656 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



he defcended along the Tacazze into Atbara, where, finding 

 no refiftance among the Shepherds, he attached himfelf in 

 particular to the tribe called Daveina, which, in the former 

 expedition, had joined Welled de I'Oul's army. Upon the 

 fn-fl news of his approach they had fubmitted ; but, notwith- 

 llanding all promilcs and pretences of peace, he fell upon 

 them unawares, and almoll extirpated the tribe. 



SuHUL Michael, while the king was thus occupied in 

 the frontier of his province, did every thing that a faithful, 

 active fubjec^ could do. He furnifhed him conftantly with 

 the beft intelligence, fupplied him with the provifions he 

 wanted, and made, from time to time, ftrong detachments 

 of troops to reinforce him, and to fecure fuch polls as were 

 moll commodious and important in cafe of a retreat beco- 

 ming neceffary, 



Yasous, whohad fuccceded to his wifh, was fully fen- 

 iible of the value of fuch fervices, and fent, therefore, for 

 Michael, commanding his attendance at Gondar. There was 

 no fear, no hefitation now, as before in the affair of Sama- 

 yat. He decamped upon the firft notice, even before the 

 rainy feafon was over, and arrived at Gondar on Augufl 30th 

 1747, bringing with him plenty of gold; few foldiers, in- 

 deed, "but thofe picked men, and in better order, than the 

 king had ever yet feen troops. 



It was plain itow to everybody, that nothing could Hop 

 Michael's growing fortune. He alone feemed not fenfiblc 

 of this. He was humbler and lefs afluming than before. 

 Thofe whom he had firll bribed he continued ilill to bribe, 

 and added as many new friends to that lift as he thought 



could 



