THE SOURCE OF THE NILE. 201 



I must here obferve, that what Bermudes * fays, that 

 Del Wumbarea was taken prifoner and given in marriage to 

 Arius Dias, was but a fable, as appears both from the begin- 

 ning and fequel of the narrative. Del Wumbarea having 

 thus obtained her fon, took a very early opportunity of mew- 

 ing fhe had not yet forgot the father. Nur, governor of 

 Zeyla, fon of Mudgid, who had flain the princes imprifoned 

 upon the mountain of Gefhen, was deeply in love with this 

 lady, and had deferved well of her, for he had amfleu her 

 in making her efcape into Atbara that day her hufband 

 was flain. But this heroine had conftantly refufed to liften 

 to any propofals ; nay, had vowed fhe never would give 

 her hand in marriage to any man till he fhould firft bring 

 her the head of Claudius who had flain her hufband. Nur 

 willingly accepted the condition, which gave him few ri- 

 vals, but rather feemed to be referved for him, and out of 

 the power of every one elfc. 



Claudius, before this, had marched towards Adel, when 

 he received a mefTage from. Nur, that, though Gragne was 

 •dead, there (till remained a governor of Zeyla, whofe family 

 was chofen as a particular inftrument for ihedding the blood 

 of the Abymnian princes ; and defired him, therefore, to be 

 prepared, for he was fpeedily to fet out to come to him. 

 Claudius had been employed in various joumies through 

 different parts of his kingdom, repairing the churches 

 which Gragne and the other Moors had burnt; and he was 

 then rebuilding that of Debra Werk f when this mefTage of 

 Vol. II. C c Nur 



* See Bermudes's account of thefe times, printed at Lifton by Fiancis Correa, A. D. 1563". 

 f The Mountain of Gold. 



