all communication between Gondar and Tigré. On the fide o f
Beleilèn, between Lafta and Begemder, was Ras Michael and
his army. Powuffen and the Begemder troops cut off the
road to Gojam by Foggora and Dara. Ayto Engedan, who
was to be confidered as an advanced poll o f Fafil, was at
Tfihemmera, in the w ay o f the Agow and Maitiha, and Coque
Abou Barea on the N. W. fide, towards Kuara ; fo that'Gondar
was fo completely inveft^i, that feveral o f the people
died w ith hunger,
R a s M ich a e l had ordered his own nephew, Tecla and
Welleta Michael, the k in g ’s matter o f the houfehold, to endeavour
to force their way from Tigré to Woggora, and
open that communication, i f poflible, with Gondar; and
fo r that purpofe had left him 4000 men in the province o f
Siré, on the other fide o f the Tacazzé ; and now fcarce was
his tent pitched at Mariam-Ohha, when he detached Kefla
Y a fous with 6000 men to force a junction with Michael
and Tecla from the Woggora fide. Their orders were, i f
poflible, to draw Tesfos to an engagement, but not to venture
to ftorm him in the mountain ; for Tesfos’s principal
poft, the Jews Rock, was inacceflible, where he had plowed
and fowed p lentifully for his fubfiftence, and had a quantity
o f the pureft running-water at all feafons o f the year :
to irritate Tesfos more, Kefla Yafous was then named governor
o f Samen in his place. This brave and aitive officer
had fet> out immediately for his command,' and it was to.
me the greateft difappointment poflible, that I did not fee
him.
A l th o u gh Ras Michael had been in council all pight,
the fignal was made to ftrike the tents at the firft dawn o f
4 day,
day, and foon'after, the whole army was in motion ; the
council had been in. the Ras’s tent, not in prefence o f , the
king, with: whom.l had ilaid the moil part of,the evening,
indeed, till late in.the,night ; he feemed to have loft all. his
former gaiety, and to be greatly troubled in mind; inquired
much about the Iteghé, and. Fafil ; : told me he had fent
his affurance o f peace tôithe Iteghé,-.and defired her not tç>
leave Kofcam : btitdhe had returned for anfwer, that fhe
could not trull Michael, after the threatnings he had fent
againft her from Tigré. ., It was obferyed alfo, in this day’s
march, that,contrary, to, his: cuflom before crofling the Tacazzé,
he received a l l . that came out to ipegt him with a
füllen countenance,: and fcarec ¡ever anfwered or (pake tq
them. Michael alfo, every .day finpe the fame date, had put
on a behaviour more ànd more fcvcre and brutal. He.had
enough o f this at all times.
I t was the :213d o f December w hen we encamped on the
Mogetch, juft below Gondar. This behaviour,.was fo con-
fpicuous to the whole people,, that no fooner. w ere the tents
pitched, (it .being about eleven o’clock) than, they all Hole
home ioiGondar in fmall parties,'without their dinner, and
prefently..a1 report was- fpreäd that the .king and Ras Michael
came determined to,burn the.town, and put, the inhabitants
all to the fword. This'occafioned~ the utmoft con-
fternation, and .eaufed many fo, .fly to Fafil.
As for me, the k in g ’s behaviour flic wed me plainly all
was not right, and an accident in the -way confirmed it. He
had defired me todide before him, and ihew him, thé horfe
I had: g o t from Fafil; , Which was then in great beamy and
-order, and which I had kept purpofely for him. It happen-
V o l . IV. I cd