2(52 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



ge ; and, for the greater folemnity, the king and Fafil took 

 a formal oath, to ratify all thefe articles, and to remain in 

 friendfliip for ever. After which, the Abuna, in pontificals, 

 being called to be prefent, pronounced a formal curfe and 

 fentence of excommunication, upon whichever of the par- 

 ties fhould firfh break the vow they had taken. 



No word was mentioned of Tigre, or Kefla Yafous, or of 

 PowuiTen, nor the fmalleil notice taken of Ras Ayabdar, who 

 remained in his houfe and office, as if he had not exiiled. 

 It appeared to me the party was again made by one half of 

 the kingdom againll the other; Kefla Yafous and Powuffen 

 againfl Fafil and Guflio ; as for Ayabdar and Ayto Tesfos of 

 Samen, thefe were left, contemptuoully in medio, to take any 

 fide they pleafcd, which, indeed, was of no confequcnce. 

 After this interview, Fafil never again entered the king's 

 houfe, though he went often to Kofcam ; but I neither faw 

 him nor fought to fee him, nor did he ever inquire after 

 me, as far as I could learn. 



On the 19th of November Fafil fent orders to the palace, 



that four bodies of the king's houfehold-troops, Gimja Bet, 



Werk Sacala, Ambafele, and Edjow, fliould immediately 



join liim, which they did, to the number of 1200 men, all 



armed. Thefe he carried, with Gufho his fon-in-Iaw, in 



triumph to Damot, nor was this the only inftance Fafil" gave 



of the great regard lie had to his late oaths, and to the fa- 



cred charader of the perfon that adminiilered them; for the 



morning he marched off, a party of the Galla, meeting the 



'"-hnna, and a numerous retinue mounted on mules, going 



he king's houfe, obliged them all to difmount at 



once, withortit diflindion, taking their mules with them to 



4 the 



