THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 385 



This man had been condemned to die for an offence, 

 fome time before, by Ras Sela Chriftos ; but having fled to 

 the king, who heard his caufe, the fentence was reverfed. 

 Some time after this he fell into the hands of the Ras, 

 who put him to death upon his former fentence, without 

 regarding the late pardon of the king. This violent adt 

 became the foundation upon which his enemies built many 

 accufations, mollly void of truth. 



The king upon this took from him the government of 

 Gojam, and gave it to a young nobleman whofe name was 

 Scrca Chriftos, fuppofed to be a friend and dependent up- 

 on the prince Facilidas. Serca Chriftos was no fooner ar- 

 rived in his government than he refolved to rebel, and- 

 privately folicited the young prince Facilidas to take up 

 arms and make a common caufe againft the king liis fa- 

 ther, in favour of the Alexaadrian church. At the time 

 that the young man departed to his government, Socinios. 

 had earneftly recommended to him, and he had moft fo- 

 lemnly promifed, to protedt the Catholic religion in his pro- 

 vince, and feemingly for this purpofe he had taken with 

 him a Jefuit named Francifco de Carvalho. 



Another affair which the king particularly charged him' 

 with was, the care of a caravan which once a-year came: 

 from Narea. This, belides many other valuable articles for' 

 the merchant, brought 1000 wp.keas of gold as tribute to 

 the king, equal to about 10,000 dollars, or crowns of our mo- 

 ney : its whole way was through barbarous and lawlefs na^ 

 tions of Galla till they arrived at the Nile ; then througli. 

 Gafats and. Gongas, immediately after having pailcd it, 



4 Seeca' 



