6g2 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



all thofe diftrids within a day's march of the place through 

 which he pafTed ; and, upon this not being readily complied 

 with, he burnt the houfes to the ground, and llaughtered 

 the inhabitants. Woggora, the granary of Gondar, full of 

 rich large towns and villages, was ail on fire before him ; 

 and that capital was filled with the miferable inhabitants, 

 ftript of every thing, flying before Ras Michael as before an 

 army of Pagans. The king's underftanding was now reftored 

 to him for an inftant. ; he faw clearly the mifchicf his 

 warmth had occafioned, and was truly ienfible of the ralh 

 flep he had taken by introducing Michael. But the dye was 

 caft ; repentance was no longer in feafon ; liis all was at ftake^ 

 and he was tied to abide the ifTue. 



Michael, with his army in order of battle, approachetf 

 Gondar with a very warlike appearance. He dcfcended 

 from the high lands of Woggora into the valleys which fur- 

 round the capital, and took pofTeffion of the rivers Kahha^ 

 and Angrab, which run through thcfc valleys, and which 

 alone fupply Gondar with water. He took pod at every 

 entrance into the town, and every place commanding thofe 

 entrances, as if he intended to befiege it. This condu<5l 

 ftruck all degrees of people with terror, from the king and 

 queen down to the lowed inhabitant. All Gondar pafTed 

 an anxious night, fearing a general mallacre in the morn- 

 in'3- ; or that the town would be plundered, or laid under 

 fome exorbitant ranfom, capitation, or tribute. 



But this v/as not the real dcfign of Michael ; he intended 

 ro terrify, btu to do no more. He entcredGondai- eavly in the 

 morning, and did homage to the kiny; in the moft rcfpcdt- 

 iul manner. He v/as inveftcd with the charge ot Ras by 



\ Jpas; 



