g e ; and, for the greater folemnity, the: k in g and Fafil took
a formal oath, to ratify all thefe articles, and to remain in
friendffiip for ever. After which, the Abuna, in pontificals
being called to be prefent, pronounced a formal curfe and*
fentence o f excommunication, upon whichever o f the parties
ihould firft break the vow they had taken.
No word was mentioned o f Tigre, or Kefla Yafous, or o f
Powuffen, nor the fmalleft nptice taken o f Ras Ayabdar, who
remained m his houfe and office, as i f he had not exifted.
It appeared to me the party was again made by one h a lf o f
the kingdom againft the other; Kefla Yafous and Powuffen
againft Fafil and Guffio; as for Ayabdar and A y to Tesfos o f
Samen, thefe were left, contemptuoufly inmedio, to take any
fide they pleafed, which, indeed, was o f no confequence.
After this interview, Fafil never again entered the kin g’s
houfe, though he went often to Kofcam ; but I neither faw
him nor fought to fee him, nor did he ever inquire after
me, as far as I could learru
O n the 19th o f November Fafil fent orders t o the palace
that four bodies o f the k in g ’s houfehold-troops, Gimja Bet’
Werk Sacala, Ambafele, and Edjow, ihould immediately
join him, which they did, to the number o f 1200 men aU
armed. Thefe he carried, with Guffio his fon-in-law in
triumph to Damot, nor was this the only inftance Fafil gave
o f * e great regard he had to his late oaths, and to the fa-
cred character o f theperfon that adminiftered them; for the
morning he marched off, a party o f the Galla, meeting the
Abuna, and a numerous retinue mounted on mules, going
to the k in g ’s houfe, obliged them all to difmount at
once, without diftinftion, taking their mules with them to
4 the
the camp, from whence they never returned, and leaving
the Abuna on foot, to find his way bacjc to his houfe, at
Kedus Raphael, from the top o f which, as from, a caftle,he
wifely poured out his excommunications, againft an army, ,
compofed-endrely o f Pagans, without one Chriftian among;
them.
I t is here a proper period to finiffi the hiftory o f Abyflb
nia, as I was no further prefent at^or informed o f the public
tranfa&ions which followed. My whole attention was
now taken up in preparations for my return, through the
kingdom of. Sennaar and the defert. Neither ffiall I.take up
the reader’s time with a long narrative o f leave-taking, or
what paffed between me and thofe illuftrious p.erfonages
with whom I had lived fo long in the moft perfect and corr
dial friendffiip. Men o f little,, and. envious minds, would'
perhaps think I. was compofing a panegyric upon myfelf,.
from which-, therefore, .I moft willin gly refrain; But the fe-
veral marks o f goodnefs, friendffiip, and efteem, which I
received at parting, are confined, w ith in 'm y own breaft,.
where they never ffiall be. effaced, but . continue to furniffi,
me with., the.moft agreeable reflections, fince they were the
fruit alone o f perfonal-merit, and o f honeft, fteady, and upright
behayiour. -All w ho had attempted the fame journey-
hitherto, had met with difappointment,„difgrace, or death ; ,
for my-part, although L underwent eyery fort o f toil, danger,
and all , manner, o f hardffiip, yet thefe were not confined.
to myfelf. I fuffered always- honourably, and in,
common with the reft o f the ftate; and. when fun-ihiny
days happened, (for fun-ffiiny days there were, .and very.-
hrilliant ones too) o f thefe I was permitted freely to partake;
and.thc naoft.diftinguiihed charafters, both at court and in
the..-