THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 125 



that fell upon it in the fequel. But the Iteghe Helena, and 

 the Abuna Marcos, (now become her creamre) had interefl 

 enough, notwithflanding the apparent neceffities of the 

 times, to place David fon of Naod upon the throne, a child 

 of eleven years old, that they might take upon themfelves 

 the government of the kingdom ; whereas Anquo Ifrael 

 (third fon of Bseda Mariam) was of an age proper to govern, 

 and whom they would have preferred to Naod for the fame 

 reafon, merely becaufe he was then a child. 



Besides the defire of governing, another motive opera- 

 ted, which, however good in itfelf, was very criminal from 

 the prefcnt circumllanccs. A peace with Adel was whaj 

 the emprefs Helena conflantly dcfired ; for fhe could not 

 fee with indifference the deflrudtion of her own country, 

 far lefs contribute to it. She was herfelf by origin a Moorj 

 daughter of A4ahomet, governor for the king in Dawaro ;. 

 had been fufpei5led, fo early as her hulband's time, of pre- 

 ferring the welfare of her own country to tha.t of the king- 

 dom of Abyffmia.. 



This princefs, perfedly informed of the interefts of botk 

 nations, feems, in her whole condu(5l, to have acTied uporx 

 the moll judicious and fenfible principles. She knew the 

 country of Adel to be, by fituation and intereft, perfe6tly. 

 commercial ; that part of Africa, the oppofite Arabia, and 

 tlie peninfula of the Indies, were but three partners joined 

 in one trade ; they mutually confumed each others pro- 

 duce; they mutually contributed to export the joint produce 

 of the three countries to diftant parts of Europe, Afia, and 

 Africa ; which three continents then conftituted the whole 

 known world. When Adel was at peace with Abyffmia,. 



then; 



