260 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



multiplied, otherwife than by the acceffionof vagrants and 

 fugitives, whom they get from both kingdoms. They are 

 generally under the command of the governor of Kuara, and - 

 were fo when I was in Abyffinia, though they refufedt 

 to follow their governor Coque Abou Barea to fight a* 

 gainft Michael, but whether from fear or affection J know- . 

 not ; I believe the former^ 



The governor -of Kuara -is one of the great officers of 

 ftate, and, being the king's lieutenant-general, has abfoluce 

 power in his province, and carries fendlck and nagarert. His 

 kettle-drums are filver, and his privilege is to beat thefe 

 drums even in marching through the capital, which no 

 governor of a province is permitted to do, none but the 

 king's nagareets or kettle-drums being fuffered to be beat 

 there, or any where in a town where the king is ; but the 

 governor of Kuara is intitled to continue beating his drum$ 

 till he comes to the foot of the outer flair of the king's 

 palace. This privilege, from fome good behaviour of the 

 firft officer to whom the command was given, was confer- 

 red upon the poft by David II. called Degami Daid, who 

 conquered ■ the province from the Shepherds^ its old inhabit 

 tants. 



Naua, and Ras el Feel, Tchelga, and on to Tcherkin, is a 

 frontier wholly inhabited by Mahometans. Its government 

 is generally given to a ftranger, often to a Mahometan, but 

 one of • that faith is always deputy-governor. The ufe of 

 keeping troops here is to defend the friendly Arabs and 

 Shepherds, who remain in their allegiance to AbyfTmia, from 

 the refentment of the Arabs of Sennaar, their neighbours ; 

 and, by means of thefe friendly Arabs and Shepherds, fecure 



a con-. 



