238 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



but one glafs more to break before they arrived at thofc 

 in the alcove where the king was fitting. 



I WAS in great fear of the confequences, as they were 

 about thirteen or faurteen in number ; nor did we know 

 how many more of their companions might be below, or 

 in the town, or of what party they were, nor whether re- 

 finance on our part was lawful. We three had no arms but 

 a fhort knife at our girdle, nor had the king any, fo that 

 we were in the greateft fear that, if their humour of break- 

 ing the glalTes had continued when they came near the 

 king, he w^ould ilrike one of them, and we fliould be all 

 maffacred : We all three therefore got up and flood before 

 the king, who made a gentle motion with his hand, as if 

 to fay, " Stay a little, or, have patience." At this inftant, 

 Tenfa Chriftos, (a man of confiderable authority in Gondar, 

 who was underdood by Gufho to be trufted with the care 

 of the town, though he had no name or poll, for there was 

 yet no form of government fettled,) hearing the Galla had 

 plundered houfes, and gone into the palace, followed them 

 as fall as poffible, with about a hundred flout young men 

 belonging to Gondar, v/ell- armed. The Galla foon fav/ 

 there was a more ferious occupation awaiting them, and 

 ran out to the great hall of the king's chamber, called 

 Adcraflia, when one of thefe foldiers of Gondar fliut the 

 door of the room where the king fat. The Galla at firfl 

 made a fliew of refiftance; but two of them being very much 

 wounded, and feeing themfelvcs in a houfe where they did 

 not know their way, and all affiftance from their comrades 

 impoffible, they furrendered their arms ; they then were 

 tied two and two, and fent in this manner down to Guflio's 



3 , camp, 



