55© TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



without water, and expofed greatly to the incurfions of the 

 Galla. After two days journey, they arrived in the morn- 

 ing of the third, at the foot of SenafFe, where there was 

 water. It is the frontier (as the name imports) of the pro- 

 vince of Enderta, now united to the government of Tigre. 

 It is part of that ridge of mountains which feparates the 

 feafons, occafioning fummer on the one fide, while rain and 

 ,cold prevail on the other. 



On the night before they came to the mountain, while 

 dubious of their way, a liar of more than ordinary magni- 

 tude, and of furprifmg brightnefs, appeared over the patri- 

 arch, giving fo ftrong a light that it illuminated the hea- 

 vens down to the horizon. It was not, in its place or man- 

 ner of appearing, like a common flar, but flood flationary, 

 in the way leading to SenafFe, for above fix minutes, and 

 difappeared *. This flar, the patriarch and his followers 

 modeflly fay, was probably the fame that conducted the 

 Magi to the cradle of Chrifl, and was now fent to fhew 

 them the way into AbyfTinia. 



While they were at the foot of this mountain, the Mu- 

 leteers, all Mahometans, thought the occafion a proper one 

 to plunder them, by obliging them to pay an additional 

 hire for their beafls, which they pretended were not able 

 to afcend fo flecp a mountain. Tlie camels certainly could 

 not pafs ; but mules and afTes have a more pra(5ticable road, 

 for the fake of carrying the fait. They infifled to leave the 

 company till they fhould bring them frefh mules. The 

 caravan confifled of the patriarch and fix ecclefiaflics, priefls, 

 and friars, and thirteen laymen, three of whom were mufi- 



cians. 



* Tellez, lib. iv. cap- 38. 



