4*8 TRAVEL S TO D I SCO V E R 



The king then took a journey; of a^very extraordinary 

 nature, and .fuch as Abyfunia had never before feen. At- 

 tended only by his nobility, of whom a great number had 

 flocked to him, he fat down at the foot of the mountain of 

 Wechne, and ordered all the princes of the royal family 

 who were baniihed, and confined there, to be brought to 

 him. 



During the laft reign, the mountain of Wechne, and- 

 thofe forlorn princes that lived upon it, had been, as it, 

 were, totally forgotten. Hannes having fons of an age fit 

 to govern, and his eldeft fon Yafous living below with his 

 father, no room feemedto remain for attempting a revolu- 

 tion, by the young candidates efcaping from the mountain. 

 This oblivion to which they were configned, melancholy as 

 it was, proved the bell ftate thefe unhappy prifoners could : 

 have wiflied ;. for to be much known for either good or 

 bad qualities, did always at fome period become fatal ta* 

 the individuals. Punilhment always followed inquiries 

 after a particular prince ; and all meflages, queftions, of. 

 vifits, at the inftance of the king, were constantly fore- 

 runners of the lofs of life, or amputation of, limbs, to s 

 thefe unhappy exiles. To be forgotten, then, was to be 

 fafe ; but this fafety carried very heavy diftrefs along with; 

 it. Their revenues were embezzled by their officers or keep- 

 ers, and ill paid by the king; and the fordid temper of Han- 

 nes had Often reduced them all to the danger of perifhing: 

 with hunger and cold. 



YAsous,as he was well acquainted with all thefe circum* 

 fiances, fo he was, in his nature and difpoiition, as perfect- 

 ly willing to repair the injuries that were paft, and prevent 



the 



