42 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



he never would confent to his crofling the Tacazze ; and 

 this had, with nioft people, the defired elFe<51: ; for all Gon- 

 dar loved TeclaHaimanoutas much asthe) detefledSocinios;,: 

 but the bloodflied, and cruelty that would certainly attend 

 Michael's coming, inade them wii'h for any government that 

 would free them from the terror of that event. Un the 

 other hand, Socinios, though now perfectly perfuaded of 

 Fafd's motives, had not deferted his own caufe; he had 

 fent Woodage Afahel, fortified with all his authority, in- 

 to Maitllia, in order to raife a commotion there ; ordered it 

 to be proclaimed to the whole body of Galla in that pro- 

 vince, that if they would come to Gondar, and prevent the 

 arrival of Ras Michael, and bring their Bouco (or fceptre) 

 along with themj they fhould have the eledion of their 

 own governor, and not pay any thing to the king for feven 

 years to come ; and, befides, he had ordered Powuflen of 

 Begemder to endeavour, by a forced march, to furprife Fafil,, 

 then at Gondar, attended by a few troops. Mean time, he 

 diflembled the beflhecould; but, as he hadvery fhrewdpeople 

 to deal with, it was more than probable his fecret was early 

 difcovered. 



Every hand being now armed, and all meafures taken, as 

 far as human forefight could reach, it was impoffible to de- 

 fer any longer the coming to blows in fome part or other. 

 On the aid, at night, advice was received from Adera Tacca 

 Georgis, an officer of Fafd in Maitlha, that he had attack- 

 ed Woodage Afahel, who had collecled a number of troops, 

 and was endeavouring to raife commotions ; and, after an 

 obRinate combat, he had defeated him, and llain or wound- 

 ed moil of his followers i that Afahel himfelf, wounded 

 twice with a lance, had, by the goodnefs- of his horfe, efcap- 

 ed, and joined Powuflen in Begemder. 



These 



