THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 449 



fun was hot, and the ground again beginning to become 

 dry. 



Netcho, Ras Michael's Fit-Auraris, with about 400 men, 

 had pa(Ted in the morning, and taken his ftation above us 

 in little huts like bee-hives, which the foldiers, who carry- 

 no tents, make very fpeedily and artificially for themfelves, 

 of the long, wild oats, each iiraw of which is at lead eight 

 feet long, and near as thick as an ordinary man's little fing- 

 er. He had fent back word to the king, that his men had 

 pailed fwimming, and with very great difficulty ; that he 

 doubted whether the horfes, or loaded mules, could crofs at 

 any rate; but, if it was refolved to make the trial, they fliould 

 do it immediately, without flaying till the increafe of the 

 river. He faid both banks were compoled of black earth, flip- 

 pery and miry, which would become more fo when horfes 

 had puddled it; he advifed, above all, the turning to the right 

 immediately after coming afhore, in the direction in which 

 he had fixed poles, as the earth there was hard and firm, be- 

 sides having the advantage of fome round ilones which 

 hindered the beafts from flipping or finking. In Head, 

 therefore, of retting there that night, it was refolved that the 

 horfe fliould crofs immediately. 



The firfl who paffed was a young man, a relation of the 

 king, brother to Ayamico killed at the battle of Banja ; lie 

 walked in with great caution, marking a track for the king 

 to pafs. He had gone upon rather folid ground, about 

 twice the length of his horfe, when he plunged out of his 

 depth, and fwam to the other fide. The king followed him 

 immediately with a great degree of hade, Ras Michael call- 

 ing to him to proceed with caution, but without fuccefs. 

 Vol. III. 3 L Afterwards 



