THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 213 



caft-away, no Greek nor Armenian fervant, but perhaps of 

 equal rank to yourfelves : if I wanted money, Metical Aga's 

 fervant would procure it for me upon demand. It is your 

 wife and two daughters who are ill ; and when you fliall 

 hereafter be great, and governing every thing at Gondar, 

 I will by them put you in mind of any piece of friendfliip 

 I may ftand in need of at your hand ; and you fliall grant 

 it." — " You are a good prophet, Yagoube, fays he ; and fo 

 I ihall ; bat remember my advice ; I know you are a friend 

 of Ozoro Efther, but £he cannot protedt you ; Ozoro Altafli* 

 may: the bell of all is to keep clofc to the king, to defend 

 yourfelf if any body molefts you on your way to Gondar, 

 and leave the reft to me. 



An officer was now appointed to conduft me acrofs the 

 plain, and feveral fervants laden with fifli and fruit. About 

 a hundred yards from the tent, a man muffled up met me, 

 whom I found to be a fervant of Engedan. " Your army 

 will diihand, fays he to me, in a low tone of voice ; keep 

 by the king, or Aylo my matter's brother, and he will 

 bring you over here." Having left him, we continued a- 

 crofs the plain, and faw feveral fmall parties of horfe pa- 

 troling, but they came not near us. My conducT:or faid they 

 were Galla, waiting for fome opportunity to do mifchief. 

 He told me that Ozoro Welleta Ifrael, and his fon Ayla, 

 had joined their army that day with 10,000 men from Go- 

 jam, to no purpofe at all, continued he, but that of eating 

 up the country. But your friend the Iteghe could not 

 fee Ras Michael fall without giving him- a Ihove, though 



flie 



* Her daughter was married to Fowuflvn^ 



