90 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 
came before him, on his arrival at Gondar, from whom he 
could raife a farthing. 
Ir was about the 2oth of January, that a meffage arrived: 
from Powuffen, to tell the Ras he had taken the ufurper So-- 
cinios prifoner, and held him in irons at the king’s difpo-. 
fal. He upbraided Michael with the cruelties of his execu-. 
tions, and declared his refolution of calling him to an ac 
count for thefe perfonally at Gondar; he warned him in: 
time, to repafs the Tacazzé, and retire while it was in his 
power to his government of Tigré, where nobody would. 
moleft him, and leave the king at liberty to act for himfelf. 
Gutho likewife fent a meflenger, but what word he brought 
did not tranfpire; after feeing the King and Ras Michael, 
both thefe meflengers proceeded to Fafil. Soon after this came 
a meffage from Fafil, defiring only that the King and the 
Ras might renew to him the grant of his father’s lands and 
eftates, which he formerly poflefled:: what was the mean-. 
ing of this mefflage I could never learn; he was already in. 
full poffeffion of what he afked, and more; no perfon had 
attempted to take any thing from. him, nor was it indeed in. 
their power. 
PROCLAMATION was made accordingly in terms of the: 
requeft, and all the lands that he had pofleffed were given. 
him: before he could have news of this firft grant, a fe-. 
cond meffenger came, defiring that he might be confirmed. 
in his government of. Maitfha, Damot, and Agow. This: 
too was immediately granted him, but a condition was. 
added, that he fhould bring the troops of thefe provinces, . 
and as many others as he could raife, to join the king with: _ 
all poflible fpeed, and take the field with Ras Michael againft 
- Powuffen: 
