THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 481 



had flain the father of Guebra Mafcal, Michael's nephew 

 by marriage, who was commander in chief of all the muf- 

 quetry Michael had brought from Tigre, fo that he feared 

 nothing fo much as falling into Ras Michael's hands. 



Ras Michael faw the danger of leaving an enemy fo 

 prepared and fo lituated behind him ; he therefore, before 

 the rainy feafon was yet finilhed, ordered the whole moun- 

 tain to be furrounded with barracks, or huts, for his fol- 

 diers ; he alfo erected three houfes for himfelf, the principal 

 officers, and the king. The country people were called in 

 to plow and fow the ground in the neighbourhood, fo 

 that his intention was plainly never to rife from thence till 

 he had reduced the mountain of Aromata for the fecond 

 time, after having once before fucceeded in taking it, after 

 jifteen years fiege, from Netcho's father. There we fhall 

 leave him at this fiege, and return to Gondar. 



It was on the 10th of June that Gufho and PowufTcn 

 entered Gondar, and next day, the nth, waited upon the 

 .queen ; they both befeeched her to return from Kofcam to 

 the capital, and take into her hands the reins of government 

 for the interim : this me pofitively refufed, unlefs peace 

 was .firft made with Fafil, She faid, that Fafd was the only 

 perfon who had endeavoured to avenge his mailer Joas's 

 death; that he had continued till that day in aims in that 

 quarrel ; and, notwithstanding all the offers that could be 

 made her, fhe never would come to Gondar, nor take 

 any part in public bufinefs, without this condition. Fafil, 

 moreover, informed her by a meffenger, that there was no 

 trufl to be put either in Gufho or PowufTen ; that they had 

 failed in their engagement of following and fighting Ras 



Vol. IIL 3 P Michael 



