THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 29 



months, to perfift in flaying longer at fuch a feafon in this 

 country was equal to the condemning them to death. 



Gimmel-eddin, moreover, the new-appointed governor, 

 infilled with Amda Sion, that he was able enough himfelf 

 to keep all the tributary provinces in peace, and true alle- 

 giance to the king ; but if, on the contrary, the king chofe 

 to eat them up with a large army living conflantly among 

 them, as well as upon every pretence laying them waile with 

 the fwordin the manner he was now doing, he could not be 

 anfwerable for, nor did he believe they would be able to pay 

 hmij the tribute he expected from them. But the king, who 

 faw the motives both of his officers and of the Moorifh go-* 

 vernor, continued firm in his refolutions. He fharply re- 

 proved both Gimmel-eddin andliis army for their want of 

 discipline, and defire of idlenefs, and ordered the officers to ac- 

 quaint their men, that, if they were afraid of rains, he would 

 carry them to Add, where there were none ; that, for his part, . 

 he made a refolution, which he would keep mofl fleadily, 

 never to leave his camp and the field while there was one 

 village in his own dominions that did not acknowledge hirm 

 for its fovereign. . 



Accordingly on the 13th day of June 13 16, immediately;, 

 after this declaration, heflruck.his tents, and marched into: 

 Samhar, to difappoint, if poflible, the confederacy that fome; 

 of the principal Moorifh ftates had entered into againfl him,, 

 which were agreed, one by one, to harrafs his camp by night, 

 and, after having obliged him to retreat to Shoa in diforder, to 

 give him battle there before he had time to refrefhhis troops.. 

 The authors of this confpiracy were feven in number, Adel, 



Mara,. 



