THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. jir 



could not make out; he feemed, however, to be a very bad 

 cobler, and took no notice of us. 



Ayto Aylo's fervant, who flood behind me, pufhcd me 

 with his knee, as a fign that I mould fpeak, which I ac- 

 cordingly began to do with fome difficulty. " I am come, 

 faid I, by your invitation, and the king's leave, to pay my 

 refpects to you in your own government, begging that you 

 would favour my curiofity fo far as to fuffer me to fee the 

 country of the Agows, and the fource of the Abay, or Nile, 

 part of which I have feen in Egypt." " The fource of the 

 Abay! exclaimed he, with a pretended furprife, do you know 

 what you are faying ? Why, it is, God knows where, in the 

 country of the Galla, wild, terrible people. The fource of 

 the Abay! Are you raving! repeats he again: Are you to get 

 there, do you think, in a twelvemonth, or more, or when ?" 

 44 Sir, faid I, the king told me it was near Sacala, and ftiH 

 nearer Geefh; both villages of the Agows, and both in your 

 government." " And fo you know Sacala and Geefh ? fays he, 

 whittling and half angry*." " I can repeat the names that I 

 hear, faid I ; all Abyflinia knows the head of the Nile." — 

 " Aye, fays he, imitating my voice and manner, but all 

 Abyffinia won't carry you there, that I promife you." " If 

 you are refolved to the contrary, faid I, they will not; I wifli 

 you had told the king fo in time, then I mould not have at- 

 tempted it ; it was relying upon you alone I came fo far, con- 

 fident, if all the reft of Abyffinia could not protect -me there, 

 that your word fingly could do it." 



IiE 



* This afFefted ignorance was probably intended to bring me to mention the donatioo, 

 the king had given me of Geefh, which lie never much relifhed, and made effeclually.ufelef' - 

 so me. 



