THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. iSi 



we had feen fince leaving the Tacazze. After having croff- 

 ed the Zarima, we entered a narrow defile between two 

 mountains, where ran another rivulet : we continued ad- 

 vancing along the fide of it, till the valley became fo nar- 

 row as to leave no room but in the bed of the rivulet itfelf. 

 It is called Mai-Agam, or the water or brook of jeffamin 1 

 and falls into the Zarima,, at a fmall diltance from the place 

 wherein we paffed it. It was dry at the mouth, (the water 

 being there abforbed and hid under the fand) but above, 

 where the ground was firmer, there ran a brifk ft ream of 

 excellent water, and it has the appearance of being both 

 broad, deep, and rapid in winter. At ten o'clock we en- 

 camped upon its banks, which are here bordered with high 

 trees of cummel, at this time both loaded with fruit and 

 flowers. There are alfo here a variety of other curious 

 trees and plants ; in no place, indeed, had we feen more, ex- 

 cept on the banks of the Tacazze. Mai-Agam confifts of 

 three villages; one, two miles diftant, eaft-and- by-north, one 

 at fame diltance, N. N. W.; the third at one mile diftance, S.- 

 E. by fouth, 



On the 7th, at fix o'clock in the morning, we began to 

 afcend the mountain ; at a quaiter pafl feven the village Lik. 

 lay eaft of us. Murafs, a country full of low but broken- 

 mountains, and deep narrow valleys, bears N. W. and Wal- 

 kayt in the fame direction, but farther off. At a quarter 

 pafl eight, Gmgerohha, diftant from us about a mile S. W. 

 it is a village fituated upon a mountain that joins Lamalmon. 

 Two miles to the N. E. is the village Taguzait on the moun- 

 tain which we were afcending. It is called Guza by the 

 Jefuits, who flrangely fay, that the Alps and Pyreneans are 

 inconliderable eminences to it. Yet, with all deference to 



this 



