THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 433 



ilep they took. The river was very deep, the current, I fup- 

 pofe, fifty yards broader than it was at the cataract ; but 

 the banks were, for a great way on each fide, almoft perfect- 

 ly level, though much obftructed with black ftones. In the 

 middle it was very deep, and the ftream fmooth, fo that it 

 was apparent our horfes mult fwim. For my part I did 

 not like the fmooth ftones at the bottom, as a fall there 

 would have been irrecoverable ; and my horfe was mod 

 with iron, which is not ufual in AbyfTinia. I therefore re- 

 folved to fwim where I could not wade, and, wrapping my 

 cloaths in a bundle, I gave them to a fervant, who carried 

 them over on his head. I then waded in, and found the water 

 unexpectedly cold. Mahomet rode on a mule by my fide, 

 fometimes fwimming, fometimes walking. I attempted to 

 found up towards the lake, and found it deeper there. I re- 

 turned, therefore, being unwilling to try experiments, and, 

 committing myfelf to the ftream, fwam to the other fide, 

 much comforted by the aiiurance that no crocodile palled 

 the cataract. 



The beafts having got over, the men followed much 

 quicker; many women, going to join the army, fwam over, 

 holding the tails of the horfes, and we were all on the other 

 fide before twelve o'clock, the beads a good deal tired 

 with the parlage, the fteepnefs of the acceis to it, and the 

 ftill greater depth on the other fide. For my parr, I thought 

 we could not have gone on to Tfoomwa, but it was carried 

 againft me. Tfoomwa is about twelve nules diftant ; and I 

 fuppofe it was not much paft three o'clock when we arri- 

 ved there,which was very fortunate, as we had fcarcely pitch- 

 ed our tents before a molt terrible ftorm of rain, wind, and 

 thunder Overtook us. My tent was happily placed in one 

 Vol. III. 3 I refpect 



