24 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 
by Gojam ; on the eaft and north by the Abay or Nile, and 
the lake: this is Maitfha proper; but by extenfion it com- 
prehends a large tract on the weit fide of the Nile, which 
begins by Sankraber on the north, and is bounded by the 
Agows onthe weft, comprehending Atcheffer and Aroofli 
to the banks of the Nile. This is the Maitiha of the books, 
but is not properly fo. 
- 
Maitsua is governed by ninety-nine Shums, andis an _ 
‘appendage of the office of Betwudet, to whom it pays two 
thoufand ounces of gold. The people are originally of 
thofe Galla weft of the Abay. Yafous the Great, when at 
war with that people, who, in many preceding reigns, had 
laid wafte the provinces of Gojam and Damot, and efpecial- 
ly Agow, when he pafled the Abay found thefe people at 
‘variance among themfelves ; and the king, who was every- 
where victorious, being joined by the weakeft, advanced to Na- 
rea, and, on his return, tranfplanted thefe Galla into Maitfha, 
placing part of them along the Nile to guard the pafles. 
His fucceffors at different times followed his example; 
part they fettled in Maitfha, and part along the banks of 
the Nile in Damot and Gojam, where being converted to 
Chriftianity, at leaft to fuch Chriftianity as is profeffed in 
Abyflinia, they have increafed exceedingly, and amounted, » 
at leaft before the war in 1768, to 15,000 men, of whom a- 
bout 4000 are horfemen. | ‘ 
Tue capital of Maitfha is Ibaba. There is here a houfe 
or {mall caftle belonging to the king. The town is one of 
tl e largeft in Abyfiinia, little inferior to Gondar in fize or 
riches, and has a market every day; this is governed by an 
officer called Ibaba Azage, whofe employment is worth 6c0 
3 . _ ounces 
