TSE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 6S? 



his foldiers in every licence that the moil profligate mind 

 could willi to commit when marching againft an enemy. 



It was known the armies were to engage at Nefas Mufa, 

 becaufe Mariam Barea had faid he would fight Brulhe, to 

 prevent him entering the province, but retreat before the 

 king till he could no longer avoid going out of it. The 

 king then marched upon the tract of Mariam Barea, burn- 

 ing and deitroying on each fide of him, as wide as poflible* 

 by detachments and fcouring parties. Alio Fafil, an officer 

 of the king's houfehold, a man of low birth, of very mode- 

 rate parts, and one who ufed to divert the king as a kind of 

 buffoon, otherwife a good foldier, had, as a favour, obtained 

 a fmall party of horfe, with which he ravaged the low coun- 

 try of Begemder. 



The reader will remember, in the beginning of this hif- 

 tory, that a lingular revolution happened, in as lingular a 

 manner, the ufurper of the houfe of Zague having volunta- 

 rily religned the throne to the kings of the line of Solomon, 

 who for feveral hundred years had been banifhed to Shoa. 

 Tecla Haimanout, founder of the monaftery of Debra Liba,- 

 nos, a faint, and the lafl Abyffmian that enjoyed the dignity 

 of Abuna, had the addrefs and influence to bring about this 

 revolution, or refignation, and to reftore the ancient line of 

 kings. A treaty was made under guarantee of the Abuna^ 

 that large portions of Lafta mould be given to this prince 

 of the houfe of Zague, free from all tribute, tax, or fervice 

 whatever, and that he mould be regarded as an indepen- 

 dent prince. The treaty being concluded, the piince of Za- 

 gue was put in pofTeliion of his lands, and was called Y'Laf- 

 ta KLatze, which fignifies, not the king of Lafta, but the king 



m. 



