THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 477 



fwimming that dangerous river, and moft of us pafling the 

 night, naked, without tents, provifion, or powder. Nor did 

 he ever think of prefenting himfelf till we had warmed 

 ourfelves by an eafy march in a fine day, when we were 

 every way his fuperiors, and Kefla Yafous in his rear. From 

 all thefe fpecial marks of the favour of an over- ruling Pro- 

 vidence, I do believe ftedfaftly that God will not leave his 

 work half finifhed. " He it is who, governing the whole 

 univerfe, has yet referved fpecially to himfelf the depart- 

 ment of war ; he it is who has ftiled himfelf the God of 

 Battles." The king was very much moved, and, as I con- 

 ceived, perfuaded. He faid, " O Yagoube, go but with me 

 to Tigre, and I will do for you whatever you defire me."— 

 " You do, Sir, faid I, whatever I defire you, and more. I have 

 told you my reafons why that cannot be ; let me flay here 

 • a few months, and wait your return." The king then ad- 

 vifed me to live entirely at Kofcam with the Iteghe, with- 

 out going out unlefs Fafil came to Gondar, and to fend 

 him punctually word how I was treated. Upon this we 

 parted with inexpreffible reluctance. He was a king wor- 

 thy to reign over a better people ; my heart was deeply pe- 

 netrated with thofe marks of favour and condefcenfion 

 which I had uniformly received from him ever fince I enter- 

 ed his palace. 



On the 5th of June, while Powuffen, Adero, and the con- 

 fpirators were waiting his paffage through BelefTen, (that is 

 to the S. W.) the king's army marched towards Kofcam, 

 over the mountain Debra Tzai towards Walkayt, and 

 the low, hot provinces of AbyfTmia which lie to the N. E. 

 fo that the diilance between them increafed every day in 

 the greateft proportion poflible. 



The 



