-4;2 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER^ 



This vigorous procecdiag alarmed the emprefs and Iter 

 parry. They fa w that the meafure taken by Jacob would! 

 prefently lead all good men and to vers of tlieir country to 

 fupport him,, and to annihillate tlieir pOAver. They refolved ' 

 not to wait till this took, place, but inftantly to rcftore Za 

 Denghel, whom, witli great difficulty, they found hid in the 

 mountains between Gojam and Damot. And, to remove eve- 

 ry fufpicion in Za Denghel's breaft, Ras Athanaiius re- 

 paired to the palace, giving Jacob publicly, even an the 

 throne, the moft abufive and fcurriious language, calling him 

 an obftinate, ftubborn, foolhh boy, declaring him degraded 

 from being king, and announcing to his face the' coming 

 of Za Denghel to fupplant him. Jacob's behaviom: on lb 

 unexpedei! an occalion was not fuch as Athanafms's rafli 

 fpeech led to expedt. He gave a cool and mild reply to thefe 

 invedives; but,findinghimfelfentirelyin his enemy's power, , 

 without lolmg a moment, he left his palace in the night,, 

 taking the road to Samen, not doubting of fafety and protec- 

 tion if he coul4 reach his mother's relations among thofe 

 high, rocky moumains. 



Fortune at firft feemed to favour his endeavours. He: 

 arrived at a fmall village immediately in the neighbour- 

 hood of the country to which he was going * but there he 

 was difcovered and made prifoner; carried back and deli- 

 vered to Za Den gheV his rival, whom he found placed on ; 

 his throne. 



In all thefe cafes, it is the invariable, though barbarous 

 praftice of Abyffinia, to mutilate any fuch pretender to the 

 throne, by cutting off his nofe, ear, hand, or foot, as they 

 Ihali be inchned the patient fliould die or live after the oper- 



a ation, 



