Page:Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile - In the Years 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772, and 1773 volume 3.djvu/510

 4 86 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER

That very clay, in the evening, came a fervant from Ras Michael, with taunts and fevere threats to the queen, to Powunen, and Gufho ; he faid he was very quickly bring- ing the king back to Gondar, and being now old, intended to pafs the reft of his life in Tigre ; he, therefore, hoped they would await the king's coming to Gondar, and chufe a Ras for his fucceffor from among themfelves, as he un- derflood they were all friends, and would eafily agree 4 efpe- cially as it was to oblige him..

On the 27th, Gufho and PowufTen waited upon the queen to take their leave. They declared it was not their inten- tion to flay at Gondar, merely to be alternately the fubject of merriment and fcoffing to Michael and to Fafil, and up- on this they immediately fet out on their way home, with- out drum or trumpet, or any parade whatever.

Immediately after, arrived another fervant from Fafil to the queen, defiring that PowufTen and Gufho might halt at EmiVas, adding, that he had jufl then begun his march from Bure, anil would be at Gondar in a few days. Gufho and PowufTen did accordingly halt there, and were detain- ed for the fpace of fix weeks, amufed by falfe pretences and mefTages, in very uncomfortable quarters, till their ar- mies difbanded, the foldiers, from hunger and conflant rains, deferted their leaders, and went every man to his home.

In the beginning of Augufl the queen came to Gondar, and fat on the throne all day. She had not been there thefe three years, and I fincerely wifhed fhe had not gone then. It was in meditation that day to chufe a new king ; fhe was prefent at that deliberation, and her intention was known

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