73 6 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



overcame them by furprife and ftratagem ; and that an- 

 other clan, the Denguis, in like manner maintained 

 the war againft Facilidas, Hannes I. and Yafous II. all of 

 them active princes. Their riches, however, are ftill great- 

 er than their power, for though their province in length is 

 no where 60 miles, nor half that in breadth, yet Gondar and 

 all the neighbouring country depend for the neceflaries of 

 life, cattle, honey, butter, wheat, hides, wax, and a number 

 of fuch articles, upon the Agows, who come conftantly in 

 fucceffion, a thou fan d and fifteen hundred at a time, loaded 

 with thefe commodities, to the capital. 



As the dependence upon the Agows is for their produce 

 rather than on the forces of their country, it has been a 

 maxim with wife princes to compound with them for an ad- 

 ditional tribute, inftead of their military fervice ; the ne- 

 ceflities of the times have fometimes altered thefe wife 

 regulations, and between their attachment to Fafil, and af- 

 terwards to Ras Michael, they have been very much redu- 

 ced, whereby the llate hath fufFered. 



It will naturally occur, that, in a long carriage, fuch as 

 that of" a hundred miles in fuch a climate, butter mull 

 melt, and be in a flate of fufion, consequently very near 

 putrefaction ; this is prevented by the root of an herb, cal- 

 led Moc-moco, yellow in colour, ard in fhape nearly re- 

 fenhling a carrot : this they bruife and mix with their but- 

 ter, and a very fma'il quantity preferves it frefh for a confi- 

 derable tunc; and this is a great faving and convenience, for, 

 fuppofing fair was employed, it is very doubtful if it would 

 anfwer the intention ; befidcs, fait is a money in this coun- 



4 t r ^ 



