636 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



he defcended along the Tacazze into Atbara, where, finding 

 no refiftancc among the Shepherds, he attached himfelf in 

 particular to the tribe called Daveina, which, in the former 

 expedition, had joined Welled de l'Oul's army. Upon the 

 firft news of his approach they had fubmitted ; but, notwith- 

 standing all promifes and pretences of peace, he fell upon 

 them unawares, and almoft extirpated the tribe. 



Suhul Michael, while the king was thus occupied in 

 the frontier of his province, did every thing that a faithful, 

 active fubjec"l could do. He furnifhed him conftantly with 

 the bell intelligence, fupplied him with the provifions he 

 wanted, and made, from time to time, flrong detachments 

 of troops to reinforce him, and to fecure fuch polls as were 

 moil commodious and important in cafe of a retreat beco- 

 ming necefTary. 



Yasous, who had fucceeded to his wifh, was fully fen- 

 fible of the value of fuch fervices, and fent, therefore, for 

 Michael, commanding his attendance at Gondar. There was 

 no fear, no hefitation now, as before in the affair of Sama- 

 yat. He decamped upon the firft notice, even before the 

 rainy feafon was over, and arrived at Gondar on Augufl 30th 

 1 747, bringing with him plenty of gold ; few foldiers, in- 

 deed, but thofe picked men, and in better order, than the 

 king had ever yet feen troops. 



It was plain now to everybody, that nothing could flop 

 Michael's growing fortune. He alone feemed not fenfible 

 of this. He was humbler and lefs aftuming than before. 

 Thofe whom he had firft bribed he continued ftill to bribe, 

 and added as many new friends to that lift as he thought 



could 



