240 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



As yet none of the chiefs of the rebels had entered Gon- 

 dar. MefTages had paiFed, but not frequently, between the 

 king and Guflio ; fewer ilill between him and PovvuiTen ; 

 as for the reft, they feemed to take no lead at all. 



On the ift of June, Gu(ho and PowufTen came both to 

 the houfe of the Ras, where they interrogated him very 

 roughly as to all his paft conduct. Till the execution of 

 Joas's murderers, he had conftantly drefled himfelf in his 

 very beft apparel, with all the infignia of command. As 

 foon as this was told him, he cloathed himfelf plainly, and 

 conflantly in white, with a cowl of the fame colour on his 

 head, like the monks, a fign he had retired from the world. 

 It feemed as if this was done through a fondnefs for life, 

 for by that a(ft he devoted the remainder of his days to ob- 

 fcurity and penitence. Nothing remarkable happened at 

 this interview, at leaft as far as was known. From thence 

 Guflio and PowufTen went to the king's palace, where they 

 jdid homage, and took the oaths of allegiance. 



It was there refolved that Guflio fliould be Ras, and 

 ^lie other places were all difpofed of. From this time for- 

 ward the king began to have a fliew of government, no 

 party having teftified any fort of difcontent with him ; on 

 the contrary, each of the rebel chiefs now waited upon him 

 feparately, and had long conferences with him ; but, what 

 bade faireft to re-eftablifli his aiitliority entirely was, the dif- 

 fentions that evidently reigned among the leaders of the re- 

 bels thcmfelves, whom we, liowever, Ihall no longer confider 

 as fuch, not becaufe their trcafon had profpered, but be- 

 caufe they were now returned to their duty. It was ftrong- 

 Jy fufpe<5ted that a treaty was on foot between Gufho and 

 2 iMichael, 



