THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 



37 1 



every bit as bad as Galla, and did not choofe to rifk the trial 

 of the difference. 



At this time a piece of bad news was circulated at Gon- 

 dar, that Kafmati Boro, whom the Ras had left governor at 

 Damot, had been beaten by Fafd, and obliged to retire to 

 his own country in Gojam, to Stadis Amba, near the pafTage 

 of the Nile, at Mine ; and that Fafil, with a larger army of 

 ftranger Galla than that he had brought to Fagitta, had ta- 

 ken poilemon of Bure, the ufual place of his refidence. This 

 being privately talked of as true, I allied Kefla Yafous in 

 confidence what he knew of it. Upon its being confirmed, 

 I could not difguife my forrow, as 1 conceived that unex- 

 pected turn of affairs to be an invincible obftacle to my 

 reaching the fource of the Nile. " You are miftaken, 

 fays Kefla Yafous to me, it is the befl thing can hap- 

 pen to you. Why you defire to fee thofe places I do not 

 know, but this I am lure of, you never will arrive there with 

 any degree of fafety while Fafil commands. He is as per- 

 fect, a Galla as ever forded the Nile ; he has neither word, nor 

 oath, nor faith that can bind him ; he does mifchief for 

 mifchief's fake, and then laughs at it." 



" Michael, after the battle of Fagitta, propofed to his 

 army to pafs the rainy feafon at Bure, and quarter the 

 troops in the towns and villages about. He would have 

 flaid a year with them, to mew that Fafil could not help 

 them, but he was over-ruled. At Hydar Michael (that is, in 

 November next) all Abymnia will march againfl him, and 

 he will not flay for us, and this time we mall not leave his 

 country till we have eaten it bare ; and then, at your eafe, 

 you will fee every thing, defend yourfelf by your own 



3 A 2 force. 



