THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 711 



Galla beyond the Nile, and this not v;ithout fome diffi- 

 culty. The zibib, or bullet, which had deilroyed fo many 

 of them at Azazo, had made an impreffion on their minds, 

 and been reported to their countrymen as a circumftance 

 very unpleafmg. Thefe wild Pagans, therefore, had, for the 

 firft time, found a reludance to invade their ancient enemies 

 the AbylTinians. 



Fasil, to overcome this fear of the zibib, had loaded fbme 

 guns with powder, and fired them very near at fome of his 

 friends, which of courfe had hurt nobody. Again he had 

 put ball in his gun, and fired at cattle afar off; and thefe be- 

 ing for the moft part flightly wounded, he inferred from 

 thence that the zibib was fatal only at a diftance, but that 

 if they galloped refolutely to the mouth of the gun, the grape 

 could do no more than the firft gun he fired with powder 

 had done to thofe he had aimed at.. 



As foon as Fafil heard that Michael was on his march, he 

 left Bure and advanced to meet him, his wilh being to fight 

 him if poflible, before he fliould enter intothofe rich provin- 

 ces of the Agows, from whence he drew the maintenance of 

 his army, and expected tribute.- Michael's. condu6t warranted 

 this precaution. 1-or no fooner had he entered Fafil's go- 

 vernment, than he laid wafte all Maitflia, deftroying every 

 thing with fire and fword. The old general indeed be- 

 ing perfedly acquainted with the country, and with the 

 enemy he was to engage, had already fixed upon his field 

 of battle, and raeafured the flations that would condud: 

 him thither. 



Instead 



