32 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



After the many promifes and engagements Fafil had 

 made and broken, without ever affigning the fmallefl; rea- 

 ibn, it may be doubted whether Socinios beheved this fair 

 tale imphcitly ; but his preicnt intention being to gain 

 Woodage, it httle fignified whether it was ftridrly true or 

 not ; he therefore received it as true. Fafd's recjueft was 

 granted to the full; and this robber, twenty times a rebel, 

 bred up in woods and deferts, in exercife of every crime 

 was appointed to a command the third in the kingdom for 

 rank, power, and riches ; and, v/hat was never before teen 

 the king went out of his palace to Deppabye, the public 

 market-place, to fee the circle of gold, called the Ras Werk, 

 put upon his head ; this, with the white and blue mantle, 

 invefts him v/ith the dignity of Kafmati, or lieutenant-ge- 

 neral of the king, in the province given him. 



A LOW man, fuch as Afaliel was, could not refift the ca- 

 relles of his fovereign ; he was entirely gained ; and, in re- 

 turn, made privately to Socinios, and a few contidents, a 

 communication of all he knew, which their natural impru- 

 dence, and private previous engagements, afterwards made 

 public. The fubilance of this confidence was, that peace 

 had been made and fworn to, in the mofl: folemn manner, 

 both by Michael and Fafd ; that they were to reltore the 

 king, Tecla Haimanout ; that they were, by their joint 

 means, to effedl, if pofhble, the ruin of Guflio and PowuiTen, 

 governors of Begcmder and Amhara ; Fafd was to enjoy the 

 pod of Ras and Betwudet, and to difpofe of the government 

 of Begemdcr and Amhara to his friends ; Ras Michael was to 

 content himfelf with the province of Tigre, as he then en- 

 joyed it, and a^dvance no further than the river Tacazzc, 

 where he was to deliver the king to Fafd, and return to his 

 2 province. 



