73 6 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER
overcame them by furprife and ftratagem ; and that an- other clan, the Denguis, in like manner maintained the war againft Facilidas, Hannes I. and Yafous II. all of them active princes. Their riches, however, are ftill great- er than their power, for though their province in length is no where 60 miles, nor half that in breadth, yet Gondar and all the neighbouring country depend for the neceflaries of life, cattle, honey, butter, wheat, hides, wax, and a number of fuch articles, upon the Agows, who come conftantly in fucceffion, a thou fan d and fifteen hundred at a time, loaded with thefe commodities, to the capital.
As the dependence upon the Agows is for their produce rather than on the forces of their country, it has been a maxim with wife princes to compound with them for an ad- ditional tribute, inftead of their military fervice ; the ne- ceflities of the times have fometimes altered thefe wife regulations, and between their attachment to Fafil, and af- terwards to Ras Michael, they have been very much redu- ced, whereby the llate hath fufFered.
It will naturally occur, that, in a long carriage, fuch as that of" a hundred miles in fuch a climate, butter mull melt, and be in a flate of fufion, consequently very near putrefaction ; this is prevented by the root of an herb, cal- led Moc-moco, yellow in colour, ard in fhape nearly re- fenhling a carrot : this they bruife and mix with their but- ter, and a very fma'il quantity preferves it frefh for a confi- derable tunc; and this is a great faving and convenience, for, fuppofing fair was employed, it is very doubtful if it would anfwer the intention ; befidcs, fait is a money in this coun-
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