THE SOURCE OF THENTLE. 453 



From Kunya, his head- quarters, Yafous attacked the fe- 

 veral nations of which this is, as it were, the capital, Zaa> 

 ba, Fade, Qualquou, and Sahale, and he returned again to 

 Tzaada Amba, refolving to complete their deftruction. The 

 remains of thefe miferable people, finding refiftance vain^ 

 had hid themfelves in inaccemble caves in the mountains, 

 and the thickeft parts of the woods, where they lay per- 

 fectly concealed in the day-time, and only Hole out when 

 thirft obliged them at night. The king, who knew this, 

 and that they had no other water but what they brought 

 from the Mareb, formed a flrong line of troops along the 

 banks of that river, till the greateft part of the Shangalla of 

 Tzaada Amba died with thirft, or were taken or flain by 

 the army., 



His next enterprize was to attempt Betcoom, a large ha* 

 bitation of Shangalla eaft of the Marebj whofe number; 

 ftrength, and reputation for courage, had hitherto prevent- 

 ed the Abyflinians from molefling them, never having 

 touched, unlefs the farthefl fkirts of their country* The 

 names of their tribes inhabiting Betcoom are, Baigada, 

 Bade, Ketfe, Kicklada,Moleraga,Megaerbe, Gana,Sele, Ham- 

 ta, Shalada, Elmfi, and Lente. The fmall river of Lidda 

 falling from a high precipice, when fwelled with the win- 

 ter rains, hollows out deep and large refervoirs below, which 

 it leaves full of water when the rains ceafe, fo that thefe 

 people are here as well fupplied with water as thofe that 

 dwell on the large rivers the Mareb and-Tacazze. This 

 was a circumftance unknown, till this fagaeious and pro- 

 vident king ordered the place to be reconnoitred by Kafma- 

 ti Claudius, then marched and encamped on the river 



4, Lidda 



