THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. ^5 



condudb of Welleta Selafle ; but that on the 26th, early in the 

 morning, he had been furprifed by Confu and Engedan^ 

 who, without any caufe alledged, had killed and difperfed 

 all his troops, and taken from them all the horfes and mules 

 they could lay their hands on: that they after followed Wel- 

 leta Selafl'e, and had come up with him unawares, juft as 

 he entered Guefgue, had defeated him, and that Ayto En- 

 gedan, in the beginning of the fight, had flain him with 

 his own hand, by wounding him in the throat with a lance 

 when flretching out his hand to parley ; after which, they 

 had fet fire to nine villages in Guefgue, and given the plun- 

 der to their foldiers.. 



In the mean time PowufTen had not dlfregarded the re- 

 queft of Socinios. He had attempted to furprife Fafil, but 

 eould not pafs Aylo, who was at Emfras, without falling upon 

 him firft, which he did, difperfing his troops with little re- 

 finance. Upon the firft intelligence of this, Fafil proclaimw 

 ed Tecla Haimanout king ; and,ftrikinghis tents, fat down 

 at Abba Samuel, a coUcdion of villages about two miles 

 from Gondar, inviting all people, that would efcape the 

 vengeance of Ras Michael, to come and join him, and 

 leave Gondar. From this he retreated near to Dingleber, 

 on the fide of the lake, and intercepted all provifions co- 

 ming to Gondar, which occafioned a very great famine, and 

 many poor people died. 



Hitherto I had no intercourfe with Socinios, never ha- 

 ving been in his prefence, but when the Galla, the murderer 

 of Joas, was tried ; nor had I any reafon to think he knew 

 me, or cared for me more than any Greek that was in Gondar; 

 but I had a good friend at court, who waked when I llept, 



and 



