2 5 6 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



Ras Athanasius, feeing the profperous turn that Jacob's 

 affairs had taken, renounced his oath to Socinios, and re- 

 paired to Jacob at Coga, while Socinios retired into Amhara 

 at the head of a very refpectable army, waiting an opportu- 

 nity to repay Jacob for his ambition, and Athanafius and Za 

 Selaffe for their treafon and perjury towards him. 



Although Jacob was now again feated on the throne, 

 furrounded by the army and great officers of the empire, his 

 mind was always diilurbed with the apprehenfion of Soci- 

 nios. In order to free himfelf from this anxiety, he employ- 

 ed Socinios's mother in an application to her fon, with an 

 offer of peace and friendfhip ; promifmg, belides, that he 

 would give him in property the kingdoms of Amhara, Wal- 

 aka, and Shoa, and all the lands which his father had ever 

 poffeffed in any other part of Abyffmia. Socinios fhort- 

 ly anfwered, " That what God had given him, no man 

 could take from him ; that the whole kingdom belonged 

 to him, nor would he ever relinquifh any part of it but with 

 his life. He advifed Jacob to confider this, and peaceably 

 relign a crown which did not belong to him ; and the at- 

 tempting to keep which, would involve him and his coun- 

 try in a fpeedy deflruction." 



Upon this defiance, feeing Socinios implacable, Jacob took 

 the field, and was followed by Za Selafle. But this proud 

 and indolent traitor, who never could confine himfelf with- 

 in the line of his duty, even under a king of his own choo- 

 fing, would not join his forces with Jacob, but vain-glorioufly 

 led a feparate army, fubjeet to his orders alone. In this 

 manner, having feparate camps, choofing different ground, 

 and fome times at a confiderable difiance from each other, 



they 



