THE SOURCE OF THE N ^L E. 51 



du6lor. Through his country is the only pafTage from Tigre 

 to Begemder and Beleffen, and many armies have periflied 

 by endeavouring to force it. Michael and the king now paflt 

 ed under the protection of Guigarr, notwithftanding Povvruf- 

 fen had many parties among the other clans that wiflied to 

 prevent him. On the 15th of December he forded the Ta- 

 cazze, and turned a little to the left, as if he intended to 

 pafs through the middle of Begemder, though he had real- 

 ly no fuch defign, but only to bring Powuffento an engage- 

 ment. Seeing this w^as not likely, and only tended to wafte 

 time, he purfued his journey ilraight tow^ards Gondar, not 

 in hii ufual way, burning and delb-oying, but quietly, cor- 

 recSting abufes, and regulating the police of the country 

 through which he pafled, for he was yet in fear. 



The news of his having pafTed the Tacazze determined 

 Socinios and the Iteghe to fly ; and they fet out according- 

 ly. Sjcinios dirc6led his flight, firft towards Begemder, but, 

 the next day, turned to the right, through Dembea, and 

 joined the queen at Azazo, where great altercations and 

 difputes followed between them. The queen had engaged 

 the Abuna to attend her, and that prelate had confented, up- 

 on receiving fifteen mules and thirty ounces of gold, which 

 were paid accordingly : But v/hen the queen fent, the morn- 

 ing of her departure, to put the Abuna in mind of his pro- 

 mife, his fervants ftoned the Iteghe's meflcnger, without 

 fuffering him to approach the houfe, but they kept the 

 mules and the gold. The queen continued her flight to 

 Degwafla, near the lake Tzana, and fent all that Avas va- 

 luable that ihe h?.d brought with her, into the ifland 

 of Dek. 



G 2 Ayto 



