THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 79 
Guebra Denghel bore his hard fortune with great uncon- 
cern, declaring, that his only reafon of taking up arms a- 
gainft the king was, that he faw no other way of prevent- 
ing Michael’s tyranny, and monftrous thirft of money and 
of power: that the Ras was really king, had fubverted the 
conftitution, annihilated all difference of rank and perfons, 
and transferred the efficient parts of government into the 
hands of his own creatures. \“He wifhed the king: might 
know this was his only motive for rebellion, and that unlefs 
-it had been to make this declaration, he would not have 
opened his mouth before fo partial and unjuft a judge as 
he confidered ‘Michael to be. 
Bur Welleta Selaffé, his daughter, hearing the danger her 
father was in, broke fuddenly out of Ozoro Efther’s apart- 
ment, which was contiguous ; and, coming into the council-. 
room at the inftant her father was condemned to die, threw. 
herfelf-at the Ras’s feet with every mark and expreffion of 
the moft extreme forrow. I cannot, indeed, repeat what her 
- expreflions were, as I was not prefent, anid I thank God that 
I was not; I believe they are ineffable by any mouth but 
~her own, but they were perfectly unfuccefsful. The old 
_ tyrant threatened her with immediate death, fpurned her 
away with his foot, and in her hearing ordered her father 
to be immediately hanged. Welleta Selaffé, in a fit, or faint, 
which refembled death, fell fpeechlefs to the ground; the 
father, forgetful -of his own fituation, flew to his daughter’ S 
affiftance, and they were both dragged out at feparate doors, 
“the one to death, the other to after fufferings, Bupater than 
death itfelf. 
FORTUNE 
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