THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 44^ 



the loweft part of the mountain, from whofe thickets they 

 fally, upon every opportunity that prefents itfelf, to attack 

 the enemy whom they find marauding in the plains. 



The king had often affembled his army at Ibaba only 

 four days march from Zeegam. He had done more ; he 

 had paired below the country, and returned by the other 

 fide of it, in his attack upon Geefa and Wumbarea ; but 

 he had never committed any adl of hoUility, nor Ihewn 

 himfelf difcontented with them. To deceive them ftiU 

 farther, he ordered now his army to meet him at Efte in 

 Begemder; and fent to Kafmati Claudius, governor of Ti- 

 gre, to join him with all his forces as foon as he fliould 

 hear he was arrived at Lama, a large plain before we de- 

 fcend the fteep mountain of Lamalmon, whicli Hands not 

 far from the banks of the river Tacazze. He privately gave 

 orders alio to Kafmati Claudius, Kafmati Dimmo Chriftos 

 of Tigre, and to Adcra and Qiiaquera Za Menfus Kedus to 

 mform themfelves where the water lay below, and whether 

 there was enough for his army in Betcoom, for fo they call 

 the territory of the eallcrn branch of Shangalla adjoining 

 to Sire and Tigre. By this manoeuvre the enemy was dct 

 ceived, as the molt intelligent thought he was to attack 

 Lafta, and the others, that knew the fecret of the water were 

 fure his march was againfl the Shangalla. 



The king began his march from Ibaba, and crolTcd the 

 Nile at the fecond cataract below Dara, where there is a 

 bridge ; and, entering Begem<!er, he joined his army at Efte 

 which was going in a route directly from Agow and . Da- 

 mot towards. Lafta. But no locner ^^.as he arrived at Efte 

 than, that very night, he luddcnlv turned back t^^e wav he 

 Vol. IL , t 



J ^ came^ 



