THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. ;oi- 



ly all the great offices in the laft reign. He was immenfely 

 rich - had married a daugluer of Ras Michael, and after- 

 wards fix or feven other women, being much addided to ths 

 fair fcx, and was lately married to Ozoro Welleta Ifrael, the 

 Iteghe's daughter. Nor was he in any fliapc an enemy to 

 wine; but very engaging, and plaufible in difcourfe and be- 

 haviour ; in many refpecTis a good officer, careful of his 

 men, but faid to be little foUcitous about his word or pro- 

 mife to men of any other profeffion but that of a-foldier. 



An accident of the mofl trifling kind brought about an 

 open breach between the king and the Ras, which never af- 

 ter was healed. The weather was very hot while the army 

 was marching. One day, a httle before their arrival at Gon- 

 dar, in paffing over the vaft plain between the mountains 

 and the lake Tzana, (afterwards the fcene of much blood- 

 ihed) Ras Michael, being a httle indifpofed with the heat, 

 and the fun at the fame time affecfting his eyes, which were 

 weak, without other defign than that of fliading them, had 

 thrown a white cloth or handkerchief over his head. This 

 was told the king, then with Fafil in the center, who imme- 

 diately fent to the Ras to inquire what was the meaning 

 of that novelty, and upon what account he prefumed to 

 cover his head in his prefence ? The white handkerchief 

 was immediately taken off, but the affront was thought fo 

 heinous as never after to admit of atonement. 



It muff be here obferved, that, when the army is. in the- 

 field, it is a diilincliion the king ufes, to bind a. broad fillet 

 of fine mullin round his head, which is tied in a double 

 knot, and hangs in two long ends behind. This, too, is worn 

 by the gowinioi of a province when he is firfi introduced 



jntQ ■ 



