80 
TRAVELS IN ABYSSINIA. 
whole conduct was, if possible, still less under the 
guidance of order and decorum. Our traveller's 
health was soon so much injured by this course of 
life, that he was forced to retire for some time to a 
house in the country. 
These festive scenes were the forerunner of an 
entire change of affairs. Gusho and Powussen, the 
friends of the Iteghe, and of the late king, form- 
ed, in conjunction with Fasil, chief of the Galla, 
a plan to surround and cut off Michael. The lat- 
ter gained intelligence of their design, but could 
escape its effects only by retiring into Tigre. The 
confederate chiefs then marched upon Gondar, 
where they set up a youth of the name of Socinios 
as king, and themselves exercised the whole power 
of the state. Mr Bruce now retired to the 
Iteghe's country house at Koscam, where he was in 
safety, though he still continued attached to Mi- 
chael. During an interval of amity between that 
prince and Fasil, Mr Bruce had insinuated him- 
self into the favour of the Galla chief, and had ob- 
tained a grant of the village of Geesh, for the pur- 
pose of visiting the sources of the Nile which lie 
in its vicinity. This having been always the grand 
object of our traveller's ambition, he determined, 
in its pursuit, to brave the imminent dangers aris- 
ing from the barbarous people by whom this dis- 
trict was now occupied. He departed accordingly, 
without regard to the earnest advice of his Abys- 
