? 
THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 43 
conduc of Welleta Selaffé ; but that on the 26th, early in the 
morning, he had been furprifed by Confu and Engedan, 
who, without any caufe alledged, had killed and difperfed 
all his troops, and taken from them all the horfes and mules 
- they could lay their hands on: that they after followed Wel- 
leta Selaffé, and had come up with him unawares, juft as 
he entered Guefgué, had defeated him, and that Ayto En- 
gedan, in the beginning of the fight, had flain him with 
his own hand, by wounding him in the throat with a lance 
when ftretching out his hand to parley; after which, they 
had fet fire to nine villages in Gutigus; and: given the plun-. 
der to their foldiers. 
In the mean time Powuffen had not difregarded the re- 
queft of Socinios. He had attempted to furprife Fafil, but 
could not pafs Aylo, who was at Emfras, without falling upon 
him firft, which he did, difperfing his troops with little re- 
fitance. Upon the firft intelligence of this, Fafil proclaim- 
ed Tecla Haimanout king; and, ftriking his tents, fat down 
at Abba Samuel, a collection of villages about two miles 
_ from Gondar, inviting all people, that would, efcape the 
vengeance of Ras Michael, to come and join him, and 
leave Gondar. From this he retreated near to Dingleber, 
on the fide of the lake, and intercepted all provifions co- 
ming to Gondar, which occafioned a very great famine, and. 
many poor people died.: 
Hiruzrto I had no intercourfe with Socinios, never ha- 
ving been in his prefence, but when the Galla, the murderer 
of Joas, was tried; nor had I any reafon to think he knew 
me, or cared for me more than any Greek that was in;Gondar; 
but [had a good friend at court, who waked when I flept, 
and 
