Every One Suspected That Mastiate, The Galla Queen, Would Resent The Foray Made In Her Country, And Avenge The Death Of Her Subjects So Treacherously Murdered.

She would probably, they feared, destroy their crops at the foot of the Amba, stop the market, and starve out the place.

She had, they knew, faithful allies in Comfou and Meshisha, and as the latter had been almost brought up on the mountain, and knew the many paths by which to lead; at night, the Galla host, much anxiety, therefore, prevailed, and great precautions were taken to protect the Amba against a sudden attack.

I believe that it was indeed Mastiate's plan, and that she was on the point of executing it when a serious danger from, another side required her presence. Wakshum Gobaze, at the head of a powerful army, had invaded her dominions.

Our days of calm repose were at an end; if it was not one rebel chief or the other that threatened the Amba, it was the good news from home that at last an expedition for our deliverance had been decided upon, or the less welcome information that the King was about to move in our direction; and one excitement had hardly subsided before we were again a prey to another - one day full of hope, the next, perhaps, desponding and cast down.

Watshum Gobaze's career, had been full of adventure. As a young man he accompanied his father, Wakshum Gabra Medhin, the hereditary chief of Lasta, to the Imperial camp.

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