$72 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 
who led the life of a drunkard, a ruffian, and a profligate, 
but her chief fears were that Michael fhould return, the 
probability of which increafed daily. 
As for Fafil, he-had hitherto anfwered the queen’s invi- 
tation to Gondar evafively, fometimes by complaining that — 
Gutho and Powuflen had come to Gondar before him, and 
that Gufho was made Ras; at other times fending peremp- 
torily to them to leave Gondar, and return to their provin- 
ces, or he would burn the town about their ears: and the 
Jaft meffage, the day before they left the capital was, that 
he was then on his march towards Gondar, and confented 
to Gufho-and Powuflen’s ftaying ; but as thefe two chiefs 
had great reafon te fufpecét that he was in correfpondence 
with the king and Ras Michael in Tigré, as it was known 
to them that he had fomented difturbances both in Begem- 
der and Amhara, they had gone with Secinios to Kofcam, 
without drums beating, or.any fort of parade whatever, and, 
after taking leave, had the next day fet out to their refpec- 
tive provinces. Upon another mefflage from Fafil, they had 
agreed to return to Gondar, and leave their army at Emfras; 
‘but their troops, finding themfelves fo near, had difbanded, 
and returned to their homes, leaving Gufho and Powullen at- 
tended only by their houfehold fervants, who, finding them- 
felves in danger, and that Fafil was actually advancing fe- 
eretly, left Gondar and feparated. 
Ozoro Esruer’s fervant (Guébra Mariam) likewife told 
me, that Michael, as he believed, waited for nothing but 
fome arrangement with Fafil, for that he had no enemy re- 
‘maining on the eaft of the Tacazzé; that his intention was 
to return by the way of Lafta, not willing to rifk the many 
I difficult 
