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r their security in the neighbouring villages； or set up their tents； everybody flies to some shelter； as well to avoid the unwholesomeness as the violence of the rain。 The thunder is astonishing； and the lightning often destroys great numbers； a thing I can speak of from my own experience； for it once flashed so near me； that I felt an uneasiness on that side for a long time after； at the same time it killed three young children； and having run round my room went out； and killed a man and woman three hundred paces off。 When the storm is over the sun shines out as before； and one would not imagine it had rained； but that the ground appears deluged。 Thus passes the Abyssinian winter； a dreadful season； in which the whole kingdom languishes with numberless diseases； an affliction which； however grievous； is yet equalled by the clouds of grasshoppers； which fly in such numbers from the desert； that the sun is hid and the sky darkened； whenever this plague appears； nothing is seen through the whole region but the most ghastly consternation； or heard but the most piercing lamentations； for wherever they fall； that unhappy place is laid waste and ruined； they leave not one blade of grass； nor any hopes of a harvest。
God； who often makes calamities subservient to His will； permitted this very affliction to be the cause of the conversion of many of the natives； who might have otherwise died in their errors； for part of the country being ruined by the grasshoppers that year in which we arrived at Abyssinia； many； who were forced to leave their habitations； and seek the necessaries of life in other places； came to that part of the land where some of our missionaries were preaching； and laid hold on that mercy which God seemed to have appointed for others。
As we could not go to court before November； we resolved； that we might not be idle； to preach and instruct the people in the country； in pursuance of this resolution I was sent to a mountain； two days' journey distant from Maigoga。 The lord or governor of the place was a Catholic； and had desired missionaries； but his wife had conceived an implacable aversion both from us and the Roman Church； and almost all the inhabitants of that mountain were infected with the same prejudices as she。 They had been persuaded that the hosts which we consecrated and gave to the communicants were mixed with juices strained from the flesh of a camel； a dog； a hare； and a swine； all creatures which the Abyssins look upon with abhorrence； believing them unclean； and forbidden to them； as they were to the Jews。 We had no way of undeceiving them； and they fled from us whenever we approached。 We carried with us our tent； our chalices； and ornaments； and all that was necessary for saying mass。 The lord of the village； who； like other persons of quality throughout Aethiopia； lived on the top of a mountain； received us with very great civility。 All that depended upon him had built their huts round about him； so that this place compared with the other towns of Abyssinia seems considerable； as soon as we arrived he sent us his compliments； with a present of a cow； which； among them； is a token of high respect。 We had no way of returning this favour but by killing the cow； and sending a quarter smoking； with the gall； which amongst them is esteemed the most delicate part。 I imagined for some time that the gall of animals was less bitter in this country than elsewhere； but upon tasting it； I found it more； and yet have frequently seen our servants drink large glasses of if with the same pleasure that we drink the most delicious wines。
We chose to begin our mission with the lady of the village； and hoped that her prejudice and obstinacy； however great； would in time yield to the advice and example of her husband； and that her conversion would have a great influence on the whole village； but having lost several days without being able to prevail upon her to hear us on any one point； we left the place； and went to another mountain； higher and better peopled。 When we came to the village on the top of it； where the lord lived； we were surprised with the cries and lamentations of men that seemed to suffer or apprehend some dreadful calamity； and were told； upon inquiring the cause； that the inhabitants had been persuaded that we were the devil's missionaries； who came to seduce them from the true religion； that foreseeing some of their neighbours would be ruined by the temptation； they were lamenting the misfortune which was coming upon them。 When we began to apply ourselves to the work of the mission we could not by any means persuade any but the lord and the priest to receive us into their houses； the rest were rough and untractable to that degree that； after having converted six； we despaired of making any farther progress； and thought it best to remove to other towns where we might be better received。
We found； however； a more unpleasing treatment at the next place； and had certainly ended our lives there had we not been protected by the governor and the priest； who； though not reconciled to the Roman Church； yet showed us the utmost civility； the governor informed us of a design against our lives； and advised us not to go out after sunset； and gave us guards to protect us from the insults of the populace。
We made no long stay in a place where they stopped their ears against the voice of God； but returned to the foot of that mountain which we had left some days before； we were surrounded； as soon as we began to preach； with a multitude of auditors； who came either in expectation of being instructed； or from a desire of gratifying their curiosity； and God bestowed such a blessing upon our apostolical labours that the whole village was converted in a short time。 We then removed to another at the middle of the mountain； situated in a kind of natural parterre； or garden； the soil was fruitful； and the trees that shaded it from the scorching heat of the sun gave it an agreeable and refreshing coolness。 We had here the convenience of improving the ardour and piety of our new converts； and； at the same time； of leading more into the way of the true religion： and indeed our success exceeded the utmost of our hopes； we had in a short time great numbers whom we thought capable of being admitted to the sacraments of baptism and the mass。
We erected our tent； and placed our altar under some great trees； for the benefit of the shade； and every day before sun…rising my companion and I began to catechise and instruct these new Catholics； and used our utmost endeavours to make them abjure their errors。 When we were weary with speaking； we placed in ranks those who were sufficiently instructed； and passing through them with great vessels of water； baptised them according to the form prescribed by the Church。 As their number was very great； we cried aloud； those of this rank are named Peter； those of that rank Anthony。 And did the same amongst the women； whom we separated from the men。 We then confessed them； and admitted them to the communion。 After mass we applied ourselves again to catechise； to instruct； and receive the renunciation of their errors； scarce allowing ourselves time to make a scanty