THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 269 



king, who ordered it to be expofed on the lance whereon 

 it was fixed, in, the moil confpicuous place in the front of 

 his palace. 



This was the end of Ras Za Selafle, a name held in de- 

 teftation to this day throughout all Abyflinia. Though his 

 death was juft fuch as it ought to have been, yet, as it was 

 in an advanced time of life, he ftill became a hurtful ex- 

 ample, by mewing that it was poilible for a man to live to 

 old age in the continual practice of murder and treafon. 



He was of low birth, as I have already obferved, of a Pa- 

 gan nation of Troglodytes, of the loweft efleem in Abyfli- 

 nia, employed always in the meanefland moft fervile occu- 

 pations, in which capacity he ferved firft in a private fami- 

 ly. Being obferved to have an active, quick turn of mind* 

 he was preferred to the fervice of Mclec Segued, upon 

 whofe death he was fo much efteemed by his fon Jacob, 

 for the expertnefs and capacity he fhewed in bufmefs, that 

 he gave him large pofleflions, and appointed him after- 

 wards to feveral ranks in the army ; having regularly ad- 

 vanced through the fubordinate degrees of military com- 

 mand, always with great fuccefs, he was made at laft ge- 

 neral ; and being now of importance fufficient to be able to 

 ruin his benefactor, he joined Ras Athanafius, who had re- 

 belled againfl Jacob, by whom he was taken prifoner, and, 

 being mercifully dealt with, only banifhed to Narea. From 

 this difgraceful fituation he was freed by Za Denghel, who 

 conferred upon him the moft lucrative important employ- 

 ment in the ftate. In return, he rebelled againft Za Den- 

 ghel ; and at Bartcho deprived him of his kingdom and life, 

 Upon Jacob's acceflion he was appointed Betwudet, the firft 



place 



