3<h TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



from refpect to his female prifoner, whom he brought ia 

 triumph before Socinios to Dancaz, and was the firft meflen- 

 ger of his own victory. 



Socinios received this queen of the Greeks on his throne ; 

 but, in confideration of her infirmities, difpenfed with the 

 ceremony of proftration, conftantly obferved in Abyflinia on 

 being introduced to the prefence of the king : feeing that 

 fhe was unable to fland during the time of her interroga- 

 tion, he ordered a low flool to be fet for her on the ground ; a 

 piece of confideration very rarely fhewn to any ftranger ii* 

 Abyflinia, however great their dignity and quality. 



Socinios fternly demanded of his prifoner, " Why the 

 and her predecelfors, being vaflals to the crown of Abyfli- 

 nia, had not only omitted the payment of theii tribute, but 

 had not even fent the cuftomary prefents to him upon his 

 acceflion to the throne ?" 



To this the queen anfwered with great franknefs and 

 candour, " That it was true, fuch tributes and prefents were 

 due, and were alfo punctually paid from old times by her 

 anceftors to his, as long as protection was afforded them 

 and their people, and this was the principal caufe of paying 

 that tribute ; but the Abyflinians having flrft differed the 

 country to be in great part conquered by the Arabs, and 

 then again by the Funge, without ever interfering, fhe 

 had concluded a peace with the Funge of Sennaar, and paid 

 the tribute to them, in confequence of which they defended 

 her from the Arabs : That fhe had had nofoldiers but luch 

 ;as were employed in keeping a flrict watch over the road 

 through the defert to Suakem, which was anciently truited 



to 



