THE SOURCE OF THE NILE, 269 



king, who ordered it to be expofed on the lance whereon 

 it was fixed, in the moll confpicuous place in the front of 

 his palace. 



This was the end of Ras Za Selafle, a name held in dc- 

 teftation to this day throughout all Abyffinia. Though his 

 death was juft fuch as it ought to have been, yet, as it was 

 in an advanced time of life, he Hill became a hurtful ex- 

 ample, by fliewing that it was poflible for a man to live to 

 old age in the continual prad:ice of murder and treafon. 



He was of low birth, as I have already obferved, of a Pa- 

 gan nation of Troglodytes, of the lowefl efteem in AbylTi- 

 nia, employed always in the meaneftand mod fcrvilc occu- 

 pations, in which capacity he ferved firft in a private fami- 

 ly. Being obierved to have an a(5live, quick turn of mind, 

 he was preferred to the fervice of Melee Segued, upon 

 wliofc death he was fo much efteemed by his fon Jacob, 

 for the expertnefs and capacity he fliewed in bufmefs, that 

 he gave him large pofTefTions, and appointed him after- 

 wards to fcveral ranks in the army ; having regularly ad- 

 vanced through the fubordinate degrees of military comr 

 mand, always with great fuccefs, he was made at laft ge- 

 neral ; and being now of importance fuflicicnt to be able to 

 ruin his benefaaior, he joined Ras Athanafius, who had rcr 

 belled againft Jacob, by wdiom he was taken prifoner, and, 

 being mercifully dealt with, only banhhed to Narea. From 

 this difgraccful fituation he was freed^by Za Denghel, who 

 conferred upon him the moll lucrative important employ- 

 ment in the Hate. In return, he rebelled againll Za Den- 

 ghel ; and at Bartcho deprived him of his kingdom and life. 

 Upon Jacob's acceliion he was appointed Betwudet, the firll 



place. 



