THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 



109 



"Samur BaSha was a man of capacity and temper ; he had 

 "been in poSFeSIion of Mafuah ever Since the year 1558. He 

 faw his own evident interest in the meafure, and appeared 

 full as forward as the Baharnagafh to complete it. Ifaac ce- 

 ded Dobarwa to the bafha, and put him into immediate pof- 

 feilion of it, and all the low country between that andMafuah. 

 By this acquifirion, the Turks, before mailers of the fea-coaft, 

 became poSTeSTed of the whole of the flat country correfpon- 

 ding thereto, as far as the mountains. Dobarwa is a large 

 trading town, Situated in a country abounding with provi- 

 sions of all kinds which Mafuah wanted, and it was the key 

 of the province of Tigre and the high land of Abyfnnia. 



Men as, at his acceflion, had received kindly the compli- 

 ments of congratulation made by the Portuguefe patriarch, 

 Oviedo. But hearing that he Hill continued to preach, and 

 that the effect, of this was frequent divifions and animo- 

 fities among the people, he called him into his prefence, 

 and Strictly commanded him to defift, which the patriarch 

 positively refuSing, the king loft all patience, and fell vio- 

 lently upon him, beating him without mercy, tearing his 

 clothes and beard, and taking his chalice from him, that he 

 might prevent him from faying mafs. He then baniShed 

 him to a defert mountain, together with Francis Lopez, 

 where for feven months he endured all manner of hard- 

 ships. 



The king, in the mean time, published many rigorous 

 proclamations againft the Portuguefe. He would not per- 

 mit them to marry with AbySIinians. Thofe that were 

 already married he forbade to go to the Catholic churches 

 with their hufbands ; and, having again called the patriarch 



Vol. II, D d into 



