THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 543 



difficult paflages in Woggora, a country full of hardy troops, 

 inveterate enemies to the Has, and where Ayto Tesfos of 

 Samen had occupied all the defiles, and was refolved to dis- 

 pute every pod with him ; it was well known, however, that 

 the panes through the mountain of Lafta, were more dan- 

 gerous and difficult than thofe of Woggora andLamalmon; 

 in a word, Guigarr, chief of the clan of Lafta (called Waag) 

 pofleffed a ftrong-hold in thofe mountains, where many an 

 Abyffinian army had perifhed, and where it was absolutely 

 impoffible to proceed but with the confent and connivance of 

 that clan, or tribe ; and tho' this Guigarr had been Michael's 

 enemy ever fincc the war of Mariam Barea, peace was now 

 concluded between them, the Ras having fetGuigarr's bro- 

 ther at liberty, who had been fome time a prifoner, and 

 was taken in an incuruon which the people of Waag had 

 made into Tigre : excepting this pafs in the mountains of 

 Lafta, all the ground was even from thence to Tigre ; the 

 territory of Gouliou, indeed, through which the army was 

 to march for four days, was very ili-provided with water; 

 it was inhabited by Galla, whom Michael had iuffcred to 

 fettle there, to be as a barrier between Tigre, Lafta, and Be- 

 gemder ; but this clan was perfectly at his command, to all 

 was eafy and fecure if Guigarr only remained faithful. 



After giving time to Guebra Miriam to refrefh himfelf, 

 I took him alone into the tent to hear Ozoro Lfther's mei- 

 fage : flie had- been ailing after my leaving Gondar, had 

 had a How fever, which very much affe&ed her nerves, and 

 was now alarmed at afymptom which was but the eiletf: of 

 weaknefs, ftartling, or involuntary contraction of her legs 

 and arms, - or a kind of convuiiion, which f cq- ently a. 

 wakened her out. of her ileeo. This flie thought was a fu » 



fore- 



