THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 2 <% 



his palace, and his head to be there flruck off with an ax, 

 as a juft atonement for violated majefty. 



The king, now retired to Coga, gave his whole attention 

 to regulate thofe abufes, and repair thofe loffes, which this 

 long and bloody war had occafioncd. He had two brothers 

 by the mother's fide, men of great merit, Sela Chriftos, and 

 Emana Chriftos, deflined to ihare the principal part in the 

 king's confidence and councils. 



Bela Christos, a man of great family, who had been at- 

 tached to him fince he formed his firft pretentions to the 

 crown, was called to court to take his ihare in the glory 

 and dangers of this reign, which it was eafy to fee would 

 be a very active one ; for every province around was full 

 of rebels and independents, who had fhaken off the yoke of 

 government, paid no taxes, nor mewed other refpect to the 

 king than juft what at the moment confined with their own 

 intereft or inclination. . 



The Portuguefe foldiers, remnants of the army which 

 came into Abylunia under Chriftopher de Gama, had multi- 

 plied exceedingly, and their children had been trained by their; 

 parents in the ufe of fire-arms. They were at this time in- 

 corporated in one body under John Gabriel a veteran officer, , 

 who feems to have conftantiy remained with the king, while 

 his foldiers (at lead great part of them) had followed the for- 

 tune they thought moft likely to prevail ever fince the: 

 time of Claudius. 



Men as did not efteem them enough to keep them in his 

 army at the expence of .enduring the feditious conversations ; 



of. 



