THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 125 



that fell upon it in the fequel. But the Iteghe Helena, and 

 the Abuna Marcos, (now become her creature) had interefl 

 enough, notwithftanding the apparent necemties of the 

 times, to place David fon of Naod upon the throne, a child 

 of eleven years old, that they might take upon themfelves 

 the government of the kingdom ; whereas Anquo Ifrael 

 (third fon of Bseda Mariam) was of an age proper to govern, 

 and whom they would have preferred to Naod for the fame 

 reafon, merely becaufe he was then a child. 



Besides the defire of governing, another motive opera-* 

 ted, which, however good in itfelf, was very criminal from 

 the prefent circumilances. A peace with Adel was what 

 the emprefs Helena conilantly defired ; for fhe could not 

 fee with indifference the deflruction of her own country, 

 far lefs contribute to it. She was herfelf by origin a Moor^ 

 daughter of Mahomet, governor for the king in Dawaro *;... 

 had been fufpected, fo early as her hufband's time, of pre- 

 ferring the welfare of her own country to that of the king- 

 dom of Abyflinia. 



This princefs, perfectly informed of the intercfts of both 

 nations, feems, in her whole conduct, to have acted upon: 

 the molt judicious and fenfible principles. She knew the 

 country of Adel to be, by lituation and intereft, perfectly 

 commercial ; that part of Africa, the oppofite Arabia, and: 

 the peninfula of the Indies, were but three partners joined 

 in one trade ; they mutually confumed each others pro- 

 duce; they mutually contributed to export the joint produce 

 of the three countries to diflant parts of Europe, Afia, and. 

 Africa; which three continents then conilituted the whole- 

 known world. When Adel was at peace with Abyflinia^ 



then. 



