26o TRAVELSTODISCOVER 



tenance or language, and in very few words : " Tell Kaf- 

 mati Fafil from me, that what I am obliged to do by the 

 rules of jullice, is not to be meafured either by his inclina- 

 tion or power to do wrong. Men have crucified their Sa- 

 viour ; and many kings in this country (better men than I 

 am) have been, in various manners, flain by their deluded 

 fubjedls. The race of Solomon, however, God has prefei-ved 

 till this day on the throne, where I am now fitting, while 

 nothing but the memory of thofe who opprefled them re- 

 mains loaded with the curfes of mankind. I am kinxr of 

 this country, and have often been acknowledged as fuch 

 by Kafmati Fafil. I will not give up Guiho, but at my own 

 time, if ever ; nor can he inlifl upon it, confiflently with 

 the duty of a fubje(5l to his fovereign." Noble words thefe^ 

 had he been at the head of an army to enforce them. 



This meiTage was quickly conveyed toFafil, who was ad- 

 vanced to Azazo, where it met him, and he continued his 

 march without halting till he came to Abba Samuel, about 

 two miles from Gondar. It was on the 13th of November 

 that his army made a Ihew of encamping at Abba Samuel, 

 for there was not above fix tents pitched, and next day, the 

 14th, by eight in the morning, a drum and trumpet, guard- 

 ed by about a hundred horfe, came immediately under 

 the town to the banks of the river Kahha, where the trum- 

 pet having founded three times, and the kettle-drum beat 

 as often, it was proclaimed. That all manner of perfons, of 

 what degree foever, whether fervants of the palace, or others, 

 lliould inftantly leave Gondar as they regarded their lives; 

 and if any llaid after this warning, their blood Ihould be up- 

 on their own head. The whole tov/n, therefore, in an inftanc 

 -was dcferted, and very few, even of his own fervants, remained 



with 



