44 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



thefc, after the murder of Joas, had appeared in Gojam, re- 

 folved to try his fortune ; but he was apprehended by the 

 governor of that province, fent to Gondar, and then to Wech- 

 ne. It was faid the other was with Fafil, in Gondar ; that 

 the drum that then beat in Fafil's houfe announced his 

 fpeedy intention of making him king : all was confufion 

 within the palace, but the Ras kept up a ftridt police in the 

 town. 



It was then towards the end of November, when, by me- 

 diation of the Abuna, the Queen, and the Itchegue, peace 

 was unexpededly made between Socinios and Fafil ; the 

 latter fwearing allegiance to Socinios as to his only fovereign, 

 and the Abuna pronouncing excommunication upon either 

 of them which fliould become the enemy of the other. 

 What was the intention of this farce I never yet could learn ; 

 for the very next ddy Fafil deprived Guflio and Powuffen of 

 their governments of Amhara and Begemder, which was 

 an exprefs proof that his intention ftill was to reftore 

 Tccla Haimanout. The doors of the king's palace were again 

 immediately fhut, and figns of hoftilities commenced as be- 

 fore. 



I WAS dining with Ozoro Efther, when a meflenger ar- 

 rived from Coque Abou Barea, with a complaint to the que^n 

 that he was on his march to. Gondar, to pay his allegiance 

 to Socinios, and bring him the tribute of his province, when 

 he received a meffage from Fafd to return the greateft part 

 of his troops ; but that, defuing to be as ufeful as pofTible 

 in preventing the coming of Michael, he fo far difobcyed 

 that order as to bring with him a confiderable body of 

 the bed of his foldiers, fending the reft home under tli£ 



conduft 



