THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 609 



moll general opinion was, that it was a kind of covenant 

 with the queen, by which Ihe pardoned him this temporary 

 aHenation of his perfon, for this fecurity, that he was to 

 give her no rival in his confidence. Indeed, his own tem- 

 per led him naturally to eftrange himfelf from every inti- 

 mate conneaion, that could pretend to any lawful jQiare 

 with him in government. And this had gone fo far, that 

 he fent his wife, favourite as fhe was, and his fon Yafo'us, to 

 the low, hot, and unwholefome province of Walkayt, the 

 ordinary place to which Hate criminals were baniihed, in 

 ordx^r that they might be under the eye of Ain Egzie,a con- 

 fidential fervant of his, and governor of that province. It 

 is true this was done without any mark of difguft ; and the 

 queen returned immediately by his own command ; but 

 Yafous ftaid at Walkayt with Ain Egzie, till he was four 

 years old, without the king his father having fhewn any 

 anxiety for his return. 



The queen's firfl care was to call her brothers to cou^^ 

 The eldeft. Welled de I'Oul, had been a favourite of the late 

 king, and occupied under him a very confiderabie poft in 

 the palace. Geta, her fecond brother, was a man of flow 

 parts, but efteemed a good foldier ; being covetous, he was 

 not a favourite of the people, and lefs fo of the king. The 

 third was Eflit-e, (pronounced in that country Shitti); he was 

 amiable, liberal, aflable, and brave, but rather given to in- 

 dolence and pleafure, which alone hindered him from 

 being a good ftatefman and general. He was a kind friend 

 to ftrangers, a good maflcr, and placable enemy ; ilcdfaft to 

 his promife, and on all occaiions a lover of truth ; a quality 

 fo very rare in Abyflinia, that it was faid there had not 

 been one in this refpecT: like him fmcc the time of Yafous 

 Vol. IL 4 h the 



