THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 383 



This man had been condemned to die for an offence, 

 feme time before, by Ras Sela Chriftos ; but having fled to 

 the king, who heard his caufe,. the fentence was reverfed. 

 Some time after this he fell into the hands of the Ras,. 

 who put him to death upon his former fentence, without 

 regarding the late pardon of the king. This violent act 

 became the foundation upon which his enemies built many- 

 accufations, moftly void of truth. 



The king upon this took from him the government of 

 Gojam, and gave it to a young nobleman whofe name was 

 Serca Chriftos, fuppofed to be a friend and dependent up- 

 on the prince Facilidas. Serca Chriftos was no fooner ar- 

 rived in his government than he refolved to rebel, and 

 privately folicited the young prince Facilidas to take up 

 arms and make a common caufe againfl the king his fa- 

 ther, in favour of the Alexandrian church. At the time 

 that the young man departed to his government, Socinios 

 had earneflly recommended to him, and he had moil fo- 

 lemnly promifed, to protect the Catholic religion in his pro- 

 vince, and feemingly for this purpofe he had taken with 

 him a Jefuit named Francifco de Carvalho, 



Another affair which the king particularly charged him 

 with was, the care of a caravan which once a-year came 

 fromNarea. This, befides many other valuable articles for 

 the merchant, brought 1000 wakeas of gold as tribute to. 

 the king, equal to about 10,000 dollars, or crowns of our mo- 

 ney : its whole way. was chrough barbarous and lawlefs na- 

 tions of Galla till they arrived at the Nile ; then through*. 

 Gafats and Gongas, immediately after having palled it. 



4. S&Efi&S 



