49.8 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



with a lance, as a retaliation for his father's death. Netch-D 

 and the reft of the garrifon being pardoned, all joined Ras 

 Michael's army. I looked upon thefe news as a good omen, 

 and experienced a degree of confidence and compofure of 

 mind to which I for a long time had been a ftranger. I ilept 

 found that night, and it was not till half after nine in the 

 morning that 1 was ready, for my journey* 



In the evening before, I had endeavoured to engage my 

 old companion Strates to accompany me on this attempt as 

 he had done, on the former ; but the recollection of paft dan- 

 gers and fufferings was not yet baniihed from his mind ; 

 and upon my aiking him to go and fee the head of this 

 famous river,, lie coarfely, according to his ftile, anfwered, 

 Might the devil fetch him if ever he fought either his head 

 or his taiL again.. 



't> i 



It was on the 28th of October, at half pail nine in the 

 morning, that we left Gondar, and palled the river Kahha 

 at the foot of the town; our route was W. S. W. the road. a 

 little rugged upon the fide of a hill, but the day was fair, 

 with funihine ; and a fmall breeze from the north had 

 rifen with the fun, and made the temperature of the air per- 

 fectly agreeable. We left the church of Ledeta about a 

 mile on the right, and paned by feveral poor villages called 

 Abba Samuel ; thence we came to the fmall river Shimfa, 

 then to the Dumaza, fomething larger. Upon the banks of 

 this river, very pleafantly fituated, is Azazo, a country- houfe 

 built by the late king Yafous, who often retired here to re- 

 lax himlelf with his friends. It is furrounded, I may fay 

 covered, with orange-trees, fo as to be fcarcely feen ; the 

 trees are grown very large and high; they are planted 



without; 



