THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 



o^ 



' This abrupt and confident condua of Socinios very much, 

 difconcerted Ras Athanafius. He had as yet concerted no- 

 thing with his friend Za SelafTe, and it was now late to do it. 

 There was no perfon then within the bounds of the empire 

 that fohcited the crown but Socinios, and he was now at 

 hand, and very much favoured by the foldiers. For thcfc 

 reafons, he thought it bell: to put a good face upon the mat- 

 ter in his prefent fituation. He, therefore, met Socinios as 

 required, and joined his army, as if it had been his free 

 choice, and faluted him king in the midft of repeated chear- 

 ful congratulations of both armies now united. 



Having fucceeded in this to his wifli, Socinios loft no 

 time to try the fame experiment with Za SelafTe, who was 

 then in Dcmbea, the province of which he was governor. 

 To him he fent this meffage, " That God by his grace ha- 

 ving called him to the throne of his anceftors, he was now 

 on his march to Dembea, where he requefted him to pre- 

 pare his troops to receive him, and difpofe them to deferve 

 the favoiu-s that he was ready to confer upon all of them.'^ 

 Za SelafTe remained for a while as if thunder-ftruck by 

 fo peremptory an intimation. Of all maftcrs he moft wifli- 

 ed for Jacob, becaufe, from experience, he thought he 

 could govern him. Of all mailers he moft feared Socinios,.. 

 becaufe he knew he pofTelTed capacity and qualities that 

 would naturally determine him to govern alone. After ha- 

 ving concerted with his friends, he fent Socinios anfwei%. 

 « That not having till now known any thing of his claims 

 or intentions, he had fent an invitation to Jacob into Na- 

 rea, whofe anfwcr he expc6led ; but that, in cafe Jacob did 

 not appear, he then would receive Socinios with every mark 

 ' of duty and aifedion, and hoped he would grant him the 



, fhoxz 



