THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 621 



Messengers were next difpatched to Kafmati Waragna, 

 ordering him to come to Gondar with the greatefl force he 

 could raife. The fame day Azage Kyrillos, whom the king 

 had made governor of Wechne, and Azage Newaia Selafle, 

 went to the mountain, pretending that king Yafous was 

 dead, and that the choice of the principal members of go- 

 vernment had fallen upon Hezekias, who thereupon was 

 delivered to him, and faluted king; and, without lofing time, 

 they marched to Kahha, and encamped on that river below 

 Gondar* 



In the mean while, the great men and officers of the 

 court, and in particular thofe who had eflates and houfes in 

 Gondar, began to confider the danger of the town at the fo 

 near approach of the rebels. Several diftricls, or flreets, fitua- 

 ted on eminences, by {hutting up accefs to them, were made 

 tenable polls, and, having filled them with good foldiers,they 

 fet about the defence of the town and annoying the ene- 

 my. Hezekias had removed to the houfe of Baiha Arkilli- 

 das ; and it was agreed to fend their whole forces to fee if 

 they could fucceed in forcing the king's houfe. But before 

 this another ftratagem was tried to alienate the minds of 

 the people of Gondar from their fovereign. It was faid that 

 certain Roman Catholic priefls had arrived at Gondar ; that 

 they were flint up privately in the palace with the king and 

 queen > and, upon the Abuna and. Itchegue coming to He- 

 zekias to afk him how he happened: to be proclaimed king, 

 without making to them fome confeflion of his faith, (a- 

 queflion they put to all young or weak princes), Hezekias 

 anfwered, It was beeaufe he had heard the Itchegue, and 

 the reft of the clergy, feemed to be careJcfs about the true 

 faith, by fufFering Catholic priefls to live with the king ira 



tli£ 



