THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 489
palace into the church-yard, over a breach in the church- yard wall, they were challenged by a perfon, who afked them what they were about? to which they replied, Bury- in o- a Granger who died that day of a peftilential fever.
Immediately upon this confeflion, the Galla was carried out and hanged upon the daroo-tree before the king's gate. Many condemned this hafly execution, but many likewife thought it prudent; for he had already named a great part of the people about the queen as acceflhry to the death of her fon.
I have faid his name was Zor Woldo; he was of the race of Galla, called Toluma, on the borders of Amhara; he had been formerly a fervant to Kafmati Becro ; was of fmall fta- ture, thin and lightly made; his complexion a yellowiih black, and Angularly ill-favoured. When under the tree, he acknowledged the murder of the king with abfolute in- difference; nor did he deiire any favour, or fliew any fear of death. Zor Woldo's examination and declaration were fent immediately to Fafil, who, as ufual, promifed to come to Gondar quickly. The body of Joas was railed alfo, and laid in the church (in his clothes, juft as he was dug up) upon a little ftraw ; his features were eafily diftinguifhable, but fome animal had ate part of his cheek.
The day after, I went from Kofcam to Gondar without acquainting the Iteghe, and took a Greek called Fetros with me ; he had been chamberlain to Joas. We went about eleven o'clock in the forenoon to the church of St Raphael, expecting to have feen many as curious as ourfelves, but, by reafon of the atrocioumefs of the act, now for the firft
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