Page:Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile - In the Years 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772, and 1773 volume 3.djvu/521

 THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 497

had got a very plentiful portion of bOuza from his friends, and was, I faw, fad engaged in the purfuit of more, fo I gave him a fmall prefent for his good news, and took my leave, my mind being full of reflections upon the king's goodnefs, who, after fuch an abfence, and in fo critical a fituation as he then was, ftill remembered the trifling purfuits in which he had feen me often engaged.

In the afternoon I received a mefTage from Ozoro Eft her, as brought to her by a fervant of Ras Michael. It feems the giving up the king's revenue due from Tigre, and a) I fort of taxes upon the inhabitants, had interefted the whole province fo flrongly, that all of them, as one man, endeavoured to remove the obftacle which flood in the way of the king's return : Michael, moreover, offered peace and pardon to the rebels, certain compenfations, and an amnefty of all that was paft. All the friends, both of Netcho and Za Menfus, and the other leaders upon the mountain, endea- voured to perfuade them to accept the terms offered, whilft all the priefts and hermits, eminent for fanctity, became as mediators between them and Ras Michael : this intercourfe, though it had no effect upon Za Menfus, had feduced Net- cho, and opened a large field for treachery.

In the midft of this treaty, Kefla Yafous, with a detach- ment of chofen men, in a very flormy night, was appointed to afcend up a private path to that part of the mountain where Netcho kept the principal guard, and being admitted, found the garrifon moftly afleep ; he furprifed and obliged them to furrender, with very little bloodfhed ; Za Menfus was taken prifoner, and, while Kefla Yafous conducted him to the camp, was met by Guebra Mafcal, who thrufl him through

Vol. III. 3 R with