THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. r 4 a 



caution, however, proved fuperfiuous ; for, a few days after, 

 an epidemical fever began to manifeft itfelf, which, in eight- 

 and-forty hours, carried off Matthew, and foon after Pereira, 

 the fervant of Don Roderigo ; fo that no opportunity now 

 offered for an explanation with the king about his or the 

 emprefs's promife of ceding one-third of the kingdom to 

 the Portuguefe in cafe the king would fend them fuccour. 

 Terrified by the fever, and the bad profpeci of the weather 3 

 they refumed. their journey.. 



The monaftery of Bifan (to which they were now going) ' 

 is fo called from the great quantity of water which is eve- 

 rywhere found about it. The fimilitude of found has made 

 Poncet*, and feveral other travellers, call it the Monaftery 

 of the Vifion ; but Bifan (water) is its true name, being, 

 plentifully fupplied with tha£ moil valuable element. A* 

 number of lakes and river-: are interfperfed through its 

 plains ; while abundant fprings, that are never dry, flow 

 from the top of each rock, dafhing their rills againft the 

 rugged projections of the cliffs below. . 



The monaftery of Bifan, properly fo called; is the head of F 

 fix others in the compafs of 26 miles ; each convent placed; 

 like a tower on the top of its own rock. That upon which.* 

 Bifan is fituated is very high, and almoft perpendicular; 

 and from this rifes another ftill higher than it, which, un- 

 lefs to its inhabitants, is perfectly inacceilible. It is, on every 

 fide, furrounded with wood, interfperfed with fruit-trees of" 

 many different kinds, as well of thofe known, as of thofe 



unknowns 



*'Ylde Faucet's travels, in his return through. Tigre, p. ti 6.- London edit. 12010-17095. 



