440 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



The king then repaired the Agows of Zeegam, in the 

 fame peaceable manner in which he came, and then march- 

 ed on without giving any caufe of fufpicion, taking up his 

 quarters at Ibaba. It was here he had appointed an aflem- 

 bly of the clergy to meet, before whom the feveral dele- 

 gates, chofen to confider the controverted points, and find 

 fome ground for a reconciliation, were to make their re- 

 port. The Abuna, Itchegue, and all thofe who, for this 

 purpofe, were fhut up in Debra Mariam, appeared before 

 the king. But, however amicably things had been carried 

 on while they were fhut up in the ifland, the ufual 

 warmth and violence prevailed before the aflembly. Ay to 

 Chriftos, Abba Welled Chriflos of Debra Libanos, on one 

 fide, and Tebedin and Cofmas on the other, fell roundly, 

 and without preface, upon a difpute about the incarnation, 

 fo that the affair from argument was likely to turn to fe- 

 dition. 



The turbulent Tebedin, leaving the matter of religion 

 wholly apart, inveighed vehemently againft the retirement 

 to Debra Mariam, which he loudly complained of as 

 banifliment. Ras Anaflafius and Abuna Sanuda reproved 

 him fharply for the freedom with which he taxed this 

 meafure of the king, and in this they were followed by 

 many of the wifer fort on both fides. Immediately after 

 the afTembly, the king ordered Tebedin to be put in irons, 

 and fent to a mountainous prifon. He then returned to 

 Gondar. 



This year, the 9th of Yafous reign, there appeared a co- 

 met, remarkable for its fize and fiery brightnefs of its body, 

 and for the prodigious length and diftinctnefs of its tail. It 



was 



