P R E F A C K ■ xxi 
A prieft of the Propaganda, a native of Egypt, 
and confequently poffefling every advantage of lan- 
guage and local knowlege, during my abfence to 
the Southward, had endeavoured to penetrate into 
Abyflinia. Having reached Sennaar, he was dif- 
fuaded by the people of that city from attempting 
to proceed. Unmindful of their reprefentations he 
profecuted his journey, but was aflaflinated between 
Sennaar and Teawa. 
The Propagandifts had a fingle miffionary, a na- 
tive of Habbejh^ at Gondar^ and fly led Bijhop of 
Adel^ but concealing himfelf under the exterior 
of a phyfician. In 1796, the order at Kahira 
told me that they had received no authentic intel- 
ligence concerning him during feveral years pre- 
ceding. 
At Suez, March 1793, I met an Armenian mer- 
chant, who had formerly traded to Abyffinia, and 
feemed a man of intelligence. He told me that he 
was at Gondar while Bruce was there, and that 
Yakub was univerfally talked of with praife. This 
c mer- 
