THE SOURCE OF THE NiLE. 195- 



nearer Gondar. Here again we met with trees, (fmall ones 

 indeed) but the firft we had feen lince leaving Lamalmon, 

 excepting the ufual groves of cedars. It is the Virginia 

 cedar, or oxy-cedros, in this country called Arz, with which 

 their churches are conllantly furrounded. 



On the 15th, at ten minutes pad feven, we began to af- 

 cend the mountain; and, at twenty minutes after feven, 

 paffed a village on our left. At feven and three quarters we 

 paffed Tiba and Mariam, two churches, the one on our right, 

 the other on our left, about half a mile diftant ; and near 

 them feveral fmall villages, inhabited by Falafha, mafons 

 and thatchers of houfes, employed at Gondar. At half pail 

 eight we came to the village Tocutcho, and, in a quarter 

 of an hour, paffed the river of that name, and in a few mi- 

 nutes relied on the river Angrab, about half a mile from 

 Gondar. 



Tchacassa is the lafl of the many little diflridls which, 

 together, compofe Woggora, generally underftood to be de- 

 pendent on Samen, though often, from the turbulent fpirit 

 of its chiefs, ftruggling for independency, as at the prefent 

 time, but fure to pay for it immediately after. In fact, 

 though large, it is too near Gondar to be fuffered to conti- 

 nue in rebellion ; and, being rich and well cultivated, 

 it derives its fupport from the capital, as. being the mart of 

 its produce. It is certainly one of the fruitfulefl provinces 

 in Abyffinia, but the inhabitants are miferably poor, noc- 

 withflanding their threefold harvefls. Whereas, in Egypt, 

 beholden to this country alone for its fertility, one moderate 

 harveil gives plenty everywhere, 



B b 2 Wogc-ora 



