THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 75 



be underllood : I therefore faid, in the fame low tone of 

 voice he had fpoke to me, High-treafon is punKhed with 

 death in all the countries I have ever known. — This I owed 

 to Abba Salania, and it was not long before 1 had my return. 



Abba Salama next went into the murder of Kafmati Efhte, 

 which he confelTed he was the promoter of. He fuid the 

 Iteghe, with her brothers and Ayto Aylo, had all turned 

 Franks, fo had Gufho of Amhara ; and that, in order to 

 make the country Catholic, they had fent for priells, who 

 lived with them in confidence, as that frank did, pointing to 

 me : that it was againll the law of the country, that I fliould. 

 be fufFered here ; that I was accurfed, and Ihould be iloned 

 as an enemy to the Virgin Mary, There the Ras interrupt- 

 ed him, by faying, Confine yourfelf to your own de- 

 fence ; clear yourfelf firft, and then accufe any one you 

 pleafe: it is the king's intention to put the law in execution 

 againfl all offenders, and it is only as believing you the 

 greatefl that he has begun with you» 



This calmnefs of the Ras feemed to difconcert the Acab 

 Saat ; he loll all method ; he warned the Ras that it was ow- 

 ing ta his excommunicating Kafmati Elhte that room was- 

 made for him to come to Gondar ; without that event this 

 king would never have been upon the throne, fo that he 

 had ilill done them as much good by his excommunications 

 as he had done them harm : he told the Ras, and the judges 

 that they were all doubly under a curfe, if they offered 

 either to pull out his eyes, or cut out his tongue ; and pray- 

 ed them,buriUng into tears, not fo much as to think of either, 

 if it was only for old fellowlhip, or friendfliip which had 

 long fubfifted between them. 



K 2 There 



