THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 207 



named a black fervant of hers, a Mahometan, from whom 

 Ihe had bought it ; and the reafbn was, licr fears thac her 

 grandfather, Ras Michael, whom die had always looked up- 

 on as the murderer of her father, fliould force her when he 

 retui'ned to Gondar. He fee ncd exceedinglv attentive to- 

 all I faid, and mufed for a couple of minutes after I had 

 done fpeaking. 



A PLENTIFUL breakfail was then brought us, and many 

 of his officers fat down to it. I obferved like wife forae peo- 

 ple of Gondar, who had formerly fled to Faiil at Michael's 

 firft coming. He faid he wiflied me to bleed him before I 

 went away, which I affured him I would by no means do, 

 for if he was well, as I then faw he was, the unnecefTary 

 bleeding him might occalion licknefs ; and, if he was dan- 

 geroufly ill, he might die, when the blame would be laid 

 upon me, and expofe me to mifchicf afterwards. " No, fays 

 he, I could certainly truft you, nor would any of my people 

 believe any harm of you ; but I am glad to fee you fo pru- 

 dent, and that you have a care of my life, for the reafon I 

 fliall give you afterwards." I bowed, and he made me then 

 tell him all that pafTed in my vifit to Fafd, which I did, 

 without concealing any circumftance. All the company 

 laughed, and he more than any, only faying, " Fafil, Fafd, 

 thou waft born a Galla, and a Galla thou ilialt die." 



Breakfast being over, the tent was cleared, and w£ 

 were again left alone, when he put on a very ferious coun- 

 tenance. " You know, fays he, you are my old acquain- 

 tance. I faw you with Michael after the battle of Fagitta, 

 as alfo the prefents you brought, and heard the letters 

 read, both thole that came from Meticai Aga, and thofe of 

 ' i> All 



