234 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



feveral other leading men among the Tigrans. If the devil 

 can fpeak true, here furely was one example of it, Gondar 

 that very day had proved fatal to the Ras ; and Kefla Ya- 

 fous himfelf told me, long after Michael was gone, and all 

 was peace, that having vifited him that very evening he left 

 Debra Berhan, Michael had privately upbraided him with 

 having prevented his burning the town, and told him, that 

 his guardian fpirit, Saint Michael the archangel, or the de- 

 vil, or whatever we may pleafe to call it, had left him, and 

 never appeared to him again fmce he had pafled the river 

 Tacazze on his return to Gondar ; and to this he attribu- 

 ted his prefent misfortunes. 



All the king's arms were furrendered with the reft, and 

 Kefla Yafous was the only man that remained unfubdued, 

 a diftinftion due to his fuperlative merit, and preferved to 

 him by his enemies themfelvcs in the very heat of con- 

 quefl. 



As for the Ras, he had continued in the houfe belonging 

 to his office, vifited only by fome private friends, but had 

 fent Ozoro Eflher to the heghe's at Kofcam, as foon as he 

 entered Gondar. He ate, drank, and flept as ufual, and rea- 

 foned upon the event that had happened with great equa- 

 nimity and fceming indifference. There was no appearance 

 of guards fet upon him ; but every motion and look were 

 privately, but llricflly watched. The next day, when he 

 heard how ill his difarmed men were treated by the popu- 

 lace, when, they were difmilTed to Tigre, he burfl into tears, 

 and cried out in great agony, Had I died before this I had 

 been happy. He played no more at drafts, by which game 

 formerly he pretended to divine the ifllie of every affair of 



confequence, 



