THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 371 



This misfortune very much affected Socinios. Nor did 

 the Agows themfelves doubt, but that a fpeedy chaftifement 

 was to follow this victory over Tecla Georgis. 



There was a youth defcended of the royal family, who, 

 to preferve the freedom of his perfon, lived among the Gal- 

 la, in expectation of better times. His name was Melca 

 Chriftos. To him the Agows applied, that, with this prince 

 of the houfe of Solomon at their head, they might wipe off 

 the odium of being reputed rebels, and appear as fighting 

 under a lawful fovereign for reformation of abufes. The 

 renunciation of the Alexandrian faith, forcibly obtruded up- 

 on them by Socinios, ferved as caufe of complaint. The 

 Roman Catholic writers in the hiftory of this million, fay 

 this was but a pretext, in which I conceive they are right. 

 I have lived among the Agows of Lafta, and in intimacy 

 with many of them, who are not, to this day, fo anxious 

 about Chriftianity as to afcend one of their hills for the dif- 

 ference between that and Paganifm ; and I am fatisfied, for 

 thefe 300 years lafl paft there has been fcarcely a common 

 layman in Lafta that has known the diftinction between the 

 Alexandrian and the Roman church. 



In the beginning of February 1629 the king marched from 

 Dancaz towards Gojam, where he collected an army of 

 30,000 men, which, with the baggage, fervants, and attend- 

 ants, at that time very great and numerous, amounted to 

 above 80,000 men. 



Socinios detached a number of fmall parties to enter 

 Lafta at different places. On the other hand, Melca Chriftos 

 affembled his troops on the moft inacceflible rocks ; whence, 



3 A 2 when 



