THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 21^ 



which had been taken from them ; and they had fucceeded 

 in part, when they were difcovered, purfued, and fome of 

 the mules retaken. At the fight of armed men running up 

 and down the hill, an alarm fpread that nobody knew the 

 occafion of, till the Ras caufed the mule-keeper to be baf- 

 tinado'd in the morning. That day, the 26th, we received 

 advice, that the Edjow Galla, and fome other horfe of the 

 fame diftrid, had malTacred ail the people they met on their 

 way to and from Gondar, and that a body of troops had 

 marched into the town, which threatened to fet it on fire if 

 any more provilions were fent to the camp. 



We were now without food or water ; a great council 

 was therefore held, in which it was agreed to decamp the 

 a§th in the night, and return to Gondar on the 29th, in the 

 morning. A prefent of frelh provifions had been fent to 

 Ras Michael, and, in one of the bafkets, a number of torch- 

 es. A melTage was alfo delivered from Gulho, " That as 

 he was informed the Ras intended travelling in the night, 

 that therefore he had fent him flore of torches, left he 

 Ihould miftake his way to Gondar by having burnt all he 

 had by him in the laft night's alarm about Fafil." He de- 

 clared, moreover, in name of all the Confederates, that it 

 was their refolution not to moleft him in his march ; that 

 the whole kingdom was in alliance with them to fave the 

 effufion of blood, now abfolutely unneceflary, and to meet 

 and treat with him at Gondar. 



Upon receipt of this meflage, with the torches, the Ras 

 flew into a moft furious paflion. He called for Kefla Ya- 

 fous and Guebra Mafcal, and fharply upbraided them with 

 having betrayed him to his enemies. He gave orders to 



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