Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile, in the Years 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772, and 1773
Volume II
 (1790)
James Bruce
592279Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile, in the Years 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772, and 1773
Volume II
1790James Bruce

TRAVELS

TO DISCOVER THE

SOURCE OF THE NILE,

In the Years 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772, and 1773.

IN FIVE VOLUMES.

BY JAMES BRUCE OF KINNAIRD, ESQ. F. R. S.

VOL. II.



Vixere fortes ante Agamemnona
Multi, sed omnes illachrymabiles
Urgentur ignotique longa
Nocte, carent quia vate sacro.Horat.



EDINBURGH:
PRINTED BY J. RUTHVEN,
FOR G. G. J. AND J. ROBINSON, PATERNOSTER-ROW,
LONDON.


MDCCXC.



CONTENTS

OF THE

SECOND VOLUME.


BOOK III.
ANNALS OF ABYSSINIA.
Translated from the Original.

Containing the History of the Abyssinians, from the Restoration of the Line of Solomon to the Death of Socinios, and the Downfall of the Romish Religion.

ICON AMLAC.
From 1268 to 1283.
Line of Solomon restored under this Prince—He continues the Royal Residence in Shoa—Tecla Haimanout dies—Reasons for the Fabrication of the supposed Nicene Canon, P. 1.
IGBA SION.
From 1283 to 1312.
Quick Succession of Princes—Memoirs of these Reigns deficient, 4
AMDA SION.
From 1312 to 1342.
Licentious beginning of this King's Reign—His rigorous Conduct with the Monks of Debra Libanos—His Mahometan Subjects Rebel—Mara and Adel declare War—Are defeated in several Battles, and submit, 5
SAIF ARAAD.
From 1342 to 1370.
This Prince enjoys a peaceable Reign—Protects the Patriarch of Cophts at Cairo from the Persecution of the Soldan, 60
WEDEM ASFERI.
From 1370 to 1380.
Memoirs of this and the following Reign defective. 62
DAVID II.
From 1380 to 1409. 63
THEODORUS.
From 1409 to 1412.
Memoirs of this Reign, though held in great Esteem in Abyssinia, defective, probably mutilated by the Ecclesiastics, 64
ISAAC.
From 1412 to 1429.
No Annals of this, nor the four following Reigns. 65
ANDREAS I. or AMDA SION. 66
TECLA MARIAM, or HASEB NANYA.
From 1429 to 1433. 67
SARWE YASOUS. ib.
AMDA YASOUS. ib.
ZARA JACOB.
From 1434 to 1468.
Sends Ambassadors from Jerusalem to the Council of Florence—First Entry of the Roman Catholics into Abyssinia, and Dispute about Religion—King persecutes the Remnants of Sabaism and Idolatry—Mahometan Provinces rebel and are subdued—The King dies, 68
BŒDA MARIAM.
From 1468 to 1478.
Revives the Banishment of Princes to the Mountain—War with Adel—Death of the King—Attempts by Portugal to discover Abyssinia and the Indies, 78
ISCANDER, or ALEXANDER.
From 1478 to 1495.
Iscander declares War with Adel—Good Conduct of the King—Betrayed and Murdered by Za Saluce, 114
NAOD.
From 1495 to 1508.
Wise Conduct of the King—Prepares for a War with the Moor—Concludes an Honourable Peace with Adel, 120
DAVID III.
From 1505 to 1540.
David, an Infant succeeds—Queen sends Matthew Ambassador to Portugal—David takes the field—Defeat of the Moors—Arrival of an Embassy from Portugal—Disastrous War with Adel, 124
CLAUDIUS, or ATZENAF SEGUED.
From 1540 to 1559.
Prosperous Beginning of Claudius's Reign—Christopher de Gama lands in Abyssinia—Prevented by the Rainy Season from joining the King—Battle of Ainal—Battle of Offalo—Christopher de Gama Slain—Battle of Isaacs Bet—Moors defeated and their general Slain—Abyssinian Army defeated—Claudius Slain—Remarkable Behaviour of Nur, Governor of Zeyla General of the Moors, 173
MENAS, or ADAMAS SEGUED.
From 1559 to 1563.
