THE SOURCE OF THE NILE, 225 



to be pretry much the fame. Remember me to Engedan, I 

 am feeking to join the king. , 



Immediately after, I got into the crowd : though they 

 were now in the plain, they ftill kept in a line clofe to the 

 foot of the mountain, as in fear of the enemy's horfe. I 

 pafTed on at as brilk a walk as my horfe could go ; nor was 

 I fo tender of thofe who were before me in the plain as I 

 had been on the fide of the hill. Among thofe that were 

 ftill in th€ crowd, that had not got yet down the hill, I 

 heard the Abuna's fervant faying they had loft their mules, 

 and denouncing excommunication and curfes againil thofe 

 who had ftolen his baggage. I could not refrain fr^m'^ fit 

 of laughter at the ftupidity of that pried, to think zuj man 

 of fuch a nation would pay attention to his anathemas in 

 fuch a fcene. Soon after, however, 1 overtook the Abuna 

 himfelf, with Ozoro Altalli. He aflced me in Arabic, and 

 in a very mournful tone of voice, what I thought they were 

 going to do ? I anfwered, in the fame language, " Pray for 

 them, father, for they know not what to do." Ozoro Altalli 

 Tiow told me the king was a great way before them, with 

 Ras Michael, and advifed me to ftay and accompany her. 

 As fhe fpoke this confidently, and it was part of the advice 

 ■Gufho had given me if I mifled the king, I was deliberating 

 what courle i ihould purfue, when a great noile of horle 

 and men was heard on the fide of the plain, and prefently 

 the Abuna and Ozoro Altafli were furrounded by a large 

 •body of horfemen, whofe cries and language I did not un- 

 derftand, and whom therefore I took for Galla, As I found 

 inv horfe ftrong and willing, and being alone, and unincum- 

 l)ered with baggage, I thought it was better to keep free, 

 and not truft to who thcfe flrangers might be. I therefore 



Vol. IV. F f got 



