78 - TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 
had no poft, and in this he fpoke the truth, but confefled 
that he had been fent by Abba Salama to bring the Itchegué — 
and the Abuna to meet him the day of excommunication 
at Dippabye. It was further unluckily proved againft him, — 
that he was prefent with his brother at plundering the 
houfes in the night-time when the man was killed; and. 
upon this he was fentenced to be immediately hanged ;. 
~ the court then broke up and went to breakfaft. All this had 
paffed in lefs than two hours ; it was not quite eleven o’clock 
when all was over, but Ras Michael had fworn he would 
not tafte bread till Abba Salama was hanged, and on fuch 
occafions he never broke his word. 
ImmepiaTety after this laft execution the kettle-drums: 
beat at the palace-gate, and the, crier made this proclama= 
tion, “ That all lands and villages, which are now, or have: 
been given to the Abuna by the king, fhall revert to the: 
king’s own ufe, and be fubject to the government, or the Can- 
tiba of Dembea, or fuch officers as the king fhall after ap- 
point in the provinces where they are fituated.” 
I went home, and my houfe being but a few yards from: 
the palace, I pafled the two unfortunate people hanging 
upon the fame branch ; and, full of the cruelty of the fcene 
T had witneffed, which I knew was but a preamble to much 
more, I determined firmly, at all events, to quit this coun- 
try. « 
r 
THE next morning came on the trial of the unfortunate: 
Guebra Denghel, Sebaat Laab, and Kefla Mariam; the Ras 
claimed his right of trying thefe three at his own houfe, as 
they were all three fubjects of his government of Tigré. 
4 : “i Guebra 
