574 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



pal people had propofed to name Fafil his fon, then their 

 fellow-prifoner, to fucceed him, their fears no longer re* 

 minded them of the hardfhips of his father's reign, as they 

 expected utter extirpation as the only meafure by which 

 he could provide for his own fecurity. Full of thefe fears, 

 they agreed, with one confent, to let down from the moun- 

 tain fifty princes of the greateft hopes, all in the prime of 

 life, and therefore moll capable of defending their own 

 right, and fecuring the lives of thofe that remained upon 

 the mountain, from the cruel treatment they mud obvious- 

 ly expect if they fell into the hand of an ufurper or 

 ilranger. 



The brother of Betwudet Tamerte, who, with the fix 

 others, had been murdered before Ouftas's tent, was, at this 

 time, guardian of the mountain of Wechne. His brother's 

 death, however, and the unfettled ftate of government, had 

 fo much weakened both his authority and attention, that 

 he either did not choofe, or was not able, to prevent the 

 efcape of thefe princes, all flying for their lives, and for the 

 fake of preferving the ancient conftitution of their country. 

 And that this, and no other was their object, appeared the in- 

 ftant the danger was removed ; for, as foon as the news that 

 David was proclaimed at Gondar arrived at the mountain, 

 all the princes returned of their own accord, excepting Ba- 

 cufFa, younger brother to the king, who fled to the Galla, 

 and lay concealed among them for a time. 



On David's arrival at Gondar, all the old misfortunes 



feemed to be forgotten. The joy of having the ancient 



royal line reftored, got the better of thofe fears which firft 



occafloned the interruption. The prifons were thrown open, 



3 and 



