102 
TRAVELS IN ABYSSINIA. 
ed him completely master. It was considered 
now a regular system that the governor of Tigre 
should supply a king to Abyssinia, and Welleta 
Selasse readily undertook that office. It was ne- 
cessary to select one who should be of some per- 
sonal talent and consideration, and, at the same 
time, entirely subservient to himself. The latter 
object being more carefully attended to than the 
former, the Ras found his kings unable to sup- 
port the dignity to which he had raised them. 
After successive trials, he found it prudent to 
make a compromise with Guxo, governor of Be- 
gemder, his rival in king-making ; and a joint one 
was appointed between them, a species of neutral 
substance, which interrupted neither in the uncon- 
trolled exercise of their respective authorities. 
Even this arrangement, however, could not long 
preserve harmony between these rival chiefs 5 and 
when Mr Salt was last in Abyssinia, they were 
again preparing to take the field against each 
other. 
All Mr Bruce's great friends. Ay to Aylo, Ay to 
Confu, Ozoro Esther, and Tecla Mariam, were 
dead. The family of the last, however, was living 
in splendour at Gondar. 
From Antalo Mr Salt set out on an excursion 
to Axum. In his way he passed through Adowa, 
a large town, and the capital of Tigre. It con- 
tains an extensive manufactory of coarse cotton 
