Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile, Volume 4 (of 5): In the years 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772 and 1773Bruce, James
History
Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile, Volume 4 (of 5): In the years 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772 and 1773
Bruce, James
Egypt -- Description and travel; Ethiopia -- Description and travel; Ethiopia -- History; Natural history -- Ethiopia; Nile River
In the morning, therefore, of the 3d of November, without attempting
further discussion, proclamation was made that Fasil was Ras and
Betwudet, governor of Damot, Maitsha, and Agow, and had the disposal
of all places under the king throughout the empire; declaring also,
that all appointments that had been made by the Iteghé or himself, in
Fasil's absence, were null and void, to be again filled up by Fasil
only. Socinios, however, soon found that he had a different spirit
to manage than that of Woodage Asahel. Fasil took him at his word,
accepted of the appointment, began immediately to exercise his power,
and the very first day he gave the post of Cantiba, that is, governor
of Dembea, to Ayto Engedan, nephew to the queen-mother, and son to
Kasmati Eshté, whom he himself had deposed, murdered, and succeeded
in the government of Damot and Maitsha; and Selassé Barea, brother to
Ayto Aylo, he made Palambaras. These appointments just planted the
king in the difficulty that was intended; for the places had been
given to Kasmati Sanuda, as a recompence for resigning the posts of
Ras and Betwudet, which were now conferred upon Fasil; and Sanuda,
whom Socinios believed his only friend, and the person that raised him
to the throne, was now left destitute of all employment whatever, by
an act of seeming ingratitude flowing from the king alone.
The next day Fasil, pursuing the same line of conduct, appointed
Adera Tacca Georgis, a creature of his own, Fit-Auraris to the king.
None of these preferments Socinios could be brought to comply with;
so that when these noblemen came to do homage for their respective
places, Socinios absolutely refused to receive them, or displace
Kasmati Sanuda. This involved the king in still greater difficulties,
for he thereby broke his word with Fasil, who had done nothing more
than Socinios gave him authority to do. On the other hand, Selassé
Barea was brother to Ayto Aylo, the queen's greatest counsellor and
confident; equal to his brother both in wisdom, integrity, and riches,
and in the favour of the people, but much more ambitious and desirous
of governing, consequently more dangerous when disobliged.
Socinios, who did not believe that Sanuda was treacherously urging him
to his ruin, continued obstinate in rejecting Fasil's appointment,
and all fell immediately into confusion. Troops flocked in from every
quarter, as upon a signal given. Ayto Engedan, in discontent, with a
thousand men sat down near Gondar on the river Mogetch; his brother
Aylo, at Emfras, about 15 miles further, with double that number;
Ayto Confu, his cousin-german, with about 600 horse, lay above Koscam
for the protection of Ozoro Esther, his mother, and the Iteghé his
grandmother--all were in arms, though upon the defensive.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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