THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 65 



Tauanta is the higheft of a long, Ileep ridge of moun- 

 tains, the boundary between the oppofite feafons. On its eaft 

 fide, or towards the Red Sea, the rainy ieafon is from October 

 to April ; and, on the weftern, or Abyffinian fide, cloudy, 

 rainy, and cold weather prevails from May to Odober. 



In the evening, a meffenger from the Naybe found us 

 at our tent at Laberhey, and carried away our guide Sa- 

 loome. It was not till the next day that he appeared again, 

 and with him Achmet, the Naybe's nephew. Achmet made 

 us deliver to him the thirteen pieces of Surat cloth, which 

 was promifed Saloome for his hire, and this, apparently, 

 with that perfons good-will. He then changed four of the 

 men whom the Naybe had furnifhed us for hire to carry 

 our baggage, and put four others in their place ; this, not 

 without fome murmuring on their part ; but he perempto- 

 rily, and in feeming anger, difpatched them back to Ar- 

 keeko. 



Achmet now came into the tent, called for coffee, and, 

 while drinking it, faid, " You are fufheiently perfuaded that 

 I am your friend ; if you are not, it is too late now to con- 

 vince you. It is neceffary, however, to explain the reafons 

 of what you fee. You are not to go to Dobarwa, though it 

 is the bell road, the fafeft being preferable to the eafieft. 

 Saloome knows the road by Dixan as well as the other. 

 You will be apt to curfe me when you are .oiling and 

 fweating afcending Taranta, the highefl mountain in Abyf- 

 finia, and on this account worthy your notice. You are 

 then to confider if the fatigue of body you then fuffer in 

 that paffage is not overpaid by the abfolute fafcty you will 

 find yourfelves in. Dobarwa belongs to the Naybe, and I 



Vol. III. I cannot 



