THE SOURCE OF THE NILE, 25 
- ounces of gold, and is generally conferred upon the princi- 
pal perfon of Maitfha, to keep him firm in his allegiance, 
as there is a very confiderable territory depends upon this 
office. The country round Ibaba is the moft pleafant and 
fertile, not of Maitfha only, but of all Abyflinia, efpecially 
that part called Kollela, between Ibaba and Gojam, where 
the principal Ozoros have all houfes and poffeflions, called 
Goult or Fiefs, which they have received from their refpec- 
tive anceftors when kings. 
_ Tuoucu Maittha be peculiarly the appendage of Betwu- 
det, and governed by him, yet it has a particular political 
goverriment of its own. The ninety-nine Shums, who are 
each a diftinct family of Galla; chufe a king, like the Pa- 
gan Galla, every feventh year, with all the ceremonies an- 
ciently obferved while they were Pagans; and thefe gover- 
nors have much more influence over hienh than the King. 
or Betwudet; fo have they (in my time at leaft) been in a 
‘conftant rebellion, and that has much leflened their num- 
bers, which will not now amount to above 10,000° men, 
Ras Michael having every where deftroyed their houfes, 
- and carried into flavery their wives and children, whe 
have been fold to the Mahometan merchants, and tranf& 
ported to Mafuah, and from thence to Arabia. | 
Ar twelve o'clock, Guefgié was to the right, three or 
four, perhaps more miles; and the very rugged mountain 
Cafercla, broken and full of precipices, on our right, at a- 
bout 12 miles diftance; they rife from Kolla. Guefevdé, 
which, though the Tiered sie and race be Agow, is not com- 
prehended in the government of that country, but generally 
goes with Kuara,. At a quarter pafl one we arrived at the 
Vo. IV, ; D houfe 
