688 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



at or in Lafta*. He refigned the throne, and Icon Amlac of 

 the line of Solomon, by the queen of Saba, continued the fuc- 

 ceffion of princes of that houfe. 



That treaty, greatly to the honour of the contracting 

 parties, made towards the end of the 13th century, had re- 

 mained inviolate till the middle of the 18th; no affront or 

 injuftice had been offered to the prince of Zague, and in the 

 number of rebellions which had happened, by princes fet- 

 ting up their claims to the crown, none had ever proceeded, 

 or in any fhape been abetted, by the houfe of Zague, even 

 though Lafta had been fo frequently in rebellion. 



As Joas was a young prince, now for the firft time in the 

 province of Begemder and palling not far from his domains, 

 the prince of Zague thought it a proper civility and duty to 

 falute the king in his paffage, and congratulate him upon 

 his acceffion to the throne of his father. He accordingly 

 prefented himfelf to Joas in the habit of peace, while, ac- 

 cording to treaty, his kettle-drums, or nagareets, were filver, 

 and the points of his guard's fpears of that metal alfo. The 

 king received him with great cordiality and kind nefs; treat- 

 ed him with the utmofl refpect and magnificence ; refufed 

 to allow him to proflrate himfelf on the ground, and forced 

 him to fit in his prefence. Michael went flill farther ; upon 

 his entering his tent he uncovered himfelf to his waift, in 

 the fame manner as he would have done in prefence of 

 Joas. He received him Handing, obliged him to fit in his 



own 



* Nearly the fame diftincuon as the filly one made in Britain between the French king and 

 ■king of France. 



