Page:A voyage to Abyssinia (Salt).djvu/373

 to them not only complete possession of Aden and the Arabian ports, but also of the whole of the islands and harbours on the African side of the sea; so that from this period the Abyssinians may be considered as having lost all their influence as a maritime state.

How long the superiority of the Persians continued, is uncertain: but in all probability it gave way to the rising greatness of the Mahomedan power, which soon afterwards overwhelmed all the countries adjoining Arabia; spread to the remotest parts of the East; and penetrated even across the unsocial regions of Africa; while Abyssinia, unconquered and true to the Christian faith, remained within two hundred miles of the walls of Mecca, a constant and galling opprobrium to the followers of the prophet. On this account, implacable and unceasing war ravaged her territories; the native princes on the borders being supplied with arms and money, and occasionally rewarded with splendid presents by the reigning Sheriffes, whose constant attention was directed towards the conquest of the country.

From Ameda the list of kings runs in the following succession, but no number of years is assigned to their separate reigns.


 * 1) Ameda.
 * 2) Tazena.
 * 3) Caleb.
 * 4) Guebra Mascal.
 * 5) Constantinus.
 * 6) Wusen Segued.
 * 7) Fré Sennai.
 * 8) Adieraz.
 * 9) Akul Woodem.
 * 10) Grim Sofer.
 * 11) Zer gāz.
 * 12) Degna Michael.
 * 13) Bakr-Akla.
 * 14) Gouma.
 * 15) Asgoungūm.
 * 16) Let-um.
 * 17) Thala-tum.
 * 18) Woddo Gúsh.
 * 19) I zoor.
 * 20) Didum.
 * 21) Woodm asfar.
 * 22) Armah.
 * 23) Degna Jan.
 * 24) Ambasa WoodimWoodim. [sic]
 * 25) Dilnaad.

In the time of Dilnaad, a woman of the name of Gudit overthrew the reigning dynasty, and, after destroying