630 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



court, Geta was preferred to the government of Begemder, 

 Ayo, though avowedly a good fubjed of the king, was de- 

 termined not to be made a facrifice to a party. He there- 

 fore refufed to refign his government, and prepared to de- 

 fend himfelf. 



Upon this, Adero, governor of Gojam, with the whole 

 forces of that province, pafled the Nile, and entered Begem- 

 der ; Geta on the fide of Samen, and laft of all Welled de 

 rOul marched with a royal army to join the forces that had 

 already begun to lay wafle the country, where unufual 

 exceffes were committed. Ayo's houfe was burned to the 

 ground, fo were all thofe of his party, and their lands de- 

 flroyed, greatly to the general damage of the province and 

 capital. Ayo was now obliged to fave himfelf by flight. It 

 was faid, that the king (though his army was ready) refu- 

 fed to march againft Ayo ; but with a party of his own fet 

 out for Aden, on the frontiers of Sennaar, to hunt there ; 

 nor did he, return till the executions were over in Begem- 

 der. 



Adero fell back to Gojam, and Welled de I'Oul to Gon- 

 dar foon after. The king himfelf appeared very much con- 

 tented with his own expedition, in which he had fhown 

 great dexterity and bravery, having killed two young ele- 

 phants, and a gomari, or hippopotamus, with his own hands. 

 Nor did he ftay any time at Gondar, or make any prefer- 

 ments, the ufual confe(}uences of vicftories, but prepared 

 again for another hunting-expedition, or an attack upon 

 the Shangalla, The queen and Welled de I'Gul oppofcd 

 -ilrongly his refolution. But Yafous fecmed to be weary of 

 i)eing governed. He was fall advancing to manhood, and 



of 



