He was received by the ecclesiastics with bitter denunciations.

For a time, no one dared to acknowledge himself a Protestant, though many Mohammedans called upon him, and seemed to appreciate his very intelligent and gentlemanly conversation and manners.
Subsequently a papal priest, to whom, in former years, he had given a Bible, joined himself to the missionary, and patiently endured severe persecution.

But the most encouraging case was that of an influential merchant named Meekha.

He was originally an Armenian, and, thirty years before had become a Papist, and carried over one hundred houses with him.

He was the champion of the papal party.