288 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



mitted to Socinios, and were armed, only thereby to exempt 

 themfelves from payment. 



Sela Christos fell upon the inhabitants of the moun- 

 tainous diftri(5l of Gufman, on the Nile, whofe principal 

 ftrong-hold, Ouree Amba, he forced, killing many, and carry- 

 ing away their children as flaves, which, upon the inter- 

 ceffion of Peter Paez, were given to the Jefuits to be educa- 

 ted as Catholics. 



The next attempt was upon the Gongas, a black Pagan 

 nation, with which he had the fame fuccefs ; the reft were 

 the Agows, a very numerous people, all confederates and 

 in arms, and not willing to hear of any compolition. The 

 king ordered one of thefe tribes, the ZalabalTa, to be extirpa- 

 ted as far as poffible, and their country laid wafte. But 

 notwithftanding this example, which met with great inter- 

 ruption in the execution, the Agows continued in rebellion 

 for feveral years afterwards, but much impoverifhed and 

 leffened in number by variety of victories obtained over 

 them. 



The two next years were fpent in unimportant fkirmifh- 

 es with the Agows of Damot, and with the Galla, invaders 

 ofGojam. In 1615, the year after, Tecla Georgis made go- 

 vernor of Samen, and Welled Hawaryat, fhum of Tfalemat"'', 

 w^ere both fent againft a rebel who declared himfelf compe- 

 titor for the crown. His name was Amdo. He pretended 

 to be the late king Jacob, fon of Melee Segued ; and this 

 chara6ler he gave himfelf, without the fmalleft communi- 

 cation 



A low territory at the foot of Lamalmon. 



