274 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



fuch word occurring, as far as I know, in any language 

 fpoken in thefe countries. 



All the difafters which I had been threatened with in: 

 the courfe of that journey, which I had thus begun, now 

 prefentcd themfelves to my mind, and made, for a moment, 

 a ftrong impreffion upon my fpirits. But it was too late to 

 draw back, the dye was call, for life or for death ; home was 

 before me, however diftant ; and if, through the prote^flion 

 of Providence, I fhould be fortunate enough to arrive therCj 

 I promifed myfelf both eafe and the applaufe of my country, 

 and of all unprejudiced men of fenfe and learning in Eu- 

 rope, for having, by my own private efforts alone, compleat- 

 ed a difcovery, which had, from early ages, defied the ad?. 

 drefs, induftry, and courage of all the world. 



Having, by thefe refle(5lions, rather hardened, than com-- 

 forted my heart, I now advanced down the lleepfide of the 

 mountain, our courfe nearly N. N. W. through very ftrong 

 and rugged ground, torn up by the torrents that fall on 

 every fide from above. This is called the Defcent of Moura; 

 and though both we and our beads were in great health and 

 fpirits, we could not, with our utmoil endeavours, advance 

 much more than one mile an hour. Two Greeks, one of 

 whom only was my fervant ; and a third, nearly blind, fly- 

 ing from poverty and want ; an old janiffary, who had come 

 to Abyffinia with the Abuna, and a.Copht who left us at 

 Senhaar; thefe, and fome common men who took charge of 

 the bealls, and were to go no further tlian Tcherkin, were, 

 my only companions in this long and weary journey. 



At 