Baharnogash rebels, proclaims Tascar King—Defeated by the King—Cedes Dobarwa to the Turks, and makes a League with the Basha of Masuah, 206
SERTZA DENGHEL, or MELEC SEGUED.
From 1563 to 1595.
King crowned at Axum—Abyssinia invaded by the Galla—Account of that People—The King defeats the Army of Adel—Beats the Falasha, and kills their King—Battle of the Mareb—Basha slain, and Turks expelled from Dobarwa—King is poisoned—Names Za Denghel his Successor, 214
ZA DENGHEL.
From 1595 to 1604.
Za Denghel dethroned—Jacob a Minor succeeds—Za Denghel is Restored-Banishes Jacob to Narea—Converted to the Romish Religion—Battle of Bartcho and Death of the King, 238
JACOB.
From 1604 to 1605.
Makes Proposals to Socinios, which are rejected—Takes the Field—Bad Conduct and Defeat of Za Selasse—Battle of Debra Zeit—Jacob defeated and Slain, 252
SOCINIOS or MELEC SEGUED.
From 1605 to 1652.
Socinios embraces the Romish Religion—War with Sennaar—With the Shepherds—Violent Conduct of the Romish Patriarch—Lasta rebels—Defeated at Wainadega—Socinios restores the Alexandrian Religion—Resigns his Crown to his Eldest Son, 262
BOOK IV.
Continuation of the Annals, from the Death of Socinios, till my Arrival in Abyssinia.
FACILIDAS or SULTAN SEGUED.
From 1632 to 1665.
The Patriarch and Missionaries are Banished—Seek the Protection of a Rebel—Delivered up to the King, and sent to Masuah—Prince Claudius rebels—Sent to Wechnè—Death and Character of the King,401
HANNES I. or ŒLAFE SEGUED.
From 1665 to 1680.
Bigotry of the King—Disgusts his Son Yasous, who flees from Gondar, 423
YASOUS I.
From 1680 to 1704.
Brilliant Expedition of the King to Wechne—Various Campaigns against the Agows and Galla—Comet appears—Expedition against Zeegam and the Eastern Shangalla—Poncet's Journey—Marat's Embassy—Du Roule's Embassy—Du Roule murdered at Sennaar—The King is assassinated, 425
TECLA HAIMANOUT I.
From 1704 to 1706.
Writes in Favour of Du Roule—Defeats the Rebels—Is Assassinated while Hunting, 517
TIFILIS.
From 1706 to 1709.
Difficulties with his Brother's Assassins—Execution of the Regicides—Rebellion and Death of Tigi, 533
OUSTAS.
From 1709 to 1714.
Usurps the Crown—Addicted to Hunting—Account of the Shangalla—Active and Bloody Reign—Entertains Catholic Priests privately Falls sick and dies, but how, uncertain, 538
DAVID IV.
From 1714. to 1719.
Convocation of the Clergy—Catholic Priests executed—A Second Convocation—Clergy insult the King—His severe Punishment—King dies of Poison, 577
BACUFFA.
From 1719 to 1729.
Bloody Reign—Exterminates the Conspirators—Counterfeits Death—Becomes very Popular, 595
YASOUS II. or ADIAM SEGUED.
From 1729 to 1753.
Rebellion in the Beginning of this Reign—King addicted to hunting—To building, and the Arts of Peace—Attacks Sennaar—Loses his Army—Takes Samayat—Receives Baady King of Sennaar under his Protection, 608
JOAS.
From 1753 to 1769.
This Prince a favorer of the Galla his Relations—Great dissentions on bringing them to Court—War of Begemder—Ras Michael brought to Gondar—Defeats Ayo—Mariam Barea refuses to be accessary to his Death—King favours Waragna Fasil—Battle of Azazo—King Assassinated in his Palace, 660
HANNES II.
1769.
Hannes, Brother to Bacuffa, chosen King—Is brought from Wechne—Crowned at Gondar—His horrid Behaviour—Refuses to march against Fasil—Is poisoned by Order of Ras Michael, 707
TECLA HAIMANOUT II.
1769.
Succeeds his Father Hannes—His Character and prudent Behaviour—Cultivates Michael's Friendship—Marches willingly against Fasil—Defeats him at Fagitta—Description of that Battle, 709