6y6 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



The king's army marched, under the command of his 

 uncle Brulhe, to take pofTeffion of his government ; it was 

 with much difficuky, indeed, that Joas could be kept from 

 appearing in perfon, but he was left under the infpedlion 

 and tuition of his uncle Lubo, at Gondar. Brulhe made 

 very flow advances ; his army feveral times aflembled, as 

 often difbanded of itfelf ; and near a year was fpent before 

 he could move from his camp on the lake Tzana, with a 

 force capable of fliewing or maintaining itfelf in Begemder, 

 from the frontiers of which he was not half a day's journey. 



Mariam Barea remained all this time inacSlive in Be- 

 gemder, attending to the ordinary duties of his office, with 

 a perfecfl: contempt of Brulhe and his proceedings. But, in 

 the interim, he left no means untried to pacify the king, 

 and. difluade him from a meafure he faw would be ruinous 

 to the Hate in general. 



Mariam Barea, though young, had the prudence and 

 behaviour of a man of advanced years. He was efteemed, 

 wi'hout comparifon, the braveft foldier and bell general in 

 the kingdom, except old Suhul Michael, his hereditary rival 

 and enemy. But his manners were altogether dilferent 

 from thofe of Michael. He was open, chearful, and unre- 

 ferved ; liberal, even to excefs, but not from any particular 

 view of gaining reputation by it ; as moderate in the ufe of 

 vidtory as indefatigable to obtain it ; temperate in all his 

 plcafures ; eafily brought to forgive, and that forgivennefs 

 always fmcere ; a fteady obferver of his word, even in trifles ; 

 and diftinguiflied for two things very uncommon in Abyf- 

 iinia, regularity in his devotions, and conftancy to one wife, 

 which never was impeached. In his lall rcmonfli*ance, af- 

 ter 



