THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 79 



they did not absolutely join her in her views, ihewed her, 

 however^ more encouragement than was flrictly confiflent 

 with their allegiance. From thefe ihe applied to fome of 

 the principal officers of ftate, and to thofe about the king, 

 the bell affected to her fon and his fucceffion. Thefe, aware 

 of the evil tendency of her fcheme, firft' advifed her, by 

 every means,, to lay it afide ; and afterwards, feeing flie ftill 

 periilled, and afraid of a difcovery that would involve her 

 accomplices in it, they difclofed the matter to the king him- 

 felf, who refented the intention fo heinoufly, that he order- 

 ed the queen to be beaten with rods till Ihe expired. Her 

 body afterwards was privately buried in a church dedica- 

 ted to the Virgin Mary, not far from Debra Berhan *. 



Nothing had hitherto appeared to criminate the young 

 prince. But it was foon told the king, that, after the death 

 of the queen, her fon Bseda Mariam had taken frankincenfe 

 and wax-tapers from the churches, which he employed, at 

 ftated times, in the observation of the ufual folemnities over 

 his mother's grave. The king, having called his fon before 

 him, began to queftion him about what he had heard; 

 while the prince, without hefitation, gave him a full account 

 of every circumftance, glorying in what, he faid, was his 

 duty, and denying that he was accountable to any man on 

 earth for the marks of affection which he mewed to his 

 mother. 



The king, confidering his fon's justification as a reproach 

 made to himfelf. for cruelty, ordered the prince, and, with 



him. 



*' Another church on a hill, one of the quarters of Gondar. It fignifies the Hill of Glory, 

 n Brightnefs, 



