THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 65 



day, and foon after, the whole army was in motion ; the 

 council had been in the Ras's tent, not in prefence of the 

 king, with whom I had ftaid the moft part of the evening, 

 indeed, till late in the night ; he feemed to have loft all his 

 former gaiety, and to be greatly troubled in mind; inquir- 

 ed much about the Iteghe, and Fafil ; told me he had fent 

 his affurance of peace to the Iteghe, and defired her not to 

 leave Kofcam : but fhe had returned for anfwer, that fhe 

 could not truft Michael, after the threatnings he had fent 

 againft her from Tigre. It was obferved alfo, in this day's 

 march, that, contrary to his cuftom before crofling the Ta- 

 cazze, he received all that came out to meet him with a 

 fuUen countenance, and fcarce ever anfwered or fpake to 

 them, Michael alfo, every day fmce the fame date, had put 

 on a behaviour more and more fevere and brutal. He had 

 enough of this at all times. 



It was the 23d of December when we encamped on the 

 Mogetch, jitft below Gondar. This behaviour was fo con- 

 fpicuous to the whole people, that no fooner were the tents 

 pitched, (it being about eleven o'clock) than they all ftole 

 home to Gondar in fmall parties without their dinner, and 

 prefently a report was fpread that the king and Ras Mi- 

 chael came determined to burn the town, and put the inha- 

 bitants all to the fvvord. This occafioned the utmoft con- 

 ilernation, and caufed many to fly to Fafil. 



As for me, the king's behaviour Iliewed me plainly all 

 was not right, and an accident in the Vv^ay confirmed it. He 

 had defired me to ride before him, and fliew him the horfe 

 I had got from Fafil, which was then in great beauty and 

 order, and which I had kept purpofely for him. It happen- 



V.01-. IV. I -ed 



