THE SOURCE OF THE NTLE. 453 



interceding with him to procure their pardon and difmif- 

 fion. He was a man, as I (kid, of the greateft affability and 

 complacency, and heard every one fpeak with the utmoft pa- 

 tience. Thefe priefls, terrified to death left Michael mould 

 pull their eyes out, or exercife fome of his ufual cruelties 

 upon them, which was certainly his intention by bringing 

 them with him to Gondar, frankly declared to Kefla Yafous 

 what they apprehended. They fa id that they had never 

 known a ford there before, though they had lived many 

 years in the neighbourhood, nor had ever heard of one at 

 Kerr, the firft cataract, which the guides had perfuaded the 

 rather of the two ; they did believe, therefore, that Michael's 

 guides had deceived him on purpofe, and that they intend- 

 ed the fame thing by him to-morrow, if he attempted to 

 pafs at Kerr. They told him further, that, about three 

 days before Michael had arrived in the neighbourhood of 

 Samfeen, they had heard a nagareet beat regularly every 

 evening at fun-fet, behind the high woody hill in front, 

 whereon was the church of Boikon Abbo ; that they had 

 feen alfo a man the day before who had left Welleta Ya* 

 fous, Fafil's principal officer and confident, at Goutto, wait- 

 ing the arrival of fome more troops to pafs the Nile there; 

 whence they doubted not that there was treachery intend- 

 ed.. 



The fagacious and prudent Kefla Yafous weighed every 

 word of this in his mind, and, combining all the circum- 

 ftances together, was immediately convinced that there had 

 been a fnare laid by Falil for them. Entering further in- 

 to converfation with the prieits, and'encouraging them with 

 affurances of reward inftead of punifhment, he inquired if 

 they certainly knew any better ford below. They anfwer- 



