260 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER: 
multiplied, otherwife than by the: acceffion of vagrants ‘and’! 
fugitives, whom they get from. both kingdoms. They are’ 
generally under the command.-of the: governor of. Kuara, and 
were fo when; I was in Abyflinia; theugh they refuled 
to follow their.gevernor,,Goque Abou: Barea to fight av 
gainft Michael, but whether from fear or affection 1 know:- 
not ; I believe the former. . 
THE governor of:Kuara-is one of the great officers of ° 
ftate, and, being the king’s lieutenant-general, has abfolute - 
power in his province, and ‘carries: fendick and nagareet. His « 
kettle-drums are filvery and» his- privilege: is; to. beat. thefe - 
drums even in. marching: through the capital, which no 
governor -of-a province is permitted to-do, none but the 
king’s nagareets or, kettle-drums: being fuffered ta be beat 
there, or-any where in a- town where: the kingis; but the - 
governor of Kuyara is intitled to continue beating his drums | 
till he comes .to the: foot of ;the -outer: ftair of the -king’s . 
palace.. This privilege, from fome good. behaviour of. the » 
firft officer. to.whom ;jthe command. was given, was: confer- . 
red upon the poft by David II. called: Degami-Daid, who . 
conquered the province from the Shepherds, its old inhabi+.- 
tants, . 
Nara, and Ras el Feel, Tchelga,-and on to Tcherkin, is a~ 
frontier-wholly inhabited-by Mahometans... Its government» 
is generally given to a ftranger, often to.a Mahometan, but - 
ene of that faith is always deputy-governor. . The ufe of © 
keepmg troops -here is to defend the friendly Arabs and ° 
Shepherds, who remain in the allegiance to:Aby‘flinia, frenn : 
the refentment of the Arabs:of Sennaar, their neighbours ; - 
and, by means.of thefe friendly Arabs and Shepherds, fecure 
a.CcONs.- 
