THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 457 



better than he expected. He had pitched his tent on the 

 high road to Gondar, before Welleta Yafous knew he was 

 decamped, and of this paffage he immediately advifed Mi- 

 chael refreshing his troops for any emergency. 



About two in the afternoon Welleta Yafous appeared 

 with his horfe on the other fide of the Nile, but it was then 

 too late. Kefla Yafous was fo ftrongly polled, and the banks 

 of the river fo guarded with fire-arms, down to the water- 

 edge, that Fafd and all his army would not have dared 

 to attempt the paffage, or even approach the banks of the 

 river. 



As foon as Ras Michael received the intelligence, he dif- 

 patched the Fit-Auraris, Netcho, to take poft upon the ford 

 -of the Kelti, a large river, but rather broad than deep, about 

 three miles off. He himfclf followed early in the morning, 

 and pafTed the Kelti jufl at fun-rife, without halting ; he 

 then advanced to meet Kefla Yafous, as the army began to 

 want provilions, the little flour that had been brought over, 

 or which the foldiers had taken with them, being nearly ex- 

 haufted during that night and the morning after. It was 

 found, too, that the men had but little powder, none of 

 them having recruited their quantity fince the hunting of the 

 deer ; but what they had was in perfect good order, being 

 kept in horns and fmall wooden bottles, corked in fuch a 

 manner as to be fecured from water of any kind. Kefla 

 Yafous, therefore, being in poffeffion of the baggage, the 

 powder, and the provilions, a junction with him was abfo- 

 iutely neceffary, and they expected to effect this at Waina- 

 -dega, about twenty miles from their laft night's quarters. 



Vol. III. 3 M The 



