482 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 
Michael in Maitfha, and had purpofely ftaid at home till a 
fuperior army fhould fall upon him fingly, and ravage his 
country : That they had broken their word a fecond time by 
entering into Gondar without him; whereas the agree- 
ment was, that they all three fhould have done this at once, 
to fettle the form of government by their: joint delibera- 
tion. Many days pafled in thefe negociations ; Fafil always. 
promifing to come upon fome condition or other, but never- 
keeping his word, or ftirring from Buré,. 
On the 2oth, the queen’s fervants, who had gone to offer. 
terms of reconciliation to Fafil on the part of Gufho and: 
Powulflen, returned to their homes.. The fame day he or-. 
dered it to be proclaimed in the market-place, That Ayto. 
Tesfos fhould be governor of Samen, and that whoever 
fhould rob.on that road, or commit any violence, fhould fuf-. 
fer death. This was an act of power, purpofely intended’ 
to affront Powuffen and Gufho, and feemed to be opening 
a road for a correfpondence with Ras Michael; but, above 
all, it fhewed contempt for their party and their caufe, and: 
that he confidered his own as very diftin¢ct from theirs ; for: 
Tesfos had taken arms in the late king’s lifetime, at the: 
fame time, and upon the fame principles and provocation, 
as Fafil, and had never laid down his arms, or made peace: 
with Ras Michael, but kept his government in defiance of. 
him. 
On the 24th, for fear of giving umbrage, waited upom 
Gufho and Powuflen at Gondar. I faw them in the fame: 
room where Ras Michael. ufed to fit. They were both ly- 
ing on the floor playing at draughts, with the figure of a 
draught-table drawn with chalk upon the carpet; they of 
fered: 
