78 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



had no port, and in this he fpoke the truth, but confefTed 

 that he had been fent by Abba Salama to bring the Itchegue 

 and the Abuna to meet him the day of excommunication 

 at Dippabye. It was further unluckily proved againft him, 

 that he was prefent with his brother at ^plundering the 

 houfes in the night-time when the man was killed ; and 

 upon this he was fentenced to be immediately hanged ; 

 the court then broke up and went to breakfaft. All this had 

 palTed in lefs than two hours ; it was not quite eleven o'clock 

 when all was over, but Ras Michael had fworn he would 

 not tafte bread till Abba Salama was hanged, and on fuch 

 occafions he never broke his word. 



Immediately after this laft execution the kettle-drums 

 beat at the palace- gate, and the crier made this proclama- 

 tion, " That all lands and villages, which are now, or have 

 been given to the Abuna by the king, fhall revert to the 

 king's own ufe,and be fubjed to the government, or the Can- 

 tiba of Dembea, or fuch olficers as the king fliall after ap- 

 point in the provinces where they are fituated." 



I WENT home, and my houfe being but a few yards from 

 the palace, I pafTed the two unfortunate people hanging 

 upon the fame branch ; and, full of the cruelty of the fcene 

 I had wirnefTed, AvhichI knew.was but a preamble to much 

 more, I determined firmly, at all events, to quit this coun- 

 try. 



The next morning came on the trial of the unfortunate 



Gucbra Denghel, Sebaat Laab, and Kefla Mariam ; the Ras 



claimed his right of trying thefe three at his own houfe, as, 



they were all three fubjeds of his government of Tigre* 



/^ . Guebra 



