THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 507 



Ayto Aylo's fervant, who was with me, prcfently made 

 acquaintance with this man, and I traded him to learn from 

 ■him as much as he knew about Fafil ; the refult was, that 

 Fafil pretended to be in a violent hurry, from what motive 

 was not known ; but that he, at the fame time, marched 

 very flowly, contrary to his ufual cuftom ; that his fpecch 

 and behaviour promifed peace, and that he had hurt no- 

 body on the way, but proclaimed conftantly, that all people 

 mould keep their houfes without fear ; that Ayto Woldo of 

 Maitfha, a great robber, was his Fit-Auraris, and never diftant 

 from him more than three miles ; that the troops of A- 

 gow, Maitfha, and Damot, were with him, and with fome 

 Galla of Gojam and Metchakel compofed the van and cen- 

 ter of his army, whilft his rear confided of wild lawlefs 

 Galla, whom he had brought from the other fide of the Nile 

 from Bizamo, his own country, and were commanded by 

 Ayto Welleta Yafous, his great confident ; that thefe Gal- 

 la were half a day generally behind him, and there was 

 fome talk that, the fame day, or the next, he was to fend 

 thefe invaders home ; that he marched as if he was in fear ; 

 always took ftrong pods, but had' received every body that 

 came to him, either from the country or Gondar, affably 

 and kindly enough, but no one knew any thing of his in- 

 tentions. 



About half pad four o'clock we fell in with Woldo, his 

 Fit-Auraris, whom I did not know. Ayto Aylo's fervant, 

 however, was acquainted with him ; we afked him fome 

 quedions about his matter, which he anfwered very candid- 

 ly and difcreetly ; on his part he made no inquiry, and feem- 

 ed to have little curiofity about us ; he had taken his pod, 

 and was advancing no farther that night. I made him a 



3 S 2 . little 



