S4 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



by Gojam ; on the eaft and north by the Abay or Nile, and 

 the lake : this is Maitfha proper ; but by extenfion it com- 

 prehends a large tradl on the weft fide of the Nile, which 

 begins by Sankraber on the north, and is bounded by the 

 Agows on the weft, comprehending Atcheffer and Aroofli 

 to the banks of the Nile. This is the Maitftia of the books, 

 'but is not properly fo. 



Maitsha is governed by ninety-nine Shums, and is an 

 appendage of the oftice of Betwudet, to whom it pays two 

 thoufand ounces of gold. The people are originally of 

 ithofe Galla weft of the Abay. Yaibus the Great, when at 

 war with that people, who, in many preceding reigns, had 

 laid wafte the provinces of Gojam and Damot, and efpecial- 

 ly Agow, when he pafled the Abay found thefe people at 

 variance among thernfelves ; and the king, who was every- 

 where vicftorious, being joined by the weakcft, advanced to Na- 

 xea, and, on bis return, tranfplanted thefe Galla into Maitflia, 

 placing part of them along the Nile to guard the pafles. 

 His fucceiTors at different times followed his example; 

 part they fettled in Maitfha, and part along the banks of 

 the Nile in Damot and Gojam, where being converted to 

 Chriftianity, at leaft to fuch Chriftianity as is profeiTed in 

 Abyffinia, they have increafed exceedingly, and amotinted, 

 at leaft before the war in 1768, to 15,000 men, of whom a- 

 bout 4000 are horfemen. 



The capital of Maitfha is Ibaba. There is here a houfe 

 ■or fmall caiUe belonging to the king. The town is one of 

 the largeft in Abyffinia, little inferior to Gondar in fizt or 

 riches, and has a market every clay ; this is governed by an 

 officer called Ibaba Azage,whofe employment is worth Coo 

 3 ounces 



