2S5 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



cefs on one part, fo an immediate revolution, and the death 

 of the king, was certainly to follow the mifcarriage on the 

 other, that is, fliould he be defeated in, or after making 

 the attempt. 



Troops, headed by Engedan, Ayto Confu, and by Mam- 

 nio, and all theiteghe's relations, now crowded into Kofcam, 

 into which great plenty of provifions was alfo carried. The 

 wall was high and llrong, the gates lately put into good re- 

 pair, the tower, or caftle, within in perfecfl good order ; the 

 Iteghe had not furrendered her fire-arms, and all the inha- 

 bitants around, efpecially the poorer fort, were firmly at- 

 tached to her, as in times of diftrefs and famine her charity 

 afforded them a conilant refuge. 



SiNcii. the Iteghe had returned, I always lived at Kof- 

 cam by her own defire, as her health was very precarious 

 fince her refidence in Gojam. This fuited my intention of 

 withdrawing privately, and therefore, not to multiply the 

 number of leave-takings, I had feen Gufiio but once, and 

 that for a moment, and Ayabdar not at all, fo that nay whole 

 attendance was now between the king and queen. The 

 king had denied publicly his intention of plundering Kof- 

 cam, but in a manner not at all fatisfacStory to the Iteghe ; 

 I ventured therefore to mention it to him one day when he 

 was alone, on which he faid, " I would not do it for your 

 fak^, Yagoube, were there no other reafon; but my mother 

 (meaning the Iteghe) is ill-advifed, and worfe informed." 



On the 13th of Ocftober, Powuflfen, with a very confider- 

 able army, and without any previous intimation, arrived at 

 Kofcam, his head-quarters all the laft campaign. He con- 



■^ tinned 



