finia, a great number of Catholics, avoiding the persecution, 

 had fled into the neighbouring countries of Sennaar and 

 Nubia; that they flill remained, mofl meritorioufly prefer- 

 ving their faith amidfl the very great hardfhips inflicted 

 upon them by the infidels ; but that, under thefe hardfhips^ 

 they mufl foon turn Mahometans, unlefs fpiritual affiflance 

 was fpeedily fent them. 



This reprefentation, as totally void of truth as ever fable 

 was, was confirmed by the two Francifcans, who flill re- 

 mained at Cairo by permiflion of the capuchins, or fathers 

 of the Holy Land ; and, when afterwards publiflied at Rome, 

 it excited the zeal of every bigot in Italy. All interefled 

 themfelves in behalf of thefe imaginary Chriilians of Nu- 

 2 bia i 



