THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. >ij 



crown as to private inheritance; and there cannot be a 

 more clear example of this than in the prefent king, who, 

 although he had a fon, Tecla Haimanout, born of the 

 queen Malacotawit in wedlock, was yet Succeeded by three 

 baftard brothers, all fons of Yafous, born in adultery, that 

 is, in the life of the queen. David and Hannes were fons 

 of the king by his favourite Ozoro .Kedufte ; BacufFa, by 

 another lady of quality. . . 



Although the queen, Malacotawit, had pafTed over with 

 feeming indifference the preference the king had given his 

 miftrefs, Ozoro Kedufte, during her lifetime, yet, from a 

 very unaccountable kind of jealoufy, fhe could not forgive 

 thofe violent tokens of affection the king had fhewn after 

 her death, by going down with his fons and remaining 

 with the body in the grave. Full of refentment for this, 

 fhe had perfuaded her fon, Tecla Haimanout, that Yafous 

 had determined to deprive him of his fucceffion, to fend 

 him and her, his mother, both to Wechne, and place his 

 baftard brother, David, fon of Ozoro Kedufte, upon the 

 throne, 



The queen had been very diligent in attaching to her 

 the principal people about the court. By her own friends, 

 and the afiiftance of the discontented and banifhed monks, 

 fhe had raifed a great army in Gojam under her brothers, 

 Dermin and Paulus. Tecla Haimanout had fhewn great 

 figns of wifdom and talents for governing, and very much 

 attached to himfelf fome of his father's oldefl and ableft 

 fervants. 



Vox. II $ T It 



