THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 397 



Nile ? Are you angry with me, Yagoube, or are you afraid of 

 Woodage Afahel ? Were you in earned, prince, in what you 

 now fay, replied 1, you fuppofe two things, both greater re- 

 proaches than that of being overtaken with wine. Aflure 

 yourfelf I am, and always fhall be, your moft affectionate and 

 mod faithful fervant ; and that I fhall think it an honour 

 to follow you in Maitfha, or elfewhere, even as a common 

 horfeman, though, inftead of one, there were in it ten thou- 

 fand Woodage Afahels. O ho ! fays the king, then you are 

 all friends; and I muft tell you one thing, Georgis is more 

 drunk with the thoughts of his command to-day than any 

 foldier in my camp will be to-night with bouza. And this, 

 indeed, feemed to be the cafe, for he was elfe a prince ra- 

 ther referved and fparing of words, efpecially before his 

 brother. 



Tell me, Yagoube, continues the king, and tell me truly — 

 at that very inllant came in a mellenger from Ras Michael, 

 who, going round the chair without faluting, fpoke to the 

 king, upon which the room was cleared ; but I after learn- 

 ed, that news were received from Begemder, that Powuffen 

 and his troops were ready to march, but that two of Gufho's 

 nephews had rebelled, whom it had taken fome time to 

 fubdue; that another meffenger was left behind, but had 

 fallen lick at Aringo, who, however, would come forward 

 as foon as poffible with his mailer's meffage, and would 

 be probably at the camp that night. He brought alfo as 

 undoubted intelligence, that Fafil, upon hearing Ras Mi- 

 chael's march, was preparing to repafs the Nile into the 

 country of the Galla. This occafioiud very great doubts, 

 becaufe difpatches had arrived from Nanna Georgis's fon, 

 the day before at Tedda, which declared that Fafil had de- 

 camped 



