o 



THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 26, 



Kis palace, and his head to be there ftrlick off' with an ax, 

 as a juil atonement for violated majefty. 



The king, now retired to Coga, gave his whole attention 

 to regulate thofe abufes, and repair thole loflcs, vhich this 

 long and bloody war had occafioncd. He had two brothers 

 by the mother's fide, men of great merit, Sela Chriftos, and 

 Emana Chriftos, deftined to fhare the principal part in the 

 king's confidence and councils. 



Bela Christos, aman of great family, who had been at- 

 tached to him fince he formed his firft pretenfions to the 

 crown, was called to court to take his fhare in the glory 

 and dangers of this reign, which it was eafy to fee would 

 be a very adive one ; for every province around was full 

 of rebels and independents, who had fliaken off the yoke of 

 government, paid no taxes, nor fliewed other refpccft: to the 

 king than jufl: what at the moment confilled with their own 

 intereft or inclination. 



The Portugue-fe foldiers, remnants of the army which ■ 

 came into Ab) ffmia imder Chriftophcr de Gama, had multi- 

 plied exceedingly, and their children had been trained by their 

 parents in the ufe of fire-arms. They were at this time in-: 

 corporated in one body under John Gabriel a veteran officer, 

 who feems to have conftantly remained with the king, while 

 his foldiers (at leafl: great part of them) had followed the for- 

 tune they thought moll likely to prevail ever fince the. 

 time of Claudius. 



Menas did not eftcem them enough to keep them in his 

 axmy at the expence of enduring the feditioi.is convcrfations •■ 



of- 



