Travels in India (Tavernier) 147.7

147.7

I return to the King of Macassar, whom the reverend Jesuit fathers strove to convert, and they would possibly have accomplished their design, except for a condition which he imposed on them, and which they neglected to fulfil. For at the same time that the Jesuits laboured to draw him to Christianity, the Muhammadans on their side made equal efforts to induce him to embrace their law ; and this Prince, who wished to relinquish idolatry, not knowing well which side he should take, told the Muhammadans to summon two or three of their most accomplished Mullas from Mecca, and the Jesuits also, that they should send him an equal number of their ablest men, that he might hear them and instruct himself thoroughly in the respective religions ; both promised to do so. But the Muhammadans made more haste than the Christians, and eight months afterwards, having brought two skilled Mullas from Mecca, the King, as the Jesuits sent no one, embraced the law of Muhammad. It is true that three years afterwards two Portuguese Jesuits arrived at Macassar, but it was too late, and the King was no longer inclined to become a Christian.