THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 149 



This afTafTin was no fooner fecured and difarmed, than 

 a noofe, with a running knot, was flipt round his neck, 

 and his hands tied behind his back, in which manner he 

 was carried before Ras Michael, who fat upon a flool at 

 fome diftance from his tent, after every part of it had been 

 fearched. The fellow at firft refufed to fpeak, but, being 

 threatened with torture, anfwered, in his own language, 

 which I did not underftand. He was afked, who had em- 

 ployed him to attempt that affaffination ? He faid. The re- 

 bels ; and named Gufho and Powuflen : he then varied, 

 and faid the Iteghe employed him. Before he was fent a- 

 way he contradided all this, and declared, that Hagos, his 

 brother, had employed him ; and that he was then adual, 

 ly in the camp, with four pthers, who were determined to 

 murder the Ras and Guebra Mafcal, whatever it Ihould coil- 

 them.. 



A SEARCH was on this ordered through all the camp, but' 

 no ftranger found, excepting one of the fame nation, who 

 bad planted himfelf and his faggot near the tent of the A- 

 buna; and who being feized, examined, and promifcd par- 

 don, declared himfelf abfolutely ignorant of any fcheme 

 but robbing, for which pm-pofe three of them, he faid, had 

 come into the camp together;, one of them had ftolen two 

 mules the night before, and gone off, and that he was that 

 night intending to take away two of the Abuna's mules; 

 and he fuppofed his companion had the fame intention 

 with regard to the Ras; but as to murder, or any other plot, 

 he knew nothing of it. Being put ilightly to the torture, 

 he perfifled in his declaration ; and when interrogated, de- 

 clared, that they all three had come from Gurague with 

 Amha Yafous, to load and unload his baggage, and take care 



ofe 



