186 HISTORY or 



the great river Amazon, which, from its source 

 in the Lake of Lauricocha, to its discharge into 



Dee-ohha, or the river Dee. Turning then sharply to the east, it falls down 

 another cataract, and about three miles below receives the Jemma, a pure 

 and limpid stream, not inferior in size to itself. Proceeding still to the 

 northward, it receives a number of other streams, and at last crosses the 

 southern part of the lake Tzana or Dembea, preserving the colour of its 

 stream during its passage, and issuing out at the west side of it in the terri- 

 tory of Dara. 



It is now confined by the mountains of Begemder till it reaches Alata, 

 where is the third cataract. This, we are informed by Mr Bruce, is the 

 most magnificent sight he ever beheld. Below this tremendous waterfall 

 the Nile takes a south-east direction, along the western side of Begemder 

 and Amhara on the right, enclosing the province of Gojam. It receives a 

 great number of streams from both sides, and after several turns takes at last 

 a direction almost due north, and approaches within 62 miles of its source. 

 The Nile now seems to have forced its passage through a gap in some 

 very high mountains which bound the country of the Ganges, and falls 

 down a cataract of 280 feet high; and immediately below this are t\vo 

 others, both of very considerable height 



The Nile, now running close by Sennaar in a direction nearly north and 

 south, makes afterwards a sharp turn to the east ; affording a pleasant vien' 

 in the fair season, when it is brim-full, and indeed the only ornament of that 

 bare and inhospitable country. Leaving Sennaar, it passes by many large 

 towns inhabited by Arabs, all of them of a white complexion ; then passing 

 Gerri, and turning to the north-east, it joins the Tacazee, passing, during 

 its course through this country, a large and populous town named Chendi, 

 probably the Candace of the ancients. Here Mr Bruce supposes the an- 

 cient island or peninsula of Meroe to have been situated. Having at length 

 received the great river of Atbara, the Astaboras of the ancients, it turns 

 directly north for about two degrees ; than making a very unexpected turn 

 west by south for more than two degrees in longitude, and winding very 

 little, it arrives at Korti, the first town in Barabra, or kingdom of Dongola. 

 From Korti it runs almost south-west till it passes Dongola, called also Beja, 

 the capital of Barabra ; after which it comes to Moscho, a considerable town 

 and place of refreshment to the caravans when they were allowed to pass 

 from Egypt to Ethiopia. From thence turning to the north-east it meets 

 with a chain of mountains in about 22 1 5' of north latitude, where is the 

 seventh cataract named Jan Add. This is likewise very tremendous, 

 though not above half as high as that of Alata. This course is now con- 

 tinued till it falls into the Mediterranean ; there being only one other cata- 

 ract in the whole apace, which is much inferior to any of those already 

 described.] 



