4 S2 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER
Michael in Maitfha, and had purpofely (laid at home till a; fuperior army fhould fall upon him fingly, and ravage his country : That they had broken their word a fecond time by entering into Gondar without him ; whereas the agree- ment was, that they all three mould have done this at once, to fettle the form of government by their joint delibera- tion. Many days palled in thefe negociations ; Fafil always promifing to come upon fome condition or other, but never- keeping his word, or flirring from Bure.
On the 20th, the queen's fervants, who had gone to offer terms of reconciliation to Fafil on the part of Gufho and Powuflen, returned to their homes. The fame day he or- dered it to be proclaimed in the market-place, That Ayto Tesfos fhould be governor of Samen, and that whoever, ihould rob on that road, or commit any violence, fhould fuf* fer death. This was an act of power, purpofely intended to affront Powuflen and Gufho, and feemed to be opening a road for a correfpondence with Ras Michael; but, above all, it fhewed contempt for their party and their caufe, and that he confidered his own as very diflincl: from theirs ; for Tesfos had taken arms in the late king's lifetime, at the fame time, and upon the fame principles and provocation,, as Fafil, and had never laid down his arms, or made peace, with Ras Michael, but kept his government in defiance of. him.
On the 24th, for fear of giving umbrage, I waited upon Gufho and Powuffen at Gondar. I faw them in the fame room where Ras Michael ufed to fit. They were both ly- ing on the floor playing at draughts, with the figure of a draught-table drawn with chalk upon the carpet ; they of- fered;
