THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 239 



camp, who immediately ordered two of them to be hanged, 

 and the reft to be whipt and difmilTed. 



Tensa Christos, after having done this good fervice, 

 came into the room to the king, and killed the ground in 

 the ufual manner before him. The king immediately or- 

 dered him to rife, gave him his hands to kifs, and then per- 

 mitted him to withdraw, without having faid one word in 

 his commendation for having deUvered him from fo great 

 a danger. That fame day, a Uttle after noon, a party of 

 foldicrs was fent into the town, who apprehended Shalaka 

 Becro and his fon ; Nebrit Tecla, and his two fons ; two fons 

 of Lika Netcho a prieft, and another man, whofe name I 

 have forgot, in all eight perfons, natives of the province of 

 Tigre, dependants and fervants of Ras Michael, and mur- 

 derers of the late king Joas. Thefe being brought to the 

 market-place, were delivered into the hands of the Edjow 

 Galla, formerly Joas's guard. Becro and his fon were hewn 

 to pieces with knives ; Nebrit Tecla's fons, the eldeil rivPc,. 

 and then the youngeft, were thruft through with lances ; 

 and their father being then brought to them where they 

 lay, and defused to fay if he knew who they were, and an- 

 fwering in the negative, he was immediately cut to pieces, 

 as were the others, with great circumftances of cruel- 

 ty, and their mangled bodies thrown about the ftreets, 

 Thefe were all the executions which followed this great 

 and fudden revolution ; a proof of very exem.plary mode- 

 ration in the conquerors, confidering the number of people 

 concerned in the parricide firft, and the confequential rebel- 

 lion after. Lika Netcho, in particular, fully as guilty as his 

 fons, was neverthelefs fpared, becaufe he had married one 



of the king's relations. 



As 



