The publication in 1790 of Bruce's account of his travels, including his history of Ethiopia and his reference to the Jewish elements blended into the country's life and culture provoked much interest in Europe but made little impact in Jewish circles. Neither the story of the persecution and resistance under Sarsa Dengel and Susneyos nor the astonishing saga of Jewish survival in the depths of darkest Africa produced any positive reaction until, in the second quarter of the nineteenth century, in response to news which was beginning to circulate of Protestant missionary activity, a spasmodic interest was eventually aroused.