THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 9^^ 



young king had imbibe<i in the fchool of Michael, but for 

 natural talents he certainly was the firil of the three. 



Apartments in the palace, and a table, were affigned to- 

 Amha Yafous, and he was ferved by the king's fervants as 

 well as his own; a guard was appointed at his door, the offi- 

 cer of which attended to receive his orders and take the 

 word daily. This was the manner of receiving illuftrious 

 ftrangers in ray time at Gondar. Anthule, a Greek, mailer 

 of the king's wardrobe, was ordered from time to time to 

 bring him clothes of the fame kind with thofe the king 

 wore. All the Ozoros, or noble women at court, fell vio- 

 lei)rly in love with Amha Yafous, as fame reported, except 

 Ozoro lillher. The young prince had not a grain of cold- 

 nefs nor indifference in his nature ; he carried himfelf, 

 wherever he went, with honourable, attentive, and decent 

 gallantry. But his chief attention was paid to Welleta Se- 

 lafle ; nor was Ras Michael jealous, nor, as public report: 

 went, was Welleta SelafTe unkind. I was often in the even- 

 ings in his parties at her houfe ; a fixed, never-changing me- 

 lancholy hung upon her face ; deep, and involuntary fighs 

 efcaped from her under vifible conllraint: it did not appear 

 to me poffible this could have been her behaviour, if in ac- 

 tual enjoyment of fuccefsful love ; or that, after having gra- 

 tified it, fhe could have put in execution that defperate re- 

 fblution whicli apparently jQie had then formed in her 

 mind, 



Amha Yasous was fon of a filler of Guilio ; itwas faidi 

 afterv^ards that he had a commiffion from his father, go- 

 vernor of Shoa, to detach Guflio, if poflible, from his alliance 

 withPowuiTen, and bring him back to his allegiance to the 



