53 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



Ayto Engedan and Confu were at hand at the head of 

 large parties fcouring'the country, at once proteding the 

 Iteghe, and fecuring as many of thofe of Sociyios's people 

 as were thought worthy of punifhment. Sanuda, too, was 

 in arms ; and, throwing off the mafk, was now adling under 

 the immediate direction of Ras Michael, and had apprehend- 

 ed many of thofe noblemen of Tigre who hadrevolted againft 

 the Ras, particularly Guebra Denghel, married to Ras Mi- 

 chael's grand-daughter, defcended from one of the noblell 

 houfes in the province, and a man particularly diftinguiflied 

 for generofity, opennefs, and affability of manners ; and 

 Sebaat Laab and Keila Mariam, men of great confideration in 

 Michael's province. Confu and Sanuda having joined, en- 

 tered Gondar, and took poffeffion of the king's houfe, and 

 put a flop to thefe exceffes and robberies which had become 

 very frequent fmce the Iteghe's flight. 



One day, while I was fitting at Kofcam, Yafme enter- 

 ed the court before the houfe, and, coming into the room, 

 fell down and kiffed the ground before me, after the 

 manner they falute their fuperior. He told me he came 

 from Ayto Confu, who ordered him to do homage to me as 

 ufualfor the province of Ras el Feel, and that I was to come 

 to him dire^lly, and go out to meet the king, for feveral of 

 his people were already arrived at Gondar. I fent him back 

 to Ayto Confu with my refpecflful thanks, declined accept- 

 ing of any office till I ffiould fee the king ; and, as he him- 

 felf had named the place to be Mariam Ohha, I thought it 

 was my duty to Hay till he came there. 



In the mean time the imfortunate Socinios continued 

 his flight, in company with the q^ueen, till they came to 



the 



