588 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER- 



Although David had given his permiflion to aflemble 

 the clergy to hear the Abuna's declaration, he did not think 

 himfelf bound to ailift at it, and, therefore, he fent to the ■ 

 monks of Debra Libanos, and thofe of Abba Euftathius, to 

 go to the Abuna with Betwudet Georgis, w^ho fhould inter*- 

 rogate the Abuna, and report the anfwer to the king, who 

 thereupon would order it to be proclaimed to the peoplci 

 The monks of Debra Libanos refufed this, as they did not 

 confider Georgis as indifferent, being known to be ailaunch ■ 

 Euftathian. They declai-ed, therefor^ they would neither 

 hear nor regard what the Abuna faid, unlefs it was in the 

 king's prefence ; and this was juft what David was refolvedi 

 not to humour them in, . 



Betwudet Georgis, the great officers of Hate, and moll 

 of the people of confideration about Gondar, waited upon 

 the Abuna as the king had commanded ; and the Betwudet 

 having defired him to make his profeffion, he would only 

 give this evafive anfwer, That his faith was in all refpec^s the 

 fame as that of Abba Marcos and Abba Sanuda, the ancient' 

 and orthodox Abunas. 



This anfwer left. every party at liberty to imagine that 

 the Abima was their own. But this evafion did not content 

 the king, who therefore ordered the Betwudet, without ta- 

 king further notice of the Abuna, to make proclamation in 

 terms of, the profeffion of the monks of . Abba Euftathius, 

 This occafioned great heats among the monks of Debra 

 Libanos. They ran all with one accord to the Itchegne's 

 houfe, for he is their general, or chief of their convent^ 

 and here they came to the moft violent refolutions, decla-. 

 ling that they would die cither together, or man by man, 



in. 



