THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 497 



had got a very plentiful portion of bOuza from his friends, 

 and was, I faw, fad engaged in the purfuit of more, fo I gave 

 him a fmall prefent for his good news, and took my leave, 

 my mind being full of reflections upon the king's goodnefs, 

 who, after fuch an abfence, and in fo critical a fituation as he 

 then was, ftill remembered the trifling purfuits in which he 

 had feen me often engaged. 



In the afternoon I received a mefTage from Ozoro Eft her, 

 as brought to her by a fervant of Ras Michael. It feems 

 the giving up the king's revenue due from Tigre, and 

 a) I fort of taxes upon the inhabitants, had interefted the 

 whole province fo flrongly, that all of them, as one man, 

 endeavoured to remove the obftacle which flood in the way 

 of the king's return : Michael, moreover, offered peace and 

 pardon to the rebels, certain compenfations, and an amnefty 

 of all that was paft. All the friends, both of Netcho and Za 

 Menfus, and the other leaders upon the mountain, endea- 

 voured to perfuade them to accept the terms offered, whilft 

 all the priefts and hermits, eminent for fanctity, became as 

 mediators between them and Ras Michael : this intercourfe, 

 though it had no effect upon Za Menfus, had feduced Net- 

 cho, and opened a large field for treachery. 



In the midft of this treaty, Kefla Yafous, with a detach- 

 ment of chofen men, in a very flormy night, was appointed 

 to afcend up a private path to that part of the mountain 

 where Netcho kept the principal guard, and being admitted, 

 found the garrifon moftly afleep ; he furprifed and obliged 

 them to furrender, with very little bloodfhed ; Za Menfus was 

 taken prifoner, and, while Kefla Yafous conducted him to the 

 camp, was met by Guebra Mafcal, who thrufl him through 



Vol. III. 3 R with 



