THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 485 
had flain the father of Guebra Mafcal, Michael’s nephew 
by marriage, who was commander in chief of all the muf- 
quetry Michael had brought from Tigre, fo that he feared 
nothing fo much as falling into Ras Michael’s hands. 
Ras Micuaet faw the danger of leaving an enemy fo 
prepared and fo fituated behind him; he therefore, before 
the rainy feafon was yet finifhed, ordered the whole moun- 
tain to be furrounded with barracks, or huts, for his fol- 
diers ; he alfo erected three houfes for himfelf, the principal 
officers, and the king. The country people were called in 
to plow and fow the ground in the neighbourhood, fo 
that his intention was plainly never to rife from thence till 
he had reduced the mountain of Aromata for the fecond 
time, after having once before fucceeded in taking it, after 
fifteen years fiege, from Netcho’s father. There we fhall 
leave him at this’ fiege, and return to Gondar. 
Ir was on the 1oth of June that Gufho and Powuflen 
entered Gondar, and next day, the 11th, waited upon the 
queen; they both befeeched her to return from Kofcam to 
the capital, and take into her hands the reins of government 
for the interim: this fhe pofitively refufed, unlefs peace 
was firft made with Fafil. She faid, that Fafil was the only 
perfon who had endeavoured to avenge his maifter Joas’s 
death; that he had continued till that day in arms in that 
quarrel; and, notwithftanding all the offers that could be 
made her, flre never would come to Gondar, nor take 
any part in public bwfinefs, without this condition. Fail, 
moreover, informed her by a meflenger, that there was no 
truft to be put either in Gufho or Powuffen ; that they had 
failed in their engagement of following and fighting Ras 
Vou, Lil. cule Michael 
