348 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



the enemies of Sela Chriftos, had begun to entertain fufpi- 

 cion of his loyalty, and had deprived him of the govern- 

 ment of Gojam and the Agows. Finding, after an examina- 

 tion, there was no perfon that was qualified to bring this 

 affair to a happy ifTue but Sela Chriftos, he replaced him in 

 his government of Gojam, giving him, at the fame time,, 

 orders to march againft the fon of Gabriel into Amhara* 



This command of the king, Ras Sela Chriftos foon com- 

 plied with, and, upon his firft appearance in that province, 

 the rebel retired to a high mountain which he made his place 

 of arms, the top producing both provifions and water fuffU 

 cent to maintain a large garrifon. 



The Ras, feeing that force availed nothing, had recourfe 

 to the ufual trap thefe rebels fall into. Weary of confine* 

 ment on the mountain, fenfible that he was by himfelf too 

 weak to leave it, while fuch an enemy expected him below,, 

 he accepted the friendfhip of the neighbouring Galla, who 

 offered to join him in fuch numbers as to enable him to 

 defcend from the mountain, and try his fortune in a battle. 

 The treaty was concluded, and the junction no fooner ef- 

 fected, than the faithlefs Galla, before gained by the Ras, 

 fell upon the fon of Gabriel with their clubs, and killed him 

 on the fpot, having fo mangled his body that fcarce a piece 

 was referved to fend to his enemy.. 



The joy this victory occafioned at court met with a great 

 addition by the arrival of the Romifh patriarch. It has been 

 before obferved, that the king had himfelf wrote letters to 

 the pope and king of Spain, declaring his intentions to turn 

 Catholic. Peter Faez, Antonio Fernandes, and the other 



4 prieftX 



