THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 



373 



<ftrant of obedience, and a relaxation in difcipline in the 

 whole army. Each of the detachments, therefore, one after 

 the other, left their poll from different excufes, and returned 

 home. The bad confequence of this was now experienced. 

 The Agows entered Begemder fpreading defolation every- 

 where. Melca Chriftos, no longer fculking among the rocks 

 of Lafta, planted his ftandard upon the plain, within five, 

 days march of the capital where the king was rending. 



The jealoufies that had arifen between Socinios and his 

 brother-in-law Sela Chriftos, had been fo much aggravated 

 fince the oath adminiftered by the patriarch, that the king 

 had again deprived him of Gojam, fuffering him to live in 

 obfeurity in Damot, and among the Agows, occupied, as 

 the Jefuits fay, in the converfion of that Pagan people, by 

 deftroying their idols,, which they reprefent to be a fpecies 

 of cane or bamboo *, and in forbidding the ceremonies of 

 adoration and devotion, which at Hated times they paid to 

 the river.. 



No remedy could be propofed, but the prefence of Sela 

 Chriftos, who, upon the firft warning, joined the king, and 

 coming fuddenly upon the army of Lafta occupied in lay* 

 ing wafte the low country of Begemder, gave them fuch an 

 overthrow that fumciently compenfated the firft lofs of the 

 king, and forced them again to take refuge among their 

 ftrong-holds in Laita.. 



A". MIS-. 



*' Called by the Agpvrs, Kribaha. 



