THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 473 



are clofed." It will be eafily guefled this rendered the con- 

 verfation a chearful one. Faiil's fervants retired to fet out 

 the next day, gratified to their utmoft wifh, and, as foon as 

 the king was in bed, I went to my apartment likewiie. 



But very different thoughts were then occupying Mi- 

 chael and his officers. They could not truft Fafil, and, be- 

 fides, he could do them no fervice ; the rain was fet in, and 

 he was gone home ; the weftern part of the kingdom was 

 ready to rife upon them ; Woggora, to the north, immedi- 

 ately in his way, was all in arms, and impatient to re- 

 venge the feverities they had fuffered when Michael firft 

 marched to Gondar. The Tacazze, which feparates Tigre 

 from Woggora, and runs at the foot of the high mountains 

 of samen, was one of the largeft and moll rapid rivers in 

 Abyffinia, and, though not the firft to overflow, was, when 

 f welled to its height, impaflable by horfe or foot, rolling 

 down prodigious Hones and trees with its current. Danger- 

 ous as the paflage was, however, there was no fafety but in 

 attempting it : Michael, therefore, and every foldier with 

 him, were of opinion that, if they muft perifli, they mould 

 rather meet death in the river, on the confines of their own 

 country, than fall alive into the hands of their enemies in 

 Amhara. For this, preparation had been making night 

 and day, fince Ras Michael entered Gondar, and probably 

 before it. 



There was in Beleflen, on the neareft and eafieft way to 



a ford of the Tacazze, a man of quality called Adero, and 



his fon Zor Woldo. To thefe two Ras Michael ufed to truft 



the care of the police of Gondar when he was abfent upon 



. any expedition ; they were very active and capable, but had 



Vol. III. 3 ° fallen 



