THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 633 



this time, a prefent from the Naybe of Mafuah, who, after 

 what had happened to his friend Michael, began to feel a 

 little uneafy about the fate of his ifland. 



While Yafous was thus employed, news were fent him 

 from Kafmati Ayo, governor of Begemder, that he had beat 

 the people of Lafta in a pitched battle in their own country, 

 had forced their ftrong-holds, difperfed their troops, and re- 

 ceived the general fubmimon of the province, which had 

 been in rebellion iince the time of Hatze Socinios, that is, 

 above 100 years. Immediately after thefe news, came Ayo 

 himfelf to parade and throw his unclean trophies of victory 

 before the king, and brought with him many of the princi- 

 pal people of Lafta to take the oaths of allegiance to the 

 king. 



Yasous received the accounts of the fuccefs with great 

 pleafure, and ftill more fo the oaths and fubmiflions made 

 to him. He then added Lafta to the province of Begemder^ 

 and cloathed Ayo magnificently, as well as all thofe noble- 

 men that came with him from Lafta. The end of this year 

 was not marked with good fortune like the beginning. A 

 plague of Iocufts fell upon the country, and confumed every 

 green thing, fo that a famine feemed to be inevitable, be- 

 caufe, contrary to their cuftom, they had attached them- 

 felves chiefly to the grain. This plague is not fo frequent 

 in Abyflinia as the Jefuits have reported it to be. Thefe 

 good fathers indeed bring the Iocufts upon the country, that 3 , 

 by their pretended miracles, they may chace them away. 



Michael had continued fome time in prifon, in tile cuf- 

 tody of Ras Welled de l'Oul. But he was afterwards fct at 



full 



