57 2 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



Fafil, then in the mountain of Wechne, as a means of quiet- 

 ing the minds of his friends, preventing bloodfhed, and fe- 

 curing the crown to his family. 



Oust as did the utmoft to command himfelf upon this oc- 

 cafion, and to give them an anfwer fuch as fuited a man in 

 health who hoped to live many years. But it was now too 

 late to play fuch a part ; and, in fpite of his utmoft dimmu- 

 lation, evident figns of decay appeared upon him, which 

 his vifitors conjectured would foon be paft diflembling, 

 and they agreed to flay with the king till the evening. 



But the foldiers on guard, who heard the propofal of 

 fending for Ouftas's fon, and who really believed that thefe 

 men fpoke from their heart, and were in earned, were vio- 

 lently discontented, and angry at this propofal. They began 

 to be weary of novelty, and longed for a king of the an- 

 cient royal family. As foon, therefore, as it was dark they 

 entered Gondar, and called together the feveral. regiments, 

 or bodies of foldiers, which compofed the king's houfe- 

 hold. Having came to a refolution how they were toacTr,, 

 they returned to their quarters where they were upon 

 guard, and meeting the great officers coming out of Ouf- 

 tas's tent, where they, too, had probably agreed upon the 

 fame meafure, though it was not known, the foldiers drew 

 their fwords, and flew them all, being feven in number, A- 

 mong thefe were Betwudet Tamerte, and the Acab Saar-;; 

 the one the principal lay-officer, the other the chief eccle- 

 iiaftic in the king's- houfe.. 



This mafTacre feemed to be the fignal for a general" in- 

 faxee-Uon^ in. the. courfe. of which,, part of the town was 



