THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 57s 



and David was crowned the 30th of January 1714, amidft 

 the acclamations of all ranks of people, and every demon- 

 fixation of feftivity and joy. 



David was fon of Yafous the Great, and confequently 

 brother to the parricide Tecla Haimanout, but by another 

 mother. At his coronation he was juft twenty-one years of 

 age, and took for his inauguration name Adebar Segued. 



In all this time, however, Ouftas was alive. Ouflas was, 

 indeed, fick, but Hill he was king ; and yet it is furprifing 

 that David had been now nine days at Gondar, and no in- 

 jury had been offered to Ouftas, nor any efcape attempted 

 for him by his friends. 



It was the 6th of February, the day before Lent, when 

 the king fent the Abuna Marcus, Itchegue Za Michael, with 

 fome of the great officers of ftate, to interrogate Ouftas ju- 

 dicially, for form's fake, as to his title to the crown. The 

 queftions propofed are very fhort and fimple — " Who are 

 " you? What brought you here?" To thefe plain inter- 

 rogatories, Ouftas, then ftruggling with death, anfwered, 

 however, as plainly, and without equivocation, " Tell my 

 " king David, that true it is I have made myfelf king, 

 " as much as one can be that is not of the royal family ; 

 " for I am but a private man, fon of a fubje6t, Kafmati 

 <{ Delba Yafous : all I beg of the king is to give me a little 

 " time, and let me die with ficknefs, as I fhortly mall, with- 

 " out putting me to torment or pain." 



On the 10th day of February, that is four days after the 

 interrogation, Ouftas died, but whether of a violent or na- 

 tural 



