es TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 
Arrrr the many promifes and engagements Fafil had 
made and broken, without ever afligning the fmalleft rea- 
fon, it may be doubted whether Socinios believed this fair 
tale implicitly; but his prefent intention being to gain 
Woodage, it little fignified whether it was ftrictly true or 
not; he therefore received it as true. - Fafil’s requeft was 
granted to the full; and this robber, twenty times a rebel, 
bred up in woods and deferts, in exercife of every crime, 
was appointed to a command the third in the kingdom for 
rank, power, and riches ; and, what was never before feen, 
the king went out of his palace to Deppabye, the public 
market-place, to fee the circle of gold, called the Ras; Werk, 
put upon his head; this, with the white and blue mantle, 
invefts him with the dignity of Kafmatt, or Saab sicd 
neral of the king, in the province given him. 
A tow man, fuch as Afahel was, could not refift the ca- 
reffes of his fovereign; he was entirely gained ; and, in re- 
turn, made privately to Socinios, anda few confidents, a 
communication of all he knew, which their natural impru- 
dence, and private previous. engagements, afterwards made 
public. The fubftance of this confidence was, that peace 
had been made and fworn to, in the moft folemn manner, 
both by Michael and Fafil; that they were to reftore the 
king, Tecla Haimanout; that they were, by their jomt 
means, to effect, if pofiible, the ruin of Gufhoand Powuflen, 
governors of Begemder and Amhara ; Fafil was to enjoy.the 
poft of Ras and Betwudet, and to difpofe of the government 
of Begemder and Amhara to his friends; Ras Michael was to 
content himfelf with the province of Tigré, ashe then en- 
joyed it, and advance no further than the river Tacazzé, 
where he was to deliver the king to Fafil, and return to his 
2 province, 
