THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 371 



This misfortune very much afFeded Socinios. Nor did 

 the Agows themfelves doubt, but that a fpeedy chaftifement 

 was to follow this vidtory over Tecla Georgis. 



There was a youth defcended of the royal family, who, 

 to preferve the freedom of his perfon, lived among the Gal- 

 la, in expe<5tation of better times. His name was Meica 

 Chriftos. To him the Agows applied, that, with this prince 

 of the houfe of Solomon at their head, they might wipe off 

 the odium of being reputed rebels, and appear as fighting 

 under a lawful fovereign for reformation of abufes. The 

 renunciation of the Alexandrian faith, forcibly obtruded up- 

 on them by Socinios, ferved as caufe of complaint. The 

 Roman Catholic writers in the hiftory of this million, fay 

 this was but a pretext, in which I conceive they are right. 

 I have lived among the Agows of Lafta, and in intimacy 

 with many of them, who are not, to this day, fo anxious 

 about Chriftianity as to afcend one of their hills for the dif- 

 ference between that and Paganifm ; and I am fatisficd, for 

 thefe 300 years laft paft there has been fcarcely a common 

 layman in Lafta that has known the diftindion between the 

 Alexandrian and the Roman church. 



In the beginning of February 1629 the king marched from 

 Dancaz towards Gojam, where he coUedted an army of 

 30,000 men, which, with the baggage, ferv^ants, and attend- 

 ants, at that time very great and numerous, amounted to 

 above 80,000 men. 



Socinios detached a number of fmall parties to cntev 

 Lafta at diflferent places. On the other hand, Melca Chriftos 

 -aflemblcd his troops on the moft inaccellibJe rocks ; whence, 



.3 A 2 Avhen 



