THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 251 



the revenue of the cuftomhoufe in Mafuah ; in return 

 for which he was fuffered to enjoy that fmall flripe 

 of barren, dry country called Samhar, inhabited by black 

 fhepherds called Shiho, reaching from Hamazen on the 

 north to the foot of the mountain Taranta on the fouth ; but, 

 by the favour of Michael, that is, by bribery and corruption, 

 he has pofTefTed himfelf of two large frontier towns, Dixan 

 and Dobarwa, by leafe, for a trifling fum, which he pays the 

 king yearly ; this mufl neceflarily very much weaken this 

 Hate, if it lhould ever again have war with the Turks, of 

 which indeed there is no great probability. 



The next province in Abyflinia, as well for greatnefs as 

 riches, power, and dignity, and nearefl Mafuah, is Tigre. It 

 is bounded by the territory of the Baharnagafh, that is, by 

 the river Mareb on the eaft, and the Tacazze upon the weft. 

 It is about one hundred and twenty miles broad from E. to 

 W. and two hundred from N. to S. This is its prefent fitu- 

 ation. The hand of ufurping power has abolifhed all dis- 

 tinction on the weft-fide of the Tacazze ; befides, many 

 large governments, fuch as Enderta and Antalow, and great 

 part of the Baharnagafh, were fwallowed up in this province 

 to the eaft. 



What, in a fpecial manner, makes the riches of Tigre, is, 

 that it lies neareft the market, which is Arabia ; and all the 

 merchandise deftined to crofs the Red Sea muft pafs through 

 this province, fo that the governor has the choice of all 

 commodities wherewith to make his market. The ftrong- 

 eft male, the moft beautiful female flaves, the pureft gold, 

 the largeft teeth of ivory, all muft pafs through his hand. 

 Fire-arms, moreover, which for many years have decided 



I i z who 



