THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 13 



an idea of the banks of the Jemma, and the country eaft of 

 it, with all that addition that an eaftern and happier climate 

 can give it ; for the rains had now ceafed, and cveiy hill 

 was in flower ; the fun indeed was hot, but a conilant 

 and frefli breeze prevented its being felt near the river. The 

 heat in this country ceafes, in the warmed day, the mo- 

 ment we pafs from the fun to the fliade : we have none of 

 thefe hot winds or violent refledions which we had fufFered 

 in Egypt, Syria, and Arabia, and both the coafls of the Red 

 Sea. 



There are two cataradls lower than this ford of the Jem- 

 ma, the firft about 300 yards below the ford, and another 

 larger, fomething about half a mile; it is not, however, more 

 than feven or eight feet high, perhaps about ninety feet 

 broad, and the Iheet of water is not entire, but is interrup- 

 ted in many places. It falls, however, into a magnificent 

 bafon above 400 yards fquare, and very deep, in which are 

 large fifli in great plenty, but no crocodiles ; nor indeed are 

 there any feen, as I have heard above the third catara(5t, 

 nor confiderably below, when, after having made the tour of 

 Gojam, it again turns northward towards its fources. The 

 Gomari, however, often comes to the mouth of the Jemma,, 

 efpecially when the firft rains fall ; the crocodile feems to 

 require a warmer climate. 



After having fatisfied our curiofity as to the Jemma, I 

 began to reproach thofe that were with me about the pa- 

 nic which they felt the night before ; thefe were, a Greek, 

 of Gondar, Strates, and three others, my fervants, whom I 

 brought from Cairo. " You fee, faid I, what danger there 

 is ; Welled Amlac is with us upon a mule, without a lance 

 4 OT 



