TRAVELS IN ABYSSINIA* 
85 
eular, of one story above another, was considered 
by the whole nation as little short of a miracle. 
A missionary possessed of the abilities and in- 
formation of Payz, could not be long of gaining an 
ascendancy over a rude and illiterate monarch. By 
address and persuasion, he effected, in a few days, 
what the threats and violence of his predecessors 
had vainly attempted during a series of years. The 
king not only professed himself a convert to the 
Romish faith, but made it the established religion 
of his dominions, which it continued to be for a long 
series of years. It is to be regretted, that we do 
not possess the journal of a missionary so much su- 
perior in intelligence to any of those who either 
went before, or succeeded him. His manuscripts 
are said to have been widely circulated among the 
Jesuits, so that they are probably still in existence, 
though they have never been published. Some of 
his observations only are recorded by Tellez, to 
whom they were transmitted by Almeyda. 
Payz found the emperor at Ondegere, on the 
banks of his " celebrated and native Nile," near the 
place where it falls into the lake of Dembea. Here 
he held his array al or camp, in which consisted all 
the court of Ethiopia, and all that could be reckon- 
ed a capital. It was enclosed within two large cir- 
cles, formed by a stone wall, and a lofty hedge ; 
and within were a number of houses, built partly 
of stone, and partly of clay, with roofs of straw. 
