THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 241 



' In the mean time, he was at the head of a confiderable 

 band of foldiers ; had affifted Fala Chriftos, governor of Go- 

 jam, in defeating the Galla, who had over-run that province; 

 and, by his courage and condudt that day, had left a ftrong 

 imprefllon upon the minds of the troops that he would foon 

 become the moll capable and active foldier of his time. 



The queen and her two fons-in-law being difappointed 

 in their attempt upon Socinios, were obliged to take the on- 

 ly ftep that remained in their choice, which was to appoint 

 the infant Jacob * king, a child of feven years old, and put 

 him under the tutelage of Ras Athanafius. 



The cmprefs Mariam Sena, and her two fons-in-law, had 

 gained to their party Za Selafle, a perfon of low birth, na^ 

 tive of an obfcure nation of Pagans, called Gurague, a man 

 efteemed for bravery and conduct, and beloved by the fol- 

 diers; but turbulent and feditious, without honour, grati- 

 ,tude, or regard, cither to his word, to his fovcreign, or the 

 interefts of his country. 



Jacob had fufFered patiently the direction of thofc that 

 governed him, fo long as the excufe of his minority was a 

 good one. But being now arrived at the age of 17, he began 

 to put in, by degrees, for his Ihare in the direction of affairs; 

 and obferving fome fteps that tended to prolong the govern- 

 ment of his tutors, by his own power he banilhed Za Sclaf- 

 fe, the author of them, into the diftant kingdom of Narea. 

 Vol. II. Hh This 



* The name of infant-king feenis to have been given as a nick-name in Abyffiaia, and is pre- 

 ferredto this day. 



