THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 487 
_toplace a fon of Aylo, Joas’s brother, a mere infant, upon 
the throne. All thofe that were in fear of Michael, and it 
was very general at that time, cried out againft an infant 
king at fuch a critical period ; but, old as that princefs was,. 
the defire of reigning had again returned. 
Upon the return of the Iteghé that night to Kofcam, Sa- 
nuda held a council of: the principal officers that had re- 
mained at Gondar, and fixed upon one Welleta Girgis, a 
young man of about 24 years of age, who had, indeed, been 
reputed Yafous’s fon, but his low life and manners had 
procured him fafety and liberty by the contempt they had’ 
raifed in Ras Michael. His mother,.indeed, was of a noble 
origin, but fo reduced in fortune as to have been obliged to 
gain her livelihood by. carrying jars of water for hire. The 
mother {wore this fon was begot by Yafous,and as that prince’ 
was known not to have been very nice in his choice of mif- 
- treffes, or limited in their number, it was, perhaps, as likely: 
‘to be true as not, that Welleta Girgis was his fon. He took. 
“the name of Socinios. On the morning after,,the new 
king came to Kofcam, attended by Sanuda and his. 
party, with guards, and all the enfigns of royalty. He 
threw. himfelf at the Iteghé’s feet, and begged her forgiven- 
nefs if he had vindicated the rights of his birth, without 
her leave or participation ; he declared his refolution to: 
govern entirely by her advice, and begged her to grant his. 
_ requeft and come to: Gondar, and again take poffeffion of 
her place as Iteghé, or regent of the kingdom. 
Yr was about the roth of Auguft that an accident happen- 
ed, which it was generally thought would have determined 
Fahl to come. to Gondar.. A common woman, wife of a 
Gallas 
