^74 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER: 



Just before Kaijmati Ayo had refigned Begemder to his 

 fon, and retired to private life, two fcrvants of Michael had 

 fled with two fwords, which they ufed to carry before him, 

 claiming the protection of Kafmati Ayo. Michael had claim- 

 ed them before the king, who, loath to determine between 

 the two, not being at that time inlligated by Galla, had ac- 

 cepted the propofal of Michael to have the matter of right 

 tried before the judges ; but, upon his refignation of the 

 province, and retiring, the thing had blown over and been 

 forgotten. 



Soon after this acceflion of Mariam Barea, Michael inti- 

 mated to him the order the king had given that the judges 

 fliould try the matter of difference between them. Mariam 

 Barea refufed this, and upbraided Michael with meannefs 

 and prollitution of the dignity he bore, to confent to fubmit 

 liimfelf to the venal judgment of weak old men, whofe con- 

 fciences were hackneyed in prejudice or partiality, and al- 

 ways known to be under the influence of party. He put 

 Suhul Michael in mind alfo, that, being both of them the 

 king's lieutenant-generals, rcprefentatives of his perfon in 

 the provinces they governed, noble by birth, and fokUers 

 by profeffion, they had no fuperior but God and their fove- 

 reign, therefore it was belov/ them to acknowledge or re- 

 ceive any judgment between them unlefs from God, by an 

 appeal to the fword, or from the king, by a fentence inti- 

 mated to them by a proper ofliccr ; that Suhul Michael might 

 choofc either of thcie manners of deciding the difference- 

 as flTiould feem beft unto liim ; and if he chofe the latter, of 

 abiding by the fentence of the king, he would then reftorc 

 him the fwords upon the king's firft command, but he de- 

 Tpifcd the judges, and difowned their jurifdidion. 



This 



