THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 115 



burnt all their crops and villages: that he fometimes did not 

 think himfelf fafe in Teawa, and that a load of fait had not 

 been fufFered to pafs for feveral months ; which, indeed, was 

 the reafon why the Arabs of Atbara were come fo near Ras 

 el Feel, and that the king's horfe were procured fo readily 

 at the firft coming." This traitor, however, added, " That 

 if, by any means, f could advance to him at Teawa, I need 

 not take any thought about the reft of the journey; and 

 that it was better I fliould come quietly and quickly, without 

 writing to Sennaar before-hand : and he conckided with 

 great profcffions of refped: and friendlhip for me." 



It had been very cold, and more than ufual rainy, fmcc 

 the beginning of February ; the 9th was a day of clofe rain ; 

 and this, being earlier than common, very much difcou- 

 raged the foldiers who were naked, and, therefore, very fen- 

 fible of cold, or rain, and, as I have before faid, never can be 

 brought to engage willingly, unlefs under the influence of 

 a warm fun. 



At laft the cries of the people flying into Gondar, feek- 

 ing protedion from the cruekies of the rebels, determined 

 the Ras to march out, and fet his all upon the fortune of a 

 battle. The rifle was not thought great, as he had been all his 

 life in ufe to conquer ; had a better army at that time than 

 ever he commanded ; the Begemder troops, too, in whom the 

 rebels trufted moft, were but thofe which he and his men 

 had beaten at Nefas Mufa, although led by a very brave 

 and valiant officer, Mariam Barea. All this was true ; but 

 then, fmce that period, thefe troops of Begemder had been 

 conftantly led by himfelf, had been trained, and difciplined 

 with the old troops of Tigre, and taught to conquer wkli 



P 2 , them. 



