THE, SOURCE OF THE NILE. 5 
great fuccefs more than once, efpecially againft the Naybe 
Mufa in the reign of Yafous I. 
Tue friendfhip of Abyfflinia once fecured, and the power - 
of the Turks declining daily in Arabia, the Naybe began 
by degrees to withdraw himfelf from paying tribute at all 
to the bafha-of Jidda, to whofe government his had been 
annexed by the porte. He therefore received the firman as 2 
mere form,and returned trifling prefents, but no tribute; and 
in troublefome times, or a weak government happening in 
Tigre, he withdrew himfelf equally from paying any con- 
fideration, either to the bafha in. name of tribute, or to the- 
king of Abyflinia, as fhare of the cuftoms. This was pre- 
cifely his fituation when I arrived in-Abydflinia. .A great re-- 
volution, as we have already feen, had happened in that king- 
dom, of which Michael had been the prineipal author. 
When he? was. called to: Gondar -and made minifter there, . 
Tigre remained drained of troops, and-without a governor. -. 
Nor was the new king, Hatzé Hannes, whom Michael 
had placed.upon the throne after the murder of Joas his 
predeceffor, a-man likely.to-infufe vigour into the new go- 
vernment. . Hannes was pait feventy at his accefiion, and . 
Michael his minifter lame,-fo as: fcarcely. to. be able to ftand, 
and within a few years.of eighty. The Naybe,a man of about 
forty-eight, judged of the debility of the Abyflinian govern- 
ment by thofe circumftances, but in this-he. was miftaken. . 
Arcreapy: Michael had intimated to him, tliat, the next 
campaign, he would lay. wafte:Arkeeko and Mafuah, till 
they fhould: be as defert as: the wilds of Samhar; and as he 
had been all his life very remarkable for kceping his promi- 
Bi fes 
