THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 253 



This abrupt and confident conduct of Socinios very much 

 difconcerted Ras Athanafius. He had as yet concerted no- 

 thing with his friend Za SelaiTe, and it was now late to do it. 

 There was no perfon then within the bounds of the empire 

 that folicited the crown but Socinios, and he was now at 

 hand, and very much favoured by the foldiers. For thefe 

 reafons, he thought it beft to put a good face upon the mat- 

 ter in his prefent fituation. He, therefore, met Socinios as 

 required, and joined his army, as if it had been his free 

 choice, and faluted him king in the midfl of repeated chear- 

 ful congratulations of both armies now united. 



Having fucceeded in this to his w T iih, Socinios loll no 

 time to try the fame experiment with Za SelafTe, who was 

 then in Dembea, the province of which he was governor. 

 To him he fent this meffage, " That God by his grace ha- 

 ving called him to the throne of his anceltors, he was now 

 on his march to Dembea, where he requefled him to pre- 

 pare his troops to receive him, and difpofe them to deferve 

 the favours that he was ready to confer upon all of them." 

 Za SelafTe remained for a while as if thunder-ftruck by 

 fo peremptory an intimation. Of all mailers he moil wifTi- 

 ed for Jacob, becaufe, from experience, he thought he 

 could govern him. Of all mailers he mofl feared Socinios, 

 becaufe he knew he pofTelTed capacity and qualities that 

 would naturally determine him to govern alone. Afrer ha- 

 ving concerted with his friends, he fent Socinios anfwer, 

 u That not having till now known any thing of his claims 

 or intentions, he-had fent an invitation to Jacob into Na- 

 rea, whofe anfwer he expected ; but that, in cafe Jacob did 

 not appear, he then would receive Socinios with every mark 

 of duty and afFe&ion, and hoped he would grant him the 



i fliort 



