THE SOURCE OF THE NILE 33 
provifice. Sanuda was, in the mean time, to appear as 
Ras by the connivance of Fafil and Michael; and, if he 
faw the people of the Iteghé’s party refolved upon electing 
aking, he was to take care to choofe fuch a one as would ~ 
foon prove himfelf incapable of reigning, but fill the va- 
cancy in the mean time, and prevent the election from 
falling upon a worthier candidate from the mountain of 
Wechné. Fafil, on his part, undertook by promifes and 
propofals, and occafionally by the approach of his army, 
to frighten and confufe the Iteghé, and prevent a good un- 
_derftanding taking place between her, Gufho, and Powuf- 
fen. The laft article of this treaty was, that no more fhould 
be faid of Joas the late king's murder, but all that tranf- 
action was to be buried in eternal oblivion. This peace, 
Afahel had faid, was made by the mediation of Welleta Se- 
jaffé, nephew of Ras Michael, whom we have often men- 
tioned as having been seen prifoner by Fafil at the battle 
af sac ietiak 
Turs difcovery, dangerous as it might have been in other 
times and circumftances, from the weaknefs of the prefent 
government, had no confequences hurtful to any concerned 
in it. Sanuda, who was not prefent when Afahel revealed 
the fecret, affected to laugh at it as an improbable fiction ; 
and though this whole {cheme of treachery was confirm- 
ed part by part, yet it was fo deeply laid, and fo well fup- 
ported, that, even when difcovered, it could not be prevent- 
ed, till, ftep by ftep, it was carried into execution, 
Fasiz was encamped at Bamba, as we have already 
mentioned; he had difcharged all thofe favage Galla 
that he had brought from the other fide of the Nile. 
VoL. IV. E As 
