256 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 
cefs on one part, fo an immediate revolution, and the death 
of the king, was certainly to follow the mifcarriage on the 
other, that is, fhould he be defeated in, or after making — 
the attempt. 
Troops, headed by Engedan, Ayto Confu, and by Mam- 
mo, and all the Iteghé’s relations, now crowded into Kofcam, 
into which great plenty of provifions was alfo carried. The 
wall was high and ftrong, the gates lately put into good re- 
pair, the tower, or caftle, within in perfect good order; the 
Iteghé had not furrendered her fire-arms, and all the inha- 
bitants around, efpecially the poorer fort, were firmly at- 
tached to her, as in times of diftrefs and famine her charity 
afforded them a conftant refuge. 
Since the Iteghé had returned, I always lived at Kof 
cam by her own defire, as her health was very precarious 
fince her refidence in Gojam. This fuited my intention of 
withdrawing privately, and therefore, not to multiply the 
number of leave-takings, I had feen Gufho but once, and 
that for a moment, and Ayabdar not at all, fo that my whole 
attendance was now between the king and queen. The 
king had denied publicly his intention of plundering Kof- 
cam, but in a manner not at all fatisfatory to the Iteghé; 
I ventured therefore to mention it to him one day when he 
was alone, on which he faid, “ I would not do it for your 
fake, Yagoube, were there no other reafon; but my mother 
(meaning the Iteghé) is ill-advifed, and worfe informed.” 
On the 13th of October, Powuflen, ie a very confider- 
able army, and without any previous intimatidh, arrived at 
Kofcam, his head-quarters all the laft campaign. He con- 
3 tinued 
