THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 403 



owing, as it is faid, to the catara&s, which they cannot get 

 up. However, as they are amphibious animals, and walk 

 very well on more, I think they might furmount this diffi- 

 culty as eafily as the hippopotamus ; I rather think the caufe 

 is the coldnefs of the water and climate, which does not 

 agree with the crocodile, but much with the river-norie. 



The Waito fpeak a language radically different from any 

 of thofe in Abyffinia ; but though I have often endeavoured 

 to get fome inlight into this, their religion, and cuftoms, I 

 could never fo far fucceed as to be able to give the public 

 any certain information. A falfe account in fuch cafes is 

 certainly worfe than no account at all. I once defired the 

 king to order that one of them might be brought to Gon- 

 dar. Two men, an old and a young one, were accordingly 

 brought from the lake, bur they would neither anfvver nor 

 underftand any queftions ; partly, I believe, through fear, 

 partly from obilinacy. The king at this became fo angry 

 that he ordered them both to be hanged ; they feemed per- 

 fectly unconcerned, and it was with fome difficulty I pro- 

 cured their releafe; I never therefore made an experiment 

 of that kind afterwards. The Abyffinians believe they are 

 forcerers, can bewitch with their eyes, and occafion death 

 by their charms even at a confiderable diflance. It is like- 

 ly, if that had been fo, thefe two would have tried their 

 power upon me, of which I do not recollect to have ever 

 been ienfible. 



We paffed the Reb at nine o'clock in the morning. It 

 rifes high in the mountains of Begemder, and is one of 

 thofe rivers that continue running the whole year, and has 

 a tolerable ford, although it was vifibly increafed by rain. 



3 E 2 We 



