THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 381 



earth. The intended cataflrophe, then, of this fingular am- 

 haflador was remitted; but the truth of his miffion was be- 

 lieved by the populace, and raifed great fcruples in ever/ 

 weak mind. 



The many misfortunes that had lately befallen the troops 

 of the king were accounted as fo much increafe of power 

 to the rebel Melca Chriftos, who, encouraged by the corre- 

 fpondence he held with the chiefs of the Alexandrian reli- 

 gion, began now to take upon him the ilate and office of a 

 king. His firft eiTay was to fend, as governor to the province 

 of Tigre, a fon of that great rebel Za SelalTe, whofe manifold 

 treafons, we have already feen, occafioned the death of two 

 kings, Za Denghel and Jacob. 



AscA Georgis was then governor of Tigre for Socinios, 

 a man of merit and valour, but poor, and though related to 

 the king himfelf, had very few foldiers to be depended on» 

 excepting his own fervants, and two bodies of troops which 

 the king had fent him to maintain his authority, and to keep 

 his province in order. 



The new governor, fent by the rebel Melca Chriftos, liad" 

 with him a confiderable army ; and, knowing the weakncfi 

 of Afca Georgis, he paraded through the province in the 

 utmoll fecurity. 



One Saturday which, in defiance of the king's edic^, he 

 was to folemnize as a feftival equal to Sundav, he h 'd r^- 

 folved on a party of plcafure in a valley, where, much at 

 his eafe, he was preparing an entertainment for his 'roops, 

 and. friends, and fuch of the province as came to oiler their.- 



2. obLdience;- 



