-but one glafs more to break before they arrived at thofe
in the alcove where the k in g was fitting.
I w a s in great fear o f the confequences, as they were
about thirteen or fourteen in n um b e r; nor did we know
how many more o f their companions might be below, or
in the town, or o f what party they were, nor whether refinance
on our part was lawful. We three had no arms but
a fhort knife at our girdle, nor had the k in g any, fo that
we were in the greateft fear that, i f their humour o f breakin
g the glafies had continued when they came near the
k in g , he would ftrike one o f them, and we Ihould be all
mafiacred: We all three therefore,got up and ftood before
the king, who made a gentle motion with his hand, as i f
to fay, “ Stay a little, or, have patience.” At this inftant,
Tenfa Chriftos, (a man o f confiderable authority in Gondar*
who was underftood by Gufho to be trailed with the care
o f the town, though he had no name or poll, for there was
yet no form o f government fettled,) hearing the Galla had
plundered houfes, and gone into the palace, followed them
as fail as poffible, with about a hundred ilout young men
belonging to Gondar, well-armed. The Galla foon faw
there was a more ferious occupation awaiting them, and
ran out to the great hall o f the k in g ’s chamber, called
Aderaiha, when one o f thefe foldiers o f Gondar ihut the
door o f the room where the k in g fat. The Galla at firft
made a ihew o f refiftance; but two o f them being very much,
wounded, and feeing themfelves in a houfe where they did
not know their way, and all affiitance from their comrades
impolHble, they furrendered their arms ; they then were
tied two and two, and fent in this manner down to Guflio’s
3 camp,'
«amp, w ho immediately ordered two o f them to be hanged,
and the reft to be whipt and difmiifed.
T e n s a C h r i s t o s , after having done this good fervice,
came into the room to the king, and kiffed the ground in
the ufual manner before him. The k in g immediately ordered
him to rife, gave him his hands to kifs, and then permitted
him to withdraw, without having faid one word in
his commendation for having delivered him from fo great
a danger. That fame day, a little after noon, a party o f
foldiers was fent into the town, who apprehended Shalaka
Becro and his fon ; Nebrit Tecla, and his two fons ; two fons
o f Lika Netcho a prieft, and another man, whofe name I
have forgot, in all eight perfons, natives o f the province o f
Tigré, dependants and fervants o f Ras Michael, and murderers
o f the late k in g Joas. Thefe being brought to the-
market-place, were delivered into the hands o f the Edjow
Galla, formerly Joas’s guard. Becro and his fon were hewn
to pieces with knives ; Nebrit Tecla’s fons, the eldeft firft,,
and then the youngeft, were thruft through with lances ;
and their father being then brought to them where they
lay, and defired to fay i f he knew who they were, and an-
fwering in the negative, he was immediately cut to pieces,,
as were the others, with great circumftances o f cruelty,
and their mangled bodies thrown about the ftreets.
Thefe were all the executions which followed this great
and fudden revolution a proof o f very exemplary moderation
iri the conquerors, confidering the number o f people
concerned in the parricide firft, and the consequential rebellion
after. Lika Netcho, in particular, fu lly as gu ilty as his
fons, was neverthelefs fpared, becaufe he had married one
o f the kin g’s relations..
As