THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 689 



own chair, and excufed himfclf for ufing the fame liberty 

 of fitting, only on account of his own lamencfs. 



The king halted one entire day to feaft this royal guelL 

 He was an old man of few words, but thofe very inoffenfive, 

 lively, and pleafant ; in Ihort, Ras Michael, not often accuf- 

 tomed to fix on favourites at firft fight, was very much taken 

 with this Lafta fovereign. Magnificent prefents were made 

 on all fides ; the prince of Zague took his leave and return- 

 ed ; and the whole army was very much pleafed and enter- 

 tained at this fpecimen of the good faith and integrity of 

 their kings. 



He had now confiderably advanced through his own 

 country, Lafta, which was in the rear, when he was met by 

 Alio Fafil returning from his plundering the low country, 

 who, without provocation, from motives of pride or avarice, 

 fell unawares upon the innocent, old ma 1, whofe attend- 

 ants, fecure, as they thought, under public faith, and ac- 

 coutred for parade and not for defence, became an eafy fa- 

 crifice, the prince being the firft killed by Alio Fafil's own 

 hand. 



Fasil continued his march to join the king, beating his 

 filver kettle-drums as in triumph. The day after, Ras Mi- 

 chael, uninformed of what had pafiTed, inquired who that 

 was marching with a nagareet in his rear ? as it is not al- 

 lowed to any other perfon but governors of provinces to 

 tifc that inftrument; and they had already reached the 

 camp. The truth was prefently told ; at which th^ 

 Ras {hewed the deepeft compunction. The tents were al- 

 ready pitched when Falil arrived, who, riding into Michael's 



Vol. II. 4 S tent, 



