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moft general opinion was, that it was a kind of covenant 

 with the queen, by which fhe pardoned him this temporary 

 alienation of his perfon, for this fecurity, that he wa§ to 

 give her no rival in his confidence. Indeed, his own tem- 

 per led him naturally to eflrange himfelf from every inti- 

 mate connection, that could pretend to any lawful fhare 

 with him in government. And this had gone fo far, that 

 he fent his wife, favourite as me was, and his fon Yafous, to 

 the low, hot, and unwholefome province of Walkayt, the 

 ordinary place to which ftate criminals were banifhed, in 

 order that they might be under the eye of Ain Egzie, a con- 

 fidential fervant of his, and governor of that province. It 

 is true this was done without any mark of difguft ; and the 

 <jueen returned immediately by his own command ; but 

 Yafous ftaid at Walkayt with Ain Egzie, till he was four 

 years old, without the king his father having fhewn any 

 anxiety for his return. 



The queen's firfl care was to call her brothers to court* 

 The eldeft, Welled de l'Oul, had been a favourite of the late 

 king, and occupied under him a very Confiderable pofl in 

 the palace. Geta, her fecond brother, was a man of flow 

 parts, but efleemed a good foldier ; being covetous, he was 

 not a favourite of the people, and lefs fo of the king. The 

 third was Efhte, (pronounced in that country Shitti); he was 

 amiable, liberal, affable, and brave, but rather given to in- 

 dolence and pleafure, which alone hindered him from 

 being a good itatefman and general. He was a kind friend 

 to ftrangers, a good mafler, and placable enemy ; ftedfaft to 

 his promife, and on all occafions a lover of truth ; a quality 

 fo very rare in Abyflinia, that it was faid there had not 

 been one in this refped like him fmce the time of Yafous 



Vol. II. 4 H the 



