542 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



who led the life of a drunkard, a ruffian, and a profligate, 

 but her chief fears were that Michael mould return, the 

 probability of which increafed daily. 



As for Fafil, he had hitherto anfwered the queen's invi- 

 tation to Gondar evafively, fornetimes by complaining that 

 Gulho and Powuffen had come to Gondar before him, and 

 that Gufho was made Ras ; at other times fending peremp- 

 torily to them to leave Gondar, and return to their provin- 

 ces, or he would burn the town about their ears : and the 

 laft mefiage, the day before they left the capital was, that 

 he was then on his march towards Gondar, and confented 

 to Guiho and Powuffen's flaying ; but as thefe two chiefs 

 had great reaibn to fufpect that he was in correfpondence 

 with the king and Ras Michael in Tigre, as it was known 

 to them that he had fomented disturbances both in Begem- 

 der and Amhara, they had gone with Socinios to Kofcam, 

 without drums beating, or any fort of parade whatever, and, 

 after taking leave, had the next day fet out to their refpec- 

 tive provinces. Upon another meffage from Fafil, they had 

 agreed to return to Gondar, and leave their army at Emfras; 

 but their troops, finding themfelves fo near, had diibanded, 

 and returned to their homes, leaving Guiho and Powuffen at- 

 tended only by their houfehold fervants, who, finding them- 

 felves in danger, and that Fafil was actually advancing fe- 

 cretly, left Gondar and feparated. 



Ozoro Esther's fervant (Guebra Mariam) likewife told 

 me, that Michael, as he believed, waited for nothing but 

 fome arrangement with Fafil, for that he had no enemy re- 

 maining on the eaft of the Tacazze; that his intention was 

 to return by the way of Laila, not willing to rifk the many 

 i difficult 



