5 88 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



Although David had given his permiffion to affemble 

 the clergy to hear the Abuna's declaration, he did not think 

 himfelf bound to affift at it, and, therefore, he fent to the 

 monks of Debra Libanos, and thofe of Abba Euftathius, to 

 go to the Abuna with Betwudet Georgis, who mould inter- 

 rogate the Abuna, and report the anfwer to the king, who 

 thereupon would order it to be proclaimed to the people. 

 The monks of Debra Libanos refufed this, as they did not 

 conftder Georgis as indifferent, being known to be a ftaunch 

 Euftathian. They declared, therefore, they would neither 

 hear nor regard what the Abuna faid, unlefs it was in the 

 king's prefence ; and this was juft what David was refolvedl 

 not to humour them in, 



Betwudet Georgis, the great officers of ftate, and moft 

 of the people of conlideration about Gondar, waited upon 

 the Abuna as the king had commanded ; and the Betwudet 

 having defired him to make his profemon, he would only 

 give this evafive anfwer, That his faith was in all refpects the 

 fame as that of Abba Marcos and Abba Sanuda, the ancient 

 and orthodox Abunas. 



This anfwer left every party at liberty to imagine that 

 the Abuna was their own. But this evafion did not content 

 f the king, who therefore ordered the Betwudet, without ta- 

 king further notice of the Abuna, to make proclamation in 

 terms of the profeffion of the monks of Abba Euftathius, 

 This occafloned great heats among the monks of Debra 

 Libanos. They ran all with one accord to the Itchegue's 

 houfe, for he is their general, or chief of their convent, 

 and here they came to the moll violent refolutions, decla^ 

 ring that they would die either together, or man by man,. 



in 



