THE SOURCE OF THE NILE, 75 
be underftood: I therefore faid, in the fame low tone of 
voice he had {poke to me, High-treafon is punifhed with 
death in all the countries I have ever known.—This I owed 
to Abba Salama, and it was not long before 1 had my return. 
AgpaASALAMA next went intothemurder of Kafmati Efhté, 
which he confeffed he was the promoter of. He faid the 
Iteghé, with her brothers and Ayto Aylo, had all turned 
Franks, fo had Gufho of Amhara; and that, in order to 
make the country Catholic, they had fent for priefts, who 
lived with them in confidence, as that frank did, pointing to 
me : that it was againft the law of the country, that I fhould 
be fuffered here ; that I was accurfed, and fhould be ftoned 
-asan enemy to the Virgin Mary. ‘There the Ras interrupt- 
ge, 
ed him, by faying, Confine yourfelf to your own de- 
fence ; clear yourfelf firft, and then accufe any one you 
pleafe: it is the king’s intention to put the law in execution 
againft all offenders, and it is only as pene you. the. 
greateft that he has begun with you.. 
Tus calmnefs of the Ras feemed to difconcert the Acab 
Saat ; he loft all method ; he warned. the Ras that it was ow- 
ing to his excommunicating Kafmati Efhté that room was 
made for him to come to Gondar; without that event this 
king would never have been ae the throne, fo that he 
had ftill done them as much good by his excommunications 
as he had done them harm : he told the Ras, and the judges 
that they were all doubly under a curfe, if they offered 
either to pull out his eyes, or cut out his tongue; and pray- 
ed them, burfting into tears, not fo much as tothink of either, 
if it was only for old fellowfhip, or friendthip which had 
long fubfifted between them. 
K 2 THERE 
